I finally played and beaten the second season of Sam & Max, and this time, I have screenshot to accompany my words! I ran the game under Steam.
This game was released on PC in late 2008, and got ports to all of the 7th gen systems afterwards, so there are quite a few ways to play this.
I’ll try to be as spoiler-free as possible, but I can’t make any guarantees.
So I had trouble even running this game. The game uses SecuROM, so that would explain why nothing happened.
I tried to download “cracked” exes of the game, and all it resulted in was this.
I was about to give up hope, and tried to download a pirated version of the game (I own a legit copy, so don’t say I robbed anyone of their money), and… it worked.
I noticed the splash screen was different in this version.
As it turns out, there are 2 different versions of this game, one named “Sam & Max – Season 2” and the one I have “Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space”. The former from what I gather was only sold through Telltale’s site and the latter was the full retail version.
Both use SecuROM, but there are only cracked exes of the former. So I had to go with that. I burned a copy of this version for future use because it seems to be really difficult to find online. I’ll probably keep looking, though.
So anyway, I got it working in the end. Like the first season, I found this a lot easier to figure out second time playing, but struggled near the end. I enjoyed this season a lot more than the first one, too! The stories were way more supernatural, but not edgy, and covered topics I love in a story, such as portals and time travel!
The game is also natively widescreen, (though as far as I know is letterboxed in 4:3 resolutions) and include hints during the game to help you out. Sadly the latter didn’t work very well. More on that later.
So I can adress the game one episode at a time.
So let’s begin.
Episode 1 – Ice Station Santa
So unlike the first season, you get to play the game immediately, like a before intro sequence you get in some TV shows. The game also has a tutorial sequence which is just the first puzzle of the first season, and Sam & Max explain what’s going on and what you have to do. Not much to say or show here
The episode starts off with a giant robot, which commonly recites pop song lyrics, and you have to take it down.
The intro itself is shorter as well and has a near mini game where you shoot icons as they pass by. They don’t make any difference to the rest of the game, but it’s a little fun.
There’s not much to say on the episode itself. It’s a Christmas themed episode where Santa becomes a homicdal maniac, and you have to stop him. I love Christmas-themed stuff, so I enjoyed this!
The story is essentially a version of A Christmas Carol, where you travel to the past, present and future to right some wrongs. Ah, some time travel!
Throughout the game, the COPS from season 1 have returned and opened an auto repair shop, where they have 1 upgrade available per episode and loads of decals. You win these by playing their driving mini-game, which changes every episode.
Though these sections seem to be capped at 30fps. The game runs a solid 60fps otherwise, and my hardware is much newer than this game and it’s specs are way higher than the reccomended settings at the back of the box, so the onyl conclusions I can draw is that this part is capped. Still fun, though!
Max is supposed to sometimes start talking and give you a hint to the solution, but he never spoke here.
Episode 2 – Moai Better Blues
This episode involes the “Bermuda Triangle”, which is actually a triangle shaped portal that can move anywhere it wants and can only be communicated through coloured, shaped objects, and the portal leads to easter island, whose volcano is about to erupt and destroy the world. Also the moai heads talk.
An easter egg!
Not much else to say here without spoiling anything.
Max said a little more here this time, but nothing that felt too helpful.
Episode 3 – Night of the Raving Dead
Zombies have invaded the neighbourhood, and… are just hanging out.
Investigating why leads to a castle in Stutgart, Germany, which is actually like a night club for zombies, owned by a vampire named Jurgen.
This was probably my least favourite episode. I hate almost anything related to death. It just makes me uncomfortable.
Like with episode 2, Max’s hints weren’t very frequent or helpful.
Episode 4 – Chariots of the Dogs
Bosco has gone missing, and trying to find him has led you to a spaceship which has an elevator door that allows you to time travel. Also Bosco’s a cow now.
This was my favourite episode by far because you got to travel to many points in the past and the future and you have to solve a puzzle in all of them!
Max was more helpful here and genuinely helped me figure out some problems.
Episode 5 – What’s new Beezlebub?
Here we are, the final episode. You have to find a way into hell to save your friends who are trapped there. Conveniently, the subway into hell is just under your street! Just get a token and off you go!
As it turns out, Sam & Max have their own personal branch of hell as they have killed many people in the past and made massive contributions… I wouldn’t be sure how to feel about that, myself.
Max was really helpful here, and barely needed an internet hint guide at all! Good job, Max! I guess Telltale got complaints as these episodes were made, and fixed them as the season was still being made.
There’s also a sort of bonus sixth episode in this, or at least a bonus intro. Talking about it would spoil this episode, though.
Overall, I feel this season was a big improvement over the first in almost every way. It had a more serious tone, and I’m not sure I liked this direction, but it is what it is.
If you have a PC that ca run SecuROM DRMed games, then go ahead and get a physical copy of Time & Space. Otherwise, be on the lookout for the original Season 2 version or get it from Steam or GOG or something. Either way, I’d reccomend this!
Next up: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse!
Cobra!'s Retro Room 