Episode 202, thoughts?

[Dangerzone]

i dunno.. but this game while it was funny as all hell, and very enjoyable... it just seemed.... short, espically when compared to episode one of season 2

the game only had 2 real acts, plus a teaser and a finale (also the finale puzzle was also WAY to simple for being at the end of the game)

i also find it funny that the puzzles in the first act were much more difficult then the puzzles in the second half, or in the finale (the teaser was the only part of the episode i cant complain about) it kinda seemed like as soon as i saw a puzzle in the second half... i immediately knew what i had to do, or i was solving a puzzle and not even knowing it, most of the others i had to think about for a bit (espically the fountain of youth puzzle, that one was devious)

201 had a structure like this
Teaser (one puzzle - stop the robot)
Act one (one puzzle - get into santas room)
Act two (4 puzzles - one for each horsemen)
Act three - (3 puzzles - one for each christmas)
Act four - (long multistage finale puzzle)


here is 202's structure

Teaser (one puzzle - stop the triangle)
Act one (four puzzles - glen miller train noise, glen miller tune, fountain of youth water, become a waiter)
Act two (3 puzzles - make feet move, get banang, get basalt sandwitch)
Finale - (one single stage puzzle)

it just feels shorter... like there is a missing act somewhere in there with a bit of story and a puzzle or two

the first act of 201 was really one one puzzle (maybe 2 depending on how you look at it) but that one act made the game feel so much longer... i think moai better blues needed an extra "short" act like this... maybe in between the first and second acts

but i dunno... i just felt like i had to mention the odd difficulty curve of the episode and the "short feeling" it gives (even though there is only one less puzzle in it really, but even with the food ordering puzzle, it still feels the same)

but even so, i love the episode.. still feels great

anyways, what does everyone else think of it?

[Flo]

202 probably took me the longest to solve, even with occasionally enabling hints (which I normally avoid in adventures). I'm not exactly sure why, but this episode just didn't "flow" as well for me as the previous ones did.

What surprised me positively was the lack of a "boss battle". Those really got tiresome after the first two.

[ChazFox]

My thoughts on 202?

Best fart joke of 2008. Easily.

[Chris1]

I thought it was pretty good. Shorter than Episode 1, yes, but not as short as the "2 hours" that reviews were claiming.
Or maybe I just got stuck a lot..?

I did have to turn the hints on and get one hint from Max to solve the last puzzle.
When I got it, it was less of a "argh, no sane person could have worked that out", and more of a "oh, why the heck didn't I think of that, it's so obvious now", which is the sign of a good game ^_^;;

[ChazFox]

When I got it, it was less of a "argh, no sane person could have worked that out", and more of a "oh, why the heck didn't I think of that, it's so obvious now", which is the sign of a good game ^_^;;

I love those kinds of puzzles. Sure they make you feel stupid, but at the same time it just shows how more of us need to try lateral thinking now and again :p

[Chuck]

My thoughts on 202?

Best fart joke of 2008. Easily.
It's still just January. There's plenty of time for other developers to catch up.

If they CAN...

[ChazFox]

If they CAN...

Exactly my point, Chuck. This joke was so good, the only way it could be beaten would be if Telltale themselves made a better one. XD they rose the bar beyond all expectations on that one. XD

[Dangerzone]

in the beta that was up on GT.. there was no sound, he just stared at bosco with beady eyes for about 30 seconds... i found this version (with no fart sound) to be so much funnier

[SloppyJimbo]

I agree with Dangerzone. It was a lot more subtle, but got the point across well.

[Chuck]

Exactly my point, Chuck. This joke was so good, the only way it could be beaten would be if Telltale themselves made a better one. XD they rose the bar beyond all expectations on that one. XD
Let other game developers take note, then:

January 11, 2008. The GAUNTLET has been DROPPED.

(And any other game hoping to step up to the challenge should note that 202 has not just a fart joke, but TWO (2) pee jokes. Must be that "highbrow humor" that IGN review was talking about.)

[Anvilania]

202 probably took me the longest to solve, even with occasionally enabling hints (which I normally avoid in adventures). I'm not exactly sure why, but this episode just didn't "flow" as well for me as the previous ones did.

What surprised me positively was the lack of a "boss battle". Those really got tiresome after the first two. I agree there is no "boss battle" witch is always! always! needed

[Sp0tted]

The game was short, but it had some great moments...

The baby Glenn Miller cracked me up. I like how they threw some music nerd jokes in there. "Even in death the horns still can't hit the high notes."
I loved Prez. Lincoln getting his pimp on

[theJPster]

I'm glad it's not just me who thought 202 was quite short. 201 took me a several hours a day for several days, and I had to resort to the hints a couple of times. 104 had me completely stuck for hours. But I downloaded 202 at 6:30pm, took two hours out for dinner and it was all over by just gone midnight :( The puzzles did seem quite straightforward on the whole. Maybe because it's my third, I'm just getting better?

Oh well, I'll just wait for the next one.

theJPster

PS: I think it's worth adding, because my post sounds a little down beat, it was pretty damned funny start to finish!

[matan]

What surprised me positively was the lack of a "boss battle". Those really got tiresome after the first two.

Actually, my only complain about the episode was the lack of the "boss battle" which I usually like! It made the last act much less fun...

Other than that - great episode!

