Playing time?

Is it just me or am I the only 1 who is a bit worried about the playing time this edition of monkey island will have?

The first few games all estimated about 30 hours of playing time... MI4 was a bit more difficult for me and if i finished it i'm sure it would have taken a good deal more than 30 hours.

However... TOMI, the 1st episode most people finished in under 4 hours. And the general consensus is that it is a lot easier than traditional Monkey Island puzzles that can drive you crazy.
If all the rest of the episodes are going to be like this (say averaging 3/4 hours per episode = about 20 hours)

Anyone think this isnt enough? Or are we to expect a build up in the level of difficulty as the episodes go on?

Comments

  • edited July 2009
    Personally, I found the playing time to be perfect. When you work full-time, you don't really have the time to spend 30 hours figuring out puzzles. I spent a couple hours a night playing the game, finished it in a few days and thoroughly enjoyed it.

    It took me 4-5 hours total as well, but since it was spread out, it didn't really feel too short or too easy.
  • edited July 2009
    Took me just under 5hours to complete due to thinking about some puzzles in a wrong way. (I always over-think things)

    So, if this keeps up, it'll be great. But hey, there may be a long/short chapter in there I suppose. We can speculate all we want but we really have nothing to go on now with only 1 chapter.
  • edited July 2009
    I think 4-5 hours is a better estimate for the episode if you are actually interested in talking to characters and exploring the world, and the possibility of getting stuck once or twice. Most fans I've spoken to completed it in around that time.

    Also, I always thought that they used to overestimate the size of those old games when they talked about 30-40 hours. 20 seems more like it at most, and that's about the size that this will probably be, once it's done.
  • edited July 2009
    OK i can agree with you on the estimated playing time for the first few games might have been a bit much... but for me, attempting to get through the game with no help at all would have cost me a few more hours... and im still not finished. 30 hours must include the frustration time...

    Thats why i was wondering... because for me in tomi there was hardly any frustration time.
  • edited July 2009
    Right. In those days there was no Hint Forum you could go to when you were stuck. You'd pretty much have to figure it out for yourself, or buy the hintbook. Did anyone here ever call hint hotlines for help?
  • edited July 2009
    Yonkey wrote: »
    Right. In those days there was no Hint Forum you could go to when you were stuck. You'd pretty much have to figure it out for yourself, or buy the hintbook. Did anyone here ever call hint hotlines for help?

    Now that you mention it, I think I might have done, once or twice. I remember having to go through this insane automatic system of narrowing down exactly where I was in the game to get the hint I needed.
  • edited July 2009
    NabaDwA wrote: »
    The first few games all estimated about 30 hours of playing time...

    They were all 10-15 hours. I know companies liked to write things like "30 hours playtime" on their boxes but that was never true.
  • edited July 2009
    Except for Zelda - Twilight Princess. That game really takes 50 hours to finish.
  • edited July 2009
    Frown wrote: »
    Except for Zelda - Twilight Princess. That game really takes 50 hours to finish.

    You're kidding, right?
  • edited July 2009
    Frown wrote: »
    Except for Zelda - Twilight Princess. That game really takes 50 hours to finish.
    Are you sure, its more like windwaker, and that is because of all the little islands with side quests, and even that isnt 50 hours.
  • edited July 2009
    My mom gets mad at me for finishing an episode in one day. But can I help it if the game is so addictive?
    Besides, the game's gonna last me like 5 months anyway, and that's if I don't decide to play it again.
  • edited July 2009
    You're kidding, right?

    I go for everything. I want to make sure I collect everything there is to collect.

    But let's be on topic.
  • edited July 2009
    I suppose it does seem fairly short compared to the older games' estimated playing time but I don't think it'll actually be much shorter than those games. One of the things that made them longer before was the fact that Guybrush walked quite slowly.
  • edited July 2009
    I also got Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition and finished it the next day. I'd say total play time was less than 10 hours for the entire game, not just an episode.

    Then again, I played it before years ago. But I totally forget things so for some of the puzzles it did take me some time to think about. And some were not obvious, like the
    red herring sea gull. I couldn't figure out what I had to do until I accidentally found the loose plank at random.
    Also there was the
    yellow flowers in the stew. I heard Otis mention that they were illegal to pick, but I don't think they mentioned that they were meant to be used as a sedative.

    Even after getting stumped by some puzzles there was no way it took 30 hours.

    I think the playtime of Tales of Monkey Island seemed just right. I'm sure after the whole series comes out I'll look back and feel that the whole length was as to be expected.
  • edited July 2009
    Yeah, the first 4 games have no where near 30 hours of playtime each, and though I'd place the final playtime of Tales probably being slightly less than Curse it'd also probably be more than Secret.
  • edited July 2009
    Adventure games don't suck time like RPG games, as there are usually no grinding involved to "develop" your character in levels or skills or whatnot. Time spent in adventure gaming are usually with dialogue (which are the key factor in making or breaking an adventure game) and with puzzles. And usually a lot of time is spend when you think too much on the puzzle. Beware of the red herrings.

    Hmm... I wonder how would an adventure game be like, if everyone you walk across in the town only say 'useful' things like, "Don't go outside the town. There are monsters everywhere." or "Oh my! You look energetic today. Have you eaten your breakfast?"
  • edited July 2009
    To be honest, the amount of time playing the game doesn't matter. So long as the game is entertaining and keeps you wanting for more is good enough for me.
  • edited July 2009
    I was pleasantly surprised that Tlaes took me 4-5hrs, I was expecting less.

