Episode 6: The Bright Side of the Moon brings the first season of Sam & Max
to a satisfying close. The most disappointing thing about it is that the season
has ended just as the series was really hitting its stride. Alas, there’s always
hope that we won’t have to wait fifteen years between Sam & Max games this time
around…
Episode 6 is available for purchase on its own, but this episode more than
any other makes heavy reference to the episodes that preceded it. If you’re a
newcomer to the series at this point it will definitely leave you scratching
your head. Why is that rabbity thing the president of the US and just what is a
giant robotic head of Lincoln doing on the moon? The answers, my friend, are in
Episodes 1 through 5, and if you have even a passing interest in Sam and Max,
satirical humor, sly cultural humor, oddball characters or adventure games, then
you may as well buy the entire season at once. Like I mentioned above, it ends
quite well and we all know what they say about things that end well.
I can’t imagine that anyone who’s enjoyed the first five episodes would
dislike the sixth, but if you’re mind is not made up here’s what you can expect
our heroes to find this time out. The rampant hypnotism that ran through the
previous episodes has been found to be the work of one Roy G. Biv who has set up
shop on the moon of all places. Luckily Sam’s and Max’s trusty DeSoto has no
more trouble reaching the moon than any of the other locations the duo visited
in Season One. The lunar Blister of Tranquility is now home to a gaggle of
characters from previous episodes, all of whom have fallen under the spell of
Prismatology. Sam and Max must stop Biv before he realizes his plan to make all
of humanity deliriously happy.
This time around the game’s puzzles seemed a bit simpler, but I’m not
entirely sure if that’s because they are indeed simpler or if it’s because I’ve
become used to the series’ particular puzzle style. I always enjoy making a
beeline for Sybil’s and Bosco’s when starting a new episode to see what they’re
up to this time. In Brightside of the Moon Sybil’s new job and her role in the
adventure are pretty clever, but Bosco’s latest disguise and paranoid delusion
de jour are on the disappointing and lackluster side of things this time out.
All in all, though, The Brightside of the Moon delivers plenty of the Sam & Max
trademark humor we’ve grown to know and love and is plenty enjoyable. However, I
can’t help but feel that the past couple of episodes could have used just a
little more of that certain something to reach the next level. There’s plenty of
momentum here though to leave me eagerly anticipating Season Two.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
85%. The Bright Side of the Moon wraps Season One
up quite nicely and leaves you eager for Season Two.
