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Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, The

EMAIL PRINT pc

9.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 93 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: LucasArts

Developer: LucasArts

Genre(s): Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: July 15, 2009

Summary

As ye venture out onto the docks of Melee Island, there'll be a shock to yer system the likes of which you've never seen. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition gives you the world you remember, yet it be shown to ya like only yer imagination could. It seems Guybrush Threepwood, a young lad wantin' to be a bloodthirsty pirate is back to relive his hunt fo the fabled riches of Monkey Island. Hilarious swashbuckling misadventures: Embark on a bumbling misadventure in an attempt to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean, win the heart of the beautiful governor, Elaine Marley, and confront the evil ghost pirate, LeChuck! High-definition graphics: The game is all-new and re-imagined with a contemporary art style, hand-drawn and presented in 1080p. Complete voice over using original Monkey Island franchise cast members brings the story and characters to life like never before. Renewed music score: Enjoy the re-mastered and re-recorded musical score using live instruments. Special Edition and Classic modes: Scene-for-scene hot swap lets you seamlessly transition between Special Edition and Classic modes at anytime during gameplay. Enhanced gameplay: The all-new intuitive game interface and controls provide a more interactive gameplay experience. Hint system: Not sure what to do next? The in-game puzzle hint system keeps the puzzles fresh and fun. [LucasArts]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

1UP

Simply put, this is quite a perfect adventure game that joins a not-as-perfect-but-still-really-damn-good modern adaptation of a perfect adventure game. What we have is a classic game packaged in a way for everyone (PC or console gamer alike) to finally and easily play it, and that's exactly what you should do -- whether you're learning the secret of Monkey Island for the first or 50th time.

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100

Adventure Gamers

This isn’t a situation where one forces oneself to slog through Moby Dick because it’s a “classic”; The Secret of Monkey Island is still as fun as any other game you’ll play this year, and probably significantly more so, and everyone who loves adventure games should experience it at least once.

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Gamers.at

Monkey Island Special Edition is the well done remake of a classic game. The controls may not be perfect, but the graphics and sound make up for it.

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Multiplayer.it

A great return with an HD graphic and the same, fantastic feeling ever. The new interface works fine and the narrative inventions are still a lot of fun, alfter 19 years.

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PC Zone UK

One of the best games ever. [Oct 2009, p.69]

Gaming Age

The Secret of Monkey Island is a classic, and the enhanced visuals, soundtrack and audio, along with the inclusion of the original art and music is just icing on the cake. Drop that FPS, pack up your rubber chicken-with-a-pulley-in-the-middle, and book a trip to Monkey Island.

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Total PC Gaming

A beloved classic freshly imagined, leaving you the choice of the original to play. [Issue#24, p.57]

Gamer.nl

For only 800 Microsoft Points you'll get one of the greatest adventure games of all time, complete with spoken dialogue and brushed up visuals. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition offers fans as well as newcomers hours of gameplay.

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GameSpy

If you cut your teeth on, say, Telltale's various Sam & Max or Strong Bad series, you're about to find out exactly what a hardcore adventure game plays like.

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Vandal Online

The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition is one of the most recommended buys of this summer, provided one hasn't played the classic game before.

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IGN

Playing this adventure will take you back to a simpler, more innocent time before games needed to bash us over the head with ultra violence to get our attention. They definitely don't make 'em like this anymore.

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Worth Playing

For $10, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is a fantastic remake of a classic game.

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Pelit (Finland)

Shows that the Monkey Island still got what it takes. The new art and musical score are beautiful and voice acting is of good quality. Story and writing are still superb, puzzles are inventive and the game is witty. On the minus side the interface is a little obsolete and there's also a little bit too much running to and fro. Also the imitators of Monkey Island series have eaten away a little bit of the original's magic. Nevertheless the game's still well worth it’s price. [Aug 2009]

GameStar

This new version with polished graphics manages to beat the competition easily. Monkey Island is still one of the best adventures around, maybe still not a 100 percent up to date, but once you're in the Caribbean, you won't care anymore.

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PC Games (Germany)

An almost perfect remake of a timeless classic. It captures the look and feel of the original game while it benefits greatly from decent new graphics and top-notch voice acting. If only Lucas Arts hadn't changed the control scheme! The use of that clumsy Xbox 360 interface in a adventure game (!) for pc is just ridiculous, it really brings down some of the fun.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Twenty years ago LucasArts showed the world how to make great adventure games. Today they show others how remakes should be done. Excellent work. [Aug 2009]

Everyeye.it

Quotation forthcoming.

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NZGamer

If you appreciate hilarity and good puzzles, check this out now!

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GamePro

But the moral of the story here is, well-written scripts and addictive story modes never spell a bad time. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is impressive, hilarious and downright worth your money.

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GameSpot

If you've got opposable thumbs, a sense of humor, and a brain that you're not afraid to use, this puzzle-filled adventure is one well worth taking.

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PC Gamer UK

An oddly clumsy reprise of a much loved game. Beautifully hand-pained, wonderfully acted, but strange design choices. [Sept 2009, p.70]

Cheat Code Central

The game only lasts about 5-6 hours, and many will find what's on offer exceedingly dull. Still, point-and-click fans and puzzle-adventure buffs should really enjoy it.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.6 (out of 10) based on 93 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Erica gave it a10:
One thing many people who've given the game low reviews seem to 'ignore' is the fact that the game is almost 20 years old. It was not 'reimagined', simply given a makeover and given a voice. A lot of the elements in the game are easy, or in some cases (like myself) played it back in 1990 and somehow remember exactly what to do. So remember, you can't really judge it based on today's standards and call it a fair judgment. For me, it brought back memories of being 7 and watching eagerly as my dad installed the game onto our computer so I could play it.

Jon N gave it a10:
Love it. I had played the original before, and the remake adds some sweet icing to the cake with renewed graphics and stellar voice acting. It's always interesting to see the difference when using the nifty F10 button to transition between the original and remade interface and graphics at ANY time while playing.

Michele L gave it a10:
I love the Monkey Island games as well as most of the old adventure games from that time. It makes me sad that there aren't more games like this coming out all the time, but I'm glad to see that enough people love them that they're still hanging on out there among all the 1st person shooters. Monkey Island is one of the best of these types of games and I am thrilled that this classic was remade with new graphics. Long live Monkey Island!

[ANONYMOUS] gave it a10:
Its surreal they've redone it. Nice work! I hope that no.2 though looks more like this: http://www.loneclone.de/projects/monkey.htm

Tarkus gave it a5:
This remake is wonderfully done: the new graphic is just great, and the voices aswell. The problem is that it is too, too, very short. It lasts like 5/6 hours or so, and in the end you feel disappointed, because you would have expected more. Honestly, I don't think it was even worth buying it, even if it's just at a very cheap price. (P.S: Don't use H key!!! The help key: the adventure is already so damnit short, you don't want to make it even shorter and easier than it is already...)

[ANONYMOUS] gave it a9:
I have few memories of the original game, but I think this is as fantastic as it was in 1990. I purchased it on steam for 4.49 euros and I have been playing for 5 hours no-stop this afternoon. Really worth the price. Brilliant.

Maxie D. gave it a10:
One of the best adventure games ever!! Graphic, sounds and all things inside the game are amazing! I play all 4 Monkey's adventure... this is the best! I hope that Lucasarts convert all Monkey Island adventures with this style!!!

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Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, The

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Summary

What The Critics Said

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