Escape from Monkey Island

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 372 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • humor
Escape from Monkey Island Game Cover
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"Escape from Monkey Island" is the fourth game in the Monkey Island series, where protagonist Guybrush Threepwood returns to Monkey Island to face his nemesis LeChuck and the forces of gentrification, all while uncovering the Ultimate Insult. This graphic adventure game is filled with hilarious dialogues, challenging puzzles, and the classic witty humor that the Monkey Island series is known for. The game continues the story of a mighty pirate's life, questioning the choices made and preparing for the biggest battle yet.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 372 reviews
story45 positive mentions
gameplay16 negative mentions
  • The game retains the classic Monkey Island humor and charm, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
  • The puzzles are creative and challenging, providing a satisfying experience for players who enjoy problem-solving.
  • The voice acting and character interactions are well done, adding depth to the story and making it engaging.
  • The controls are clunky and frustrating, with a tank control scheme that makes navigation difficult and unintuitive.
  • The graphics have not aged well, with low-quality 3D models that detract from the overall experience.
  • There are numerous bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
  • story115 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its humor, engaging characters, and continuity within the Monkey Island series. However, some players express frustration with the execution, citing issues with controls and puzzles that detract from the overall experience. While the narrative is considered fun and interesting, it is noted that certain design choices and inconsistencies may leave some fans feeling disappointed compared to earlier entries in the franchise.

    • “The story is good, the music and voice acting are really great, and the jokes are actually very funny.”
    • “Every bit of the story just screams the soul of the previous games.”
    • “It's a wild, winding story with lots of twists, turns, and revelations, but that's what makes it a fun ride.”
    • “The story is okay, but some of the puzzles are just downright absurd and random – and this is not a compliment.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is dragged down by a weak performance in its story and puzzles.”
    • “The storyline is not good enough either; this installment can't even compare to its predecessors.”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being dated and unattractive, with many reviewers noting that the early 3D art style has not aged well compared to the previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the charm and expressiveness of the graphics, the overall consensus is that they are a significant downgrade, often described as "atrocious" or "ugly." Despite these shortcomings, a few players find the visuals acceptable within the context of the game's era, though they still acknowledge the need for modern enhancements.

    • “The graphics are still charming and the controls are still serviceable.”
    • “The 3D graphics, while primitive nowadays, were great for their time and utilize some really expressive animation work.”
    • “Adorable, minimalistic, colorful 3D graphics that fit well to the humorous atmosphere of Threepwood's adventures.”
    • “As for the graphics, early 3D styles like this have aged so poorly.”
    • “The graphics are atrocious and the controls are god awful but the comedy is still there.”
    • “The aged 3D graphics look buggy and ugly, and the keyboard controls are a pain compared to point-and-click.”
  • humor73 mentions

    The humor in the latest Monkey Island installment is generally well-received, with many praising its witty dialogue and charming characters that maintain the series' signature comedic style. However, some players feel that the humor is hit-or-miss compared to earlier titles, with a reliance on more random jokes and less engaging banter. Despite mixed opinions on the overall execution, the game still delivers moments of genuine laughter and retains the quirky charm fans expect.

    • “As with all other Monkey Island stories, this one is legendary, emotional, funny, and humbling.”
    • “The story is good, the music and voice acting are really great, and the jokes are actually very funny.”
    • “The humor and voice acting are superb, and the puzzles are some of the most challenging and entertaining in the series.”
    • “Worst part of the series, filled with bugs that were never fixed, like game-breaking bugs that will stop you after accepting the already awful tank controls... outdated... not funny and worst of all: not worth even 1 cent!”
  • gameplay47 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the shift from classic point-and-click mechanics to clunky keyboard controls, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the adventure and puzzle elements, the tedious and often nonsensical puzzles, along with game-breaking bugs, have led to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant step down from previous entries in the series, marred by awkward controls and technical issues.

    • “Truly a masterpiece in 3D adventure gaming - think point and click, just with a keyboard and WASD-like mechanics.”
    • “It uses many of the traditional adventure game mechanics within a 3D environment, set in a world of lovable pirates and voodoo magic.”
    • “It's fun; yes, it doesn't have the standard point-and-click gameplay, but it's fun and unique in its own way.”
    • “Honestly, I can't complain about the graphics (they're early 3D graphics, what did you expect), and I can even put up with the horrendously clunky controls and tedious gameplay, but unfortunately I was forced to quit due to running into game-breaking bugs that I can't figure out how to bypass.”
    • “The departure from classic gameplay, lackluster humor, shift to a more simplified interface, overly convoluted puzzles, and the introduction of clunky 3D graphics left me feeling disappointed.”
    • “Awful controls, and very frustrating gameplay.”
  • music27 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that it may not feature standout tracks, it is described as catchy, memorable, and fitting for the game's settings. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its charm and nostalgia for longtime fans of the series.

