Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual
- September 10, 2021
- HappyGiant
Frankly I would prefer to see the same level of imagination and ingenuity in the razor sharp writing translated to another point and click classic.
Get on SteamIn "Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual," players step into the shoes of freelance police duo Sam and Max in a comedic virtual reality adventure. Solve puzzles, interrogate suspects, and explore a variety of wacky locations. With iconic humor and unique gameplay, this game is a must-play for fans of the Sam & Max series and point-and-click adventures.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Quest
Oculus VR
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- The dialogue and humor between Sam and Max are spot on, capturing the essence of the franchise.
- The graphics and art style are appealing, staying true to the original Sam & Max aesthetic.
- There are fun moments and nostalgic references for long-time fans of the series.
- The game is plagued with bugs and control issues, making it frustrating to play.
- It feels more like a collection of mini-games rather than a cohesive adventure, lacking the depth of previous titles.
- Many interactions are awkward and unresponsive, leading to a lack of engagement with the game world.
- story48 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized by humorous dialogues and a decent narrative that appeals to fans of the Sam & Max series, though some players feel it lacks depth and is overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. While the writing and voice acting are praised, many users report game-breaking bugs that detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a collection of mini-games than a cohesive adventure. Additionally, accessibility issues, such as color identification challenges, have been noted, further complicating the storytelling experience for some players.
“Had a great experience playing this game; I loved the voice acting, the jokes, the mini-games, and the story.”
“The story and writing so far is fantastic, which is one of my favorites, and I will love to play more whenever I get the chance.”
“If the devs added an expansion with a new case every now and then, it would be one of the best story-based VR games I have ever played!”
“The dialogue between them is funny, but the story, game controls, and mechanics suck.”
“Game-breaking bugs on nearly every story level.”
“My issue is that while Sam and Max as a series is always random, I can't help but feel the story to gameplay was kind of washed down.”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its rough controls, inconsistent mechanics, and a lack of engaging content, often feeling like a tech demo rather than a polished experience. While some mechanics, like climbing, show potential, many minigames are either overly simplistic or frustratingly broken, leading to a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction. Overall, the combination of glitchy interactions and recycled mechanics detracts from the enjoyment, making it hard to recommend to anyone outside of dedicated fans of the series.
“A lot of the gameplay cues aren't obvious; it would be great if an item highlighted to indicate you can actually interact with it.”
“Even gameplay-wise, it just feels empty to me sometimes.”
“The controls and gameplay are just too rough.”
“And as far as actual gameplay goes, it feels like a half-assed tech demo; boring half the time, frustrating the other.”
“The controls and gameplay are just too rough (for now, Sept 2021).”
“But the problem is the actual gameplay for most of it is minigames, which are either basic, or just not fun.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently praised for its witty dialogue and charm, reminiscent of previous entries in the franchise, though some players feel it lacks the same depth and interaction due to the new player character dynamic. While the quips from Sam and Max are often hilarious, the repetitive nature of the humor and the game's overall mechanics detract from the experience, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness. Overall, the writing remains a highlight, but many believe it cannot fully compensate for the game's shortcomings.
“The core of the game is a collection of mini-games wrapped up into a story while listening to Sam and Max throw humorous quips at you.”
“Gotta love the humor in this game!”
“The dialogue was funny, the pacing was good, and the minigames were fun as hell.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the sharp art style and character designs that stay true to the Sam & Max aesthetic, while others note inconsistencies in resolution between environments and characters. Although there are graphical glitches and a lack of charm compared to previous titles, the overall visuals are considered above average, especially in the context of VR. Players appreciate the good animation and sound, but emphasize that gameplay quality ultimately outweighs graphical concerns.
“The graphics and sound are nice, true to the S&M artwork.”
“The game has good graphics, good animation, decent story, decent writing, and very fun mini games.”
“It is above average with its sharp writing and art style, well fitted to Sam and Max.”
“The graphics are inconsistent, with most environments and props having low resolutions while characters like Sam, Max, and the out-of-place demons have high-resolution textures. However, graphics don't mean much if the gameplay is good.”
“It is above average with its sharp writing and art style, well-fitted to Sam and Max. The majority of the problems come from its glitches or jankiness.”
“Graphical issues aside, the game lacks the past Sam and Max charm, which isn't something you can easily patch in.”
- stability18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, particularly in certain segments like bomb defusing and obstacle courses, where glitches can hinder gameplay. While many players report encountering bugs, most agree that they are not game-breaking and can often be worked around. Overall, the game remains playable, though some sections may feel nearly unplayable due to these stability concerns.
“It's very buggy in some sections, to the point of being almost unplayable - I had to cheese one of the obstacle courses that had me climb a ladder, because every time I would grab onto a rung with my left hand, it would teleport me back to the start of the course.”
“The first part in the office worked okay, but in the park, every challenge is too buggy to play.”
“A little buggy here and there, but it is playable.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Users report significant issues with optimization, particularly with Steam Index controls, which may be better suited for other VR sets. Many experience major stuttering and find that grab mechanics are not fully optimized, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
“The grab mechanics could use further optimization to enhance the overall gameplay experience.”
“I had a tough time with the Steam Index controls; it seems like the game might be better optimized for another VR set.”
“Sadly, I can't get it to work without major stuttering.”
“Also, I'm having a really tough time with Steam Index controls; I'm not sure if it's because it was optimized for another VR set.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and integration with the visuals and voice acting, enhancing the overall experience of interacting with the Sam & Max universe. However, some players expressed disappointment over the absence of nostalgic tracks, particularly in specific locations like the convenience store.
“The visuals, music, and voice acting are on point as usual, getting to interact with Sam & Max's world is great.”
“The music really enhances the overall experience and adds to the charm of the game.”
“The nostalgic music in the game brings back fond memories and adds a unique touch to the atmosphere.”
“I was pretty disappointed that the convenience store was not the Snuckey's with nostalgic music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the presence of numerous achievements contributes to the game's replayability, encouraging them to revisit the game to unlock all content.
“There are a lot of achievements, which adds to the replayability.”
“The game offers numerous achievements, enhancing its replayability.”
“With so many achievements to unlock, the replayability is impressive.”
