Guybrush returns in Monkey Island 4  Screenshot Gallery

Escape from Monkey Island
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucasArts

When we heard Lucas Arts was doing another Monkey Island game and that it was from the Sam and Max Hit the Road team, we made a quick mental note that this game was a likely candidate for our Best Of Show list.  Then we actually saw the game demo in LucasArts' suite and were completely blown away.  The art is just so vibrant and stylistic, the characters so bold and so expressive, and the humor right on the money yet again.

Admittedly the Monkey Island series has a certain cachet associated with it, but this game, which uses an upgraded Grim Fandango engine, looks incredible too – the team has done a fantastic job moving the Caribbean flavor of Monkey Island to a 3D engine.  At the same time the game doesn't have that jagged hard-edged look that plagues most other 3D games.   Artistically, this is the game of the show, but more importantly, the actual gameplay looks to be typical Monkey Island fare with branching dialogue and inventory items – that's a good thing.

The story starts with our favorite pirate wannabe Guybrush and his bride Governor Elaine returning to Mellee Island for their honeymoon only to discover that the Governor's mansion is scheduled for demolition.   Elaine has to deal with a reelection campaign against Charles L. Charles while Guybrush is sent off on a legal errand that will no doubt result in many humorous misadventures on his part.

Escape from Monkey Island is scheduled for release this fall.