[Kedri]

No offence, but I personally think whoever found that one short obviously had help on the puzzles.

I also thought it was one of the best episodes yet :D, although Telltale's less-moderated sense of humor is making me nervous...'-'

[ChazFox]

Telltale's less-moderated sense of humor is making me nervous...'-'

Telltale's less-moderated sense of humour has me in stitches. Always good to see a game flip the bird to political correctness :D

[Dangerzone]

well the game kinda seemed like it took a downward turn as soon as you enter the cave... all the puzzles in there either solved themselves for me, or i solved them without knowing what i was doing (just putzing around)

Get banang puzzle - i was playing with the radio, and all of a sudden you hear boscos voice, instantly it clicked for me... i tried having some fun and trying to freak him out... then he says he is going, and it realised what i had done (i then immediately went to his store to get some banang) the whole part of "memorizing the frequency of his radio then tuning to it" was completely worthless... it solved itself (the only hard part of this, was seeing that you can play with the radio)

Annointed by the feet puzzle - i already knew what i had to do, get the one moai whistling... as soon as i saw the gong portals i knew i had to set them up so i could make her whistle from the cave (i had kinda thought that i had to do something to get all 3 moving, which would have added do much to this puzzle... but in its current version, it was too easy)

Image of max puzzle - i did not even notice the stalagmite, i just knew i had to get the basalt sandwitch and somehow get into stinkys while young, the puzzle to move the red triangle into stinkys was the only one in the second act that had me thinking for a bit... but i made the moai laugh, and i did not even know what it did till i want back into the cave, saw the stalagmite, and knew what it was for (he even said "looks like it was shaken loose" and i did not even see it before it fell

after the beginning of the episode, the second half left much to be desired, the cavern had a good feel to it "very james bond villan" but even so, all the island locations were too cartoony, and jimmy Hoffa seemed more menacing than the sea chimps... i did not feel threatened by them at all, (unlike the corporate presence, Santa, or Hoffa) they should have been replaced by some kind of lava pirahna, or something more menacing... while i liked the chimps and the few laughs they gave, it just did not seem like a proper villans entourage

it seemed like the episode had more jokes and giggles then actual content or puzzles, and in my mind it did not hold up to the standard they have set with the previous games...

[ChazFox]

Still, it's the jokes and giggles that keep me playing the S&M games. I agree though, I hope the next episode has a few more challenging puzzles. With the new hint system anyone will be able to solve a puzzle eventually.

[Hyperkinetic_Martian]

Though it was shorter in length than the first episode, "Maoi" took me longer to complete. I actually had to use the hint system a couple times whereas I ended up going through "Ice Station" with it off (though I didn't realize that there WAS one until after I completed it..). Regardless, I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the other episodes and once again found my lungs nearly depleted of oxygen from laughing so much.

Those two are just SOOO cute as kids :D (Me want plushies of them!!)

My only compliant is that you didn't actually get to meet and/or battle the volcano god himself :(

EDIT: A question that just popped up in my curious hyperkinetic head: is the dialogue about "stopping a volcano in the Philippines" a reference to a plot from the comics?

[ShaggE]

Overall, this wasn't one of my favorite episodes, but I still liked it. The writing and puzzles were top notch, but it ended rather abruptly, and the clickables felt somewhat poorly placed. (I kept accidentally clicking on things like the Noah's Ark remains and the Tiny Tiki entrance while going from one place to another)

All the negative aspects are redeemed by the mariachi guy scene, though. Pure comedy gold.

[Soultaker]

I for one was positively surprised by this episode. It's hard to quantify, but I felt a lot of the dialog and jokes worked well here, and I enjoyed the overall plot and the new characters. I definitely didn't mind the lack of a boss battle. My favourite puzzle was colouring the gong at Stinky's; that required you to think about what you saw elsewhere in the game, and use that observation to construct a solution. On its own, it makes little sense, but in the context of the game, it does.

Also, is it just me or did they beef up the game engine so it doesn't need to pause to load every time you more from one location to the next? It's a technicality, but the lower loading times do make exploring much more enjoyable, in my opinion. With both the hints system in place and this faster loading, I think the games have improved significantly on the technical side as well.

So, all in all, I'm very happy with season 2 to so far, although I can imagine people are unsatisfied with the game length, especially if you consider there are only five games instead of six. Still, I'd prefer a short good episode to a longer, drawn-out, boring one.

[pheeph]

this episode took me a long time before I figured out what that raincloud puzzle was supposed to do.

And is Sam and Max becoming a bit more vulgar than they normally would? They seem to get to the level of Ren and Stimpy (which Sam and Max replaced as my favorite)

[Guybrush Threepwood]

this episode took me a long time before I figured out what that raincloud puzzle was supposed to do.

And is Sam and Max becoming a bit more vulgar than they normally would? They seem to get to the level of Ren and Stimpy (which Sam and Max replaced as my favorite)

Hell, I loved the 'boxers or briefs?' joke. :D

[zozenka]

I really liked S&M as kids. So fuzzy-wuzzy-oochi-goochi-goo :p
I especially liked teasing the Moai whose face is half way into the ground :mad::mad::mad:
Roger L. Jackson did a great job :D The whole Telltale crew rocks! :cool:
Well, it's been great, hope you'll continue with the great work. I can't wait for the next episode! Just a few weeks to go...

