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

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. 3DJuegos
    73
    While there have been some changes like the new controls and the first person view with Max, this is more of the same interesting stuff as the first and second seasons. The Devil’s Playhouse is finely crafted with classic gameplay and humor.
  2. IGN
    72
    As an introduction to the season, 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.
  3. Metro GameCentral
    70
    A solid if predictable start to the new season, but still one of Telltale's better graphic adventures.
  5. Eurogamer Italy
    70
    A good episode with a spoonful of originality, The Penal Zone is probably the best start of TellTaleGames' history. Taking Max's control directly is so amazing and explosive that any other feature looks less important: adventure games have founded a old/new (crazy) house. On the other hand the game is really short and controls for PC users are not very comfortable.
  6. Gamer.no
    70
    The Penal Zone is a very enjoyable adventure game with fresh and interesting puzzles, great humour and good presentation. The lack of a good point & click interface lets it down somewhat, but it's still well worth buying.
  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.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best PC Game of 2010

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. 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.    … Full Review »
  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 : - ]    … Full Review »
  3. 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.… Full Review »
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