    • “The music is catchy and always sets the mood.”
    • “The only redeeming factors are the quite absurd story (but feels like a Monkey Island game) and the music which is great like always.”
    • “The music is purely ornamental to each setting, although sometimes it's anachronistic, much like the jokes.”
    • “In terms of music, I wouldn't say there are any bangers here, but neither were there in previous offerings, outside of some recurring themes, like Stan's.”
    • “The music seems overproduced and of a lower quality.”
    • “Not even the soundtrack made me feel it was a proper Monkey Island game.”
  • stability26 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Many users noted that while some puzzles are enjoyable, the frequent technical issues make it frustrating and often unplayable, particularly in the Steam version compared to others. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "clunky," leading to a general recommendation against playing it.

    • “This version is so buggy that it is only luck that would allow someone to complete it (the puzzles were all fine, the bugs were all whenever the game needed to load something new).”
    • “But unfortunately, the version that is being sold is a buggy mess that doesn't really work on modern systems, nor has the publisher spent any time making it.”
    • “Abysmal tank controls, glitches, graphical errors, bugs, and terrible puzzle design (especially monkey kombat) make this not only the weakest title of the Monkey Island series, but also a game that cannot be recommended to anyone, ever.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and frustrating puzzles, clunky controls, and slow animations that cannot be skipped. Players often find themselves resorting to walkthroughs due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the challenge, many feel that the grinding elements are excessively cumbersome and detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Not to mention many of these puzzles are locked behind slow and tedious animations that you cannot skip; these same animations sometimes have to be repeated more than 5 or 10 times, making a five-minute puzzle turn into a 30 minutes to an hour tedious slog.”
    • “I had to resort to using a walkthrough to get past both of those puzzles, but otherwise I have been able to eventually work the rest out for myself, although this has required much tedious 'try using inventory items on environmental objects to see what happens' repetition, which can get frustrating.”
    • “The 'bronze hat' puzzle is particularly frustrating, as once you figured it out, going through the steps of executing the solution is extremely tedious.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of nostalgic charm and humor, enhanced by Michael Land and Clint Bajakian's engaging score. While some players note that the dated 3D style can feel bare-bones, the overall experience remains vibrant and colorful, successfully capturing the wacky essence of the series with memorable characters and clever puzzles.

    • “Michael Land and Clint Bajakian's score and compositions allow the player to just breathe in the atmosphere.”
    • “It's really good to see old characters from previous games, and it has that wacky and zany atmosphere of the series.”
    • “It's definitely a dated style of 3D, so the atmosphere feels a little bland and bare-bones.”
    • “Adorable, minimalistic, colorful 3D graphics that fit well with the humorous atmosphere of Threepwood's adventures.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for lacking mouse support, having a poor keyboard interface, and an unclear gamepad setup that fails to recognize all buttons. Additionally, players report performance issues, including stuttering during cutscenes, which detracts from the overall experience. In comparison, older titles like "Curse of Monkey Island" are noted for their smooth performance, highlighting the shortcomings of this game's optimization.

    • “Funny thing is that 'Curse of Monkey Island' even now, after all those years, runs smoothly like butter.”
    • “No mouse support, bad keyboard interface, and a gamepad setup that calls all the buttons 'gamebutton n' (so 'gamebutton6' rather than 'right trigger'). Half the buttons are not supported, and it started stuttering during cutscene videos.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is dragged down by weak performance in its story and puzzles.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as legendary and humbling, consistent with the series' tradition, though some players felt the soundtrack did not fully capture the essence of a classic Monkey Island experience.

    • “As with all other Monkey Island stories, this one is legendary, emotional, funny, and humbling.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users generally feel that adventure games offer limited replayability, often providing a single satisfying experience. While some may revisit them after a long time for nostalgia, the overall consensus is that these games lack significant lasting appeal for repeated playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a surprising amount of replayability, with different choices leading to unique outcomes each time you play.”
    • “I found myself coming back to the game multiple times, as each playthrough revealed new secrets and storylines.”
    • “The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh, making it enjoyable to replay.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
    • “The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in gameplay, which severely limits its replayability.”
    • “After finishing the main story, I found that there were no new challenges or different paths to explore, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the game's 3D environments and character designs received some appreciation, the overall character development did not resonate with players, leading to a lack of enjoyment in the visual presentation.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which diminished my overall enjoyment of the story.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the characters don't evolve in meaningful ways, leaving their journeys feeling unfulfilling.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

13hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
10hMain story
12hCompletionist
7-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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