Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge - Special Edition

The Good
Note: I'm reviewing solely the remastered version of Monkey Island 2. All things to do with the original Monkey Island 2 will be ignored. As well as referring to the previous game, it will be the remastered version of Monkey Island 1.

It's a Monkey Island game. Which means you can expect great puzzles, humor, and exploring. Almost all features from the first Monkey Island are carried over into this sequel; with an addition of easier inventory access and object interaction. This time around, you simply have to right-click an item to interact with it, rather than having to press the key associated with it (T for Talk, P for Push, etc). The voice acting, music, and overall sound of the game is great. Each character has a distinct personality and really brings the whole world to life combined with it's great art direction. Some nice additions are also in-game audio developer commentary, unlockable concept art, the ability to switch back-and-forth between the old and new graphics, and a hint system to help you if you are stuck.

The Bad
Unfortunately, this game doesn't stand close to the first Monkey Island. The hilarious "insult sword fighting" from before is entirely gone which means there is really no particular fight in the game to be had. The game is simply too big, and too long. It's funny because during some bits of the developer commentary they even discuss these issues: whether it was a good idea for game to be so long compared to the first Monkey Island. Monkey Island 2 also over complicates the puzzles too much. For example, there is a bag hanging from a tree branch and you can only cut it with ONE particular object. So, if you have a knife, a saw, or a broken bottle, all which are capable of cutting, you can only use the broken bottle to cut the bag. This happens quite a few times during the game. There is much more backtracking than the first game. Depending on who you are, you either love that or hate it.

The Bottom Line
A great game, an okay sequel. A lot less memorable than the first Monkey Island across the board. In terms of characters, settings, and atmosphere, Monkey Island 2 falls just a bit short when trying to follow up a great, great first game. Nonetheless, a solid, and humorous adventure experience.

The Good
Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate, defeated the Ghost Pirate LeChuck in the last game using a bottle of root beer. Now he returns in this special edition of this classic Monkey Island game, trying to search for the legendary treasure of Big Whoop that will give him fame and fortune. But what's a MI game without LeChuck himself?

Everything in the special edition of the first game is already included here. The hand-drawn graphics are as good as they were back in the early '90s, with amazing locations on both Phatt and Booty Islands. The music in the game is recorded using live instruments, which gives it more of a reggae feel to it. It is easy to memorize each turn in the game. The actors that voice the characters in future Monkey Island games make a re-appearance here. Just hearing most of the dialogue is hilarious. Such situations include Guybrush begging the Men of Low Moral Fiber for the bucket and sawing one of their peg legs off.

But what I like most about the special edition is switching to the classic mode every now and again, not just for nostalgia's sake, but for immediate access to the verbs/inventory for time-based puzzles such as closing the coffin on Stan and nailing it shut. You even have the opportunity to include the voiceovers in the classic mode. Now you can find out what Monkey Island 2 would have been like if it was released on CD-ROM in the early '90s.

The interface is similar to that of Curse of Monkey Island: right-clicking the mouse button will bring up the verb menu, with a nice animation of a compass pointing to your selection. The audio commentary delves into the making of the game, spoken by the game's original creators. If it is available, it will tell you which button to press near the top of the screen, but you can turn it off in the options menu.

The built-in hint system is ideal for players who are new to the Monkey Island series and get stuck in the game and want to know what to do next. Using this feature is much better than printing out a walkthrough for the game. (Besides, you can get lost reading walkthroughs.) At some points in the game, concept artwork is unlocked. given the player a behind-the-scenes look at the game, from initial drawings to deleted scenes. Players can earn achievements by completing certain tasks such as completing a section of the game and switching to the classic mode at least once.

The Bad
The memorable thing about the original Monkey Island 2 was the dancing monkeys that are shown during the opening credits. Sadly, there are no dancing monkeys in the special edition which means that there are no opening credits. It just cuts to Scabb Island. Maybe most of the achievements are too easy to obtain also.

The Bottom Line
Monkey Island 2 was always my favorite Monkey Island game, with its breathtaking graphics, excellent sound, and its humor; and this special edition doesn't disappoint. It is similar to the special edition of the first game, but more features are introduced such as achievements, concept art, and classic mode voice acting. It's too bad that there are no opening credits. In conclusion, though, Monkey Island 2 Special Edition is much better; and anyone who played the original game should grab a copy of this.

The Good
The Secret of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is one video game that every gamer should play. It is one of the best graphic adventure games made. It is one of the best sequel games made. It is one of the funniest games made. It is, simply put, one of the best video games ever made.

The Special Edition retains all that was great about the game, and finds ways to make it better. Better graphics, amazing voice actors, smooth and responsive game play mechanics and a nice selection of extras to keep dedicated fans of the series interested.

The sequel takes place months after the first game. Guybrush Threepwood has found his fame and fortune, and enjoys retelling how he saved a lovely lady and defeated a zombie pirate with what was, essentially, root beer soda. However, all is not well in the Caribbean.

LeChuck, the zombie pirate, is back and, as the title suggests, has some unfriendly plans for Mr. Threepwood. Guybrush finds himself broke, single and stuck on an anarchist island ruled by a bully named Largo LaGrande.

The only hope for Guybrush Threepwood is to locate the fabulous treasure known to pirates everywhere as Big Whoop.

Guybrush has to interact with a wide range of eccentric people and pick up various items, which are used to solve numerous adventure-style puzzles.

Solving inventory-based puzzles will bring Guybrush Threepwood closer to reuniting with his girlfriend, the Governor, cracking the Big Whoop mystery and, maybe, figure out how to put an end to LeChuck for good.

The Bad
I really cannot think of anything to complain about. I am upset that more Monkey Island games were not released for the Xbox 360. I really would have liked to see a Special Edition of Monkey Island 3 and 4.

I am not sure if Disney -- when it bought Lucasfilm -- put the kibosh on future Monkey Island Special Edition games, but it is a disappointment.

The Bottom Line
The Secret of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is everything that a sequel should be, and probably one of the best video games every made. New and old fans of the Monkey Island franchise should give this game a try.