Sam and Max Save the World
Score: 85% ESRB: Teen Publisher: Telltale Games Developer: Telltale Games Media: Download/1 Players: 1 Genre: Adventure
Graphics & Sound: Sam & Max Save the World collects the first six episodes of Telltale Game's re-launch of Lucasarts' classic adventure series from the 90's. Each episode in the collection provides at least 3 - 4 hours of playtime, so right off the bat, you know you're getting your money's worth. Sam & Max places comedy above everything else. Although some jokes feel like they're stretching just a little too far, dialogue is well written and perfectly voiced. The back-and-forth banter between the two heroes is funny, but begins to wear thin after the third episode. Visuals are a standout feature, at least from an artistic perspective. The transition from 2D to 3D works for the series and the cartoony, overly exaggerated locales and characters add to the comedic impact. At the same time, the camera is a little too close in areas. Some areas feel claustrophobic and cause large characters to sometimes obscure items or objectives. There's also a noticeable amount of screen tearing and occasional framerate hiccups. Neither is game-breaking, but expect a bit of slowdown whenever you interact with an item.
Gameplay: Telltale's series is slightly different from the original. The comedic violence is still around, but the themes take a more modern shift. The tone is reminiscent of Tiny Toons; there are some obvious "punch-line jokes" as well as some biting commentary and innuendo. Each episode is self-contained and takes the dog and psycho rabbit-like thingy through adventures including a cult of washed-up child celebrities, a viral video game, and a showdown with the President over a pudding embargo and mandatory hugs after sporting events. The added benefit to the XBLA version is that you get to skip the month-long wait between releases. All six of the first season's episodes are there from the start. You can play them in any order, though there is plot carryover between episodes involving a mass-hypnosis scheme. I also noticed puzzles get slightly more ambitious with later episodes, so if you aren't familiar with this style of gameplay, you might want to start from the beginning. Sam & Max Save the World sticks to a simple adventure game formula. At the start of each episode, the duo is approached with a case. Gameplay revolves around collecting and using items to solve puzzles. Unlike Wallace & Gromit, XBLA's other adventure game, solutions are a little more abstract. Some of the solutions aren't completely obvious at first. Logic usually prevails in the end, but some require creative cartoon logic, like dropping a bowling ball on a diminutive soda jerk's head. None of the puzzles are particularly complicated, though you will need to pay attention to dialogue and thoroughly explore areas to crack some cases.
Difficulty: As happy as I am to see some point-and-click adventure games find their way to XBLA, the control pad isn't the best control method. Unlike Wallace & Gromit, where you directed the characters through environments with one thumb stick and selected items with the other, Sam & Max Save the World only uses one analog stick. To move around an area, you need to place the pointer on the area and hit (A). I grew up playing point-and-click adventure games, so the transition wasn't that bad, but it takes some getting used to if you're new to the genre. Even with experience, it can be incredibly frustrating selecting smaller items. Hardcore FPS players will tell you that the analog stick isn't as accurate as a mouse. The pointer also has a habit of hiding towards the bottom of the screen, leading to some confusion in areas (particularly when you need to aim). In retrospect, Wallace & Gromit's interface made a whole lot more sense for a console, so hopefully future releases will keep that sort of optimization in mind.
Game Mechanics: Sam & Max Save the World faces two major hurdles. Episodes are best played is short bursts rather than marathon sessions. The downside to having all six episodes at once is that everything begins to run together. Throughout the first few episodes, you'll see many of the same locations, though you do get to spend more time in different areas in later episodes. All six follow similar patterns, so they may drag. There are attempts to break the action up, like a minor shooting/ driving section, but the formula will still wear on you after an episode or two. Gameplay isn't very replay-friendly either. Once you solve a puzzle, it is usually sapped of all enjoyment. To remedy this problem, Telltale has included online Leaderboards and some creative Achievements. Neither will matter to you if you aren't into "bragging rights," but its good of the developers to include the option. If you didn't get a chance to play Sam & Max on either the PC or Wii, this is yet another opportunity to check out one of the funniest, more interesting games on XBLA. It's a little pricier than other games on the service, but for the 15 or so hours of gameplay it provides, it is a great value.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's Review of Sam and Max Beyond Time and Space on Xbox 360
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