Sam and Max Beyond Time and Space Remastered (PS4) Review
Release Date: September 29, 2022
Publisher/Developer: Skunkape Games
Platform: PlayStation 4/5 (reviewed), previously on Switch/PC/Xbox One
Price: $19.99
As I discussed in my other article here, the Sam and Max episodic games are early Telltale releases, and these remasters are bringing them up to snuff with modern consoles, offering widescreen support and enhanced visuals. New audio tracks and updated lip sync make this the ultimate version of the title, with all the episodes neatly tied together in a single package.
Beyond Time and Space pushes further into the crazy than Save the World. Players come across everything from giant robots to Santa Claus. Sam and Max are “freelance police” who always manage to have small cases turn into something much more bizarre. These games are traditional “point and click” fare, with linear progression behind the usual obtuse yet funny puzzle solutions. The Sam and Max games don’t stray too far from logic though, and tend to not force you to remember something from hours previous.
Classic LucasArts style humor is prevalent through the entire game, and worth the price of admission. Unless you are all about doing the same thing multiple times, there’s not much replay value. There tends to be a small achievement or two for getting a silly unnecessary event to unfold, but outside of that games in this genre are very linear.
The two titles (Save the World and Beyond Time and Space) are standalone, and can be enjoyed individually, though if you are going to invest in the series, it’s best to start with Season One. Both offer the enhanced, widescreen visuals and bells and whistles akin to a remaster like this, but not much in terms of extras. It’s going to be the best way for new players to play the titles, but won’t offer enough for anybody but diehard fans to do another playthrough.
Both Save the World and Beyond Time and Space show how some classic games deserve preservation. Movies that came out before home video existed now have 4K blu ray and digital releases, and certain classic games deserve this kind of attention too, especially as gaming formats change faster than those used for movies. These two games are budget priced in a way that they can be purchased together for a full experience. Season Three (The Devil’s Playhouse) Remastered is currently in development, which we will hopefully see soon to complete the trilogy.
Pros:
-Lovingly remastered and widescreened graphics
-New songs and updated lip syncs
-A classic game updated for modern systems
Cons:
-Not much new to see/replay value
-Traditional adventure game puzzle solving can be frustrating for gamers not savvy to the genre
Special thanks to Skunkape Games for providing a code for review!