Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse
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Critic Reviews for Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse
They simply don’t make games like this anymore, for the most part. To be fair Monkey Island totally came back, and there was an… attempt at a new Sam & Max game (in VR form, which went as well as it sounds). But adventure games in the pre-Walking Dead Telltale style, the sort of zombified fusion of LucasArts’s classic SCUMM system with modern (at the time) PC game conventions are long gone. Skunkape Games’ remasters of all three Sam & Max seasons are the best ways to go back and experience a point in history that still doesn’t feel real sometimes. This is technically a review for The Devil’s Playhouse, but I can’t insist strongly enough how crucial it is to play all three games and take them in as not just a whole work, but a moment in time that won’t easily be replaced. Snag Hit the Road too while you’re at it; it’s only like six bucks on Steam. Long live the Freelance Police!
Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse is exactly what you want from a remaster. It has been faithfully rebuilt, adding improvements and things that make sense, and tightening the things that were a little leaky. I loved stepping back into Sam's (lack of) shoes and holding the world to rights as a newly psychic Max. If you don't mind a bit of juvenile humour, this is still one of the funniest point-and-click adventures I've ever played, but a little prettier than I remember.
The writing is the real star, though, with a manic joke-a-minute energy that is so deliciously, darkly comedic. A number of references are a little dated now, and a couple of jokes aren’t nearly as funny in today's world. However, by and large, the wackiness of the narrative and minute-to-minute character interactions propel the title forward.
There are many examples of how to do a remaster well, this is one of them. In Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Remastered, Skunkape's affection for the franchise is appreciated. Perhaps if you did not play the other previous installments you wonder if you can face this adventure without problems understanding the story, and the answer is yes, although there are many details that are treated or seen that happened in previous installments.
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This expertly remastered outing for Sam & Max is an adventure game to remember and a spectacular conclusion to their Telltale adventures!
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse remastered adds a much needed, fresh coat of paint to a fantastic adventure game. This is quite possibly the best the Freelance Police have to offer, and it's better than ever. The Switch version suffers from some framerate drops and loading issues, but even there it's a great time with your little buddy.
Overall, Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Remastered is a masterful remaster of a highly entertaining game. The game has a unique narrative structure, inventive gameplay, and engaging new elements. With its compelling story, lovable characters, and clever puzzles, it is a shining example of what episodic adventure games can achieve. Whether you're a longtime fan of Sam & Max or a newcomer to the series, The Devil's Playhouse offers hours of humorous adventures.
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse is as mad as its titular rabbit, and is only let down by long load times and some control issues.
