I´ve only played 40 minutes or so of the Launch of the Screaming Narwhal and I´m already screaming with joy at my PC screen. The game had me instantly. The same voiceactors as in MI3 (Dominic Armato you are the MAN !), Michael Land creating the music and humor that feels both familiar AND completely self aware. Before the opening credits was finished I really felt that Telltale had nailed it.
They have nailed that awesome Monkey Island feeling like I just jumped into a time machine back to 97. It all feels very "Curse of Monkey Island" so far. The introduction and the music feels like they were heavily inspired by the third game in the series, and that is truly thew game to draw inspiration from when making a sequel.
I dont know if I´m completely into the character designs yet. Guybrush has a beard again for the first time since LeChuck´s revenge and I don´t know if I want that Guybrush to represent what he is for a new generation.
Environments feels great but they are not nearly as detailed as in "Curse". But I guess its a product of going from 2D to 3D like always.
Really tho, the thing I want to say here is that Telltale REALLY nailed the true Monkey Island feeling. The nail the perfect balance between speaking to the nostalgia in me and also feeling fresh when it comes to jokes and puzzlesolving. Oh yea, the puzzles. They feel updated for the new generation so far. They are LOGIC. Adventure games these days often fall into the "put the fish into your ear and blow the horn to open the door" trap. I don´t want to sit with a superguide in my web browser and alt-tab when playing a PC adventure in 2009, and it seems I wont have to with Tales of Monkey Island.
I had crazy expectations going into this and after my first session I must congratulate Telltale on a job well done. They really went all the way into this one. They REALLY honor the source material and they are very careful not to offend old fans.
As mentioned earlier the writing is superb. I mean its really funny, witty and smart. Monkey Island always had a special kind of humor and they have really honored that while also evolving the script to new heights that includes small winks to people who have already played through all of the games countless times.
I am pleased. Monkey Island is a huuuge part of my childhood. As a big gamer growing up some of the fondest memories I have, all categories of life included, comes from things surrounding the old Monkey Island games.
I never thought I would sit here and be almost all the way pleased with the new one, but I am, and its a great day because of it !
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