ESRB rating: Teen - Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
Awards:
Funniest Game: Gamespot Reader’s Choice (Finalist, 2006)
Best Adventure Game: IGN (2006)
One of the “Best Games of 2006” according to the New York Times
Description:
Sam & Max Save the World is a point-and-click adventure-puzzle game. It is divided into six episodes and follows private detectives Sam, an anthropomorphic dog, and Max, a “hyperkinetic rabbity thing”, as they investigate different crimes. Most of the scenarios are quite silly and parody American pop culture through far-fetched scenarios and funny dialogue. The episodes are independent, but the series shares a common theme, based on the main characters' interactions with others, which brings out their quirky personalities, along with the game’s cartoon-like graphics and odd sense of humour.
Completing adventures sometimes requires thinking outside the box and resorting to untraditional solutions. Despite this, puzzles are fairly easy to solve and are therefore appropriate for younger players.
Trailer (Episode 1: Culture Shock):
Why the library should carry it:
Sam & Max Save the World’s reliance on episodes allows players to play through the game in several sessions easily. Some challenges require an unconventional approach, which makes the player think of creative solutions to puzzles. It is also considered one of the most successful applications of episodic form, which can be used to study this type of narrative.