[Harald B]

It's a bit of a mixed bag this time. I agree with Dangerzone about the underwater puzzles being very underwhelming. Everything before that point was really great, though. And I didn't particularly miss a "boss battle", but do think the finale should have been a bit more involved.
In the writing department, I like how the balancing act is carried even further, adding new depth to the plotlines at the same time as reaching previously unplumbed depths in toilet humor, with several brilliant moments for both. I don't like the abundance of exposition. Often the information wasn't particularly relevant or funny. And it seemed like Sam did too much of it, where Max could have given the same info twice as fast and a lot more funny to boot.

All in all it is a great episode and shows a lot of signs of progress, but that also makes what flaws there are feel all the more disappointing. Without these flaws it would have clearly been the best episode yet. Now I'd peg it below 201.

[BancoLavadero]

I started with rare hints, and the only time I was stuck was with getting that triangle to Stinky's I ran out of patience and consulted the walkthrough for that, for which I'm not very proud of.

Generally, I don't mind playing with the hint system on, because 9/10 times I've already thought of what Max is saying. In fact, in some cases you'll miss funny monologue if it's off. Of course you'll be able to replay both on and off.

I've noticed it maybe becoming a bit more vulgar, and I love it! (btw, I adore Ren & Stimpy). These two episodes in retrospect now are so much better in storyline (perhaps with the exception of Reality 2.0) and the jokes than all of S1. Okay, so last season there was a consistent theme to it all, but good laughs is much more relevant to me than a somewhat continous plot. Then again, we don't yet know wheter there is something to tie these episodes in S2 together or not, but so far, I would go with not.

Best laughs I got from Glenn Miller.
And then, having quit playing last night, I saw a rerun of the Mythbusters' Hoffa myth episode on TV here. I found that timing extremely amusing. :D

[Croutons]

I was disappointed by the length of gameplay, the lack of a real boss fight, and the fact it didn't really seem to tie in with Episode one in any way, like the 'Satan' tie but the excellent humour more than makes up for [i]any disappointments.

[jmm]

Okay, so last season there was a consistent theme to it all, but good laughs is much more relevant to me than a somewhat continous plot.

I think there is an overall plot, but is not quite obvious like the plot on S1. Maybe by the time we complete Episode 4 we will all pat on our head realizing the obvious plot and getting angry at ourselves because we didn't get it earlier.

Regardless, we have already some things and people recurring in both eps, for instance we have T-H-E-M, Stinky's stinky business, The Birthday guy (did someone say.... Birthday?), whatever Flint is working on, Mr Spatula, The Theory of Everything :)

We just need a third episode to discard coincidences and start to get the real overall plot.

[BarfHappy]

I loved the setting of that episode. It had some dead funny moments in there.

I hate drugs jokes though, it s like trying to give a positive image to them, and when like myself you are severely allergic to the active principle (a puff can send me to the hospital, or to death without cortisone) it instantly breaks the mood.

Anyway, great setting and even if the link to the previous episode -and the whole big picture- is not so subtle (end credits) i am sure we will see other great locales.

Difficulty wise, it was easy. But i replayed the game with hints on and there are some great max monologues happening !

I am eager to play the next one :)

[The Tingler]

Just finished now. Enjoyed it, laughed, loving getting the puzzles, and with only ONE hint! (which I'll get to in a bit) Mr. Spatula's appearance is the best yet, may he return. The Maraichi Birthday guy will hopefully NOT be a plot thing - I prefer him as a quick running gag. If he is I'm sure Telltale will do him justice though!

And I didn't particularly miss a "boss battle", but do think the finale should have been a bit more involved. Totally agree with this. Either boss or just exciting and thought-provoking finale. Season 1 Episode 1 got this right, so there's no reason Moai Better Blues shouldn't have.

What I didn't like?

1.That Glenn Miller puzzle was way too convoluted. Easy to solve, but I had no idea WHY I was helping him. And I needed that hint to find out what to do with it. Seriously - did anyone KNOW or WORK OUT that you needed to get Glenn Miller to give you a recording of his catchy song on a conkshell so you can play it to the middle Moai so she whistles it and inadvertantly blows the buried Moai's stormcloud through the triangles you've set up so it electrifies the fish in the Fountain of Youth?
2.Only two Monkey Island references? For shame!
3. Bit short. Oh, and a lot of things seem to be being set up rather playing a part now. Sybil & Abe's break-up, Stinky and old Stinky, Bosco and T-H-E-M, Flint Paper (once again he's totally superfluous), the very ending (although I forgive that one for being cool).

Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to Night of the Raving Dead. Screw that one up at your peril, Telltale! (although I'm sure you won't)

[Kefky]

I loved the episode, but not as much as 201. The puzzles were just too damn hard and random, and conversely, it seems like telltalle actually made the game shorter to accommodate. I like something a bit more balanced like 201 was.

About the challenge, I LIKE challenge in my adventure games, I'm a big of the difficult puzzles in Grim Fandango for example, but I don't like randomness. I think the solution to the puzzles should be logical. I'm not gonna say the puzzles in the episode were completely random, but it seems like you guys are going down that path because people were asking for it, and I personally think it's a mistake. Please always keep in mind that the solution to the puzzles should be logical first and foremost, not some silly and random thing that you bang your head against the wall trying to figure it out and ended up doing it through sheer luck or looking at a walkthrough.

