Episode 5 of the first season of Sam and Max is my second favorite of the series, behind Abe Lincoln Must Die.  This one takes place in that zany world, Reality 2.0 which is taking over the Internet and only you can save everyone from becoming hypnotized online game addicts!

Full of wit and references to gaming culture, this game is incredibly awesome.  It's a bit lacking in the graphics department;  Telltale shortcut a bit to get this game out.  But that's fine, because the dialog more than makes up for any perceived lack of graphical acuity.

In this game, the COPS, a group of "obsolete" computer systems, has teamed up with The Internet to build Reality 2.0, a virtual world that seems to duplicate the real world in many non-essential ways.  There aren't a lot of brain twisting puzzles or fetch quests, but you will be switching back and forth between the "real world" and Reality 2.0 alot.

In fact, the biggest piece of advice you'll need to figure out the puzzles in this game is "Watch your inventory."  Objects in your inventory have dual uses, depending on where you stand:  something useless in Reality 2.0 might solve a puzzle in The Real World.  And vice versa.  Also, pay attention to details whenever you get stuck.

The puzzles in this game felt a bit "classic" to me, reminding me of the puzzles in adventure games in days gone by, where you might spend 15 minutes walking around before the AHA! moment strikes you and you solve the puzzle.  As Bluster Blaster would say... IT'S AWESOME!

What pushes this game from straight AWESOME into EPIC WIN territory, however, are the gaming and internet references sprinkled liberally throughout this chapter.  From "It's a me, Sam!" to the "You got an item!" pose above, you'll be smirking at the level of referential humor to gaming and the Internet.  Watch out for LOLCATS and Nigerian Spam, as well.

And if you thought that wasn't enough, the last screenshot here is a bit of a spoiler but it's pretty much the best part of the game.  When I made it to this point I laughed quite heartily.  Reality 1.5 isn't what you expect.

In any case, Sam and Max Episode 5, Season 1 is an excellent piece of software.  You will enjoy playing it.  And the dialog and voice acting is top drawer;  you will enjoy replaying it, as I have over the last couple of years.  Get it when it's on sale and you'll have a grand old time.  Or get it on Wii Ware and share with the family.  You'll enjoy Sam and Max if you like Gaming and The Internet.