Sierra classics circa '90

A new Monkey Island game and some new Sam and Max games have been released in small chapters/episodes over the past couple years (on pc, wii, ps3, and x-box 360). The complete games are called Tales of Monkey Island, Sam & Max save the world, and Sam & Max beyond time and space. The third new Sam and Max game is still in progress (being released in episodes).

See what I'm talking about at Telltale Games website.

Meanwhile the original Monkey Island has been released as a special edition and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge special edition is coming out very shortly. Special editions have English voice-overs and everything is hand-drawn and presented in 1080p (HD). Personally, I think getting this would probably be the best way to get into adventure gaming. But freeware is a good idea to.

note that Monkey Island and Sam & Max series are Lucas Arts adventure games (Sierra's main adventure game competition back in the day)

There are some modern graphic/point'n'click adventures out there, but none of them are as epic as your Monkey Islands etc. Zeebarf do pretty good ones:

A Small Favour
The Adventures of Reemus

http://pp23games.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/the-secret-of-monkey-island-special-edition-screenshot.jpg

Woah, the TSOMI special edition looks crazy! I'm definitely looking into it.

I recall that Monkey Island 2 made use of hand-drawn art for the backgrounds. Looks like they've redone them anyways but they look DAMN good!
http://www.lucasarts.com/games/monkeyisland2/#/home

If only we could convince Ron Gilbert to remake his original script for Monkey Island 3. The Curse of Monkey Island was great, but kinda a letdown after th ending of 2...

Back in the day I was always like "Sierra games give you OPTIONS, they are SO MUCH BETTER than LucasArts." But since I started playing old adventure games with my little sister, I've come to appreciate the value of a well-written but linear plotline versus "oh you didn't throw the boot at the rat three hours ago? GAME IS UNWINNABLE SORRY."

The new Telltale Sam and Max games are hilarious.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/73623773.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1277507019&Signature=GTgfn10EZwg8e2RjDrqyp1JF3PE%3D

http://juiceoffer.com/uploads/monkey-island-2-001.jpg

I forgot how badass and terrifying LeChuck used to look.

http://i.imgur.com/QBvZSsY.jpg

I want that little trap door on the left to open up

colonel's bequest from the GOG sale right? i haven't played that one.

iirc opening up that laundry chute was the very first way i died in this game, this being the first playable screen.

but really it's a super interesting game, a nice side-experiment in What Other Kinds Of Games Can This Interface Make?. replay is important and if you really want to nail it you have to do some kind of insane stuff of basically, when you figure out which event triggers the clock advancing, you should double back and make sure you've done all the interacting and eavesdropping you can manage in that earlier time interval. but it's all about dialogue and clues and shit; there are inventory puzzles but fewer than in a king's quest game. the vibe is so great in any case, the 'creepy evening on the bayou' feel really comes through.

worrisome stereotype alert though - i want to say they mostly steer clear of really terrible dialect stuff for the african-american cook character, but said character is obviously a problematic and creaky old type from the get-go.

Fan art is amazing sometimes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq024O5HNk8