Review: Latest 'Leisure Suit Larry' lacking
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
 |  Leisure Suit Larry's cousin, Larry Lovage, is the star character in "Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude." |
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| | 'Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude' |
Platform: Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2, Windows
Genre: Adventure
Developer: High Voltage Software
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Web Site: www.leisuresuitlarry.com
Price: $49.99; $29.99 for PC version
Rating: "M" for mature
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(CNN) -- The dialogue is funny. The characters are sexy. Even the graphics are impressive.
Too bad the newest installment in the "Leisure Suit Larry" series isn't much of a video game.
The challenging puzzles and clever character interaction that boosted earlier titles in the franchise have been replaced by mindless mini-games in "Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude."
If you're a "Leisure Suit Larry" newbie, here's what you need to know. The franchise stars a lovable but pathetic chauvinist, Larry Laffer, who unsuccessfully attempts to pick up women. Laffer thinks he's hip, but he wears horribly outdated clothes and says all the wrong things.
The "Leisure Suit Larry" games are strictly for adults only and carry a mature rating because of their adult humor, nudity and strong sexual content.
Cousin Larry
A few years have passed since Laffer's last adventure. In "Magna Cum Laude," Larry Lovage, Laffer's college-bound cousin, replaces him as the game's star character.
Lovage is a short, balding, big-headed dolt who is surrounded by gorgeous women, but he can't get anywhere with them. When a reality TV dating show, "Swingles," comes to campus, Larry thinks his luck will change if he can become a contestant.
Game play involves walking around the attractive 3-D campus and initiating mini-games with characters in order to get something from them. For example, the local wino has a bottle of cognac you need to give to the assistant dean. He, in turn, will challenge you to a dance competition where you must press buttons on the control in time to the music, similar to rhythm games, such as "Dance Dance Revolution."
Campus drinking games, such as "quarters," set the stage for other challenges. Other mini-games include playing "Pong" with phallic symbols, jumping on a trampoline with a busty sophomore and mixing drinks at a frat house.
After the laughs
As you might expect, Larry's libido and the over-the-top characters he encounters are the catalyst for a lot of sexual innuendo and hilarious dialogue -- more than 90,000 lines -- during the mini-games.
 Larry encounters a number of buxom women on campus. They join him -- and you as the player -- in mini-games, including dancing and drinking contests. | |
But the comedy in "Magna Cum Laude" can't make up for the title's lack of game play. Veteran fans of the series aren't likely to appreciate the game's new direction, while newcomers won't find much reason to keep playing once they get past the jokes and babes.
If you must buy this game, pick up the Windows computer version because it's $20 cheaper than its console counterparts.
