What do MI newcomers think about SMI:SE and the prospect of further special editions?
I think this is the most important question that's been overlooked. SMI:SE is a clear attempt to reel in new fans for the old IPs and adventures in general. Everyone knows what the longtime fans think of this, but what do newcomers to the Monkey Island series think about SMI:SE (and possibly more special editions) and the comparison to the old graphics? Would you like more HD special editions or do you prefer more simple rereleases with the original EGA/VGA art (and possibly just the addition of new voice acting)?
Sign in to comment in this discussion.
Comments
"I played Monkey Island SE and all I got was this TShirt"
I wonder why this thread is so quiet......:D
Then again, it's all about the new fans.
Or maybe the newbies aren't afraid to vote but are afraid to post.
BUT - I think they should include both versions in every release. Often remakes lose the feel of the original, even if they're very good. So bring on the HD (and make the characters look good!) but include the original versions as well.
Don't get me wrong - I like it. But it sort of looks like a fangame to me.
I mean the whole point of MI:SE wasn't to simply update it for an already established fan base. It was to attract a whole new audience who would have otherwise ignored its outdated graphics and lack of voice acting.
While the art direction wasn't exactly what i'd have expected (i'd have preferred an update of the original sprites) I still say it looks very nice and in no way detracts from the existence of the original.
It seems odd to me that there's a small minority of fans so up in arms about the special edition, seeing as you can play the original game within the same package anyway. Just don't play the special editon and stick to the original, if that's what you prefer.
In all honesty I don't really see the down side of updating these games for a new generation, at least from an adventure gamers point of view. I mean if these sell well, once we're passed the 'Special Editon' phase, we'll hopefully see new and original adventure games appearing.
Surely it's win win?
Most likely. But regardless of when they got into games and what games they've played, a lot of people are still purists and want to play the game as it was originally made. However, Monkey Island is different than most remakes in that they actually used the original game and just spruced it up.
Though I was thinking, MI2:SE in 3D? It could work. Very well, in fact...
CALLING ALL NEW FANS -
I know old fans will prefer this, but what do you think about this for the special edition?
Try viewing it in its full size.
Technically it IS HD...
Regarding COMI, I would say it's maybe my favorite adventure game of all time (certainly in terms of visuals), so I would like a special edition but it's way down the list of games I'd like to see spruced up because it already looks like the mutt's nuts. If they were to recruit Bill Tiller to do some new backgrounds for an extra act though...
That's kind of my whole point. So far it's only been oldtimer fans who've been complaining about the new artwork. I thought it'd be interesting to see new MI fans' take on SMI:SE since they haven't been tainted by the dreaded pox that is nostalgia.
As for the thread, a pure 'HD' game wouldn't entice me anymore than a game that is , well, a SE with both graphic sets, and I wouldn't buy the original if that's all it was. Sorry, I started on the SNES and Megadrive! :cool:
In short, continue the SE thing as it is going right now. Although... comparing the two versions, the taller 'HD' Guybrush looks abit off. Couldn't care less about the hair, just the original makes him seem like a midget. *shrugs*
You know, it's possible that Lucasarts actually did some poor character design, it doesn't always have to be people hating everything because of nostalgia
Talking about that - I still remember people accusing me of being nostalgic when ragging on Kings Quest 8 back in the day, haha
:eek: WTF?! That's crazy! Had any of these people actually ever played a previous King's Quest game or even an adventure game? Or even a game that plays well for that matter?!
What? 3D? No way, you can't experiment these kinds of things with the masterpiece.
MI2, if remade, must be remade like MI:SE, being very close to the original (and possibily over the same source code).
Let's leave experiments for other games.
I wasn't referring to Guybrush's design specifically. Rather, I was pointing out the fallacy of being against the very notion of a special edition and its overall design. Especially when there's a classic mode option.
And Mask of Eternity gets too much flak. It's a great game, albeit with some minore game-breaking designs. But had Roberta had complete control over the project and design right through to the end it would have been a much better title. Much more deserving of the King's Quest name. It could very well have kept King's Quest alive until today. King's Quest was always innovating. It could have been a popular franchise still. But it was taken over by the suits, after Ken sold Sierra, and they ruined it. The end result was not what Roberta had originally planned or wanted.
And it was not an adventure game, either... it was some weird RPG wannabe mixed with a bit of adventuring.
If you have a popular series of games where they all are in the same genre... then to suddenly make a sequel pretty much a completely different genre - not a good idea, in my opinion.
Anyway, let's not turn this into a debate on whether or not KQ8 is a good KQ game... I just brought it up as an example that sometimes fans will defend pretty much anything... and it's pretty common to label any complainer as someone only looking at it through nostalgic lenses, even when complaints can be very valid.
Also - the fact that there is an option to play the classic version does not mean no complaints can be launched against the remade version. If you wanted to play a great remake and you got a mediocre one.. then it's understandable if you complain a bit, even if you have the option to play the original.
But in any case, I rather like the remake. There are just a few design choices that puzzle me.
Anyway, I'm just pointing out that most of the people complaining here are not complaining about the fact that a SE exists... complaints are much more often about certain design choices people don't like, etc.
You can sell an old game 'as is', btw... you just have to put it on some handheld or mobile. They've resold the original Wolfenstein a million times already.
I think the original Wolfenstein is on Xbox live arcade too, pretty much unchanged.
And the Wii Virtual Console has a lot of old and unchanged classic games... and 'new' people actually do buy them.
But in any case, I'm certainly not complaining about a Special Edition existing, I think it's a great idea. And overall I like the remake.
And there are plenty of people (on these forums, no less) that are saying they don't want any more games remade because they'll "ruin" them. Even though classic mode toggles exist.
Go around and show them the original MI1 Guybrush... or even the one from CMI... and they'd most likely say EXACTLY the same thing.
Come on, Guybrush is INTENDED to look ugly and silly.
But my point is, I'll get into it, not because of the graphics, but because it's EASY to get my greasy little hands on. If they had rereleased the original as it was, but to run on Vista, I'd have gotten into it also.
Honestly, I just CBF to trawl Ebay to find a copy of Monkey Madness. Then wait on the post and hope to hell the disc isn't scratched beyond recognition. I'm a student, I can't afford to waste my money. Lol.
I can't really agree with this.
1) newcomers would say that the original Guybrush looks silly because he's just a bunch of pixels. I don't think they'd say it about his "hi-res" images when you see him with Elaine in the end, or the other closeups on him.
2) I doubt he is supposed to look ugly. He actually is quite handsome in MI1 and 2. In 3, 4 and Tales he looks a bit more comical, but still not like a total idiot like he does in SMI:SE.
Anyway, what has been done can't be changed (at least not a second time), but maybe Lucas finds out that the SE design of Guybrush isn't the best choice and try something else for MI2:SE.
The rest of the style I like.
Hm, now that you say it...
In all honesty, I'm not that happy with how they upgraded the visuals. If it had the original look, the jerky movements would make more sense than they do right now. Now, if they made the animations more fluid, kept up the great quality of the voice acting, and added in the option to skip past dialogue, you'd have a perfectly accessible special edition.