MeanGentlemen

Just done with episode three, the story seems to be converging between games nicely. I love that things from the first two episodes stick around, it gives a bigger sense of progression when actions from episode one caused things to happen in this episode. The biggest example being that Bosco installed a delivery attack camera due to the child star being a bother in episode one, I then had to find a whole new way to get around this camera in order to progress further in the story. Also I love that Sybils sign changes every game as to what she actually does. All the job roles on the sign from past episodes are crossed off with new ones added. The little touches really help it along.

I’n this episode I saw myself joining the Mob in order to try and save a Mole that had been hiding in their ranks, part of my initiation was to kill people I knew and break friendships. Finding ways to get around these was good and the weighted threat of hurting other regular characters in the story made it seem heavier overall. Again I have complaints about the big bad but one thing did make him more menacing, the fact that his first order once he thinks your under his command is for you to murder your sidekick. The series is getting better and better, I just hope the final boss ramps up a bit. 

There was another nod to Max being all in the mind, when the Boss character tries hypnosis on you and Max, you turn to Max and tell him that it wont work on you because of the anti hypnosis device built into Sams hat since the end of episode one (and briefly mentioned in part 2). This doesn’t explain why it has no effect on Max seen as he has no hat, thus pointing to imaginary status. 

I just finished my play through of episode two in series one and I really liked this episode. In the space of exactly 48 minutes I engaged in a high speed chase against rats that I made fall down a drain, acted like a rabid dog and let max shoot me, starred in a comedy tv show where I made a chicken landlord eat cow dung, made a horrible cake that I then fed to a man who probably still hasn’t finished throwing it up, got in a scandal about aliens, won a million dollars in food stamps AND a recording contract then made it back in time to stop a evil hypnotic teddy bear from forcing a talk show host to go crazy and keep her guests around until they starve to death.

The only problem I seem to be having with this so far is that the major evil force at the end of each episode doesn’t seem very imposing, there hasn’t been a boss that actually seems worthy of that title. It’s mainly just idiots that I’m clearly smarter than and are easy to lead, kind of a letdown, but hey I’m only two episodes in so far.

There was another hint from the director that Max is in fact not real at all, but the world seems to be free to interact with him so either everyone we meet is just perfectly okay accepting that Sam has split personality disorder and is acting out both character or it’s all just thrown in for a laugh and I’m looking too much into it.

So last night the complete set of Sam & Max episodes went on a 66% sale on steam, so I instantly bought them. I loved the original hit the road game and had never got a chance to try these out. I just finished episode one and I loved it, I really do enjoy the point and click adventure series and this ones sprinkled with all the best parts of them. The puzzles and comedy mix together nicely and get some genuine laugh out loud moments from me. But then I got to the part with the psychiatrist, she told me to do whatever came naturally when she said select words, and for one of them I spoke to Max. She responded by saying “Hmm, interacting with your imaginary friend, interesting”

I don’t know if my memory from the original game is hazy or not but I had no idea Max wasn’t real, or maybe it was just a little touch they added and he is real. But it really threw me off and confused me. She brings it up towards the end of the game also when you tell her he’s gone, she tells you all imaginary friends leave sometime. Strange, but overall a damn good game. I’m installing episode two as I type this so I’m pretty pumped to get playing.