Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Ages: Grown-ups
Parental
Advisory:
Sex, language,
alcohol
With nudity and crude sexual references and innuendo, Vivendi Universal's Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude is a raunchy experience that isn't all that entertaining. On the other hand, young males, the game's target audience, may find enough here to motivate them to play.
The game is something of a 3D adventure game that asks players explore some 17 different locations on and around a college campus, collect items and money and interact with willing female characters. Throughout, players participate in various mini-games that include quarters, tapper, trampoline and wet t-shirt contests.
The game tells the story of Larry Lovage, nephew of Larry Laffer, the series' original loser from the earlier, similarly named PC games from the nineties. Lovage is a sixth-year-senior enrolled at the local community college who attempts to gain the attention of on-campus females. When a reality TV dating show comes to campus, Larry decides to revitalize his life by winning the contest.
While earlier Leisure Suit Larry titles were adventure games that served lots of puzzles, this version relies on simple arcade games. The games aren't that much fun to play and quickly become repetitive. Activities often feature alcohol in addition to the always present sexual overtones. And there's crude language as well.
Technically the game looks good and features first rate sound, but load times between areas, which can range as long as 30-seconds, become bothersome. Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude may well appeal to young adult males who will be motivated to play the mini-games to better acquaint Larry with the female characters. But for everyone else, the game offers little.
11/16/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
