14 DAY TRIAL // 
At the end of October 2006 - early November when Season One from Sam & Max came out, we were all enchanted that classical adventure games heroes came back into our lives. Under the guidance of Steve Purcell, the hyperkinetic rabbity thing called Max and his anthropomorphic dog friend Sam proved humor was just as much as an aphrodisiac to adventure gamers as mind bending puzzles were for the Myst series. Due to the episodic nature of the reborn series (and the fact that the first four episodes all featured pretty much the same setting), we wouldn't have expected the game to bring up much new episodic content. But Sam & Max: Reality 2.0 really managed to keep me in a continuous amazement. Let me tell you a few things about that.
Story Of course I cannot spoil your fun of discovering many of the new things in Reality 2.0, but if you really need help with the game, you should check the walkthrough. The hypnosis conspiracy theory of the season goes one step dipper with this new episode, threatening the very foundations of the western civilization with an internet crisis looming and the virtual world turning against its most devoted fans - gamers. A new game - Reality 2.0 - is holding its players hostage. You'll have the pleasure of encountering in the VR many of the defining elements of most of the prestigious genres that keep you in front of your screens. Since Sam & Max are the only ones in the world that cannot be hypnotized, it is once again up to the Freelance Police to crack the case up. Their primary target is the thing that is everywhere, but at the same time, in no particular place - the Internet. Can they face that? Well, they'll need your help.
Concept You've already met most of the characters in this episode, but now you rediscover them. The only character that never seems to go off his way is still Jimmy Two-Teeth with his Mob like look and behavior. One again disappointed by all the troubles he has to go through due to the conspiracies that shadow his business, Bosco now turns to the virtual world for help on keeping his bank account safe. This time he poses as a half-elf as an extension of his virtual avatar rather than use a disguise. Sybil takes up the career of every gamer in the world - game tester. Since in Reality 2.0 the virtual characters (gosh, it's complicated to talk about a game in the actual game) are inspired by the most renown personalities of Sam & Max's world, Myra Stump and Hugh Bliss take on important roles here. Myra is now acting as mailbox police, while Hugh is the all helping Internet Wizard. A new face comes up - the sum of all knowledge in the virtual world, the all mighty Internet. While at first it will look like this is only a helpful tool to display hints, it turns out to be quite a special character.
Of course Sam & Max are the stars and they will have the chance to shine in their "refurnished" world. Max still benefits from being the President and Sam is your right hand in observing and cracking all the stuff that make up the new case. I have some bad news about the former child stars fans - the Soda Poppers missed this episode. But don't you worry, because the role of former stars is filled by? devices that wrote history. The phone and the arcade machine have decisive roles in Reality 2.0.
Gameplay The fifth episode of the season doesn't only introduce a new dimension to the Freelance Police's world - the virtual reality. It also enriches the already known locations by adding a whole new set of comments for everything you've seen before. Practically, it enhances the game experience by more than 100%. Do yourself a favor and wonder a little around the old office and neighborhood (twice - in the virtual world too). If you didn't manage to get all the sarcastic jokes about TV series (Culture Shock), talk shows (Situation Comedy), the Mafia subject (The Mole, the Mob and the Meatball) or politics (Abe Lincoln Must Die!) it is a sure thing that you will get all the jokes about the gaming industry.
While the difficulty of the puzzles is still kept at an average level, Reality 2.0 is (thus far) the best blending of modern adventure settings and concepts and good old fashion gaming experience of the series. The greatest thing about this episode is that it manages to amaze you when you least expect it. I was beginning to get used to a small case each episode. The situation only used to take a whole new direction in the end of the games, but now, just as you think "This is it - that's the big finale!" something else pops up and a new course of action starts.
In the virtual world of Reality 2.0, you'll encounter many defining elements of classical genres such as arcade, role playing, mind games and, obviously, adventure games. Everything is completed with the unique personalities of the star characters. Despite his violent and pranks orientated imagination, Max is still one of the funniest and most adorable adventure characters you've ever encountered. Sam - the classical detective representative - will once again play the role of the logical and at times dramatic inspector. Not to worry, the humor is right at home.
From saving (yes, again) their closest friends to saving their entire civilization is just a small step. A step that will get the Freelance Police in big trouble, but a step that will take you - the experienced adventure fan - through exciting moments of remembering the "Golden Age" and will utterly shock newbies (they'll enjoy it too once they get used to the new interface).
Video As I've already told you, Sam & Max's world has almost doubled. The "real life" neighborhood is only refreshed through new posters and finally the possibility of visiting the missing neighbor - Lefty (well, he's place anyway). But as the detectives log into Reality 2.0 everything changes. There is a whole new office look (that you absolutely have to see) and a lively animated and colorful virtual appearance for the rest of it. You'll experience a ton of new actions and enjoy some sites that I bet you never even hoped for. While the overall feeling remains pretty much the same - cartoon style all the way - the newly added dimension will pretty much satisfy all the fans craving for more exciting locations.
Sound Great voice acting goes almost without saying, being already one of the star features of the series. Once again, Jared Emerson-Johnson did his job wonderfully and succeeded in emerging the player into the virtual world with computer generated background music. Once again, the sound will be a strong connection to the overall atmosphere of the game, reminding everybody of the famous arcade soundtracks.
Conclusion I enjoyed Sam & Max from the first episode, but Reality 2.0 simply kept me going from one "Wow" to another. It brings a whole new fresh feeling to the season, while also keeping track of everything that happened in the previous episodes. Surely the people complaining about poor new content materials from one episode to another cannot dispute the valuable (to be read "utterly fun") new additions to the series. It is most definitely a game for every adventure fan especially since it concentrates on the impact of computers (and computer games) on the everyday life. Sam & Max experience here most of the joys and troubles that the majority of players encounter in their "virtual fun lives". Despite the glorifying feeling of the golden age of adventure games, Sam & Max: Reality 2.0 has also a high educational purpose especially for us - the players. Nevertheless, nothing could stop me from getting on the double the final episode: I'm very curious to see whom the mastermind behind this hypnotic conspiracy is. Mr?. Oh, you'll have to play the game to learn his name!
