At the Nintendo Direct in June 2022, a rather unexpected guest appeared: Return to Monkey Island. The nostalgic pirate adventure is an absolute highlight for MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus, even though only one and a half minutes of gameplay were shown.
I actually thought that after the reveal of Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria and the really exciting-looking Nightingale, nothing this year could really convince me anymore. However, one game managed to do it.
Return to Monkey Island made a surprising appearance at the Nintendo Direct and even though I already knew the game was coming, the trailer completely captivated me.
It starts with the original voice actor of the main character Guybrush Threepwood being back on board at least in English and narrating the story. But after just 3 seconds, the goosebumps hit.
The iconic theme from Monkey Island still sends chills down my spine to this day, even though I probably first heard it around the year 2000 – I was 7 years old back then.
The whole trailer is bursting with memories from the past. The epic insult duels from the earlier Monkey Island games are revisited, and even the legendary root beer scene from The Secret of Monkey Island gets a short homage at second 0:19.
You can actually play a little bit on the official website and find out more about the game.
A 32-year-old classic celebrates its return
What kind of game is this? Return to Monkey Island continues the story from the second part of the series that was already released in 1991. The series was developed and published by LucasArts, who are now working on a new Indiana Jones game.
You play as the aspiring pirate Guybrush Threepwood, who wants to marry his beloved Elaine Marley. As a point-and-click adventure, you play in a 2D world, directing the hero through the world with mouse clicks, interacting with objects, and talking to NPCs. The game is played in pure single-player mode.
The games take you through different stories on Caribbean islands where you need to solve puzzles and uncover secrets. The rather outlandish, often somewhat dry humor has always been iconic for the series.
One example of this: Sword fights in Monkey Island are not solved through quick-time events or the like. Instead, you have to creatively insult your opponent and find rhymes. Just like it was back in the days with pirates. I think…
In my opinion, the series reached its peak with the third installment, Curse of Monkey Island. However, Ron Gilbert, the creator, was no longer involved in Monkey Island at that time. Therefore, part 3 probably won’t be mentioned here.
When and where can I play Monkey Island? Return to Monkey Island is set to be released in 2022 for PC on Steam and console-exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. An exact date is still pending, as is the price.
Unfortunately, Return to Monkey Island currently has no German voiceover. The voice acting and the partially inserted or localized gags were a reason for many German fans to fall in love with the series.
Even though Return to Monkey Island is a niche title like many point-and-clicks, you can experience the modern adaptation of a piece of video game history here. Monkey Island played a significant part in making me the gamer I am today. Hopefully, the new installment can rekindle the old love.
