I just finished Escape from Monkey Island and it was good - but its also good that it is over. I think this is a solid game but there is a reason why it is ranked as the worst one. It did not take long to finish it and it was the second play-through after I bought it when it was released.

The things I liked a lot:
- Still the good atmosphere, the voice acting and especially the plot around Lucre Island (Pegnose Pete and his nemesis, the duck)

Things I did not like:
- 3D simply does not work for Monkey Island games in my eyes. Its also visible in Tales of Monkey Island. In my opinion, this is because the characters look to cheap because they never get the engine to a level where it looks really good nor do they have the budget for great animations.
- Even though it is already in element in earlier Monkey Island games, the whole 20th century and tourism stuff, especially in Act 3 is too much. Starbuccaneers and the other things just do not fit into a Monkey Island. It has to be rare, small background items like a grog vending machine because its just bizarre. In Monkey 4 they just push everything in your face and its way too much and destroys the feeling of being in a pirate game.

The controls
This deserves an extra point below not likable things. Its just fubar. You can either select to use perspective or character based movement but both do not work because either directions change and left becomes right or you have to slowly turn like a tank. It was an annoying challenge sometimes. The worst part is that when you run, the controls become even more broken which means you accidentally enter buildings or miss exits. Its frustration on the highest level. I wonder what the testers did when they were close to the release. Not sure if it is true but in my memories, Grim Fandango was bad too but not that bad.

Whats your opinion? I say, as a Monkey Island fan, this game should not be ignored because it has some very good moments, a lot of good moments while it torpedoes everything with its controls.

My ranking:
1. Monkey Island 1
2. Monkey Island 2
3. Monkey Island 3
4. Monkey Island 5
5. Tales of Monkey Island
6. Monkey Island 4