Hot on the heels of the release of Episode 1: Culture Shock, Sam and Max are back again in an all new downloadable adventure. But can a title released so soon after its predecessor possibly live up to its forbearer? A few noticeable exceptions aside, I’d have to answer that question with an emphatic yes.

Maintaining the same visual style and quirky sense of humor, Situation: Comedy builds on the story and environments introduced in last months Culture Shock while presenting a self-contained adventure that doesn’t rely on a player’s previous knowledge of the series. And even though being familiar with the likes of Bosco, Sybil and the Soda Poppers will certainly enhance a gamers appreciation of some of the humor contained within, knowing these characters certainly isn’t a prerequisite.

The story certainly meets the recommended combined dosage of relevant pop culture reference and irreverent wackiness – talk show host Myra is holding her studio audience hostage while giving them all fabulous prizes in what seems to be a dual nod to both Oprah’s “You’ve got a new car, and you’ve got a new car!” moments and old school Rosie O’Donnell audience giveaways.

Situation: Comedy parodies pop culture at its worst. As the story progresses you’ll find Sam & Max embroiled in parodies of the worst genres of TV today. I’d say more, but I don’t want to step into spoiler territory.

In addition to plot points parodying our popular culture, our favorite freelance police also get some fantastic dialogue that does much of the same. From Tom Hanks awful Da Vinci Code hair to the cancellation of My So-Called Life, nothing is safe from these two. It’s a refreshing change to see a game that’s willing to tackle the same sort of referential humor that’s become the staple of our TV diets for years now. Shows like Family Guy have paved the way for obscure cultural references that hinge on the viewers knowledge of the world outside of the show. Seeing that sort of dialogue make the jump to games is a welcome change.

That’s why it’s such a shame that one of my few complaints doesn’t stray too far from this idea. Earlier in this review I’d mentioned that a familiarity with the characters established in Culture Shock would make the humor that much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, familiarity is a double-edged sword. Much of the joy to be found in Sam & Max is from exploring every last nook and cranny of the game and interacting with everything you find. Many of the sets from Culture Shock have been recycled into Situation: Comedy. This wouldn’t bother me so much if the humor hadn’t been recycled with it. Sure, a few new objects have been added here and there, but for the most part everything at the Office, Sybil’s, and Bosco’s is the same, and clicking on these familiar items produces familiar lines. It’s not that I expected a set redesign for some key environments, but tossing in some new dialogue when clicking on the old objects would have been a nice touch.

You won’t be spending a lot of time in these familiar areas anyways, so in the end it’s not a huge concern. Besides, when you do, your interactions with Sybil and Bosco are delightfully fresh and should easily make you forget about the above-mentioned concern. In the end, if I had any complaint about the recycled areas it’s that we didn’t spend enough time there. I would’ve loved a few more scenes with the new and improved “British” Bosco, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

On the bright side, all of the new characters introduced are just as much fun to interact with as the old ones. In the course of the game you’ll meet such friendly (and not so friendly) faces as the magician turned touchy-feely spiritualist Hugh Bliss, a nameless but stressed-out director with an acerbic wit, and Mr. Featherly, a sitcom landlord who is equal parts Mr. Furley, Mrs. Garrett, and, well… chicken. Oh! And I mustn’t forget a return visit from The Soda Poppers, a group of child stars from the 70’s introduced last episode that just can’t seem to let go of their fame.

The puzzles are just a little more ingenious this time around, the humor is a little bit sharper, and the direction of the series is just a little more clear. If Situation: Comedy is any indication, things are good for Sam and Max and only getting better.

4 out of 5

Sam & Max: Situation Comedy will be available exclusively on GameTap from December 21st until January 7th, at which time you can purchase it directly from the Telltale Games website.

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