A palpable fondness for the primary two Monkey Island video games emanates all through each three-headed monkey gag and bout of insult swordfighting in Return to Monkey Island. It’s the sort of love that trickles down from the highest, as Guybrush Threepwood’s newest journey sees sequence creator Ron Gilbert welcomed again into the fold for the primary time since 1991’s Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge. The self-described grumpy gamer helmed improvement on this surprising sequel alongside veteran designer and author Dave Grossman and the gifted group at developer Terrible Toybox. With this in thoughts, it ought to come as no shock that Return to Monkey Island is tinged with nostalgia and leans into this wistfulness with apparent pleasure. It’s additionally an exhilarating sequel in its personal proper; one which sees the beloved sequence return in swashbuckling trend by incorporating concepts each outdated and new.

Much just like the earliest video games within the sequence, Return to Monkey Island is a standard 2D point-and-click journey recreation constructed on storytelling and puzzle-solving. Hapless protagonist Guybrush Threepwood is back–older and solely barely wiser this time round. The intrepid pirate can be joined by loads of returning characters, together with his standard cohort Elaine Marley and zombie archnemesis, LeChuck. However, probably the most intriguing facet of Return to Monkey Island is that it picks up proper the place LeChuck’s Revenge left off.

In returning to the sequence, Gilbert and Grossman wished to make use of this chance to lastly shed some mild on that recreation’s cliffhanger ending, but Return to Monkey Island is not precisely a direct sequel, both. For one, it nonetheless takes into consideration the occasions of every Monkey Island recreation launched after 1991, with characters like Murray the demonic speaking cranium making an look. How it does this and the way in which it buildings its narrative framework is fascinating, however delving into specifics would encroach on main spoiler territory. Instead, I’ll simply say this distinctive method provides a mysterious wrinkle to an in any other case easy story, and the ending isn’t any much less provocative than the conclusion to LeChuck’s Revenge.

The foremost thrust of the narrative revolves round lastly uncovering the key of Monkey Island. Guybrush is not able to take action at first of the game–being each shipless and crewless–so your first activity is to discover a means off the acquainted Mêlée Island. This is simpler stated than performed, and it would not take lengthy for the story to spiral in a number of instructions because the twists and turns and double- and triple-crosses preserve piling up. The writing and performances from its returning voice solid are top-notch all through, with many of the jokes touchdown even when they are not laugh-out-loud humorous. Monkey Island’s signature model of absurdist humor is absolutely intact, whether or not it is riffing on previous gags, relating trendy themes with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, or showcasing a self-referential wit. There’s additionally an earnestness to the entire expertise that may’t assist however induce a everlasting grin. For as a lot as nostalgia permeates its setting, characters, and music, it is also keenly felt within the recreation’s heartwarming tone because it takes you on one other goofy pirate journey.

Seeing Guybrush stroll out onto Mêlée Island’s lookout level, with the campfire burning and the bearded Lookout purveying the island, transported me again to enjoying The Secret of Monkey Island for the primary time. You can nonetheless go to the SCUMM Bar and listen to a gross sales pitch for the 1990 journey recreation Loom, go beneath the large clock within the city sq. that is still caught on 10 PM, and chat with The Voodoo Lady in entrance of her effervescent cauldron. There have been just a few modifications since Guybrush final stepped foot on the island’s cobblestone streets, with a brand new, youthful era of pirates in cost and a few new proprietors taking over residence, however returning gamers will really feel proper at house, significantly because the soundtrack–arranged by returning composers from the sequence’ past–invokes acquainted melodies that first burrowed into ears many years in the past.

Newcomers will not have this similar rapid connection, however the sequence has at all times had a robust sense of place, and Return to Monkey Island isn’t any totally different. Whether it is the jaunty Caribbean-inspired music or the quantity of element etched into each scene, Monkey Island has at all times had a particular really feel. Much of this has to do with the sport’s evocative artwork fashion, which has been an unlucky level of competition main as much as the sport’s launch. Each entry within the sequence has at all times launched a brand new artwork fashion to maintain issues contemporary and re-introduce the world with a visible reimagining, and Return to Monkey Island does this with aplomb. Everything, from its characters to backdrops to gadgets, seems to be prefer it was pulled from a colourful storybook, with expressive caricatures and beautiful close-ups bringing the world to life with an attention grabbing aesthetic.

It’s a visible fashion that appears trendy, and the identical will be stated of its gameplay, as effectively. The outdated SCUMM-based point-and-click interface of choosing totally different verb commands–such as “speak to” and “choose up”–has been changed with a streamlined system that always provides you one or two context-sensitive choices when interacting with an merchandise or character. Bringing up your stock allows you to seize gadgets and pull them right into a scene, both to present them to somebody, place them someplace, or mix them with one thing. There’s additionally a helpful to-do checklist situated in your stock so you may preserve monitor of your targets. It’s all very intuitive and allows you to give attention to fixing the myriad puzzles that Return to Monkey Island throws your means.

At the start of every playthrough, you are given a selection of two problem modes: Casual, which makes puzzles less complicated by eradicating a number of the steps wanted to unravel them, and Hard, which options extra and tougher puzzles akin to the video games of the ’90s. Whichever possibility you select, Return to Monkey Island continues the sequence’ custom of difficult you with creatively abstruse conundrums to unravel. They’re not often utterly summary, and there’s a playful logic to many of the options. All of the puzzles are intertwined with the sport’s storytelling, too, with many usually triggering a series response the place fixing one thing for one character will open up options for others. Figuring out how numerous gadgets mix collectively after which utilizing them to crack a mind teaser is inherently satisfying, though there are a few puzzles that disappointingly reuse the identical answer, and afterward there’s some back-and-forth journey between quite a few areas that would’ve been dealt with extra easily.

If you might be struggling to determine the reply to a selected puzzle, Return to Monkey Island introduces a magical hints e-book that you could flip to when utterly stumped. Rather than pointing you to the proper reply right away, you may ask this enchanted e-book inquiries to regularly obtain hints that can assist nudge you in the precise path. It sounds easy, however this technique is relatively ingenious. The recreation is aware of which puzzles you’ve got already solved and what gadgets are at present in your stock, so every query and trace is tailor-made to your present circumstances. Using the trace system can be fully non-obligatory, letting you ignore it fully or lean on it solely if you’re actually caught.

Return to Monkey Island is a recreation for the sequence’ followers. There’s a scrapbook on the primary menu that recounts the occasions of previous video games, nevertheless it’s mild on specifics and feels extra like a refresher course than an important software for newcomers to atone for earlier hijinks. Returning gamers will adore the fan service and acquainted sense of heat that permeates the entire expertise, but it nonetheless strives to make itself considerably approachable for learners. There’s no denying that sure components might be misplaced with out that decades-old connection, however having a historical past with the sequence is not important to take pleasure in Guybrush Threepwood’s newest escapade. Return to Monkey Island tells a healthful and compelling story of swashbuckling shenanigans that ought to enchantment to anybody looking for a hearty journey on the excessive seas.