Sorry about the rant, but this is something pretty strongly about. The game really was great. The story, the characters, the humor. And some of the puzzles too. :p But remember to keep that balance.

[doom saber]

I thought the challeges were higher than previous episodes, which was a good thing. I too had to use the Max hint system for the first time despite having an idea of what to do, but not sure how to do it.


Case in point was the Fountain of Youth part. I knew I had to get the water and had to do something with the lightning moai head and the whistle one; I solved the whistle one before getting hits, but I didn't know what the hell I have to with the lightning one until I used the max system and listening to it several times and finally heard the one with the moai blowing a brust and the electric eel with the fishes. I connected two and two together and solved it

What I like about the hints is that they don't give you a clear answer; you still have to think what to do, which imo, doesn't make a person feel as emabarass of not thinking about it. Furthermore, it doesn't take the satisfication of using hints and solving the puzzle as oppose to reading something on gamefaqs.

[doom saber]

1.That Glenn Miller puzzle was way too convoluted. Easy to solve, but I had no idea WHY I was helping him. And I needed that hint to find out what to do with it. Seriously - did anyone KNOW or WORK OUT that you needed to get Glenn Miller to give you a recording of his catchy song on a conkshell so you can play it to the middle Moai so she whistles it and inadvertantly blows the buried Moai's stormcloud through the triangles you've set up so it electrifies the fish in the Fountain of Youth?


I knew that one has to give the middle moai the shell to make her happy, but I didn't know you can play it w/o the teleporter thingies. I also know the blowing part was another part of a different puzzle since she blows quite a long time, then stops.

however, before I used hints, I didn't know it was used to blow the cloud away to fry the fishes despite knowin the cloud was a puzzle.

[mre]

EDIT: A question that just popped up in my curious hyperkinetic head: is the dialogue about "stopping a volcano in the Philippines" a reference to a plot from the comics?

Yup, in the comic "Monkeys Violating the Heavenly Temple" (which, despite the name, contains neither monkeys nor a temple), Sam & Max go to the Philippines to stop an evil volcano worshiping cult. It's mentioned briefly at the end of this Summer of Sam & Max article: [http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history1b/]

And I might add, seeing how the comic had a proper volcano god makes it so much more disappointing that this episode misses one... :(

[Hero1]

what I liked about 202:

- red herrings..the first solution you think to a puzzle is not always the right one.. jimmy hoffa excepts your baby rash drink, drinks it and says thanks hehe
- there are levels to the puzzles..you have to go through steps a b and c to get your solution
- the craziness..the storyline the characters were completely out there and in the sam & max zone..loved it
- the writing..i think chuck really nails the sam & max humor
-the music..well brilliant as always
-the voice acting.. absolute highlight of a telltale game..i loved the depressed moai head cracked me up
- sam and max as kids! man that was great
- the majority of the game takes place on easter island..away from the neighborhood and not so much back and forth
- flint paper..and yes he smokes in telltales version of sam & max!
- i think the game was more targeted to an older audience which frankly i suspect is the majority of sam & max buyers

[Hero1]

Let other game developers take note, then:

January 11, 2008. The GAUNTLET has been DROPPED.

(And any other game hoping to step up to the challenge should note that 202 has not just a fart joke, but TWO (2) pee jokes. Must be that "highbrow humor" that IGN review was talking about.)

I'm really surprised you went for such cheap laughs there chuck...










loved the Lost joke by the way hehe

[wisp]

i really liked 202, there's still room for improvement, but season 2 is definitely going in the right direction. even though it was shorter than the last game it was also more challenging and most puzzles were even logic in a certain way. the only thing that got me stuck was finding the banang, since a) i simply didn't see it and b) thought that there would be nothing in this location. i liked most of the other puzzles, the one with the snail was especially entertaining. like sam, i didn't think it would actually work, what made it even funnier.
the humor was a bit different from the last episode, i guess. where ice station santa had some grand lines with word play and such, 202 had a more instesive use of cultural references. i didn't laugh so often, but was more grinning all the time.
voice acting was amazing this time, maybe there were a lot of new characters, but still..
with all the plotting going on i think the whole season might develop a nice background story. now keep going and don't screw it up like they did on lost..
oh, and i totally liked the shirt of small sam..i wonder those things are available somewhere..*g*

I hate drugs jokes though, it s like trying to give a positive image to them, and when like myself you are severely allergic to the active principle (a puff can send me to the hospital, or to death without cortisone) it instantly breaks the mood.
i see you're point, but there are a lot worse drug references in everyday media and i think one doesn't quite get the one in 202 unless having already been in contact with the drug in question.

[The Tingler]

i see you're point, but there are a lot worse drug references in everyday media and i think one doesn't quite get the one in 202 unless having already been in contact with the drug in question.

Yeah, that basalt's really killer stuff. :p

[Hero1]

thats why they only give it to kids..

[NHJ BV]

I got horribly stuck on the banang puzzle for at least an hour. I finally consult the walkthrough and see that there is an entire left area of the cave, despite there being zero indication that it's there...:(

Am I the only one with this problem? Thing is, as soon as you enter the cave your (well, at least mine) attention is drawn by the sea chimps on the right. Then you go there and do stuff. There is nothing to see on the left side of the entrance, nor does the camera ever pan there to indicate that there's anything there.

