The Legend of Monkey Island content added to Sea of Thieves over the past few months has been a real treat for me, and I while can imagine that introducing or adjusting mechanics to an established set of systems and gameplay loops was no easy task, Rare have made it all feel seamless. Taking point-and-click logic and building several challenges within the experience made for some great moments and coupled with an excellent pairing of visual styles between both has again showcased how talented the team are.
It was a joy to just explore the world
I could go for a while complimenting the quality of the project but decided rather to focus on the ‘feel of Monkey Island’ these three adventures have managed to capture through visual design. Writing, music, and the aforementioned gameplay are all fantastic – but it’s the translation of the look of Monkey Island into the Seas of Thieves that I was blown away by. Exploring iconic locations was a fantastic and didn’t just feel like a quick adaptation of pre-existing assets but rather a carefully curated merging of styles. Colours, lighting, and layout had all been meticulously implemented or considered to bring the original 2D artwork alive in 3D. It was a joy to just explore the world before getting into anything else, running between various locations with a huge grin on my face.
So, let’s take a look at some of the amazing work Rare have done by checking out some of the screenshots I took while playing:
