Review | Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse – Episode 5
No sleep till New York
Format: PC/iPad/PS3 | Genre: Adventure | Publisher: Telltale | Developer: Telltale | Release Date: 31/08/2010 | RRP: $35/season
Jennifer Allen reaches the grand finale for Sam & Max’s latest adventure in the fifth episode of SAM & MAX: THE DEVIL’S PLAYHOUSE.
IT’S INCREASINGLY difficult to know what to say about Sam & Max Season 3. Not because it’s not worth talking about – it most certainly is – but because of the risk of spoiling the events that unfold in this finale. It’s sad to see The Devil’s Playhouse end but there are some rather intriguing plot twists to keep players keenly interested right until the end. It’s a pity then that while the narrative and humour is as strong as ever, the puzzles on offer feel a little stale.
Carrying on from the previous episode, Max has been turned into a Godzilla-esque monster thanks to a strange energy force from another dimension. Rampaging through New York, it’s down to Sam to fix everything. Thanks to Max’s transformation, this means a crucial shift compared to previous episodes in the season – you’re not able to use any of Max’s psychic powers. It’s a bit of a strange move admittedly considering the rest of the season’s reliance on such mechanics. Instead The City That Dares Not Sleep harks back to more typical point and click fodder with inventory based puzzles for the most part and a smattering of dialogue based conundrums. None of these feel anywhere near as challenging as previous episodes although many of them are ingenious, such as the need to turn the Desoto into a giant corn dog.
Storytelling over challenge
This is why the difficulty level is not really a problem as Sam & Max has always been more to do with the storytelling and quick witted humour. It is a shame however that there’s no sign of Max’s quirky one liners with the psychotic rabbit only really providing a vehicle – in every sense of the word – for the tale rather than featuring as a well rounded character in his own right.
The City That Dares Not Sleep’s story does however provide ample opportunity for the return of some of the season’s most important characters such as Skunkape, as well as cameos from previous seasons’ guests. Throw in a very nice nod to Sam & Max Hit the Road and this is a Sam & Max fan’s idea of heaven. It’s excellent to see, especially once combined with an ending that clearly leaves things open for another season.
It’s been a strong season for Sam & Max, perfectly building upon the success of Beyond Time & Space. The overriding film noir theme has been ideal in both creating atmosphere and providing humorous metafictional references. While it does feel unusual to remove the main selling point of the season – Max’s psychic powers – in this final episode, it still remains a humorous and enthralling conclusion to events. Roll on the 4th season then.