[Hero1]

what resolution are you playing on? at 1200 you can quite easily see all the stuff in the cave..when you walk around the camera pans back

[Amaterasu]

it didn't feel shorter at all!
in fact, I think moai was THE best sam and max chapter so far!!!
yes, even better than reality 2.0!
1. it had the most inventory items so far! I love original quests, and a lot of inventory items, even non-use-info-only ones (like the book) are very important for the enviroment.
2. it was really funny! XD I think few of the lines in this game, especially these:
"we're not primitive! we have cellphone."
"that's the second biggest bermuda triangle I have ever seen!"
and the sea monkeys of course!
had great impact! the last 2 made this game the best so far!
3. and the best of all... none of the soda poppers are in there! XDXD well, except on stinky's wall.
I don't like some of the first characters (except bosco, he's the best). I think getting rid of sybil will be as good as getting rid of the sodda poppers. the new characters are really great! waiting for the sea monkeys comeback!

keep this rate please! this game was the most fun so far to play!
it felt like original puzzle-quest game, and there were some awesome lines that just made me stop and laugh like crazy. XD
and more inventory items! XD maybe even "item-combine" system?

requests:
-longer chapters (we don't care if they weight more than 100mb. 200mb for more seperate character models, more characters, more items, more puzzles, and more lines).
-more inventory items! that's what quests are all about! :D
-more guybrush lines! XD
I really waited for something with "10 minutes" when S&M went underwater...


*edit*
omg almost forgot the BEST part of this game:
"did somebody say birthday!?"
...>dances and sings<
max: "and again, I forgot to bring my video camera!"
god that was funny... XDXD

[EFFLGuy]

What was the point in acquiring it in 202? I can't for the life of me figure it out.

[tabacco]

What was the point in acquiring it in 202? I can't for the life of me figure it out.

It's a red herring :)

[Haggis]

*edit*
omg almost forgot the BEST part of this game:
"did somebody say birthday!?"
...>dances and sings<
max: "and again, I forgot to bring my video camera!"
god that was funny... XDXD
Oh yeah, that was great! I do hope that will be a recurring joke in every episode! The Mexican singer, that is.

[Hero1]

it didn't feel shorter at all!

wasn't short for me..it must have taken me over 5 hours.. but I did a few things wrong.. like not visit the cops for ages to get the horn and then that red gong/stinky puzzle had me confused..i couldnt reach the gong that threw me off and then i forgot to pick up that gold medallion haha which delayed me.. but the episode's length was fine with me

[Mario]

Just finished the episode. To be honest, I am a bit disappointed. I like Moai Better Blues, but for me it can't compete with the last few episodes. Mainly, it is too short. Normally I wouldn't mind, but considering that this season features only 5 episodes while costing as much as the first one, I was hoping for longer, more involving entrances.

For me, Ice Station Santa got it just right. I prefer 5 very good episodes over 6 good ones, so i didn't mind the shorter season, since I assumed all the episodes would be roughly equal to Santa in terms of length and quality.

Anyway, i still enjoyed my trip to Easter Island. Things I liked:

- The sometimes more saucy humor, compared to Season 1.
- Baby Sam and Max!
- I don't know if this was a deliberate decision by the game designers, but
I'm of the opinion that our two heroes expressed a wider range of
emotions, both through the voice actors and the animations.

[Stigmatic]

I also thought it was a bit short. Even though I used a long time, it just felt like less to do before I had finished.

As always there's a but, coming.
However there was a lot of great stuff in the episode.

-Cowbell reference :D
-Baby Sam and Max of course
(who should get to meet, and get something from)
-Birthday? guy
-The 'useless' bowling ball, except I feel it would have been better if you had to get it. Like placing it in front of something else you needed.
-The fact that Jimmy has nothing of importance in this episode.

About not finding the left side of the cave, I think that's just unlucky. When you are coming from the right side the camera usually pans out, and then it's usually easy to notice.

[Jekill]

I solved the finale by accident. I picked up the medallion, stuck it into the snake puddle (just because the puddle hadn't been useful up until then and because the medallion lay next to it anyway)... I had solved the part with the gong next to the vulcano earlier as it was obvious. I stuck the medallion through the silver triangle because I couldn't think of anything else to do. And all of a sudden, the episode was over.
But why? I loved the episode but I don't understand the end.
Why is the pink triangle stopped by the red medallion (or mini-gong)? And why does Sam throw it inside and the vulcano erupts afterwards? Was there a dialogue line I missed which said something about the medallion triggering the vulcano? I'm lost.

[Harald B]

Bosco said at the beginning that a red octagon causes a triangle to stop. The medallion is an octagon.

[Kedri]

And the volcano was caught just in the nick of time.

[Jekill]

riiiiiiight. okay. thank you guys, that makes sense. but the final puzzle steems a pinch unspectacular in comparison to all those boss-fights. i was as well looking forward to the vulcano god. but, hey, the rest of the episode was awesome as ever

[Katana]

Sorry to say, I kind of think this episode was one of the worse ones thus far. Here's my excessively wordy review.

