Sam & Max Hit the Road

"Without a doubt, the single greatest point-and-click adventure to grace the PC"

First of all, let me say that I'm a huge fan of Sam & Max. I recorded most of the episodes of the TV show (RIP), and I enjoy reading the original comics. Truly, one of the finest franchises to ever be conceived.

Now, about the game. Sam & Max Hit the Road is an awkward little adventure into the sick and twisted mind of some genius at Lucas Arts, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I constantly found myself breaking into fits of uncontrolled laughter, and surprisingly, I wasn't too sure as to why. Maybe the realization that controlling a dog detective and his sidekick rabbit (who is completely insane, by the way) is one of life's greatest unknown pleasures.

Graphics - 8/10
Now, this game is rather old, but don't let that discourage you. 3D graphics are far too overrated in this day and age, and in my opinion, they detract from the overall experience of the many other factors of a game. The great 2D sprites in this game really enhance the bizarre nature of this comic duo, and the pre-rendered backgrounds are nicely done. So basically, you won't have much trouble with slow-down if you're using a sufficient computer.

Sound - 9/10
Well, there's not too much to say in terms of sound, except that it fits with the game to a substantial degree. The awkward sound effects and the great music really give the gamer a sense of the Sam & Max universe without destroying their mental structure. Overall, the sound is great.

Control - 7/10
This is my only major gripe with the game. I was never a huge fan of the point-and-click style of control, especially in a 2D game such as this. I found myself crying on many occasions when I tried to click on the entrance to a certain building, and I found Sam looking dumb-founded, almost as if he was saying,''What the hell do you think you're doing?'' Otherwise, the controls in the car driving events are solid, albeit a little hard to get used to. Overall, mediocre control.

Gameplay - 10/10
This is where the game truly shines. The quest to find an escaped bigfoot can seem a bit childish at first, but it's actually the exact opposite. You'll have to follow certain clues given to you by the other characters in the game, and at one point, you'll have to recover some items you dropped while on a carnival ride. As for the driving parts, I don't see much point to them, aside from a nice change of gameplay. It's a fairly puzzling adventure, and if you're ever in doubt, just think like Sam would think, for example,''Hmmm... maybe sticking Max into that garbage disposal will stop it from spinning!'' Overall, a very enthralling gameplay experience.

Final Score - 9/10
Although it may be a bit of a chore to find this game nowadays, don't worry, cause it should be dirt cheap. Once you install this game, you'll never un-install it (unless you beat it, of course). In the immortal words of Sam,''You crack me up, little buddy.''

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/22/03, Updated 03/22/03