Return To Monkey Island Review: Rekindling The Magic

Guybrush Threepwood (Mighty Pirate) is, of course, back and on the hunt for, what else, the Secret of Monkey Island. Except things are different this time. Everything is different this time. But it’s also the same as it ever was.

As always, Guybrush will have to contend with his long-time nemesis — the dreaded zombie pirate LeChuck — in a race to finally, at long last, after all this time, find the Secret of Monkey Island. It’s something that will take him to places both familiar and new, with some recognizable faces alongside several new ones. It’s a proper “Monkey Island” adventure through and through is what I’m saying.

And much like previous “Monkey Island” games, familiarity with older entries is both not necessary and essential. What I mean is, if this is your first time hanging out with the Caribbean’s most dashing pirate named “Guybrush,” there’s plenty of entertainment to be had here. Despite being saturated with nods, winks, and neon signage to pretty much all of the earlier games, “Return to Monkey Island” doesn’t rely on that familiarity. A lot of the jokes have nothing to do with the classic stuff, but even those that reference classic material still land — even if you don’t realize there’s a connection.

All that said, having prior experience with at least the first few games is extremely rewarding. Especially when it comes to the vast amount of visual easter eggs peppered all over the entire game.