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Escape from Monkey Island was released in 2000, fourth in the series and an attempt to marry the fancy-dancey 3D engine from previous combine-things-with-other-things smash hit Grim Fandango with the juggernaut-like momentum and humour that the Monkey Island games were still known for. It was swish, stylish and a very big deal on its release into the eager maws of the ravenous gaming public, who were dying for one last chomp on the delicious marrow of adventure gaming.

It was also the one of the biggest gaming cock-ups since Beth the Bashing Battery Hen took on ‘Ravisher’ Reggie the Raping Rooster in the cockfighting summer slam-down of 1184. Bear that image in mind, dear reader – keep thinking back to chicken-on-chicken non-consensual sex as you read on. It’ll help keep this whole matter in perspective. Despite being initially warmly received, fans quickly began to voice their botheration at the rather sharp downturn in quality that the game had taken. Complaints ranged from weak humour to awkward controls and a nonsensical plot. But, with nine years distance on this pain and brains fired up on a revitalised love of all things Monkey Island, we owe it to our modern brains to sort the good from the bad, and give Escape the treatment it really deserves. Strap in. (more…)