    And also having just been through SMI:SE, I was expecting it to be longer (I'd played it before, but never finished it)

    If the later Tales episodes do get gradually a bit harder, its will be perfect IMO.
  • edited July 2009
    yeah ok i checked my playing time on Scummvm and its at 16hours for MI1... and i still have 1 or 2 things to do b4 i finish so i guess the 30hours is too much.

    I agree, it will be perfect if the episodes get gradually more difficult and longer (with those puzzles that frustrate you but make you feel great once you solve them)
  • edited July 2009
    I hope it's the first time you play through SOMI then, as one of the achievements on the XBLA version of SOMI: SE is to complete the game in less than three hours. I've played the game before so I know exactly what to do at any point, but I've spent close to 4 hours now and near the end. I felt I've taken my time, since I wanted to hear the voice-overs for all the old lines.
  • edited July 2009
    I personally believe that the SBCG4AP games got longer/harder/more entertaining as the season went on, so I'm expecting the same from ToMI. Plus, a staff member posted that usually they "get" how to make a game by the third episode. (Slightly misquoted).
  • edited July 2009
    whoa.... okay no it was my 1st time. i would never have guessed about opening the the cake. Who got that? Really? That would have killed hours and hours of my childhood.
    Speaking of which, i coincidentally ran into this while playing the game:

    prisoner.png

    Any ways ok i agree this monkey island will be the perfect length. If you can finish the entire first one in less than 3 hours it should be fine.

    I saw the concept art for the 2nd episode and it also made me realise that there will b a lot more to explore in tales than any other mi game.... which just makes it awesome
  • edited July 2009
    NabaDwA wrote: »
    whoa.... okay no it was my 1st time. i would never have guessed about opening the the cake. Who got that? Really? That would have killed hours and hours of my childhood.
    In my experience, opening the cake and haggling with Stan are puzzles that stump children the most, because they don't have enough life experience to really know the nail file in prisons cliche or how to haggle for a ship. Adults that I've introduced the game to tend to get those far more easily. In fact, one person I know solved the puzzle backwards("I need a file. The guy says the cook sneaks him food, and nail files are stereotypically snuck into prisoners as an escape plan. So obviously, I need to follow the cook in the Scumm bar, or find a way to stop him, or snag that slab of meat he carries with him.")
  • edited July 2009
    I loved the game, but, I've been following the Monkey Island games ever since the 1st came out, and I'm greatly disappointed in how short it is and how easy it is as well. It just doesn't follow the traditional Monkey Island games that I'm used to and, just seems lacking. :(

    I remember even for the first games, there were hints online. The hints would start out very vague, and you'd click on the next and the next until it gradually helped you. And even then there were times that it was still hard to figure out even with the hints.
  • edited July 2009
    Eskielvr wrote: »
    I loved the game, but, I've been following the Monkey Island games ever since the 1st came out, and I'm greatly disappointed in how short it is and how easy it is as well. It just doesn't follow the traditional Monkey Island games that I'm used to and, just seems lacking. :(

    I remember even for the first games, there were hints online. The hints would start out very vague, and you'd click on the next and the next until it gradually helped you. And even then there were times that it was still hard to figure out even with the hints.

    It's still the first part of the game, every MI game starts out easy.
  • edited July 2009
    IMO I've found it to be very much in following with previous MI games. The first chapter is always easier than subsequent parts. I think 4 hours for the first section is a good length, and I'm absolutely looking forward to the next chapter.
    What I would like to see is inventory that carries across between episodes, multi-part puzzles etc. However, I'm enjoying it so far, and let's face it, it beats EMI hands down :P
  • edited July 2009
    Aeterna wrote: »
    Took me just under 5hours to complete due to thinking about some puzzles in a wrong way. (I always over-think things)

    So, if this keeps up, it'll be great. But hey, there may be a long/short chapter in there I suppose. We can speculate all we want but we really have nothing to go on now with only 1 chapter.

    Same here, about 5h give or take a few minutes. I found it very good if the next 4 chapters have an equal playtime the full game can keep a working man entertained for a fairly long time (if you don't have a job of course or still go to school you'll always be able to play through a game faster).
  • edited July 2009
    NabaDwA wrote: »
    The first few games all estimated about 30 hours of playing time... MI4 was a bit more difficult for me and if i finished it i'm sure it would have taken a good deal more than 30 hours.

    However... TOMI, the 1st episode most people finished in under 4 hours. And the general consensus is that it is a lot easier than traditional Monkey Island puzzles that can drive you crazy.

    TOMI Episode 1 took me 3-4 hours, Monkey Island SE took 7-8 hours, allthough I have obviously played it before, I really coudn't remember much of the solutions 20 years later, so even if I would have played it for the first time I would have finished it in less than 10, compared to that Ep1 doesn't seem that short allthough you can never have enough of a good game.
  • edited July 2009
    I guess that's true, that the first chapters start out easier. But what's all the talk about 4-5 hours? I finished it in about 1.5! (And I'm not always the quickest in figuring things out, but I didn't even need hints this time, which was a first, ever....)

    I still loved the game and the graphics. Looking forward to chapter 2, but it's going to be a long wait! Guess I could buy some other games in the meantime, lol
  • edited July 2009
    Eskielvr wrote: »
    I guess that's true, that the first chapters start out easier. But what's all the talk about 4-5 hours? I finished it in about 1.5! (And I'm not always the quickest in figuring things out, but I didn't even need hints this time, which was a first, ever....)

    Some of us spent time to look at every object, talk to every character, and use every item on everything. Telltale did a great job with filling the chapter with stuff that had nothing to do with the puzzles.
  • edited July 2009
    Eskielvr wrote: »
    I guess that's true, that the first chapters start out easier. But what's all the talk about 4-5 hours? I finished it in about 1.5!

    Hmmmm.
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