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LucasArts Archive Series: Escape From Monkey Island

LucasArts Archive Series: Escape From Monkey Island

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ye better hope yer sword be sharp as yer wit
Review: ...because this game is rather difficult! Nevertheless fun, of course, and EXTREMELY funny in spots, but I think ye better get yeself a strat guide, matey.
Talk to the mouse in the Lua Bar!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not as Much Fun as "Curse of Monkey Island"
Review: Actually, the GameSpot review by Ron Dulin (you can find it in the Editorial Reivews section of this web page) really hits the nail on the head. If you liked the previous Monkey Island adventures, you'll probably enjoy this one as well, although there were a few irritating design flaws &/or problems.

First of all, Guybrush is particularly difficult to navigate when he is very small; it's hard to tell which direction he's pointing until you move him forward and see where he goes. I found the keyboard interface clunky, and really missed the clever mouse control used in "Curse." I had the game lock up on me early on, and I stupidly hadn't saved yet, forcing me to start all over again from the beginning. The Monkey Kombat sequence is cute, but the rather amusing payoff sequence doesn't quite make up for some serious irritation with the process of learning and engaging in Monkey Kombat itself. My last complaint revolves around the character of Herman Toothrot, and I have to use a bit of a spoiler to explain the problem, so be warned. You have to throw a series of objects at Herman's head to get him to divulge information, and eventually, to get him to hand over a crucial item for the completion of the game. The programmers seem to have used some sort of toggle switch device to great disadvantage here. Of course, any "Monkey Island" player in the spirit of the game will start hurling anything in their inventory at Herman's head, often several times over once they've realized that this could lead to information; something I think the programmers forgot to take into account. Throwing an object at Herman once might get him to divulge information, but throw the same object at him again and you're back to square one and he clams up. This is the only case (although an important one) where you can go backwards in terms of a character's knowledge within the game. LucasArts is usually much more diligent about such issues, and I was both irritated and disappointed. If this problem doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it (you're probably more clever about gaming than I am).

Criticisms aside, I did enjoy the usual Monkey Island features we've all come to expect from the series; cornball humor, amusing situations, pop culture references, anachronism, and comfort in the knowledge that LucasArts has designed a game where you are not going to be randomly killed off after hours and hours of time invested. Guybrush and Elaine are great characters, with far more personality than some star-crossed lovers in a current sci-fi movie that George Lucas might be familiar with. I liked the ending of "Escape" much better than "Curse" (I thought the amusement park sequence dragged on too long), and I hope that more Monkey Island adventures will soon follow.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not as Much Fun as "Curse of Monkey Island"
Review: Actually, the GameSpot review by Ron Dulin (you can find it in the Editorial Reivews section of this web page) really hits the nail on the head. If you liked the previous Monkey Island adventures, you'll probably enjoy this one as well, although there were a few irritating design flaws &/or problems.

First of all, Guybrush is particularly difficult to navigate when he is very small; it's hard to tell which direction he's pointing until you move him forward and see where he goes. I found the keyboard interface clunky, and really missed the clever mouse control used in "Curse." I had the game lock up on me early on, and I stupidly hadn't saved yet, forcing me to start all over again from the beginning. The Monkey Kombat sequence is cute, but the rather amusing payoff sequence doesn't quite make up for some serious irritation with the process of learning and engaging in Monkey Kombat itself. My last complaint revolves around the character of Herman Toothrot, and I have to use a bit of a spoiler to explain the problem, so be warned. You have to throw a series of objects at Herman's head to get him to divulge information, and eventually, to get him to hand over a crucial item for the completion of the game. The programmers seem to have used some sort of toggle switch device to great disadvantage here. Of course, any "Monkey Island" player in the spirit of the game will start hurling anything in their inventory at Herman's head, often several times over once they've realized that this could lead to information; something I think the programmers forgot to take into account. Throwing an object at Herman once might get him to divulge information, but throw the same object at him again and you're back to square one and he clams up. This is the only case (although an important one) where you can go backwards in terms of a character's knowledge within the game. LucasArts is usually much more diligent about such issues, and I was both irritated and disappointed. If this problem doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it (you're probably more clever about gaming than I am).

