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‘Sam & Max’ revives adventure game genre

There’s a new “Season 1” DVD causing quite a buzz among entertainment fans — and it’s not “Heroes,” “Supernatural” or any other television show.

Actually, it’s for a collection of six “Sam & Max” computer games on one disc, previously available as downloadable “episodes” through Web sites such as TelltaleGames.com, Steampowered.com or as part of the GameTap game rental service.

“Sam & Max” began as a comic book by Steve Purcell in the late 1980s but went on to spawn a celebrated computer game in 1993 (LucasArts’ “Sam & Max Hit the Road”), a Fox TV show and online comics. Sam and Max returned to the computer game world in October with the first downloadable episode, “Culture Shock.”

These private detectives call themselves “freelance police,” who travel to many exotic — and usually dangerous — locations to chase leads, collect evidence, interrogate suspects and apprehend criminals. Sounds like serious stuff, but it’s far from it — Sam is an oversized dog who walks on two legs and Max is a smaller, talkative “rabitty-thing,” and these games feature thousands of lines of humorous dialogue, bizarre characters and hilarious situations. Take, for example, the third game in this series, “The Mole, The Mob and the Meatball,” where the wacky duo investigates a suspicious disappearance at the Ted E. Bear Mafia-Free Playland and Casino. In order to solve the case, these crime fighters must become members of the “Toy Mafia” themselves. The casino has games such as “Whack a Mole” (use your own gun to “whack” the singing moles) and “One Armed Bandits,” slot machines that look like one-armed bandits, complete with black-and-white-striped shirt and mask.

These “Sam & Max” stories are deeply rooted in the adventure genre. Therefore, rather than relying on the hand-eye coordination required in action games, these slower-paced point-and-click adventures are all about puzzle-solving and character interaction. For instance, in “Situation: Comedy,” you need to win a recording contract in a kind of “American Idol” spoof. So you first buy a voice modulator and then use it on Sam to woo the judges and win votes, and then take this contract to a deranged talk show host who’s holding her audience hostage.

All six games feature attractive 3D graphics, a jazzy soundtrack and professional voice talent to help bring these zany characters to life. And don’t worry about a major time commitment as each episode only takes a couple of hours to complete.

Published by The Adventure Company, the “Sam & Max: Season 1” disc houses all the critically heralded episodic games from the 2006-07 “season,” which includes (in chronological order): “Culture Shock,” “Situation: Comedy,” “The Mole, The Mob and the Meatball,” “Abe Lincoln Must Die!,” “Reality 2.0” and “Bright Side of the Moon.” While each serves as a standalone adventure, an overarching story ties these tales together.

Also included in this $35 collection is a bonus CD containing a “Making Sam & Max” behind-the-scenes video; trailer videos for all six episodes; concept artwork and character bios; desktop wallpapers; a music soundtrack sampler; and access to an online comic generator to make your own free comic strips. A full-size printed color poster is also in the box.

“Sam & Max: Season 1” is a great buy for adventure gamers, “Sam & Max” comic fans and those with a good sense of humor.

‘Sam & Max: Season 1,’ 4 stars

Platform: PC

Genre: Adventure

Developer: Telltale Games

Publisher: The Adventure Company/JoWooD Group

Web site: www.telltalegames.com/samandmax

Price: $34.95

Rating: Teen (“T”)