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The Strong Arm Machine (or S.A.M. for short) is a huge mechanical vehicle, taking up the whole screen when used. It is only obtainable through the collection of 3 S.A.M. Tokens (only once a day) or by watching an advertisement at the start of the run or after death and is unobtainable through the Vehicle Pickups. It becomes available at 4:00 PM PST (24:00 UTC/GMT, 5:00 PM PST starting on March 9, 2014, which is daylight savings time). If you miss a day of S.A.M., it returns to day one. You need an internet connection to play as S.A.M.

S.A.M. Tokens[]

Barry collecting the M token, spelling out S.A.M.

Barry collecting the final M token

To unlock S.A.M., the player must collect 3 S.A.M. tokens. They are floating blue glass puzzle pieces with the letters S, A, and M on them, spelling out SAM when collected. They appear every game when playing in classic mode and most Token-based events. They will appear multiple times per run if needed, until you collect them all. You can check how many tokens you have collected and days completed on the home menu, e.g. "S. A. M. READY | 2 TOKENS TO GO! / DAY 1 OF 5". The S and A piece can appear while riding a vehicle, but the M can not.

Description[]

S.A.M. is a gigantic mecha taking up the entire vertical space on the left side of the screen when activated. It comes equipped with giant treads, similar to a tank, for mobility and a large arm with the initials “S.A.M.” emblazoned on it. The cockpit has a glass window on it and Barry Steakfries (and Flash if equipped) is seated in the front of it. When it is damaged by missiles which are not blocked, the robot becomes cracked and charred and some parts start smoking. The visual damage done depends on where the missiles strike it.

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When collected, the vehicle goes through three dramatic assembly sequences (instead of one, like small vehicles).

When piloting S.A.M., all Zappers and lasers are gone and missiles become the only obstacle. Because of this, S.A.M.'s giant arm has a glowing energy shield that acts as a powerful deflective barrier. By pressing the screen, the arm moves up and when released, moves back down. The arm’s energy barrier must to be used to deflect any incoming missiles. Coins are also set up in patterns only seen by using S.A.M. Since the vehicle takes up the entire height of the screen, all coins and Tokens are automatically collected.

S.A.M. will be invincible for about 1 second after being hit by a missile. It's also unique in the fact that it takes 3 hits until it is defeated. When it is, it will have a slow, dramatic explosion as the screen fades white and you return to standard gameplay.

Music Tracks[]

The original version of the vehicle plays the dubstep remix of the original gameplay theme, more commonly heard when you equip the DJ Barry headpiece. Equipping other skins will change the theme to a unique one, depending on the chosen skin:

Missions[]

These missions can be completed if you control the arm as you control Barry:

  • Run x amount of distance on foot.
  • Run x amount of distance on foot in one game.
  • Brush past x amount of red flashing lights.
  • Brush past x amount of red flashing lights in one game.
  • Rub your head on the roof for x amount of distance.
  • Rub your head on the roof for x amount of distance in one game.

S.A.M. also counts towards these missions:

  • Travel a total of x meters in any vehicle.
  • Collect x amount of vehicles.

Trying to leave the game when or after riding S.A.M. without getting to the results screen will cause the player to lose it, as well as the daily progress on S.A.M. prizes.

Vehicle Upgrades[]

Strong Arm Machine
StrongArmPreview
The pinnacle of high-five technology.
Other
SAMTA Lunar New Year SAM St. Patrick's SAM Easter SAM Pirate SAM Steam Powered SAM Scary Arm Machine Golden Arm Machine Strong Arm Medic Uncle SAM SAM Defender Starfleet S.A.M. Staypuft Cowabunga Carriage
S.A.M.T.A. Lunar New Year S.A.M. St. Patrick's S.A.M. Easter S.A.M. Pirate S.A.M. Steam Powered S.A.M. Scary Arm Machine Golden Arm Machine Strong Arm Medic Uncle S.A.M. S.A.M. Defender Starfleet S.A.M. Stay-Puft Armed Marshmallow Cowabunga Carriage

Rewards[]

