Return to Monkey Island Review (Quarex)
Return to Monkey Island is exactly what the previous four games in the series were: a great time that I wish were attached to a different type of game. My love for almost everything about these games is only tempered by my decades-long disdain for adventure games and the "moon logic" they almost always employ to artificially extend playtime.
The positive here is that there are two game modes, one of which is aimed specifically at people like me who get so frustrated when something eminently logical fails to make progress that I start thinking about uninstalling the game rather than figuring out how to pass. Yet even on that mode there were a handful of times I had to resort to looking up a solution because I had no idea what was going on and could make no headway. I will say that 9 times out of 10 a section that seemed like it was going to be frustrating was simple instead, but that tenth time sure still sucked.
Anyway, this game is hilarious, gorgeous, heartwarming, and even genuinely upsetting (in the good way) in turn. Everyone who enjoys light-hearted adventure games should absolutely check it out, but do not be afraid to check walkthroughs immediately if the game seems to have thrown a wall up in front of you when you would have expected smooth sailing.
Also no spoiler but I will just say anyone who functionally grew up playing the earliest games in the series like I did should be prepared for the genuine consequences if you try to be cutesy and test Guybrush's claims of swimming acumen, so to speak.
But basically kudos all around for Ron Gilbert, better known as The Much Better Designer From LucasArts, and his team wrapping up the series with a spectacular final entry. Now let us please never make another adventure game again.
Edit: Oh one final thing; I imagine it was intentional and I just have to give a final shout out to voice actor Rob Paulsen choosing to give Apple Bob the same voice as when he performed Morte in Planescape: Torment. Absolutely perfect and made me smile every time I talked to that ill-fated skeleton ghost.