Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude

"End of the Leisure Suit Larry Legend!!"

I've been a fan of Larry for years. I was very excited when I know that Larry8 is finally there. I read a short review about this game before I bought it, it saids this game is kind of like Simpsons: Hit & Run, so I thought that the Larry8 would be a wonderful game which carries the traditional Larry characteristic and at the same time adding the GTA game play value. However, I am totally disappointed.

The old Larry used to be an adventure game, talk with girls with conversation option which the player could choose with, knowing the girls problem, searching for items (narrated with funny description at the same time), use the items, wisely combining them, providing a certain result to solve the girls' problems to win their heart. It was supposed to be a funny game for intelligent grownup.

This new Larry gave up all the adventure game spirit, replaced with senseless, low-quality mini-games, which are not funny to play at all. And you have to play it again and again to win the girls.

Someone would say, “if you are a Larry fan, DO NOT try to compare this game with the others.” But the name “Leisure Suit Larry” is the reason I bought the game, and it should carry its unique characteristic in the newer version. Just like any other software, if one bought the new version of Photoshop, one expects it as a photo editing software, not a notepad.exe.

It's just not Leisure Suit Larry anymore, and it's not a funny game. Average Graphics, NO story and NO music (the music in Larry7 was great), what I mean “NO” is that they are so bad, which I better treat it not existing.

Mini games are totally senseless, and low-quality. During every conversation, player has to drive a sperm swimming through obstacles… Donkey Kong would be more interesting. Once the sperm hit too much beer, it gets harder to control; but not only harder, is simply impossible to finish the task. So unless you play “perfect” or you will be KO.

Another min game - The Quarters. Pulling the mouse back to wind up, and push it forward to throw the coin. Is like playing a snookers simulated game, but hitting no balls.

Other Bartending and Rhythm Games are like the “Britney's Dancing Beat”, the problem is, the music isn't even synchronize with the beat, that's why I said low-quality mini-games.

It is not an adventure game anymore, is a game for people who do not want to think while playing game, and sometimes so stupid, which made me feel being insulted.

In short, Larry's dead.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 06/20/06