I remember when I was a toaster…

That crazy anthropomorphic duo is at it again with episode four of the Sam and Max series, Beyond the Alley of the Dolls!  So far, they’ve dealt with nutty alien ape generals and narcissistic boy pharaohs – what’s next for the snarky crime-solvers?


Doppelgangers, apparently.  The diapered Sam clones chasing them at the end of the last episode have made their way into this one and it’s up to Sam and Max to stop them!  Beginning the episode barricaded in Grandpa Stinky’s Diner, it looks like they at least have a little help from that nutty old man.

The Devil’s Toybox has been taken hostage by the Samulcra (or “Doppelgangers!” as Max states adamantly).  In their search for Max, who has three more psychic Toys of Power (Rhinoplasty, Teleportation and Future Vision, if you recall), they’ve surrounded the diner.  Stinky is no help at all and General Skunkape is no longer the man – er, I mean ape – he used to be after being cruelly beaten by the Samulcra horde.  In the diner, Max quickly gains another Toy – Cards of Mind Reading – and by using that, the Freelance Police are well on their way to discovering who created the clones and how to stop them.

I felt that this episode was the creepiest of the four.  Then again, I have a small fear of mindless zombie-like beings; ghosts and crazy clowns are not my cup of tea, either.  It is surprising then, that this is my favorite out of all the episodes so far, if only because I wanted to find the solution to all this scary stuff.  The game continues in typical Sam and Max fashion – I don’t believe Telltale will ever let us down on that front.  That cheeky little bunny will always have me chuckling at his comments and Sam will always be there for his little buddy.  Paperwaite, the aforementioned Skunkape, Sam the Cockroach and Momma Bosco all make reappearances.  Sam is likely my favorite supporting character, but that may only be because I believe he’s voiced by Patrick Warburton (though I’ve been unable to find evidence to support that), one of my favorite voice actors around.  The Bluster Blaster had me laughing out loud, not only because of what he was saying, but when it’s all robotic yelling, it’s hard not to grin.

The gameplay is the same, so if you haven’t enjoyed any of the other episodes, this one isn’t likely to change your mind.  There’s not really much to complain about in this episode – creepy plot, amusing dialogue, great artwork and tried-and-true-gameplay; what’s not to love?  Go check it out today!

Creepy, diapered Sams.

ComicsOnline gives Sam and Max, Episode Four: Beyond the Alley of the Dolls 4 out of 5 Samulcra (Doppelgangers!!).

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