The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

 Xbox 360
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Image
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 89 Ratings

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  • Summary: [Xbox Live Arcade] Pirates! Adventure! Monkeys! Relive the hilarious swashbuckling misadventures of the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean! Back by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition faithfully[Xbox Live Arcade] Pirates! Adventure! Monkeys! Relive the hilarious swashbuckling misadventures of the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean! Back by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition faithfully re-imagines the internationally-acclaimed classic pirate adventure game from LucasArts in gorgeous HD detail. Featuring an all new re-imagined contemporary art style, hand-drawn and presented in 1080p, complete voice over by members of the original Monkey Island - franchise cast, a re-mastered musical score using live instruments, plus scene-for scene-hot swap to seamlessly transition between Special Edition and Classic modes at anytime. Embark on a bumbling misadventure in an attempt to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean, win the heart of the beautiful governor, Elaine Marley, and confront the evil ghost pirate, LeChuck! The game is all-new and re-imagined with a contemporary art style, hand-drawn and presented in 1080p. Complete voice over using original Monkey Island franchise cast members brings the story and characters to life like never before. Enjoy the re-mastered and re-recorded musical score using live instruments. Scene-for-scene hot swap lets you seamlessly transition between Special Edition and Classic modes at anytime during gameplay. The all-new intuitive game interface and controls provide a more interactive gameplay experience. Hint system: Not sure what to do next? The in-game puzzle hint system keeps the puzzles fresh and fun. [LucasArts]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    100
    Guybrush and gang get the gaming equivalent of a knighthood, a Ferrari and a bonk with Megan Fox. [Oct 2009, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. WonderwallWeb
    95
    This is what remakes should be all about, keeping the original story was a brave but sensible move and Lucasarts have pulled off the new look well.
  3. Gamers.at
    92
    Monkey Island Special Edition is the well done remake of a classic game. The controls may not be perfect, but the graphics and sound make up for it.
  4. Vandal
    90
    The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition is one of the most recommended buys of this summer, provided one hasn't played the classic game before.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine
    90
    Secret is the foremost example of the genre on Xbox — and arguably anywhere else.
  6. RPG Fan
    87
    What it comes down to is that The Secret of Monkey Island is one of the great games in the adventure genre: like Maniac Mansion, King's Quest, or Sam and Max Hit the Road. With LucasArts providing this remake for a mere ten dollars, there is no excuse for any gamer not to have this in their library.
  7. Cheat Code Central
    70
    The game only lasts about 5-6 hours, and many will find what's on offer exceedingly dull. Still, point-and-click fans and puzzle-adventure buffs should really enjoy it.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. MarkWard`
    Jul 16, 2009
    10
    Alongside its sequel Le Chucks Revenge this is the best point and click adventure ever created. Having not played the game for many years IAlongside its sequel Le Chucks Revenge this is the best point and click adventure ever created. Having not played the game for many years I was concerned the game may not have stood up to the test of time. I needn't have worried. The enhancements to the graphics and voice acting add a whole new dimension to an already classic game. Final thought- "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?"… Expand
  2. CannonBlaster
    Aug 19, 2013
    10
    This is how point and click adventures work. It has logical puzzles, wonderful writing, and some of the best characters in video games. ThisThis is how point and click adventures work. It has logical puzzles, wonderful writing, and some of the best characters in video games. This game must be bought!… Expand
  4. andydurham
    Jul 17, 2009
    10
    Great to see these old titles coming back and re worked and monkey island is a classic to have done...games these days are all about onlineGreat to see these old titles coming back and re worked and monkey island is a classic to have done...games these days are all about online gaming and acheivements..thats why yesterdays games are much better!!!...lets have more re worked classic games like Rocket ranger and Indy jones adventure games..… Expand
  5. matroycem
    Apr 26, 2013
    10
    WARNING BIAS REVIEW!
    this was probably the first game I played when i was young. Playing this on my Amiga 500 with the 4 Floppy Discs    WARNING BIAS REVIEW!
    this was probably the first game I played when i was young. Playing this on my Amiga 500 with the 4 Floppy Discs (Remember them?) and constantly having to change as you moved from area to area. I found the scripting and the humour to be subtle but charming and the characters to be well thought up. The game now available is still the same old game that you remember but they have taken a few bits from the later series and put them into the new. The voice actors from the third game (Curse of monkey Island i think) has been brought in to voice the characters and they have given the game a new lick of paint. You can however change this back to the original with the push of a button.
    Point and click games are back with this and games such as 'The Walking Dead'. this is not quite where it all began but it is the most successful of the early breed of Point and Click adventures and what really gave the new modern games the audience they have today.
    Play this and tell me if you don't want to go Insult Sword Fighting... How Appropriate, you fight like a cow.    … Expand
  6. vuckoland
    Dec 5, 2015
    10
    This is a must have all time classic masterpiece.. Monkey Island 1 i 2 in once package..lots of fun, puzzlez and one of the greatest storyThis is a must have all time classic masterpiece.. Monkey Island 1 i 2 in once package..lots of fun, puzzlez and one of the greatest story ever told in video games! I rate it 10/10… Expand
  7. FuzzyMan
    Aug 28, 2009
    9
    Not a bad remake all things considered. The new style may dissapoint old fans, but I find it to be much better that the original. The Not a bad remake all things considered. The new style may dissapoint old fans, but I find it to be much better that the original. The gameplay is still fresh after all of these years, and the humour is LOL worthy. Only down point is that it barely has any replayability. But still it's an old classic and even if you don't like the new art style you can always press the SELECT button to change to old school mode where the game is seen in it's original glory. Go buy it, i doubt you'll be sorry.… Expand
  8. hector_bcn98
    May 10, 2023
    7
    Comprendo que es un juego de hace 33 años y no explica ninguno de los pasos que hay que seguir para que el jugador se busque la vida paraComprendo que es un juego de hace 33 años y no explica ninguno de los pasos que hay que seguir para que el jugador se busque la vida para progresar pierda el tiempo que pierda. En su día no importaba porque la industria no era la de ahora y creo que incluso venía una guía en la misma caja del videojuego, pero a día de hoy cansa un poco el estar recorriendo los mapas una y otra vez, intentando cada una de las combinaciones de accion/objeto posibles, porque sí, muchas de las soluciones a los puzzles son estúpidas. Así es la trama del videojuego también. Cómica, pero estúpida.

    El control del puntero vía joystick tampoco es lo más cómodo que te puedas echar a la cara. Divertido para la época, no es ni de lejos mi género favorito ni me apetece volver a él a corto o medio plazo.    … Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2009
47
#47 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
20
#20 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009