Editing Sam & Max Hit the Road (section)

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 84%<ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/562679.asp |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=2008-08-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002102924/http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/562679.asp |archive-date=2008-10-02}}</ref> (based on 6 reviews)
| AdvGamers = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AdvGamers">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,78 |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' |publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]] |first=Joonas |last=Linkola |date=2004-03-05 |access-date=2008-08-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629102635/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C78 |archive-date=2008-06-29}}</ref>
| Allgame = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Allgame">{{Cite web |last=Honeywell |first=Steve |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23175 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115004138/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23175 |archive-date=2014-11-15 |access-date=2008-08-05 |publisher=[[Allgame]]}}</ref>
| CVG = 82/100<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ahmet|first=Deniz|date=January 1994|url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:CVG_UK_146.pdf&page=98|title=Sam & Max Hit the Road|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|issue=146|page=98|access-date=July 2, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511050740/https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:CVG_UK_146.pdf&page=98|url-status=live}}</ref><br />84/100 (CD-ROM)<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ahmet|first=Deniz|date=July 1994|url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_152.pdf&page=96|title=Sam & Max Hit the Road|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=152|page=96|access-date=July 2, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511050746/https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_152.pdf&page=96|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Dragon = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Petersen |first=Sandy |author-link=Sandy Petersen |date=March 1994 |title=Sam & Max Hit the Road |journal=Dragon |issue=203 |pages=59–62, 69}}</ref>
| Edge = 9/10<ref name="Edge">{{cite magazine |url=http://media.next-gen.biz/reviews/sam-max-hit-road-review |date=December 1994 |access-date=2012-10-09 |title=Sam & Max Hit the Road |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=5 |pages=58–59 |issn=1350-1593 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616065635/http://media.next-gen.biz/reviews/sam-max-hit-road-review |archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref>
| Hyper = 93%<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Wildgoose|first=David|date=February 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-003/page/62/mode/2up?q=%22james+pond+3%22|title=Sam & Max Hit the Road|magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|issue=3|pages=62–63|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref>
| PCF = 92%<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/pc-format-cd-gold-winter-1995/page/n16/mode/1up|title=Sam and Max Hit the Road|date=Winter 1995|magazine=[[PC Format]] CD Gold|page=17|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[GamePro#PC Games|Electronic Entertainment]]''
| rev1Score = 10 out of 10<ref name=e2>{{cite journal | title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' | author=Barba, Rick | journal=[[GamePro#PC Games|Electronic Entertainment]] | date=March 1994 | volume=1 | number=3 | pages=100, 101}}</ref>
}}

According to Steve Purcell, ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' was commercially successful. He remarked in 2000 that the numbers were never compared to ''Star Wars'' but it sold enough that it was considered a hit by most standards.<ref name="lucasfans">{{cite web |author=Linkola |first=Joonas |date=2000 |title=Interviews: Steve Purcell |url=http://lucasfans.adventuregamer.com/features/interview_stevepurcell.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224063644/http://lucasfans.adventuregamer.com/features/interview_stevepurcell.html |archive-date=February 24, 2001 |work=[[Adventure Gamers|LucasFans]]}}</ref>

''Sam & Max'' received a favorable reception from the gaming industry's press, holding a rating of 84% on the review aggregator site [[GameRankings]].<ref name="GR"/> [[Charles Ardai]] of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' in 1994 liked it "measurably less" than ''Day of the Tentacle''. He compared the latter to a [[Looney Tunes]] cartoon and the former to an [[underground comic book]], observing that ''Sam & Max''{{'}}s style of humor "can all be funny, but only to a point ... its main characters are basically jerks" and the story was unimportant "even to them". Ardai cited the completely optional and disconnected minigames as "contribut[ing] to the feeling that ''Sam & Max'' is more a computerized busybox ... than a unified, focused piece of fiction". He liked the graphics and simplified SCUMM interface, but concluded that "the whole is rather less than the sum of its parts ... ''Sam & Max'' affords a couple of hours of somewhat similar amusement" to ''Tentacle''.<ref name="ardai199402">{{Cite magazine | last=Ardai | first=Charles | authorlink=Charles Ardai | date=February 1994 | title=Hit the Road, Max | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | pages=86–90 | access-date=2017-11-09 | archive-date=2017-10-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003001602/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' noted that "with most adventure games, its hard to feel anything for the character(s) you control", but stated that ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' broke this mold by being "genuinely funny". The reviewer praised the game's graphics as "beautifully detailed" and the puzzles as "intricate to solve", but noted that a number of the minigames were "dismal".<ref name="Edge"/> Joonas Linkola, writing for [[Adventure Gamers]], echoed many of these comments, praising the cartoon-style graphics as "appropriately cheesy" and "colorful". On the subject of the game's humor, Linkola noted that "there are many visual jokes, but the backbone of the game is in its witty dialogue", and as such this gave the game a "replayability value" as players may pick up on jokes based on "verbal acrobatics, on the use of polysyllabic words, old English and other such oddities" that they missed the first time around. Linkola gave additional praise to the soundtrack and audio work, stating that the "very fitting voices ... adds to the comical duo's wisecracking attitude".<ref name="AdvGamers"/>

