Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
Sam and Max came about in the mid-80s as a comic book series that enjoyed moderate success. The series was known for its wacky and sometimes dark humor as the main characters investigated crimes and conspiracies in their own twisted way. In 1993, LucasArts worked closely with the comic's creator, Steve Purcell, to adapt the series to a point and click adventure game, entitled Sam and Max Hit the Road. The game was an instant hit and became a classic in the minds of PC gamers. For years the franchise was dormant, until late 2006 when Telltale games began producing new games in the series to be released as episodic content for the PC. From November 2006 to April 2007, six episodes that comprise Season One of Sam and Max were released for the PC. Earlier this month, the six episodes were compiled for release on the Wii and PC, all on one disc.

Sam and Max Season One maintains all the classic point and click gameplay that the series is well known for, along with the crazy comedic styling that the investigative duo are expected to bring.


What's Hot
With any point and click (or waggle and press, if you prefer) game, the story, the inventive use of items, and the tone of the game are the biggest selling factors. With Sam and Max Season One, you'll get six episodes that each provide plenty of laughs, pop culture references, parodies, witty dialog, and a set of storyline arcs that is both interesting and entertaining.

As expected, the Wii remote makes translating the point and click genre to the Wii a breeze. While the game could play fine with thumbsticks, it's a lot easier to use the Wii remote's pointer capabilities to navigate menus, inventory, and to select stuff on the screen.

Each episode will give you two to three hours worth of play, making the entire package a pretty solid deal, as it ends up topping out at around 15 or so hours to get through all six episodes. Also, by having all six episodes together in one package, the individual pieces feel like more of a cohesive effort.

What's Not
The Wii remote is a nice device, but it can be a little shaky to hold after extended hours of play. Unlike a mouse where you can be pixel perfect with minimal effort, you will at times miss your mark or struggle to be accurate with your clicking around with the Wii remote. In fact, you might actually find it tiring after a while.

There are some odd graphical slowdown moments that were introduced into the game when they made the transition from PC to Wii. Whether it's a result of the Wii's power or some sloppy porting, it seems odd. The game also can get a little lengthy with the loading times. It's never unbearable, but it will be a noticeable distraction from time to time.


For some reason, the Wii version is also $10 more expensive than if you buy it on PC, but that's actually par for the course with releases this day. The extra price won't diminish the game at all, but it's worth noting that Wii owners are paying a premium.

Final Word
It's nice to see another genre getting a notable release on the Wii. People have been clamoring for point and click adventures, and this is an excellent package for fans of both Sam and Max and the genre as a whole. The game is guaranteed to provide some laughs and good times, even if the Wii is a bit more uncomfortable to play on than a capable PC. For those uninterested in PC gaming that are looking for a simple yet entertaining gaming experience, Sam and Max Season One should meet their needs nicely.