First off: I'm hella biased when it comes to CMI. I discovered this game when I was 12 or 13, having never played any Monkey Island game before, or any mature point 'n click-adventure for that matter, and it blew me away. The art style is (still) one of the best you'll ever see in a game: the characters look cartoony, expressive and appealing and the backgrounds are gorgeous while still retaining a pinch of humour in their visual style, with lopsided buildings and mountainous jungles full of exaggerated shapes. Then there's the voice-acting (a first for the series) which is also top-notch, as is the writing. Even though I've played through this game on many occasions, I'm still constantly grinning and occasionally LOL'ing whenever I revisit it. Perhaps the very best quality of the game is the soundtrack: it's a terrific mix of Caribbean-influenced reggae, R&B and funk that never gets old and really merits listening to on its own accord. Really, the only drawback to me is that the game isn't any longer than it is. Hardcore Monkey Island fans often argue that only the first two games in the series are true classics; co-creator Ron Gilbert even considers the other games non-canon. However, I would say that this one is an absolute masterpiece of adventure gaming that will stand the test of time for decades to come. It has two difficulty levels, so if you're new to adventure games it can be an accessible introduction. Just buy it and play it, and throw in the rest of the Monkey Island series while you're at it!
Though the Monkey Island series is beloved, this entry often gets a bad rap. I'm going to disagree with that in this review. I'll start off by conceding the two obvious drawbacks. First of all, the game looks terrible, especially today. With the previous installment, Curse of Monkey Island, the series moved to a cartoon aesthetic that never ages and added a lot to the already great atmosphere. This game decided to move to 3D: perhaps a logical decision in 2000, when this was where the innovation winds were blowing, but in retrospect it was a mistake. The backgrounds look weird and fake, and the character models, though suitably expressive and cartoony, arguably look even worse. Next up, the controls are clunky and annoying: if you've played Grim Fandango you'll definitely recognize them- and you should note that that game had an IMPROVED version of the controls scheme here. Ouch. But, both of these deficiencies are easily overcome and only take about an hour of getting used to. What remains unchanged is the focus on hilarious dialogue and story, colorful characters and fun, out-of-the-box puzzles. I would honestly say that if this game were made in the style of the previous Monkey Island, it would be one of the best entries in the series. The story is decidedly more political, but worry not: it takes a satirical approach. It lampoons the democratic process and the influence of capitalism, with its presentation of soulless chain restaurants and mass-produced souvenirs that should feel familiar to anyone living in a modern Western country. Overall, the game has a good balance of paying homage to developments in the previous installments, while still telling its own unique and fun story. It also has, like the previous game, a killer soundtrack that you don't get sick of and superb voice acting that really brings the humour home. So: far from perfect, but much better than usually given credit for. Give it a try!
I played the hell out of this game during my teens when, as a result of my discovering the Monkey Island series, I had an infatuation with the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. In short, this game delivers you the ultimate fantasy in being an up-and-coming pirate (though there's no insult swordfighting and a distinctive lack of rubber chickens with a pulley in the middle). Basically, anything a fanciful Errol Flynn-type would get up to, this game offers. Everything from sailing around and boarding merchant ships, 'legalising' your piracy by playing politics with the various nation-states active in the area, being chased by real-life infamous pirates after you've nicked their buried treasure, sacking trading ports through RTS-style sieges, discovering lost Aztec cities, wooing some governor's daughter... it's all there in fun minigames that, though arguably lacking in depth, are well-designed and consistent. The adjustable difficulty makes for a nice challenge, as your goal is to retire as a successful pirate with as much booty you can. Playing on higher difficulty nets you a larger portion of all your earnings, but also significantly increase the chances of you being slaughtered by enemy ships or being marooned after your crew decides it's time for mutiny. All in all: great little game with a lot of replay value and appeal for all ages. Definite recommend.
