Ice Station Santa
Encyclopedia
"Ice Station Santa" is the first episode of Sam & Max Season Two
created by Telltale Games
and published by GameTap
. The episode's title is a play on the movie/book title "Ice Station Zebra
", a story set in the cold war
period.
After dealing with a giant robot that is intent on destroying the duo as well as razing the local city block near their offices, Sam and Max learn that the Maimtron 9000 was actually a gift from Santa Claus
.
The two head to the North Pole
and find the two remaining elves in Santa's workshop cowering, as Santa keeps shooting at them with a machine gun. Sam and Max find evidence that an evil demon is running amok at the North Pole, and work at collecting The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse action figures to use as part of a ritual to bring the demon forward so they can capture it and free Santa.
However, to their surprise, the demon never had possessed Santa; Santa had feared one of the elves had been possessed, and runs off to fight the demon, a blue, goo-like creature with four arms and multiple eyes, known as Shambling Corporate Presence. Sam and Max work to complete the final part of the ritual: calling forth the three Spirits of Christmas (Past, Present, and Future). Each of the Spirits offers to help, but only if Sam and Max correct a Christmas they had ruined in the respective time periods.
After satisfying each of the tasks, the Spirits proceed to help Sam and Max and reduce the Shambling Corporate Presence to a plate of Jell-o, which Santa inadvertently eats, becoming infused with the evil demon.
Sam and Max are able to knock Santa out, and after determining that the demon should have been delivered to Satan
, send the possessed Santa on his way. The Soda Poppers then return as well as the elves and they begin to prepare for Christmas. When asked who can deliver the presents Sam and Max jump at the chance only to leave without loading the gifts. When Sam brings this up Max reminds him that it is still November.
Sam & Max Season Two
Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space, originally released as Sam & Max: Season Two, is an episodic series of adventure games by Telltale Games based around the characters of the Sam & Max comic series created by Steve Purcell and follows from Sam & Max Save the World.Season Two builds on Season One with...
created by Telltale Games
Telltale Games
Telltale Games is a leading independent digital first publisher and game developer founded in June 2004 as Telltale, Incorporated. Based in San Rafael, California, the studio includes designers formerly employed by LucasArts...
and published by GameTap
GameTap
GameTap is an American online video game service established by Turner Broadcasting System . Dubbed by TBS as a "first of its kind broadband gaming network", the service provides users with classic arcade video games and game-related video content...
. The episode's title is a play on the movie/book title "Ice Station Zebra
Ice Station Zebra
Ice Station Zebra is a 1963 thriller novel written by Scottish author Alistair MacLean. This was the last of MacLean's classic sequence of first person narratives which began with Night Without End, and represented a return to that earlier novel's Arctic setting...
", a story set in the cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
period.
Synopsis & Plot
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
.
The two head to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
and find the two remaining elves in Santa's workshop cowering, as Santa keeps shooting at them with a machine gun. Sam and Max find evidence that an evil demon is running amok at the North Pole, and work at collecting The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse action figures to use as part of a ritual to bring the demon forward so they can capture it and free Santa.
However, to their surprise, the demon never had possessed Santa; Santa had feared one of the elves had been possessed, and runs off to fight the demon, a blue, goo-like creature with four arms and multiple eyes, known as Shambling Corporate Presence. Sam and Max work to complete the final part of the ritual: calling forth the three Spirits of Christmas (Past, Present, and Future). Each of the Spirits offers to help, but only if Sam and Max correct a Christmas they had ruined in the respective time periods.
After satisfying each of the tasks, the Spirits proceed to help Sam and Max and reduce the Shambling Corporate Presence to a plate of Jell-o, which Santa inadvertently eats, becoming infused with the evil demon.
Sam and Max are able to knock Santa out, and after determining that the demon should have been delivered to Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, send the possessed Santa on his way. The Soda Poppers then return as well as the elves and they begin to prepare for Christmas. When asked who can deliver the presents Sam and Max jump at the chance only to leave without loading the gifts. When Sam brings this up Max reminds him that it is still November.
Cultural references
- The title is based on the 1968 movie Ice Station ZebraIce Station ZebraIce Station Zebra is a 1963 thriller novel written by Scottish author Alistair MacLean. This was the last of MacLean's classic sequence of first person narratives which began with Night Without End, and represented a return to that earlier novel's Arctic setting...
. - In many ways, the Punch-Out!! game series is parodied, a few examples
- The two boxers before Jimmy Two-Teeth represent Glass Joe and Bald Bull.
- The music that plays when Jimmy's boxing glove is returned greatly resembles the main theme.
- Like Little Mac, Boxing Betty sticks out like Hugh Bliss in Hell. (Except Hugh was a colony of alien bacteria.)
See also
- Moai Better BluesMoai Better Blues"Moai Better Blues" is the second episode of Sam & Max Season Two created by Telltale Games and published by GameTap.- Plot :Sam and Max, after returning from the North Pole, find that a giant triangular vortex is chasing after Sybil and sucking debris off the street into it...
- Night of the Raving DeadNight of the Raving Dead"Night of the Raving Dead" is the third episode of Sam & Max Season Two created by Telltale Games and published by GameTap. Compared to the episodes before and after it, it was considered to be disappointing by many reviewers.-Plot:...
- Chariots of the DogsChariots of the Dogs"Chariots of the Dogs" is the fourth episode of Sam & Max Season Two created by Telltale Games and published by GameTap. It was released on March 14, 2008.-Plot:...
- What's New, Beelzebub?What's New, Beelzebub?"What's New, Beelzebub?" is the season finale of Sam & Max Season Two created by Telltale Games and published by GameTap. It was released on April 11, 2008.-Short plot synopsis:...