Overview
A six-foot dog in a suit and his unhinged rabbit partner investigate carnival freaks across America. LucasArts adapted Steve Purcell’s comic into an adventure game that revelled in non-sequiturs, violence, and absurdist Americana. The freelance police asked questions with their fists and answered with inexplicable inventory puzzles.
Fast facts
- Developer: LucasArts.
- Source: Steve Purcell comics.
- Protagonists: Sam (dog), Max (rabbity thing).
- Tone: Surreal comedy.
Character dynamics
| Character | Role |
|---|
| Sam | Straight man (relatively) |
| Max | Chaos agent |
| Relationship | Violent affection |
American roadside
| Location | Attraction |
|---|
| Carnival | Starting point |
| World’s largest ball of twine | Minnesota |
| Gator Golf | Florida |
| Bumpusville | Celebrity vegetable museum |
| Mystery Vortex | Gravity anomaly |
Comedy approach
| Style | Example |
|---|
| Non-sequiturs | Random responses |
| Violence | Casual mayhem |
| Pop culture | References throughout |
| Fourth wall | Occasional breaks |
Gameplay refinement
| Feature | Implementation |
|---|
| Icon-based | Simplified interface |
| Hotspot cursor | Find interactions |
| Max | Optional “use Max on” |
Writing quality
| Element | Achievement |
|---|
| Dialogue trees | Multiple funny options |
| Description text | Everything commented |
| Character voice | Consistent personalities |
Franchise continuation
| Medium | Year |
|---|
| Original comic | 1987 |
| LucasArts game | 1993 |
| Telltale seasons | 2006-2010 |
| Remaster | 2024 |
See also