LucasArts Archive Series. Escape From Monkey Island

Customer Reviews

a GREAT game! .. but hard to sell :(

2005-04-19
I absolutely loved this game!
The characters, the music, the art, the dialog .. it's all just done so amazingly well.
The worst part about it for me was when it ended .. I just wanted it to keep going.
I really, really hope they make another one.

Unfortunately a game like this is not easy to sell to the general gaming public. It's hard to advertise to people what is so great about it and because of that I would imagine that it's difficult to sell many copies.
I can only guess about the outrageous number of hours and the extreme amount of effort that must have gone into making this game.
I don't know how many copies have sold, but I don't think it's nearly enough to make up for the amount of work that went into it.

If you can manage to do so, I recommend playing all the other monkey island games first (in order) to really immerse yourself in the Monkey Island world.
Monkey Island 1 and 2 are pretty old so don't expect to be impressed with graphics or sound but they're both still great fun.
Monkey Island 3 (The Curse of Monkey Island) is a more recent release that is comparable to this game in quality .. even without the 3D graphics .. it too is a great game!

Not as Much Fun as "Curse of Monkey Island"

2002-06-03
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.

it IS funny 2002-05-09
When this game came out, people were saying it wasn't funny enough or not as funny as Curse, but in some ways it's funnier. Such as the visually challenged story teller(P.U.) or the 'abominatioin of nature' 'eeeaaah!" I won't go into the details of anything, but as the story moves along, things actually get funnier. The opening gameplay scene starts out a bit lame, especially the 'milk money' joke, but other than that, it is a riot and as the game moves along it gets more interesting. In some ways it is reminicent of 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' in 'pirate' format instead of 'outerspace'. Don't judge a game by it's opening scene.

I LOVE this game!!! Ü 2002-03-27
This is my favorite game. I LOVE it!!! All of the Monkey Island games are fierce, but this one is my favorite. I really like the 3D characters. You don't have to have played the other three, it will still be fun, but I reccommened it because then you will get some of the inside jokes from the other games better, and you'll know the characters. They are a lot of fun, too. I strongly reccommened playing the other three.

If you do choose to play the other ones (which I hope you do), don't expect too much as far as sound and graphics go. In the first two you don't hear the characters speak, and they aren't as cool, but it is still SO HILARIOUS and SO MUCH FUN!!! In the third one you can hear them talk, and they are cartoons, so that is so much better. The fourth one is absolutely the best so far, though. I can't wait until the fifth one comes out!!!

I would also reccommened using a walkthrough, but ONLY USE IT IF YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. I can't stress that enough. It is not nearly as fun if you already know how to beat it. I only say to use it because some of the puzzles do not have obvious solutions.

To sum it up, this game is the most fun game I have ever played. It is challenging, adventurous, and above all SO FUNNY!!! It is filled with great characters, hilarious dialogue, and awesome puzzles. If I could rate this on a scale of 1 to 5 I would give it a 7!!! I'm a huge Monkey Island fan!!!!

The best 2002-03-19
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.

Retro Graphics in this game 2002-03-03
LucasArts' Monkey Island adventure game series has been missed of late. It has been too long since we've visited the anachronistic Tri-Island area in a Monkey game stuffed with vivid characters, zany plot twists, and liberal use of awful and awfully funny puns. Thank goodness that the clumsy, bumbling, and utterly charming pirate hero Guybrush Threepwood returns in Escape from Monkey Island. Luckily for him so does his bride, Elaine Marley Threepwood; unluckily, it looks like the stubborn ghost pirate LeChuck may be back as well. Or is he? We'd tell you but that would give away too much of the vibrant and hilarious story line.

This is adventure gaming at its very best: sharp graphics, excellent voice acting and writing, and solid puzzles throughout. LucasArts even included a walk-through that'll get any new players into the right mindset to solve the bizarre, convoluted, and convulsively funny pun-ridden puzzles in the game. But players who rely on it are missing out. Sometimes it's much funnier to do things the wrong way, because the sharp-minded developers probably already thought of it and are ready to reward you with a humorous comment or action. Completely hilarious, drop-dead gorgeous, and always innovative LucasArts proves once and for all there is ample life left in the adventure genre. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

Excellent voice acting and writing
Very funny
Challenging for players of all skill levels

Cons:

The controls could be a little more streamlined

I want mouse support

2002-02-12
This game is a fun but i am missing mouse. after playing first 3 games in the series with the mouse, keyboard feels hectic.

Ye better hope yer sword be sharp as yer wit

2002-02-04
...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!

What a game!

2002-02-02
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.

Its Pink

2002-01-23
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!