Geek vs Life

I opened the door to my office, Max trailing behind me. I looked off to my side, noticing that the coat rack was amazingly empty today. “What happened to the noose collection?” I asked as I straightened my hat walking out the door. “It’s a surprise!” my little friend informed me. A strange feeling of dread and familiarity washed over me. I looked back at him, his shark-like grin threatening to gnaw the face from anything that stood in our way. My friend, he’s a rabbit. Me, I’m a dog. Sam. But, don’t worry. We’re freelance police.

One of my favorite games growing up was Sam and Max Hit the Road. It was an old click adventure using the Scumm engine that Lucasarts developed for their Maniac Mansion. What made this game always stand out in my head was the depth of sarcasm, depravity, wit, and uncommon language (almost like watching a Kevin Smith flick) that usually didn’t find its way into games. It only had the one game, but found its way to Saturday morning cartoons, bringing the flavor from the game to the television. And there, I thought it had died. To fade into obscurity, with only a small cult following consisting of me and about 4 other guys that came into the comic shop I used to work at.

Last year, Telltale Games announced that they were bringing it back, using the technique of episodic content to provide smaller adventures which you could purchase, or an entire season. To date, four of these episodes have made it to home computers. They are, well, short, and can be frustratingly difficult at a couple points, but the humor is there, if not the cell shading. The musical numbers have proven to be most entertaining, and the cast is small, but endearing. I would defiantly suggest picking up an episode or two.

Overall, I’d give the series an 8 out of 10. Available through Telltalesgames, or via Gametap.

(Originally printed in the Shoreline Community College paper, the Ebbtide.)