There aren’t many people who could honestly say that they were expecting theMonkey Islandseries to make a comeback in 2022. Ateaser trailerfor the appropriately namedReturn to Monkey Islandwas released on April 4th, 2022, which showed off newartistic visualsand revealed that original creators Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman would be working on the game, while Dominic Armato would once again voice the main character, Guybrush Threepwood.
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The game’s announcement has excited gamers for its nostalgic value and because it could spark a boost in popularity for theoft-forgotten point-and-click genre, which suffered a brutally quick fall from grace in the late 90s. It’s unlikely that the genre will ever reach its early 90s heights again, though games likeKentucky Route Zerohave shown that the genre can still succeed today, while critically-acclaimed RPGDisco Elysiumhas shown how point-and-click games could adapt and modernize. Fans are already talking about what they do and don’t want to see in the highly anticipated return for the series, so we thought we’d get in on the act.
5No Moon Logic
One of the most common issues people had withpoint-and-click gamesfrom the 80s and 90s was their tendency to implement “moon logic.” Moon logic refers to puzzles with a strange, illogical, or ridiculously convoluted solution that will make players say, “how on earth was I ever supposed to figure that out?!” when they inevitably look up the answer online.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revengehad one of the most famous moon logic puzzles of all time, where players needed a wrench, so, logically, they had to find a banana to hypnotize a monkey to use as a “monkey wrench” – a bizarre enough puzzle for Americans, but avirtually impossible puzzlein the many countries where “monkey wrench” isn’t a known term.
The fall of the point-and-click genre’s popularity is often attributed to its failure to modernize itself in the late 90s, though the abundance of moon logic puzzles are also responsible. Consequently, it would be a great shame ifReturn to Monkey Islandfeatured moon logic puzzles, as it would remind players why the genre suffered such a sharp decline.
4A Revamped Hint System
Following on from the previous point, one of the reasons why point-and-click games had so manyexcruciatingly difficult puzzlesis because the games would advertise tie-in helplines or hint books, that players would often be forced to pay for if a friend couldn’t help them out.
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Today, players don’t have to look too far for solutions if they get stuck, as online guides and YouTube tutorials are there to offer a helping hand. However, many players don’t like looking up the answer online, as it ruins their enjoyment. Hints and tips are a great compromise for this, as if they’re done right, they can guide players in the right direction without thwarting the addictive feeling of satisfaction that puzzle-solving provides.
The special edition releases of the first twoMonkey Islandgamesimplemented a new hint system, though it had some issues. For starters, there were usually only two or three tips available that often gave away the solution instantly, unlike hint sites like Universal Hint System, which usually provides well over five tips that gradually expand in explanation. The hint system was also mapped to a button on the controller, making them far too tempting to use. IfReturn to Monkey Islanddoes feature hints, it would be great if there were revamped to be more of a gradual helping hand that is accessed in a pause menu.
3Insult Sword Fighting
Insult Sword Fighting is one of theMonkey Islandseries' most iconic features. Given that the game revolves around pirates, many players expected that sword fighting would play a part in the originalMonkey Island,though they weren’t sure how it would play out, given Guybrush Threepwood’s ineptitude as a pirate.
In a brilliant twist that IGN included at number 55 in their list of theTop 100 Unforgettable Video Game Moments, the sword fights are contested through the use of witty comebacks. AlthoughReturn to Monkey Islandneeds to be careful not to be too nostalgia-heavy, it would be a shame if Insult Sword Fighting doesn’t make an appearance.
2Console Releases
The vast majority of point-and-click games have been exclusive to PC, which should be no surprise given the genre’s name. However, point-and-click adventures games did start appearing on consoles in the late 90s, and the special edition remakes of the first twoMonkey Islandgames were released on consoles in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
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The console releases brought a new wave of fans to the series and considering that many people are hopeful thatReturn to Monkey Islandcould give the genre a boost in popularity, it would be a shame if the release waslimited to just one system. At the time of writing, it is unclear which systems the game will be released on, though a PC release is a near certainty.
1A Reasonable Price
As mentioned before, one of the main reasons why the point-and-click genre faced a freefall in popularity was that it failed to keep up with the fast-moving changes in the gaming industry, such as the jump from 2D to 3D, which made 2D games feel overpriced in comparison. With games likeElden RingandBreath of the Wildgiving playershundreds of hours of content, it should go without saying thatReturn to Monkey Islandneeds to bring its cost right down compared to those titles, assuming it’s going to feature traditional point-and-click gameplay.
Granted, some fans of the series would be happy paying AAA prices for the game, though it will struggle to reach a wider audience at that price point if the gameplay isn’t drastically different from previous entries in the series.
Return to Monkey Islandis set to release in 2022. It has not yet been announced which consoles the game is heading to.