  • Day 1: 3 Quick Revives
  • Day 2: 5 Head Starts, 3 Super Head Starts, 3 Quick Revives or 6,000 coins
  • Day 3: 10,000 coins
  • Day 4: 10 Head Starts, 5 Super Head Starts, 5 Quick Revives or 15,000 coins
  • Day 5: Random costume piece or 15,000 coins if all costume pieces are unlocked

List of costumes available from S.A.M. prizes[]

Bugs[]

  • Sometimes, the M piece is an A, causing it to spell out "SAA". The same can occur to the A piece: it can be an S and will spell out "SSM".
  • Rarely, when you got the S piece and died, the next game (the one that will have the A) might have M instead of A. When collected, it auto-spells all the pieces.
    • This bug, however, wasn't fixed, not even after the 1.7 update.
  • S.A.M.'s motor/track sound may not stop even after S.A.M. is destroyed.
  • On version 1.6.1 (February 25, 2014), the first prize is invisible, leaving only a 1 in its place.
    • This means the game crashes when the first prize is about to be given.
    • This was fixed on version 1.6.2 (March 7, 2014).

Anomalies[]

  • Sometimes more than one "M" token will appear at once, if you collect the first "M" token, the other one will fly away.
  • On very rare occasions, the first rocket pattern may not appear.
  • If the Turbo Boost gadget is active and the M token is on the screen at the same time the turbo boost gadget is, it is possible to go through the boost rings in the Strong Arm Machine if you move the arm through the rings.
  • When using Missile Jammer, any hit of a missile is counted as a near miss with a missile, which allows you to complete the "Have a near miss with X missiles" easily.
  • If you obtain the last S.A.M. token and get hit by a missile at the same time, the vehicle still spawns and moves to the right without the player controlling it, due to the player being dead.

Trivia[]

  • S.A.M. is the only vehicle not available through the Vehicle Pickups due to its special function that alters the gameplay slightly.
  • This is the first and only vehicle to take some damage before it is destroyed.
  • Ezy-Dodge Missiles will help a lot with deflecting missiles, but it will not make the undeflectable patterns deflectable (see below).
  • Missile Jammer affects this vehicle in an unusual way: rockets, instead of being deflected, are destroyed immediately. This is only a cosmetic change.
  • There are few missile patterns that cannot be deflected at maximum speed no matter what. It is unknown if those patterns were made for balance, other purposes, or if they became unavoidable due to a mistake.
  • It is the only vehicle that doesn't have an upgrade in the stash.
  • This vehicle is loosely based on Lil' Stomper. It can be seen in the 1.6 update video. The cabins of both vehicles also look similar. 
    • In the same video the scientist designing it "throws away" the left arm, apparently deeming it unnecessary.
    • According to the same video (which can be viewed below), the S.A.M. was single-handedly designed, invented, and constructed by a lonely scientist who never got a high-five from any of his colleagues. After he unveils S.A.M., the entirety of Legitimate Research scientists praise him for his achievement, celebrating, and he gains their friendship and respect.
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      The scientists celebrating the unveiling of S.A.M.

  • S.A.M., despite being a genderless machine, is referred to using male pronouns (he/him).
    • This is seen in one of Jetpack Joyride’s iOS notifications which states: “S.A.M. is reeeeady to rumble! He just needs an awesome pilot!
    • The lyrics of the unique song played by the Scary Arm Machine S.A.M. skin also use the pronoun “he” when referring to the machine: “He’s big, he’s bad, he’s ironclad. It’s S.A.M.!”. Another song played by Golden Arm Machine S.A.M. skin “Yeah, he's big and bad and wide carrying Barry Steakfries.”
  • Some of the missile patterns are very dangerous to approach if you are not being careful. This depends on how you focus on deflecting the incoming missiles.
  • The Crackling achievement can be earned fairly easily if you have the Flying Pig gadget enabled, as there are many missiles during a S.A.M. run.
  • When you've unlocked all of the skins, the option to purchase one with real money will no longer appear under "For Sale" in The Shop.

Gallery[]


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