

Best Writing – Comedy: Sam & Max: Season Two
Sam & Max have been a popular comic double act stretching back to the days of Hit the Road, but it was arguably in Season Two of the new episodic installments that they really hit their peak. Although other adventures made us laugh, it was the latest collection of Sam & Max's crazy escapades that made us laugh the hardest, loudest, and longest, possibly annoying our neighbours. So many comedies come from the "throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks" school of writing, but the wisecracks consistently hit the mark here, from the many send-ups of pop culture phenomena to the irrepressible zeal for lawless mayhem (itself an irony for the self-proclaimed "Freelance Police") to the biting repartee of the lead characters themselves.
Better yet, the gags aren't limited to Sam & Max alone. If possible, the new season introduces an even zanier supporting cast than the one previous, and each new character brings something humourous to the table. New additions include raving zombies with a taste for brains, a nipple-ringed camp vamp named Jurgen, disgruntled stone Moai heads, and Satan himself as an overworked office manager. Even the exploration of older, more familiar themes such as Abe and Sybil's developing relationship, Bosco's paranoia and the irritating Soda Poppers is dealt with in an amusing way that keeps the jokes coming and the series fresh. Combined with a script crammed full of sharp wit, you'd be hard pushed to find funnier games in any year. Who could ever forget the duo’s time traveling antics and the hilarious way in which Sam & Max alter Bosco's appearance? A crooning robot with a taste for love songs? Or a “big bang theory” truly worthy of the Freelance Police? Not us, that's for sure.
Runners-Up: So Blonde, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
Readers’ Choice: Sam & Max: Season Two
He who laughs last... laughs at the same things as he who laughed first, apparently. In fairly convincing fashion, the reader choice of the second season of Sam & Max's "interactive sitcom" agreed with the staff selection by copping the popular vote for best yuks, leaving notable runner-up hopefuls A Vampyre Story and So Blonde smiling on the outside, but crying on the inside.
Next up: Best Writing – Drama ... the envelope, please.
Continued on the next page...Time Hollow
Platform(s): DS
Sam & Max: Season Two
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Also known as Sam & Max Beyond Time and SpaceOverclocked: A History of Violence
Platform(s): PC
The Experiment
Platform(s): PC
Also known as Experience112The Lost Crown: A Ghost-hunting Adventure
Platform(s): PC
A Vampyre Story
Platform(s): PC
The Immortals of Terra: A Perry Rhodan Adventure
Platform(s): PC
Also known as Rhodan: Myth of the IllochimStrong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People
Platform(s): Mac, PC, Wii
Lost: Via Domus
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Quest for Glory II VGA remake
Platform(s): PC
Casebook: Episode I - Kidnapped
Platform(s): PC
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Platform(s): DS
Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon
Platform(s): iPad, iPhone/iPod Touch, Mac, PC
Also known as Dracula Series: Parts 1-3Yay!!! At least “The Lost Crown” got honorble mentions.
It HAS to win “Best Sound”, though!!! ![]()
Tragic.
That last one of day one will not do anything to stem the tide of mind-numbing inanity taking over as a “concept” appreciated by adventure gamers.
It’s not true, developers! Please, disregard! Heed not the death knell!
Jonathan Boakes! Matthew Clark! Arberth! Save Us!
Heh… apparently I’m a “traditionalist” because I share your sentiment.
I take back everything I said about being able to predict the Award results. It now seems to me (and of course I may be way off) that the people who voted are not the same crowd populating the forums… for instance, Overclocked was severely criticised on the adventure forum.
Actually, Overclocked is the only game I’m happy about that it won.
Funny. My votes and all the awards are a perfect match so far. The jury has a good taste.
Fienepien. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that people who voted are not the same crowd populating the forums. By that crowd you probably meant the active members of the forums. But then again there are a lot of “lurkers” like me, who read the forum very often but participate rarely. And yet I feel that I’m part of the AG community and part of the forum population. One more thing.
Overclocked was criticized but that’s no surprise. People give negative feedback much more often than positive one. IMO a game has to be of a superb quality before you start to see a lot of positive feedback.
Ascovel, I’m also happy Overclocked got an Award, I thought it was a great game. Correct me if I’m wrong, I still feel that the game was received much better in Germany.
Askobar, yes, I meant the active members. Btw, I do remember your nickname from the forums.
Of course silent lurkers are also part of the AG community, so did we just hear them vote for the Awards in large numbers or did the active forum members change their minds?
Bear in mind this wasn’t simply a forum poll. Whether silent or active, forum members represent only a small part of AG’s overall reader-base, so these poll results include plenty of other people out there we don’t generally hear from. Not everyone who casts a ballot attends the rallies. ![]()
Critised by some, praised by others. Yey Overclocked!
Way to go!
*screams O-V-E-R-C-L-O-C-K-E-D with the funny stuff cheerleaders have in their hands*
I was surprised “The Lost Crown” didn’t win the Best Sound design, which Jonathan Boakes’ is known for. But Iw as so ecstatic that “The Lost Crown” won the best setting!! I thought it had it and it did!!! ![]()
The most obvious question presents itself: how many PC adventure gamers own DS-es?
I´ve got to say I´m quite satisfied with the results. Not all the games I voted for got to the list, some aren´t even runner-ups, but all in all, I believe the results are fair, from the overall point of view.
Hey, AG staff and readers,
now that the the final results are in, I’d like to take the opportunity and say ‘Thank You’ to the staffers and readers who voted for (and awarded) Overclocked. The team here at the HoT WHQ is happy that the game was amongst the nominees in four categories, and recieved recognition.
Personally, I’d like to thank you all for the ‘Best Writing - Drama’ Award. It’s a meaningful thing to a writer to see work recognised and appreciated (by both staff and readers). I’m pleased that some of what I’ve tried to put into this difficult project has found its way to you, our audience.
Congratulations to all winners!
MG - I thank you and whole production team for the opportunity to play a game I thoroughly enjoyed, despite some minor drawbacks. For me, Overclocked was one of the most enjoyable experiences (in AGs) in 2008.
Ok - you’ve done it Adventure Gamers! Aside from waiting for Momento Mori and Sill Life 2, I’m going to buy Overclocked tonight (Oh god, thank you, a download from your site, no blasted DVD to find and install) and Time Hollow. I can play Time Hollow on the plane when I go visit my parents. I can play Overclocked at my parents.
I like the whole award thing - clever and informative. Nicely done. It gives me ideas.
Great feature!
I missed though:
1) The best puzzle
2) The coolest easter egg
Enjoy both Time Hollow and Overclocked mszv, they are truly little adventure gems ![]()
Best puzzle would be awesome!!! And best easter egg, except I would be thinking a game from the past. ![]()
Best puzzle was in the original set of awards, but the nominators didn’t come to a consensus on those to put up for a vote after all the nominations were tallied, so it got scrapped. We thought of it, though! ![]()
Some fantastic games. Wonderful write-ups, too. Games I hadn’t heard of before sounded utterly brilliant. It gives a guy some small hope that things aren’t as bad as they’ve seemed lately.
Thanks to the AG Staff for all of the time and work that went into this presentation. And I like the clever use of the name ‘Aggie’ for the award. Fantastic picture, too.

