This is my all-time favorite Humongous Entertainment game -- and finally, as of
today, December 28, 2023, I have finally beaten it! Pajama Sam 2 is a real
masterpiece, a tour-de-force, and a real time capsule of nostalgia. I have
never seen so much love and soul dedicated to offices and beaurocracy. It has
all the charm of previous games, with plenty of clickable objects, while
boasting the most gorgeous, cutting-edge, hand-drawn cartoon graphics of any
HE game up to 1998 (in my opinion). The colors are wonderful, and the
soundtrack an infinitely enjoyable sensation. I am, for the first time since
playing Dragon Quest VIII, considering finding, or even purchasing, a
soundtrack for Pajama Sam 2. I would kill for a CD. The songs are MIDI, I'm
pretty sure, so a CD is overkill, but still!
There's not a whole lot to say about it, other than just how purely fun and imaginative the whole experience can be. This brings me straight back to my old days of being 5, 6, maybe 7-years old and playing these games. If anything can be a time machine, this game is! I can picture my grape-colored iMac right now. Actually, I can just go into the garage and see it if I want. Sadly the computer won't turn on anymore, and trying to clean it revealed an alarming number of cockroaches. So emulating old games with ScummVM is the best I can do for now, until I actually go back in time, for real. 
I haven't tested multiple playthroughs yet for the Humongous variations. It seems like every time you collect the same items (Y-pipe, Velocimomometer, the snowflake inspector, and the wingnut), but their locations and methods will change. My favorite is the Y-pipe because the whole cafeteria area is cool, and being stuck in the vending machine is funny! I also like the Velocimomometer because she has such a cute voice. I want to kiss her and hold her hand... I mean, her plug? My favorite sequences, though, involve SID drinking the can of liquid sunshine, and making different fruits and weather with the greenhouse machine. Yay, cucumber trees! The ending does seem a little short and abrupt. I think it could have been drawn out a little more. Most Humongous games tend to end quickly, though, so it's a lot to ask for. They are for 5-year olds, after all. Me? I am forever 5-years old :) Click here for full screenshots |
