THE RETROBATES

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF THE MONKEY ISLAND SERIES?

DARRAN JONES

For me, it has to be meeting Ron Gilbert when he visited our Bournemouth office to promote Thimbleweed Park for games™. I just managed to catch him as he was leaving to say how much I loved his games. Expertise:

Juggling a gorgeous wife, two beautiful girls, one Snes-loving cousin and an award-winning magazine, all under one roof! Currently playing:

Magic: The Gathering Arena Favourite game of all time: Strider

ANDY SALTER

“Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just glad to see us?” Expertise:

Modding games, no ‘vanilla’ versions for me, thanks! Currently playing:

Mount And Blade II: Bannerlord Favourite game of all time: Rome: Total War

IAIN LEE

I’ve never played The Secret Of Monkey Island, I’m afraid. Expertise:

Buying overpriced stuff on ebay then never touching it

Currently playing:

Home Sweet Home

Favourite game of all time: Elite (BBC Model B)

DREW SLEEP

I remember having a copy of Lechuck’s Revenge with a

Mix ‘N’ Mojo wheel and using it to unlock the game. It was the first time I encountered any copy protection with videogames and it added this extra bit of pizazz to an amazing adventure. Expertise:

“Do a kickflip!”

Currently playing:

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Favourite game of all time: Final Fantasy VIII

DAVID CROOKES

The insult sword fighting will always stick in the mind because I just love silly, creative spins on age-old concepts.

Expertise:

Amstrad, Lynx, adventures, Dizzy, and Playstation (but is it retro? Debate!)

Currently playing:

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Favourite game of all time: Broken Sword

HARETH AL BUSTANI

It has to be the ending of Monkey Island 2. Possibly the most unexpected, surreal and brilliant ending of all time. Lord knows what Ron Gilbert had in mind next! Expertise:

Juggling obscure games, words and guitar and seeing where it lands Currently playing:

The Curse Of Monkey Island Favourite game of all time:

The Secret Of Monkey Island

NICK THORPE

Shamefully, Monkey Island is one of the gaps in my retro knowledge as I was a console kid in the series’ heyday. I always liked the concept of insult sword fights, though.

Expertise:

Owning five Master Systems and a Mark III

Currently playing:

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Favourite game of all time: Sonic The Hedgehog

PAUL DRURY

I only got to play the first Monkey Island many years after its original release, so it’s not so much memories as smiling at the verbal jousting bits. Ahead of their time, those boys. Expertise:

Taxi Driver quotes

Currently playing:

Skramble!

Favourite game of all time: Sheep In Space

PAUL ROSE

I never played Monkey Island! Yet somehow I seem to know all the jokes…

Expertise:

Winging it

Currently playing:

Marvel’s Avengers

Favourite game of all time: Half-life 2