The legendary video game saga “Monkey Island” is back

Years before the release of the original PlayStation, Lucasfilm was one of the most passionate companies in the video game industry. With famous graphic adventures that are technically personal and fun with their dialogues, he has reached the pinnacle of genius with two titles starring the impossible-named pirate, Gaibrush Tripwood.

A worthy statement for the first of April

The story of the return of this saga to its classic coordinates caused a stir on stage Gamer. Already last Friday, one of its original creators, Ron Gilbert, warned about the imminent project on his website. The problem was that his statement coincided with the first of April, so it was jokingly misinterpreted by the author.

However, its accuracy was confirmed today thanks to a preview uploaded to Devolver Digital’s YouTube channel, a company known for developing one of the most famous independent games of the last decade. Miami Hotline. Ron Gilbert himself confirmed this news in another post on his blog.

In a brief but ridiculous review that accurately jokes the author’s alleged refusal to revisit the saga, its release is expected in 2022. By title Return to Monkey IslandReleased in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, Devolver Digital and Terrible Toybox, the studio under which Gilbert edited in 2017. Thimbleweed ParkA faithful proposition of his style.

George Lucas’s bet, which led to the myth

The agitation caused by this news makes great sense, after all The Secret of the Monkey Island This is probably the most enjoyable game in the entire LucasArts catalog. Originally known as LucasFilms Games, it was established as a subsidiary business of the George Lucas film production company.

This video game, released in 1990, was the fifth company to use the SCUMM engine, a funny abbreviation. Script creation program for Maniac Mansion. Among those who have taken advantage of such technology, there are just as many classic games for a player of a certain age as crazy Maniac Palace (1987), Exciting Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) or causative sheet (1990).

All of them had common features such as operation based on a simple method Enter and click (Draw the path of the hero, pointing to a specific point on the stage), interact with other characters through very comic dialogues, and present simple but engaging graphics. It was a pixelated era in which the recent transition from four colors in the CGA system to VGA 256 has already revolutionized.

Return to Monkey Island, after 31 years

The first title of the pirate saga appeared in 1990, under the title The Secret of the Monkey Island. Your sequel! Monkey Island 2: Revenge of LechakIt was released only a year later. To specify that argument Return to Monkey Island Will continue where this second part is not a trivial detail, for several reasons. The first is that this ending is still talked about as one of the most amazing video game in history.

Second, that although the saga continued with similar chapters Curse of the Monkey Island (1997), Escape from Monkey Island (2000) or Monkey Island Tales (2009), for their fans, this betrayed the original soul. In fact, other LucasArts titles are like Sam and Max hit the road (1993) or Complete pastime (1995) featured their schedule as a challenge for another giant of the time, Sierra On-line, which is responsible Leisure costume gel Or saga The King’s Quest.

In the first two Monkey Island It tells the story of the adventures and misfortunes of Gaibrush Tripwood, a young man who dreams of becoming a great pirate of the Caribbean. His rivalry with the evil Lechak and his attempt to conquer Governor Elaine Marley is revealed as a result of Bodhisattva story changes. These games are still a source of memes, a few moments worthy of the best Monty Python, among which, for example, the memorable insult fight stands out.

Good Hopes (for Gaybrush Threepwood)

In addition to its sequel and the return of the original writer-director, fans Monkey Island Mention was added to Dave Grossman’s project, the first two games with developer and co-author Gilbert. As well as composers Michael Land, Peter McConnell and Clint Bajakian, who are responsible for his fantastic soundtrack and Guybrush’s original voice, Dominic Armato.

At Teaser-trailer Detected by Devolver Digital, no specific release date is specified Return to Monkey Island, Only that it will be produced by 2022. Nor has it been revealed for which devices it will be available, though it has been suggested that since it is more of a saga focused on script enjoyment rather than technical spectacle, the game is likely to be cross-platform. And that includes, how else could a monkey with three heads be.