Sam & Max: Save the World

It's still the best graphic adventure of the modern age, but the Xbox controls do it no favours.

Quotation forthcoming.

It can be a little rough around the edges (some of the voice-over work stutters and cuts during scenes, and the framerate is atrocious at times, resembling a minimum-spec PC being forced to run a high-spec game on full detail settings) and it can be more embarrassing than funny at others, but there’s more than enough here for those hankering after a new point-and-click adventure game.

The only additional gripe is the awful frame-rate (there is no reason whatsoever for the constant dips in performance). Sam & Max is, otherwise, enjoyable to play, offers sensible solutions to the puzzles and, at slightly less than 300pts per episode, is pitched at just the right price for the content on offer, unlike TellTale’s other series, Wallace and Gromit.

Even though they do, in fact, Save The World in their first appearance on the Xbox 360, unless you’re a die-hard Sam & Max fan or just itching for a new adventure game to immerse yourself in, you’re better off Saving Your Money.

Value is on its side, which is a rare treat on XBLA. [Issue#48, p.98]

The slow pace of these games isn't for everyone, but if you're a fan you'll probably get your fix with Sam & Max Save the World. Each episode will last you a few hours, so with around 20-25 hours of gameplay here for $20 this is a pretty good deal for those of us who have the patience.

Whoever in Telltale worked on the game spent a proper amount of time on making the concept art and dialogue shine, but far too little on making sure the presentation is up to par.

Despite its retrograde interface and game design, if you're a fan of the series you'll probably get your fix with Sam & Max Save the World.