Criticisms aside, I did enjoy the usual Monkey Island features we've all come to expect from the series; cornball humor, amusing situations, pop culture references, anachronism, and comfort in the knowledge that LucasArts has designed a game where you are not going to be randomly killed off after hours and hours of time invested. Guybrush and Elaine are great characters, with far more personality than some star-crossed lovers in a current sci-fi movie that George Lucas might be familiar with. I liked the ending of "Escape" much better than "Curse" (I thought the amusement park sequence dragged on too long), and I hope that more Monkey Island adventures will soon follow.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Escape From Monkey Island (MI4)
Review: Escape From Monkey Island is brilliant. Its funny, origional and enjoyable for all ages. This is the 4th of the Monkey Island (MI) series and is as fasanating and as hilarious as the first 3. I played this on ps2, at first i was dissapointed, as the starting sequence was dissapointing. In mi3 (The Curse Of Monkey Island) the start was much better and well drawn. Many people say that the plot wasnt that good, but it isnt supposed to be. The plot isnt important, its the characters and the things they do and say. I was extremely pleased that Murray was in mi4, and it was amazing to go back to Melee island where mi1 was set. I am a Monkey Island fan, and i bought a ps2 only because i wanted to play this game. That is how amazing it is. 11/10 for another outstanding, side-splitting produced by LucasArts.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The best
Review: I loved this game. The 3-d effect is so cool. It adds a little bit more personality to the game and I feel like I'm in it. The humor is hilarious and the music is the best. They need to come out with the soundtrack. The controls are more involved. No more point and click. The creators of this game of outdone themselves this time. Will their be a 5th one? Hopefully. This game is wonderful and is recommended for all ages.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The best
Review: I loved this game. The 3-d effect is so cool. It adds a little bit more personality to the game and I feel like I'm in it. The humor is hilarious and the music is the best. They need to come out with the soundtrack. The controls are more involved. No more point and click. The creators of this game of outdone themselves this time. Will their be a 5th one? Hopefully. This game is wonderful and is recommended for all ages.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Retro Graphics in this game
Review: I was surprised that this game, the fourth in a series, had returned to graphics that looked like a PlayStation game. The previous game had much more detail, the people looked like people, and the background actually had some depth in it. This time around, LucasArts went for a flat look that sometimes drove me crazy because Threepwood would disappear behind something and I couldn't get him out! This is not to mention the top-view parts of the game where Threepwood was transformed into a tiny 8-bit character. He was hard to see and hard to control when he was that small. I recommend playing this with a joystick, if you have one because the standard mouse cannot give you the fine control that you need sometimes. The puzzles varied from easy to figure out to the brainpuzzling monkey insult war and swamp trek. The sounds in this game were Above Average. All the characters had a different voice, a different accent, a different way of speaking. (reoccuring chracters had the same voices as in previous games) The music was excellently chosen from the creepy music in the swamp, to the kooky music for Stan the Salesman. A cute tip: if you type the word "skull" at any time of the game, Murray comes out to laugh at you. The game lets you go at your own pace, nothing is timed. Great for those who like puzzles!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Retro Graphics in this game
Review: I was surprised that this game, the fourth in a series, had returned to graphics that looked like a PlayStation game. The previous game had much more detail, the people looked like people, and the background actually had some depth in it. This time around, LucasArts went for a flat look that sometimes drove me crazy because Threepwood would disappear behind something and I couldn't get him out! This is not to mention the top-view parts of the game where Threepwood was transformed into a tiny 8-bit character. He was hard to see and hard to control when he was that small. I recommend playing this with a joystick, if you have one because the standard mouse cannot give you the fine control that you need sometimes. The puzzles varied from easy to figure out to the brainpuzzling monkey insult war and swamp trek. The sounds in this game were Above Average. All the characters had a different voice, a different accent, a different way of speaking. (reoccuring chracters had the same voices as in previous games) The music was excellently chosen from the creepy music in the swamp, to the kooky music for Stan the Salesman. A cute tip: if you type the word "skull" at any time of the game, Murray comes out to laugh at you. The game lets you go at your own pace, nothing is timed. Great for those who like puzzles!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Its Pink
Review: Okay, so maybe it isn't pink, but it is a great game. I love the Lucas Arts Adventure games with their blends of humor and puzzles. Sure, Myst series may have better puzzles, but the monkey Island series has more humor. Escape keeps in line with all the previous of the series. It features a good plot, tons of fun one liners, and insult sword fighting (plus now monkey judo). It is a hilarous game and well worth the money. Play it, you won't be dissappointed as long as you like to laugh. Oh, and Lucas Arts.....WE WANT MORE ADVENTURE GAMES!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a game!
Review: The series of "Monkey Island" is a funny, interesting, creative game that keeps you playing for hours! I highly suggest buying the "Monkey Island" series.


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