Sam & Max Episode 103: The Mole, the Mob and the Meatball Image
Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: The commissioner is looking into an underground operation at the Ted E. Bear Mafia-Free Playland and Casino, but the mole he sent in has suddenly gone quiet. To find the mole, Sam & Max must infiltrate the operation and become members of the Toy Mafia themselves. [Telltale Games]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. The focus is clearly comedy, and though the game is easier and shorter than the average graphic adventure, the quality of the script, voice-acting, and even the end-credit song is worth the price of admission. Let’s hope they keep it up.
  2. If you’ve enjoyed the first two episodes of Sam and Max’s capers, then Sam & Max: The Mole, the Mob and the Meatball will be just as pleasurable to play, although be forewarned this is the shortest of the three so far.
  3. If they can find enough substance for the continuing chapters we’ll continue to advocate their creations. Valve and Ritual, follow Telltale’s lead.
  4. While some of the set ups and situations are undoubtedly quirky and amusing, there’s nothing this time around to compare to the idiosyncratic psychoanalysis dream-sequence or the sitcom filming from the first and second instalments respectively. And in a game so straightforward, this is a problem.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. KatO.
    10
    Episode 3 is, in my opinion, by far the best episode of all. It may be slightly short with somewhat simpler puzzles, but it makes up for it all very well with the golden shiny humor it radiates. Buying this has a higher priority than bying food for your children. Expand
  2. LL.
    8
    This was hilarious, the puzzles were simpler than Ep2s (harder than Ep1s) but the setting, characters and jokes were fantastic... Plus the MUSIC! AHHA! Expand
  3. RygoS.
    7
    You have to give Telltale points for trying. You can see the effort, and you can feel the giddiness behind the stuff. They are fans of the stuff and they are not ashamed to show it, you just know it. But still. There's an aftertaste. There's the lingering feeling after you finish each chapter that it could've been much more. More so if you've played the original 1993 game, "Sam & Max Hit the Road". In these new games, or episodes as they were, you always get the feeling everything is a wee-bit forced: The quips are not quite Purcell's characteristic wit. The contrived-metaphor-spewing-fedora-wearing-Desoto-driving-anthropomorphic-dog, Sam, and even the lovable hyper kinetic lagomorph, Max, feel somewhat diluted from their original essence. And the puzzles, those fun hurdles that make any adventure game worth playing, almost seem condescending, as if they were pandering to a playing crowd that has never interacted with a Guybrush or a Laffer before. Nonetheless, it would be terribly unfair of me to chastise this game and not highlight the several positive attributes it has. After all, much of my criticism comes from my love of the characters, and maybe, even, from a bit of nostalgia of the golden adventure gaming days. A new audience, free of any concepts of the adventure genre or the Sam & Max franchise, will certainly find a great, albeit simple, game. The humour is still fantastic, with very memorable situations and, as always, bizarre scenarios to explore. And, when you get down to it, it really works great as an introduction not only of the anthropomorphic duo, but, also, of adventure gaming to a new generation. So, basically: Yeah. It's a flawed series of games, and, yeah, there is the pungent feeling they are trying in strides not to be overshadowed by the original, classic, 1993 game. But it's also a really approachable game for anyone, fan of the genre or not, and considering the fact that it's episodic, at least we get a lot more to experience, and Telltale gets a lot more time to tool around with the game and regale us with brand new adventures. And, hey. After it's all said and done. And at the end of the day? It's still is a Sam & Max game. And that's always a girlish "tee-hee!" in my book. Expand
  4. KDep
    4
    I liked the first two episodes far better than this one. There's a very small new area to interact with, the rest is the same as the first two. It's also quite a lot shorter than the first two. Expand