*NOTE: THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. I'm just going to put the entire thing in a spoiler tag, and you can choose whether to read it.*
Maybe it was just me but some of the humor was a bit lackluster in this one. Many of Bosco's responses were predominated by reinforcing the fact that he's making a bunker, as well as reminding us once again that he's a conspiracy theorist. The first puzzle of the game isn't exactly too difficult, but there are some afterwards that I simply thought were a bit out of place. For instance, a gong in Stinky's won't make portals until you paint it red with a snail? What is the reason for that? All I saw of the gongs on Easter Island was a light-colored, barely noticable bullseye. Telling us that red paint makes things call portals seems completely nonsensical, although I'm sort of hoping I missed something. Then, near the end of the episode, you're required to stop the volcano using a similar technique to the first puzzle. The solution here lies back inside the cave, but this doesn't make sense to me; before leaving, Sam says to Max "There's nothing more we can do down here! Come on, Max!" This quote seemed like a direct hint to me that what I needed to do next to stop the volcano was above ground; a bit counter-intuitive.
Thankfully, the infamous Soda Poppers are nowhere to be seen in this episode, but they make way for characters that I still don't find so memorable; ancient talking heads, and youth-ified versions of missing people. The talking heads had very little personality that didn't pertain to a puzzle, not many jokes, and I couldn't help but feel that the God of Storms' concept was taken from Team Fortress 2's Pyro (not really a FULLY valid criticism, but...)
The babies didn't really have such unique personalities either. I thank the developers for not taking diaper jokes too far, but they too didn't really have many of their own jokes. Especially that musician. He just sounded like a geek. And not the amusing, dressing-as-sephiroth kind.
I'm hoping the ideas in the next episode are fleshed out, and that there are actually a few more jokes. I realize how much writer's block settles in, but try just doing something you don't often do, and see what jokes you can derive from that. Sometimes works for me.

[ATMachine]

I suspect the seeming shortness of the game stems partly from the late-stage removal of a significant puzzle in the first act, as Tanukitsune pointed out in the Help forum.

[Dangerzone]

I suspect the seeming shortness of the game stems partly from the late-stage removal of a significant puzzle in the first act, as Tanukitsune pointed out in the Help forum.

i dunno... as i said earlier, i played both versions, and the feeling is the same... short, it was a small puzzle that was fun and funny. but yeh, it was certainly way too complicated for where it was in the game and i dont mind seeing it go, i would however have liked to see it preserved in some way, same with quite a few one liners and jokes that were removed in this version (actually i would like to see something like this for ALL the episodes... maybe teltale should release a video, of all the deleted scenes from each of the episodes

[akajackfrost]

i dunno... as i said earlier, i played both versions, and the feeling is the same... short, it was a small puzzle that was fun and funny. but yeh, it was certainly way too complicated for where it was in the game and i dont mind seeing it go, i would however have liked to see it preserved in some way, same with quite a few one liners and jokes that were removed in this version (actually i would like to see something like this for ALL the episodes... maybe teltale should release a video, of all the deleted scenes from each of the episodes

Just curious, what did the deleted puzzles involve. I saw the brief description, but what made them difficult?

[Sir Lemming]

I think the first poster hit the nail on the head -- there are some pacing problems in this episode. Gameplay-wise, I'd say it's probably the best one yet. The puzzles are wonderfully convoluted, just like they should be. They definitely didn't hold your hand in this one, and anyone who says otherwise must have left the hint system on by accident.

But it is a little anti-climactic. Ice Station Santa had the best structure, I think. (Again, echoing what the original poster said.) I have a feeling there's not much difference in length here, but in how long it feels. The underwater area was the most interesting part of the game, but it occupied the least amount of time. The island area was, frankly, somewhat bland considering that most of the game seemed to take place there, on those two screens. Lots of brilliant stuff going on, but not very exciting.




By the way, one question: what triggers Sybil and Abe's fight? Game-wise, I mean? I was mostly just walking back and forth between locations and then that happened.

[Hero1]

By the way, one question: what triggers Sybil and Abe's fight? Game-wise, I mean? I was mostly just walking back and forth between locations and then that happened.

yeah same here .. what sets those events off?

[Dangerzone]

if i recall correctly... after you get the wind moai to whistle, the next time you return (from either direction)... the fight breaks out

[Sir Lemming]

Okay, I think I remember that happening.


One other thing I'd like to say is that this episode distinctly lacked a feeling of progress. This is hard to achieve in an episodic game, but I think the past 4 episodes have more or less pulled it off. It's sort of the same thing I said before about pacing, or maybe one is the cause and the other is the effect. Even though this episode had the best puzzles in the series so far, and I really enjoyed solving them, I didn't feel like I was really progressing -- which seems necessary for an "adventure" game. In that sense it's sort of like The Mole, The Mob, and the Meatball -- although I have to stress that it's MUCH better than that one due to the puzzle difficulty and still greater length.

[Hero1]

i thought I was progressing..in the story..you had to get to the underground cave..you had to solve the puzzles to do so

[Anvilania]

It was kinda short. :( i hate when things are short! mabye longer episodes would be better

[Morlamweb]

Just finished the game a couple of days ago for the first time, and I've gotta say I'm really pleased. My favorite lines are the dialog between Stinky and and young Sam and Max. I also like the fact that turning off the light in S&M's office now actually dims the light level in the room (yes, I've been clicking on the light switch in every episode just to see if that would work!) It's the attention to those little details that I really appreciate, and TTG seems to be getting better at this with every episode.

