Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad

 iOS
Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad Image
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Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: ** SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE: $6.99 **
    Wield psychic powers against fearsome foes in this epic comedy adventure!
    An absolutely stunning iPad app, featuring top quality visuals, fully animated 3D characters, rich full 3D environments, an original score and top quality voice acting! + +    ** SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE: $6.99 **
    Wield psychic powers against fearsome foes in this epic comedy adventure!

    An absolutely stunning iPad app, featuring top quality visuals, fully animated 3D characters, rich full 3D environments, an original score and top quality voice acting!

    + + +

    “We got a look at the first episode and came away impressed.” IGN

    “Looking like a genre reinvention.” G4

    “One psychic ability allows [Max] to transform into any physical object … an interesting puzzle-solving device ... and since it lets Max turn into stuff like plants and bazookas, it's also super funny.” Joystiq

    “Good to have you back, little buddies” Adventure Gamers

    + + +

    In The Devil’s Playhouse, Telltale's episodic game series made for iPad, an otherworldy power for controlling matter and space calls to the strongest and strangest who might wield it -- intergalactic warlords and eldritch gods, under-dwellers and scholars of the arcane.

    Episode 1 The Penal Zone starts off with a bang as intergalactic gorilla invader Skunk'ape sets his sights on unhinged rabbit Max, to seize his newly discovered mysterious powers. While mastering these abilities -- future sight, teleportation, shape shifting, mind reading -- and investigating their ancient source, Freelance Police Sam & Max must fend off Skunk’ape and get him banished to The Penal Zone.

    Getting involved in Sam & Max’s adventure with the luxurious iPad screen and the super touch-friendly presentation, players will engage directly with this world in a unique gaming experience unlike anything that’s come before. One of the best looking games you'll find for the system.

    The epic comedy saga plays out in 5 monthly episodes from Telltale that get more and more twisted as they go.

    + + +

    Note: As a graphics rich 3D app, this game will play best if you don't have other apps running at the same time.

    1. Hold down the sleep/wake button at the top of the device for a few seconds until the screen displays the message 'slide to power off.'
    2. Power off the device by moving the slider.
    3. Hold down the sleep/wake button again until the device powers back on.
    4. When the home screen is displayed, relaunch the game.    … Expand

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Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Episode 5: The City That Dares Not Sleep Recap Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Eurogamer
    Mar 3, 2011
    90
    With the trademark sharp witticisms layered onto challenging and inventive puzzles, this is the best possible start to the new season.
  2. Slide to Play
    Mar 3, 2011
    75
    If you've never played a Sam and Max game, start here. This is Telltale at the top of their game.
  3. IGN
    Mar 3, 2011
    72
    As an introduction to the season -- and a first on iPad -- The Penal Zone does a good job of setting the stage for more zaniness to come. Unfortunately, the story elements here are a bit thin but at least the episode focuses on one truly interesting new character in the cast.
  4. Pocket Gamer UK
    Mar 3, 2011
    60
    Nicely structured gameplay make Sam & Max Episode 1 playable, even if it's only mildly amusing.
  5. 148Apps
    Mar 3, 2011
    60
    The performance issues in Sam & Max are not normally that bad, but they do wear on your patience. The overall experience is saved by the finer points of the game, namely the established characters and refined adventuring, but the pervasive, technical shortcomings do impede on the fun factor.
  6. TouchGen
    Mar 3, 2011
    50
    I expected much more from the iPad Sam & Max than I got.

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