Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded

After a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Replay Games have released the Beta version of Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded. A re-remake of the classic retro game Leisure Suit Larry: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards. From the beginning of the game the art style stands out: hand drawn and in high resolution it is beautiful compared to the original from 1987 and the ‘remake’ from 1991. Wow, doesn’t that make you feel old?

Speaking of age, the game keeps the ‘questionnaire’ that was used to determine players’ ages in the original games. With questions like ‘Xander, Willow and Oz were all characters on…’ it seems relatively easy until you get the very ‘American’ questions. I actually failed the test numerous times but after a few guesses I got there!

Larry is up to his usual tricks in Lost Wages trying to find the right woman, or even the wrong one! You start outside Lefty’s Bar, a location most fans will remember. The narrator introduces you to the one and only Larry Laffer! My advice is to click, lick (don’t ask) and talk to EVERYTHING. There is so much to discover, including numerous demises for poor Larry.

The only problem I encountered during my first attempt at the game was the controls, or to be precise the lack of where to find them. I tried all the controls that were given on the start up page, the mouse buttons did exactly what they needed to, but when I picked up an item, or saved a shot of whiskey from the bar I had no idea where they went. I thought back to various games I’ve played over the years and moved my mouse up to the top of the screen. Sure enough a menu bar dropped down and I found that much sought-after inventory box. Hopefully that will be something they will fix in the retail version or at the very least include a proper control manual for the inept like I seem to be.

Fans of the original game will still find challenge in this remake as all the puzzles have been revamped, so even the most seasoned Larry fans will find themselves scratching their heads, but isn’t that half the fun of puzzles? The usual eye candy is there in the form of the original girls (Fawn, Faith, and Eve) and new addition Jasmine. As you would expect from a LSL game, the girls are as beautiful and titillating as ever, the hooker excluded. (Yikes!)

Featuring a musical score that has been re-written and performed by Journey composer Austin Wintoryhe, narration and voice acting (including the original actor for Larry, Jan Rabson) that adds great comedic value to the interactions Larry has with the world and expanded puzzles, this is definitely a game for fans of the series and newcomers alike. If you like your games filled with innuendo and cheesy pick up lines, that is.