Sam & Max: Season 1 (Windows)

SAM & MAX began as a comic book by Steve Purcell in the late 1980s but went on to spawn a celebrated computer game in 1993 (LucasArts' Sam & Max Hit the Road), a Fox TV show, and online comics. These private detectives call themselves "freelance police": Sam is an oversize dog who walks on two legs and Max is a smaller, talkative "rabitty-thing," and these games feature thousands of lines of humorous dialogue, bizarre characters, and hilarious situations.

In the third game, for example, the duo investigates a disappearance at the Ted E. Bear Mafia-Free Playland and Casino. The casino has games such as "Whack a Mole" (use your gun to "whack" the singing moles) and "One-Armed Bandits," slot machines that look like one-armed bandits, with black-and-white-striped shirts and masks. These slower-paced point-and-click adventures are all about puzzle-solving and character interaction.

All six games feature attractive 3-D graphics, a jazzy soundtrack, and professional voice talent to help bring these zany characters to life. Each episode only takes a couple of hours to complete. While each game serves as a standalone adventure, an overarching story ties these tales together.

Also included in this $30 collection is a bonus CD containing a "Making Sam & Max" behind-the-scenes video; trailer videos for all six episodes; concept artwork and character bios; desktop wallpapers; a music soundtrack sampler; and access to an online comic generator to make your own free comic strips. A full-size printed color poster is also in the box. Sam & Max: Season 1 is a great buy for adventure gamers, Sam & Max comic fans, and those with a good sense of humor.