Video Game Review: Sam and Max save The World for the Nintendo Wii

Remember when I said this is where it all started for me and adventure games?  I was wrong.  It really started with Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure.  It was a delightful Capcom game where you would point, click, shake, and think your way to treasure.  It was a puzzle adventure game, coercing you to think more on your feet per each stage, and if you made a mistake, you had to start the stage again.  Although, this was the first, Sam and Max was the first standard point-and-click adventure game I played that got me into these games as a medium (the first actual adventure game was Legend of Zelda for me, but I digress).  Not only did I enjoy the off-kilter humor, but I enjoyed the amount of thinking one has to do to get from one point to another.    Now, I’ll admit this isn’t the first game in its series, but it’s the first one I played.  It’s not a perfect game, compared to the sequels, prequels, and even on a general development standpoint, but it’s a good find for any Wii owner.  So, let’s dive in and see what this game brings to the table.

Graphics

Graphically, this game looks true to its PC original.  Yup, this version is a port of the PC title, which initially was released episodically as downloads and then later put on a CD-ROM with all the episodes combined.  Unfortunately, the latter release seems to be the most troubling to deal with.  When ported to the Wii, one would figure it would play superbly since the Wii is strong enough to handle the game.  Unfortunately, there are skips and cuts in the character’s movements and frame rate issues.   There is also a significant amount of slow down and stalling when the game is loading.  Do not be surprised if the game locks up on you.  But, for the most part, the game plays pretty smoothly.  It plays even smoother if you leave certain settings off or on (i.e. pop-up text, subtitles).  The problem I have with that is this:  I should not have to turn these things off for a smoother experience.  The game should run perfectly as is.  It seemed the port was a lazy one, and it could be agreed that the developers made this game specifically for those who would be interested in a game like this.  I say this because I have played later games for other systems from the parent company, TellTale games, and there is slow-down and such there, too.  But, again, the game does play well enough for you to get by.

Sound

The music is very catchy and reminiscent to a serial from the 1920s with a smooth, jazzy soundtrack, set to accompany the scenarios you are involved in.  That’s not to say the other songs are exactly the same.  There are noticeable differences in the score based on where you go and what you do.  The sound effects and voices are all done via surround sound, adding to the depth and level of sound pitch per stage.  As for the voice acting, the group isn’t widely known, for you VO buffs out there, but they are a talented group, to say the least.  The banter is much more engaging with their deliveries.  There is one problem, though.  The same problems you will encounter with graphics can and will be encountered with sound.  Timing issues are afoot, along with lines that are cut, sound wise, due to the graphics and story continuing onward with no surcease.  Again, this shouldn’t be the case, but this is how the game was ported.  It’s not a total deal breaker, but it can be annoying at times.

Control

You can just about tell that this game was released for the Wii specifically for the Wiimote.  The games from this franchise are all “point-and-click” adventures, allowing you the gamer to interact with different things in the foreground and background.   Press the A button to go towards the item and you’ll get some dialogue from Sam and Max pertaining to what it is they are investigating.  There will be things you can pick up among the things you can interact with.  Other than that, you can access your inventory as well as access the pause menu.  The downside is the amount of speed that goes into doing this.  If you have too many things on the screen like subtitles and labels for items, the game will move slower, and so will you.  Again, not a deal breaker, but it can be annoying.

Etc.

The story for Sam and Max is that they are “Freelance Police” officers that get cases from their chief to solve with their own band of freelance justice.  This usually includes irreverent comments, reckless behavior, and firearms they shouldn’t own….at all.  Their very first case was to solve where their phone was.  Upon doing so (and learning how to play the game, in a tutorial), you start off on your first case that involves local disturbances from….child stars turned washed-up actors?  This is just the start as it somehow leads to a hi-jacked talk show, the Teddy Bear Mafia (it is exactly how it sounds), the U.S. Presidency, the crash of the entire World Wide Web, and even the Moon.  If you’re attentive to what happens, you’ll see how the cases connect, and you’ll laugh at how clever they come together.  The game’s extras only lie in the game’s profiles of Sam, Max, and their friends, Bosco the convenience store owner, Sybil the venture capitalist, and even Jimmy Two Teeth, a rat that tries to swindle our heroes at every turn.  It makes for a fun and eclectic cast, to say the least.  The game’s lasting appeal falls on the story itself, its humor and its brand of charm.  This definitely works if you’re a fan of Sam and Max and have been ever since their comic days.  Sam and Max have garnered quite a following as a means for irreverent comedy.  They have maintained their popularity after their comic series ended with computer games and a short-lived animated series.  All that is left are their games, which have now found their way into the hearts of console gamers.  The games are released episodically as downloads to the computer.  Once the story arc was finished, they were released as a complete season in retail form.  This first occurred for this game on the PC and then years later, it was released on the Wii.  Interestingly enough, after this was done, TellTale games would take the license for the episodic games and release them via download and for other consoles and computers.  No doubt there is some lasting appeal with the franchise of some sort.  From someone who just got into the series via this game, I’d say it’s well worth the price.  Think of the game as a fun little interactive season to play and watch for your amusement.    

Final Verdict

Point-and-click adventure games are some of the most innovative and interesting games to come by.  Most of them are of a rather serious nature, but most are filled with light-hearted humor as well.  Sam and Max is all humor with little to no seriousness whatsoever.  It does require some thinking like most games of this genre, but the difference here is how much thinking you have to do and how you think.  Unfortunately, there are issues with the game as the sound does have synching issues and there is slowdown on a graphical level, which may have to do with the game’s development and not that it is on the Wii.  However, if you can look past the problems, which are few and far between, you can have one very enjoyable experience.  I say give it a whirl, and do it quick.  Next time, I cover the next season.