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Appletell has posted a new review of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition from LucasArts and Aspyr Media. The game is a "reimagining" of the original 1990 title, updated with contemporary art, remastered music, full voiceover, and a new hint system. Appletell gave The Secret of Monkey Island: SE a score of five out of five.

From the review:

But the special edition doesn’t just update the graphics. It has a re-recorded and remastered score, and you’ve now got full voice acting, with the principal characters (Guybrush Threepwood, Elaine Marley and the ghost pirate LeChuck) being voiced by the same actors who played them in Tales of Monkey Island. Having recently finished that game, it was nice to get this continuity. They do a fantastic job.

The biggest update from the original version would have to be the new command system. Gone are the typed verb commands, replaced by cursor icons that tell you how can interact with various characters and objects. Some of these can be confusing at first, but you get the hang of it quickly.

Of couse, with adventure games, what really matters are the story and puzzles. The puzzles need to be challenging without being illogical, and the story needs to be entertaining enough to drive you through the puzzles and keep you going when you get stumped…which you will (although purists show note that the actual “stump joke” has been removed). A new hint system will generally let you know what do at the more frustrating points, but in this age of online walkthroughs, it’s not entirely necessary. Where were such tools in 1990 when your only available help was a 99 cent per minute hint line phone call?

Appletell: The Secret of Monkey Island SE

Aspyr Media

The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Buy The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition

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