Sam & Max Episode 103: The Mole, the Mob and the Meatball

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22

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  1. RygoS.
    Feb 10, 2007
    7
    You have to give Telltale points for trying. You can see the effort, and you can feel the giddiness behind the stuff. They are fans of the stuff and they are not ashamed to show it, you just know it. But still. There's an aftertaste. There's the lingering feeling after you finish each chapter that it could've been much more. More so if you've played the original 1993 You have to give Telltale points for trying. You can see the effort, and you can feel the giddiness behind the stuff. They are fans of the stuff and they are not ashamed to show it, you just know it. But still. There's an aftertaste. There's the lingering feeling after you finish each chapter that it could've been much more. More so if you've played the original 1993 game, "Sam & Max Hit the Road". In these new games, or episodes as they were, you always get the feeling everything is a wee-bit forced: The quips are not quite Purcell's characteristic wit. The contrived-metaphor-spewing-fedora-wearing-Desoto-driving-anthropomorphic-dog, Sam, and even the lovable hyper kinetic lagomorph, Max, feel somewhat diluted from their original essence. And the puzzles, those fun hurdles that make any adventure game worth playing, almost seem condescending, as if they were pandering to a playing crowd that has never interacted with a Guybrush or a Laffer before. Nonetheless, it would be terribly unfair of me to chastise this game and not highlight the several positive attributes it has. After all, much of my criticism comes from my love of the characters, and maybe, even, from a bit of nostalgia of the golden adventure gaming days. A new audience, free of any concepts of the adventure genre or the Sam & Max franchise, will certainly find a great, albeit simple, game. The humour is still fantastic, with very memorable situations and, as always, bizarre scenarios to explore. And, when you get down to it, it really works great as an introduction not only of the anthropomorphic duo, but, also, of adventure gaming to a new generation. So, basically: Yeah. It's a flawed series of games, and, yeah, there is the pungent feeling they are trying in strides not to be overshadowed by the original, classic, 1993 game. But it's also a really approachable game for anyone, fan of the genre or not, and considering the fact that it's episodic, at least we get a lot more to experience, and Telltale gets a lot more time to tool around with the game and regale us with brand new adventures. And, hey. After it's all said and done. And at the end of the day? It's still is a Sam & Max game. And that's always a girlish "tee-hee!" in my book.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Eurogamer
    80
    So few games display such effortless charm, and even fewer are rammed with as much warm humour.
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  2. GameDaily
    80
    Unlike previous episodes, this one doesn't have as many pointed one-liners or gags, but it remains amusing nonetheless, much like a mid-season television show.
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  3. PC Gameworld
    58
    This episode has the shortest playtime and smallest laughs-per-dollar-spent ratio, and it cribs many elements from the previous episodes. Only worth playing if the following episodes improve greatly.
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