As far as the puzzles go, I got stuck only about 3 times: with the basalt sandwich puzzle, the "anointing" puzzle (that one really had me scratching my head for a while), and the end-game puzzle. I didn't try to rush through the game in one night, either; whenever I got stuck, I quit, and if I good idea came to me I'd load up the game again.

I didn't really think about the Glenn Miller puzzles too much, because after playing through eight S&M episodes, and countless other adventure games, I've realized that whenever an in-game character wants you to do something, you gotta help 'em, because doing so will help you win the game.

[wisp]

..but helping people should also make you feel better. :D

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I also like the fact that turning off the light in S&M's office now actually dims the light level in the room (yes, I've been clicking on the light switch in every episode just to see if that would work!) It's the attention to those little details that I really appreciate, and TTG seems to be getting better at this with every episode.

Ah yes, thanks for reminding me about that! Like you I click the light switch every episode, and when it actually did something it made me smile.

[Randulf]

Very nice episode as a whole: Obviously more voice-over talents are employed in this episode than in any other. The cliffhanger at the very end makes my jaw drop. Just two things I don't like.

The driving game is too hard. It is easy enough to get the quest item, but to collect the gold decal is an ordeal.

The Paint-the-gong puzzle makes no sense, so much so that even Sam comments "I don't really expect that to work"

Also, early in season 1 Sam used to comment that the hydrant outside Bosco's "reminds me of my childhood", but now that he is rejuvenated, I'm disappointed that he makes no cracks on it. I was expecting something in the line of "I am too young to mark my territory"

[Murray the Chao]

I have a couple of things to say:
1. If Sam's tie acts as an aqualung, then why was he concerned about drowning in 106? Did it not function as such back then?
2. Why did Sam & Max swim home instead of use the DeSoto? All they would have had to do is wait for it...

[wisp]

how would they do that? the desoto won't come to the island on it's own, or would it? it's not k.i.t.t. or anything.

The driving game is too hard. It is easy enough to get the quest item, but to collect the gold decal is an ordeal.

The Paint-the-gong puzzle makes no sense, so much so that even Sam comments "I don't really expect that to work"
you're right about the driving. i still don't know how i managed to beat the last level. on the other hand it's kind of a bonus. of course, we all want gold, but if a mini-game takes to much time, i usually continue in the main story.

gong and snail combination was a bit odd, but still kind of locigal. if you use the gong before it is painted, sam will make a remark that it doesn't work like the ones on the island, but it might. the red snail was one of my choices to alter the gong and my thoughts were exactly the same as sam's. it was the funniest moment in the game..at least for me.

[splash1]

Season 2 i think it's mostly about mystical legends and stuff such as the start
and end of Ice Station Santa, and it's also about death and coming back as ghosts just like Mr.Spatula did...oh and the villan is deffinetly T-H-E-M & Mr. Spatula

[Haggis]

1. If Sam's tie acts as an aqualung, then why was he concerned about drowning in 106? Did it not function as such back then?
Maybe it didn't double as an aqualung back then, but after that situation, he decided to order a new tie from Bosco's (with breathing equipment built into it), in case he ever had to be able to breathe underwater again.

[unsilviu]

Maybe it didn't double as an aqualung back then, but after that situation, he decided to order a new tie from Bosco's (with breathing equipment built into it), in case he ever had to be able to breathe underwater again.

Bosco's ain't a store no more.foo!

[Haggis]

Bosco's ain't a store no more.foo!
It still was when he bought the new tie though! :D

[jmm]

I have a couple of things to say:
If Sam's tie acts as an aqualung, then why was he concerned about drowning in 106? Did it not function as such back then?


The tie used then only had two modules installed:
Module 1: Breathing Module
Module 2: Gravity/Stability Module

Unfortunately, Module 3 (Underwater breathing) was under repairs after an incident involving a snow globe, a piece of limestone, some sulphuric acid and an unspecified rabbity-thing.

[Randulf]

For all the good jokes, it is the non-verbal humor I think are funniest. Absolutely love Max's expression when Sam installs the musical horn on the DeSoto or when he removes it. I've done this a dozen times just to watch his face.

(Which brings to mind another priceless moment: Harry's contented smile when he frisks Sam, in episode 106)

[ShaggE]

For all the good jokes, it is the non-verbal humor I think are funniest.

Agreed. I lost it when the preview screens for 102 came out, and one of them was Sam and Max with the chef's hats and huge grins. (From the Cooking Without Looking section)

[tobar]

Ah yes, thanks for reminding me about that! Like you I click the light switch every episode, and when it actually did something it made me smile.

Yeah I loved that, especially the fact that the pop-up text dims too! :D

[NickTTG]

Yeah I loved that, especially the fact that the pop-up text dims too! :D

stop playing with pop-up txt on. its for babies.... and turn off those subtitles already!

[Murray the Chao]

how would they do that? the desoto won't come to the island on it's own, or would it? it's not k.i.t.t. or anything.
It did at the Ball of Twine.

[wisp]

right, but...but...but there was a parking lot.

okay, you got me there. i just can't remember anything that happened aeons ago...or last year, since i replayed htr.

[jmm]

Ah... the mackerel/trout* puzzle.... good memories.


