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That's very interesting... I like some of the additional items that LucasArts decided to include (best example being the ships behind The SCUMM Bar... awesome) but generally I prefer Patrik's versions. That's not a criticism of LucasArts though; Patriks are just of a seriously high standard.

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Probably a coincidence.

 

That fan art is definitely cool. I think I prefer his take on the circus tent, however I prefer the Special Edition's version of LeChuck's ship by far — all that intense ghostly blue is something I enjoy.

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One thing to keep in mind about the special edition artwork, is that it was created to fit with the new more cmi esque cartoony artstyle.

Those fan art versions looks to be going towards a more realistic style.

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I have absolutely no idea why they're trying to "fit" the different art styles together?? I've read this a lot and I really don't get it. This isn't Lord of the Rings! I love MI dearly, but the art styles have always changed from game to game -- it was never a problem.

 

CMI was a massive change, but we soon got used to it... because it looked so damn sweet.

 

Provided the artwork looks GOOD and consistent, I don't really care how it "ties in" with the previous games... Does anyone else?

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Provided the artwork looks GOOD and consistent, I don't really care how it "ties in" with the previous games... Does anyone else?

 

I think it looks fine, one thing I would like them to do is to make sure they use the same art style for MI2:SE(if they make it). I always liked how SMI and MI2 had the same art style, and I'd like that to be the same with these Special Editions. One thing I would like, and I agree with everyone else is... maybe lowering his hair some so its not like a parted flat top.

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I don't think they're really trying to make this fit with the CMI style, personally. I think they were basically told they could realise the game in whatever creative style they like, and they went with how they feel the game's art should be interpreted.

 

The original was so abstract it could always be interpreted in one of two ways: cartoony or realistic, exemplified by the less serious close-ups in the EGA version compared to the more realistic close-ups in the later versions. And let's not forget how even the original concept art intermittently jumped from realistic to cartoony.

 

Obviously CMI totally went for it with the cartoon style, but the originals could still kind of be interpreted that way — especially during the over-exaggerated animations like Guybrush's eyes popping out. I don't think it was ever intended to be an overly serious-looking game, and didn't Ron even say he wasn't too keen on the realistic close-ups?

 

I guess what they actually went for was a combination of both, but not necessarily in a conscious 'we are going to make it a combination of both' kind of way. IMO it's a very good translation and I think the majority of the game looks both fantastic and faithful.

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I love MI dearly, but the art styles have always changed from game to game -- it was never a problem.

 

CMI was a massive change, but we soon got used to it... because it looked so damn sweet.

 

Provided the artwork looks GOOD and consistent, I don't really care how it "ties in" with the previous games... Does anyone else?

 

I don't entirely agree... I thought CMI was absolutely bang on with regard to background art. Monkey 1 and 2 had this incredible atmosphere that actually lent itself more to realism with a heavy dose of fantasy than cartoon. I thought CMI looked pretty much exactly how I'd always pictured MI1 and 2 (like making up a picture in your mind when you're reading a book, except you're reading blocky pixels!).

 

The CMI characters though weren't what I'd imagined, I much prefer the stuff Bill Tiller is doing with his new game. In fact, Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island is looking really nice, maybe needs a bit more quality in artwork but as far as the background and character style goes, it completely wipes the floor with EMI and TMI.

 

That's what I loathe most about EMI (and now TMI). It just doesn't LOOK like Monkey Island. Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island DOES. For this reason I'm far more excited about the MI1:SE than TMI. But even with MI1:SE, the characters are just not working for me. Look at the closeups in MI1, that's what these characters are surely meant to look like, not cartoons.

 

Of course I'll buy it anyway. TMI I'm not sure, and for ME to say that is a big deal. I still have every version of every MI game from 1-3, originals, locked away in a cupboard. I ADORE them, I collect everything Monkey. But even watching the trailer for TMI makes me cringe as much as playing EMI does. It's all about the art.

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For me, at least, the backgrounds in CMI really didn't reflect the images in MI1 or 2. There were no "bendy buildings" in MI1 or 2, for example. (Purcell's style is very literal, in a certain sense, which I love.) I know the original CMI backgrounds were more like this (and I probably would have preferred them) but I also grew to love them after a while because, as I said, they were just too damn sweet.

 

EMFI's backgrounds were spectacularly bland, though. None of the magic of the earlier games, IIRC.

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I like some of EMI's backgrounds, but it is a mixed bag, and its partly down to personal taste.

 

full20050121081816.jpg

 

Some of the background foliage isn't great, but generally I think that's nice... actually, a SE EMI would be a bigger improvement on the original than a SMI SE edition. EMI was good, in my opinion, but it could have done with a bit more "polish."

 

I think the biggest mark they're putting on the SMI SE graphics is the curly clouds, which makes sense. It's unique to Monkey Island. The series has emerged as its own recognisable identity, and those clouds are part of that. It's all about the curls.

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Hmmm. It's a certain style all right :)

 

I think you're right about the lack of polish, especially compared to the polished drenched CMI. I remember being really let down by the lack of things to look at in the "Planet Threepwood", for example. There just seemed to be so many missed opportunities. (Although I'm not even sure I liked the idea of the "Planet Threepwood", to be honest... Is it MI?)

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Well it's purposefully stretching the game world, exploring the contrast of commercialism with the traditional (but my no means historically realistic) pirate world, a contrast that the previous games have also toyed with (theme park, grog machine, etc.) So I would say it is Monkey Island, but it goes further in that direction than the other games.

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Thunderpeel, good point about the bendy buildings but it still worked as Monkey Island. You seem to understand the magical atmosphere I'm on about. EMI has none of it, and yeah atuff like Planet Threepwood just doesn't belong :)

 

I'm sure everyone remembers the moment they first put the CMI CD into their drives... I certainly do. Can't believe it's 12 years ago, but during the intro part I was skeptical about the way Guybrush looked, his voice etc... but when he drifted into the harbour at night with all those broken ships all over the place and the stars and clouds, and the Monkey Island logo exploded onto the screen with the music, I had chills down my spine. It was pure Monkey Island.

 

EMI isn't even in the same book. I really hope TMI will be better but I still can't get over the cartoony 3D characters. In my mind, Monkey Island is whimsical, fantastical, magic, but certainly not cartoony.

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but when he drifted into the harbour at night with all those broken ships all over the place and the stars and clouds, and the Monkey Island logo exploded onto the screen with the music, I had chills down my spine. It was pure Monkey Island.

 

oooooo, so true! <3

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I love the new Special Edition pictures. I particularly like the bent, splintering supporting mast in the circus and LeChuck's Ghost Trunk!

 

On the other hand, if you want to compare, how about:

 

Secret of Monkey Island SE

 

mi_25.jpg

 

Bill Tiller's CMI-style SE

 

mi_26.jpg

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I'm still not happy about those ships - I know some of you think it's great, and hey maybe it is, but it just doesn't feel right to me. I know Melee would have a dock, and blah blah blah. I just loved that desolate feeling out back when you crept into the kitchen.

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