Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone

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Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

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  • Summary: An otherworldly 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. Gaming's greatest dog and rabbit sleuths Sam & Max seek the power's ancient secrets, as manicAn otherworldly 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. Gaming's greatest dog and rabbit sleuths Sam & Max seek the power's ancient secrets, as manic Max gains shape shifting, teleportation, mind reading and future vision abilities for battling these foes.… 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: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. 1UP
    100
    It's a bigger, better-looking adventure that moves the series forward in some surprising and substantial ways, and it remains one of the few legitimately funny games out there.
  2. Game Revolution
    91
    Given Telltale's record for producing excellent games, returning fans shouldn't even think twice about picking up this first chapter for Chapter 3.
  3. Armchair Empire
    90
    But with a great new graphical presentation and the immensely upgraded gameplay interface that really improves the gameplay, the first episode of the third Sam & Max season is an entirely unexpected gaming treat.
  4. PC PowerPlay
    80
    This is the freshest that Sam & Max have been in a while. [July 2010, p.60]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Giant Bomb
    80
    It clearly establishes a repeating theme of Max gaining and then exploiting ridiculous new psychic powers with each episode, something that, if the quality of the execution stays where it is, should make for a fun season.
  6. Meristation
    75
    Two years later, TellTale strikes back with the first chapter of the third season of the adventures of Steve Purcell's charming characters: Sam & Max. New graphisc engine and several changes in the control system are its main features. And, for the first time, we get to control Max and his superpowers.
  7. Cheat Code Central
    70
    While it's enjoyable to solve puzzles and uncover a story in a genre that doesn't receive a lot of mileage these days, it's a little unfortunate that the themes and humor borrow from this ancient Looney Tunes-meets-90s-attitude rather than create a new world and identity all its own.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. ScottReid
    Apr 28, 2012
    10
    The Penal Zone started off this fantastic comedy saga. All I have to say is this : This episode is well designed, the graphics are very good,The Penal Zone started off this fantastic comedy saga. All I have to say is this : This episode is well designed, the graphics are very good, the actors are brilliant, the gameplay is fun and the storyline is brilliant and hillarious. That goes for every episode.… Expand
  2. metacriticFAN
    Jun 5, 2014
    9
    [Sam&Max Season 3 - SteamPC - 9/10] Point and click adventure goodness with Detectives Sam and Max using new twists. The writers succeeded in[Sam&Max Season 3 - SteamPC - 9/10] Point and click adventure goodness with Detectives Sam and Max using new twists. The writers succeeded in creating more interesting puzzles and interesting and successful story mechanics - Simultaneous Multiple Universes - Present Past and Future coexisting in your Brain - and to top it all off they worked in some special powers for Max. The unusual irreverent humor is Present and In Your Face. Add to Fart. Bingo.

    [Released 2010 and played four years later]
    [DRM] Steam only, thank goodness there are no GamesForWindowsLive on this title, nor Uplay, nor Origin, nor RockstarSocialClub, I did not have to create an alternative account.

    [MyPC 2011] i7-2600K 3.4GHz / ASUS Z68 ProGen3 / 8G RAM / Radeon 6870 / W7 PRO SP1 / Samsung 275T @1920x1200 / Logitech G15 / Kensington ExpertMouse / Sennheiser HD 600

    [Awaiting] BrokenAgeAct2 Fallout5 DeadSpace3

    [NowPlaying] NexusModdedFalloutNV

    [MyFavorites] [Win7] Kami MaxPayne3 StickOfTruth Sam&MaxSeasons1&2&3 JourneyDownUnderEp1 BrokenAgeAct1 TombRaider Dishonored TheKnifeOfDunwall TheBrigmoreWitches TheDreamMachine Ep1-4 30FlightsOfLoving Fez BioshockInfinite Antichamber Stacking Metro2033 Rochard Crysis&Warhead&2 JustCause2 Rage [XP] Papo&Yo DeuxExHR&TheMissingLink DeadSpace1&2 Fallout3&NV HalfLife1&2 Bordelands1&2 BatmanArkumAsylum AssassinsCreed Magicka RedFaction Portal1&2 FromDust MrRobot CulpaInnata TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland DreamfallTheLongestJourney Syberia1&2 CrayonPhysicsDeluxe DefenseGridTheAwakening PlantsVsZombies Prototype Bioshock1&2 UnrealTournament3 Quake4 [360] AfroSamurai BrutalLegends [XBOX] HALO KOTOR1&2 Crackdown ArmedAndDangerous AggressiveInline BeyondGoodAndEvil DeadOrAlive1&2&3&ExtremeBeachVolleyball Psychonauts [AppleG4] FullThrottle DeusExMachina ONI ReturnToZork Suspended UnrealTournament TombRaiderSeriesAll [Born 1964 I do not know anybody who works in the game industry ~ I just enjoy games : - ]    … Expand
  4. GolovA
    Jun 19, 2018
    7
    Specific to this Season:

    I did not enjoy the controls! (Both keyboard/mouse and controller). Beginning seems forced, probably due to the    Specific to this Season:

    I did not enjoy the controls! (Both keyboard/mouse and controller).

    Beginning seems forced, probably due to the design choice to shock and defamiliarize the audience. But stick with it – I finished the Season, and IS GOOD!

    Sam is still Sam, and Max is still ol' Max! :)

    Season 3 is pretty weird (wouldn’t be Sam and Max otherwise) and good. I enjoyed it as well as other seasons, although I think Season 2 is my favorite so far.
    Sam and Max and other characters become more familiar and more lovable, the level of professional voice-acting should be an example to 99% of today’s games out there. The plot is ridiculous, and funny, yet is an integrated part of the entire satirical whole, where puzzle solving is outrageous and ingenious at the same time, while being absurdly logical, implausible, improbable, and ludicrous.

    If for some reason you are reading this review without playing Season 1 and 2 – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND trying those. It might be odd at first, but stick to it and the series will reward you.    … Expand

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Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best PC Game of 2010

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