*Max "says" it's a trout

[tobar]

stop playing with pop-up txt on. its for babies.... and turn off those subtitles already!

Bah, I already have those pesky subtitles off but you leave me my pop-up text!

[Guybrush Threepwood]

stop playing with pop-up txt on. its for babies.... and turn off those subtitles already!

I always play my adventure games with subtitles on! :(

[Guybrush_Threepwood]

Ep. 202 = (best puzzles so far, lotsa fun, very short)^202

[Will]

Yeah, don't listen to Nick. Subtitles and pop-up text is the only way to play.

[splash1]

it's true!

[Murray the Chao]

Ah... the mackerel/trout* puzzle.... good memories.


*Max "says" it's a trout
"I'm a trout, stupid!"

[kgoodies]

i felt that this one was tons of fun playing through the first time, but that ice station Santa could be played through multiple times and still be fun. for me, moai better blues could be the most fun two times through, at max. which dosen't mean i don't think it's not as fun as 201, just means it doesn't have the same amount of staying power, but honestly we get these thing for less then a dinner at t.g.i.'s (which i love) and we get em once a month, i feel i can call it a success regardless.

[Sir Lemming]

but honestly we get these thing for less then a dinner at t.g.i.'s (which i love) and we get em once a month, i feel i can call it a success regardless.

Hmm, what's better? An episode of Sam & Max, or an order of Parmesan-crusted Sicilian Quesadillas?


If you've never had an order of Parmesan-crusted Sicilian Quesadillas, that's a more difficult decision than you realize.

[tabacco]

I'm not sure what makes them sicilian, but the idea of coating something which is traditionally full of cheese with more cheese and then melting it all seems like it's hard to go wrong.

[mish]

Episode 202 was BITCHIN'! Now the only request I have, and seriously, I really really really really really really really wish this was implemented (even if only for nostalgia's sake):

I wish you could have the option to override the camera during talking to people. It's really kind of repetitive to see the medium-close-up of each character when they talk. It's more squeezetube than Friends. I can see why people'd like that, but I personally would love to just be able to have a static camera. Pretty please?

[wjousts]

I just purchased the season 2 pass yesterday (I already had the season 1 pass) and downloaded 201 and 202. Both episodes suffer from being too short and too easy (and no, I didn't need to turn on the hint system). For me, it's a real shame because I love the characters and the jokes, but I have a hard time paying that much money for so few hours of entertainment. The same was also true in season 1. I've always loved adventure games, but this is the reason I don't (usually) buy them any more.
I think episode 2 was a little shorter and easier, but there's not much in it. I thought the puzzles were mostly logical, the only one I thought was a little surprising was the snail and the gong. I thought I'd have to somehow draw a triangle on the gong like the gongs on the island, but apparently not. Just a big smudge of red goo is good enough. I was expecting to have to pass the glass through one of the portals on the island and have Max take it on the other side. IMHO, that would have been a better puzzle. It would be nice to have some puzzles that involved using Sam and Max, and their "unique" talents, separately.
I was also disappointed that we didn't find out anything about what Jimmy two teeth was doing in the robot. It looks like he's opening a club or something. Perhaps all will be revealed in 203? And I'm hoping we've seen the last of Abe for awhile.

[mindless]

My thoughts on the episode.

I would have loved to play with the kid versions of sam and max for longer than we got, i'm thinking there where many lost posibilities there, also them just growing up didn't jive with the other characters who are stuck as babies, why wouldn't they just grow up as fast, this wasn't explained away at all.

I am glad the soda popers didn't show up in this ep, I don't like them so their total absence was definatly welcome in this episode.

I liked the triange puzles, required alot of planing to get things to work just right.

It was too short, almost gives the impression that maybe more was planed out for the episode but was perhapse got cut out so that it could ship on time?

The comedy is spot on, can't find any fault it in.

overall i'd give it a 7/10

[InvaderJim42]

I would have loved to play with the kid versions of sam and max for longer than we got, i'm thinking there where many lost posibilities there, also them just growing up didn't jive with the other characters who are stuck as babies, why wouldn't they just grow up as fast, this wasn't explained away at all.

Sam comments that when you get too far from the source of the Fountain of Youth, the effects wear off. The babies on the island weren't too far, so it didn't wear off of them. You'll note that the water itself will even disappear if you try to take it too far away from the source.

[Jake]

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's an implication made that the babies are suffering some more long-term effects due to far more, and far more prolonged, exposure to the fountain and it's water. I might have just made that up, but I think that's in there somewhere. Maybe. Yeah.

[RyanMon]

So does that mean if we replay the game and have sam and max drink the fountain of youth water about 100 times, they'll be doomed young forever?

[Murray the Chao]

But when Hoffa had more water, he was no more!

[mindless]

Sam comments that when you get too far from the source of the Fountain of Youth, the effects wear off. The babies on the island weren't too far, so it didn't wear off of them. You'll note that the water itself will even disappear if you try to take it too far away from the source.

Ah, thanks, I guess i wasn't paying attention during that conversation.

[wisp]

why did they drink so much anyway? i mean it's still just water and being young may be nice, but not if you're so young you have to wear diapers again.

[Trixie]

Probably were just idiots about the water, like most people would be.
Btw, Episode 202 is IGN's READERS game of the month. I feel that it is an honor on the first month of a year.