Sam and Max Save the World Review

Great jumping Mexican beans on a hotdog bun made of goat cheese, Sam and Max: Save the World is awesome! True, it’s not as action packed and fast paced as other games out there. In fact, it’s rather slow and methodical. This may be why I never played the original on PC (*gasp*!), and why I was tentative to try it out now. The point-and-click adventure has never really appealed to me, as my first one was Myst when I was 10 years old. I must say, though, that the lack of headshots, explosions and zombies is totally made up for with insanely hilarious writing and scenarios that honestly take the work of a mad-genius to concoct. I know I never expected a deranged rabbit and a sarcastic dog to make me smile so much…

As previously stated, Sam and Max: Save the World is a point-and-click adventure title. It is comprised of six episodes, all of which tell a different story, yet are still involved in a bigger story. To get through these episodes, the player must use the right analog stick to move a cursor around the screen, clicking on different interactive objects while trying to solve different puzzles the game throws at you.

It sounds boring, I know, and it is slightly monotonous at the beginning, but once you get going, the smile will seldom leave your face. There are points in the game where you get to shoot things (mainly when in the car and having to shoot tail lights out so you can fine the owner $10,000), but most of the time you are using your brutal wit (or murderous scare tactics as Max, if the option is there) in a Knights of the Old Republic style “choose your path” conversation system. Sure it doesn’t determine “good” or “evil”, but it opens up new conversation lines and really helps out the “adventure” portion of the game.

The voice acting is possibly some of the best I have heard in a video game recently and definitely the best on an arcade title. The sound effects are pretty cartoonish, which is totally okay given the fact that the game has a Saturday morning cartoon art style, though the dialogue is for a more mature audience. Aesthetically the game is easy on the eyes. Creative environments and very…well…”unique” characters. My favorite character in the game would have to be the slightly stereotypical Brisco, the owner of the convenience store next to the detective agency. One million dollars for an onion shooter (i.e. tear gas grenade launcher)? Classic. You’ll be hard pressed to find a funnier game on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

That being said, I have to deliver the bad news: this game will run you 1600 points, which is the equivalent of $20 USD. Personally, I say it’s worth it, especially if you haven’t played the original on PC. It holds about 20 hours of gameplay if you don’t use a walkthrough, which is the best way to enjoy it. I haven’t laughed and facepalmed that much in a game since…well…actually I don’t think I have ever found a game this funny. Some of the humor is a bit dodgy, some of it stupid, and some of it witty. It is a really good balance that is sure to keep you grinning from ear to ear. The level headed and rational Sam, and his crazy but lovable sidekick Max took a chance coming to the Live Marketplace, and it was well worth it. The point-and-click adventure is making a comeback, and this game is an amazing start.