[[Allgame]] reviewer Steve Honeywell was also very positive with his comments, describing the plot as "interesting", the graphics as "appropriately cartoonish and fun" and the locations as "well-designed", but noting that above all "what makes ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' work is the humor". On the game's puzzles, Honeywell stated that "some of the puzzles are pretty simple, while others are difficult in the extreme. One nice thing is the almost complete absence of [[red herring]] items. Everything you find can be put to use somewhere". As with other reviews, Allgame praised the audio work, noting that "the music is decent throughout the game, and the voice talent is stellar", closing with the comment that the game takes point-and-click adventures to "insane new heights in terms of both fun and comedy".<ref name="Allgame" /> GamersHell praised the graphics of the game as "superb" but noted that "it's not so friendly that it can only be played by kiddies". Although describing sound setup as "a bit tricky", the reviewer praised the voice acting as "very good" and the music as "top quality". Although the review noted that the game had "easy to use" interfaces and menus, it was critical of the fact that "at times it can be the frustrating 'hunt for the correct pixel' syndrome".<ref name="GamersHell">{{cite web |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' Review |url=http://www.gamershell.com/pc/sam_max_hit_the_road/review.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020224229/http://www.gamershell.com/pc/sam_max_hit_the_road/review.html |archive-date=2008-10-20 |access-date=2008-08-13 |publisher=GamersHell}}</ref>

The game was one of four nominees for the 1994 [[Annie Award]] in the category Best Animated CD-ROM, although the award instead went to LucasArts' ''[[Star Wars: Rebel Assault]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legacy: 22nd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1994) |url=http://annieawards.org/22ndwinners.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208102811/http://annieawards.org/22ndwinners.html |archive-date=2012-02-08 |access-date=2008-08-07 |publisher=[[Annie Award]]}}</ref> In 1994, ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' named ''Sam & Max'' the 8th best computer game ever.<ref name="pcgamerustop40">{{cite journal |author= |date=August 1994 |title=''PC Gamer'' Top 40: The Best Games of All Time |journal=[[PC Gamer US]] |issue=3 |pages=32–42}}</ref>

In 1998, ''[[PC Gamer]]'' declared it the 10th-best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "still the best graphic adventure for the PC, hands down".<ref name="pcgtop50">{{Cite journal |date=October 1998 |title=The 50 Best Games Ever |journal=[[PC Gamer US]] |volume=5 |pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130 |number=10}}</ref>

''Sam and Max Hit the Road'' has since come to be regarded as a classic adventure game title, and is regularly featured in listings of the top 100 games. In 1996, ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' ranked it as the 95th best game of all time, calling it "the adventure game that redefined 'wacky'".<ref name="cgw199611best">{{cite news|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 |title=150 Best Games of All Time |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1996 |access-date=25 March 2016 |pages=64–80 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408023915/http://cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 |archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> The same year, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' ranked it 27th best game of all time, explaining that its "goofy charm" was the tiebreaker in the decision to include it on the list instead of other acclaimed LucasArts games such as ''[[Day of the Tentacle]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1996|pages=60}}</ref> In 1999, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' as number 45 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that the game combined a bizarre plot with LucasArt's adventure game prowess and the robust SCUMM engine.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=50 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=February 1999|page=74}}</ref> In 2004, Adventure Gamers listed ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' as the eighth-best adventure game of all time, describing it as "the most absurd and ridiculous game ever designed".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,802 |title=#8: Sam & Max Hit the Road |first=Evan |last=Dickens |date=2004-03-02 |publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]] |access-date=2008-11-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725032749/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C802 |archive-date=2008-07-25}}</ref> [[IGN]] described ''Sam and Max Hit the Road'' in its 2007 top 100 games feature as "known more for its story and characters", noting that "the unusual and interesting gameplay is typically saddled in the shotgun position in fans' memories, but when you're driving a [[Porsche]], even the trunk is a smooth ride".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_74.html |title=Sam & Max Hit the Road |publisher=[[IGN]] |work=Top 100 Games |year=2007 |access-date=2008-11-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129211305/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_74.html |archive-date=2007-11-29}}</ref> Writing for Adventure Classic Gaming in 2006, David Olgarsson noted that the game had "undoubtedly ... become [LucasArts'] most critically acclaimed adventure game of all time", citing the game's production values, graphical effects, challenging puzzles and story techniques as the reason for this, concluding that the game was an "enduring testament to adventure gaming's finest hours".<ref name="ACG">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/207/ |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' |first=David |last=Olgarsson |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |date=2006-08-15 |access-date=2008-08-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929183904/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/207/ |archive-date=2008-09-29}}</ref> In 2011, [[Adventure Gamers]] named ''Sam & Max'' the 28th-best adventure game ever released.<ref name="top100">{{cite web |author= |date=December 30, 2011 |title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2021 |work=[[Adventure Gamers]]}}</ref>