Return to Monkey Island Won’t Be What Fans Want, Ron Gilbert Warns

Just a month ago, the cult franchise Monkey Island offered a sequel that we had hoped for more. More than ten years later Tales of Monkey Island, the LucasArts point’n click returns in 2022, under the direction of its creator Ron Gilbert. A nostalgic slap for the fans, who were able to discover the very first official trailer of the game, finally released from the giant Disney.

The same, or almost

Spread the word, Return to Monkey Island already promises to pay a nice tribute to the original franchise. Starting with the voice dubbing of the game, which will mark the return of the original voice of Guybrush Threepwood. We do not know for the moment if Paolo Domingo, who lent his voice to the pirate in VF, will also be there, but the game will also be able to count on the composers of the original games, Clint Bajakian, Michael Land and Peter McConnel, at the origin of the series’ cult soundtrack.

Graphically, however, Return to Monkey Island offers itself a makeover. Exit the heaps of pixels, the game should benefit from a whole new style. Something to cool some purists, but not Ron Gilbert. Finally authorized to offer a sequel to his video game work, the creator explained in a blog post : “Return to Monkey Island may not be the art style you wanted or expected, but it’s the art style I wanted”.

Supported by “an amazing team of artists, animators, sound designers, programmers and testers who all poured their souls into this game”the creator of Monkey Island intended to regain control of his creation. After years of battle against Disney, who refused to transfer the rights to the LucasArts license without however wanting to exploit it, Gilbert thanked the American giant for his confidence: “When I started this game my biggest fear was that Disney wouldn’t let me make the game I wanted to make, but they were wonderful to work with”and now plans to do things his own way.

Fans are warned

If the creator of Monkey Island thought “sad” about the many critical comments on the new artistic direction of the license, it should therefore maintain its course, in promising players the return they’ve been waiting for : “I don’t want to put pressure on myself trying to make the play you want me to make. (…) If you let me do things, you will love the game. I promise you that”.

Expected for this year, Return to Monkey Island already promises to rekindle the flame of piracy among fans of the genre. The game should start in an amusement park, and take place right after the events of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge.