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I’ve apparently been so busy exploring Monkey Island for the Mac that I didn’t realize Monkey Island is coming to Mac. Telltale Games recently brought us Tales of Monkey Island, and now Aspyr is also sailing back in time to bring us The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition. Originally released for Xbox Live Arcade and PC last summer, this special edition can be pre-ordered now through Aspyr’s GameAgent service for only $9.99.

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition faithfully re-imagines the internationally-acclaimed classic game (originally released in 1990) for original and new audiences alike. The game is brought into the modern era with an all new re-imagined contemporary art style, a re-mastered musical score, full voiceover, and an in-depth hint system to help players through the game’s side-splitting puzzles. Purists will also delight in the ability to seamlessly switch between the updated hand-drawn re-imagining and the original classic version.

The game’s twisty plot leads our naive hero on a hilarious, swash-buckling search for the fabled secret of Monkey Island. Tales of pirate wealth lure him to the port of Mêlée with high hopes, no money, and insatiable curiosity. If clever enough, he will win the confidence of Mêlée’s pirates and find himself blown by the winds of fate toward the terrifying and legendary Monkey Island—an adventure that would chill the bones of even the most bloodthirsty buccaneer.

This is not the first time Aspyr has brought the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood to the Macintosh. The company teamed with Westlake Interactive to bring us Escape from Monkey Island back in 2001. Nine years is too long for them to have stayed away.

Of course, this isn’t just a port of a game created 20 years ago. It’s new “re-imagined,” as they love to say in Hollywood, with a contemporary art style, hand-drawn to feature the animation quality. It also includes a re-mastered music score presented in full orchestrated detail, and complete voice-over using the original Monkey Island franchise cast. And how cool is this? Scene-for-scene hot swapping allows for seamless transition between special edition and classic modes anywhere and at any time. Excellent.

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition has some surprising system requirements (Intel only? Really?), so be sure to check them out at GameAgent. It’s rated Everyone 10+ for alcohol and tobacco reference, comic mischief, mild cartoon violence, and suggestive themes. The game is expected to available this spring.

Now, can get ourselves a Full Throttle update, please?

An iPhone version is available now.

Product [The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition]