It’s been 13 years and two console generations since puzzle-solving pirate Guybrush Threepwood last graced our screens in the final installment of Telltale Games’ Tales of Monkey Island, but with the next adventure in the series finally ready to drop next week, longtime voice actor Dominic Armato has popped up in a one-minute trailer to show the evolution of series over the past three-plus decades.
The trailer premiered at this weekend’s Disney and Marvel Games Showcase, a short, online selection of trailers for upcoming games from the world’s largest entertainment media company.
Armato, who has been voicing Guybrush since the series’ earliest days, leads viewers on a guided tour through the Monkey Island history books, showcasing how the games’ art has moved from its original chunky pixels to blocky polygons and finally to the “gorgeous illustrated art style” appearing in the upcoming release. Rex Crowle, known for his artwork on 2016 indie games Knights & Bikes, which he also wrote and directed, has provided the game with a flat-yet-striking 2-D style that should translate well to the classic point-and-click adventure that will continue to persist through the series.
The Monkey Island series is a beloved IP for many, and its sense of humor has left fans with many fond memories. However, with a series dating more than three decades back and such a long gap between games, even the most dedicated fans may have trouble remembering every detail of the piratical adventures of the past. But the developers have introduced a special tool, in the form of Guybrush’s personal in-game scrapbook, to help fill in any fuzzy details in players’ memories.
“It’s a great way to get caught up on what’s happened so far or a fun refresher if you already know the whole story,” Armato describes the scrapbook during the trailer.
The LucasArts-led Monkey Islands series took off for adventure back in the days of DOS with The Secret of Monkey Island in 1990. Return to Monkey Island will be the sixth entry in the series, and series creator Ron Gilbert is once again standing at the helm. Also returning are Crowle on artistic duties and the original music composition team of Michael Land, Peter McConnell, and Clint Bajakian, so while the visuals may have changed, the musical stylings should be a nostalgic treat for long-time fans.
Return to Monkey Island is scheduled for release September 19 on Nintendo Switch and PC, with preorder now available. Anyone seeking more info can find it in the world’s most humorous rat-infested prison cell at the game’s official Web site.
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