So long, old-school Leisure Suit Larry. Hello, present-day college campus of Magna Cum Laude.

I suppose the farewell really occurred back in 1996, when Sierra released Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail, the last adventure title in the renowned series. We just didn't know it at the time. Despite the forgettable Leisure Suit Larry's Casino two years later, the series still looked promising with Lust in Space yet to come. When production of that project came crashing down in 1999, the writing was on the wall. Still, hope springs eternal, and the optimists continued to believe that we would one day see an LSL 8.

Magna Cum Laude is not that game. It's not a sequel or even a direct spiritual successor, but a totally distinct spinoff. The use of the Leisure Suit Larry label has caused a lot of outrage and disgust in the adventure community (perhaps serving as an emotional outlet for the fate of all beloved franchises abused and abandoned by Sierra over the years). So before we can discuss what the game is, let's be clear about what the game is not:

- It's not (exactly) an adventure game
- It doesn't star Larry Laffer
- It didn't involve series creator Al Lowe
- It isn't very good (oops, tipped my hand early; ignore this for now)

With all these strikes against it, why cover the game at all? Because ignoring it will not make it go away, and it's still a title of interest (and perhaps confusion) to adventure gamers—not to mention a high-profile, mainstream experiment that may have repercussions on future releases, so it's best we take an informed look at the game, rather than dismiss it out of hand based on prejudice. Much like the game itself is to the original series, consider this an illegitimate love child of a formal review (and in keeping with the spirit of Larry, no scoring!)

Developed by High Voltage Software, Magna Cum Laude is called the "next generation" of Leisure Suit Larry. In this case, the term applies not only figuratively, but literally. The new game stars Larry Lovage, the nephew of the likeable loser from the earlier titles. Apparently good looks, charm, intelligence and charisma (plus head size) don't skip generations, as the new Larry suffers all the same character (and physical) deficiencies as his uncle. Fortunately, he also shares the relentless sexual obsession and is equally oblivious to his own inadequacies.

In MCL, Larry is determined to earn a spot on the reality television show called Swingles. In order to prove his studly worthiness, Larry must seduce (if his bumbling advances can be called that) and acquire a conquest memento from a number of gorgeous hotties. The premise is simple, and the plot varies only cosmetically according to the interests of the women Larry pursues. Sure it's a meagre story, but that's true of every Larry game to date, and the formula works as well here as ever. Anyone looking for more narrative complexity than "hitting on sexy chicks" need not apply.

Fortunately, the cast of characters is fairly diverse in Magna Cum Laude. Larry himself will grow on you very quickly, with all the same endearing quirkiness of his famous namesake. And speaking of the elder Larry, he provides the audio tutorial at the beginning of the game, and it serves as a nice transition between the two leading characters. The Larry gals are more plentiful here than they have been in previous games, and it's an entertaining mix—from the psychotic band geek to dominatrix rocker babe to the French performing artist, and of course the ditzy cheerleader, among others. Throw in the toothless town bum, a Porn Fairy, the strutting gay bouncer, and the flamboyant 80's-era pimp, and you've got plenty of room for a lighthearted (if shallow and juvenile) romp.

The humour is key in any Leisure Suit Larry, and for the most part Magna Cum Laude doesn't disappoint, but it may cause some surprise. The heavy sexual content is consistent with its predecessors, but MCL uses a far more crass, in-your-face delivery. Gone are the abundance of double entendres and—dare I say it—subtleties of the early Larry games, and replaced here by overt vulgarities intended for shock value. The obscenities include the heavy hitters of swear words, too—though the "F" word is used most excessively, I'm pretty sure the writers used George Carlin's entire profanity routine as a checklist. The Larry games have always been risqué, but the new game has lowered the bar much closer to basic smut than suggestive comedy. It's unlikely to offend any fans of the previous Larry games, but it may leave players feeling more nostalgic than amused. There are definitely a fair number of laughs to be had here, but you'll be rooting through a lot of trash to find them.

The concept of cheap thrills runs all throughout the game's presentation. Nudity abounds, for one thing. It's polygonal cartoon nudity, of course, but the problem isn't an issue of morality—it's overuse. In previous games, getting a glimpse of naked girls was always something rare and elusive, and the anticipation/frustration factor was part of the fun. Not so in MCL, where it isn't long before you reach the "see one pair of pixelized breasts, you've seen them all" syndrome. The censored version of the game sold in North America places bars over the proverbial nether regions (including Larry's), and it's actually a funny little addition. Then again, the censoring is easily patched away and the game is now being replaced by the international "uncut" version, so scrap that advantage.

The nudity isn't the only issue, however. Magna Cum Laude also runs wild with themes of masturbation, bondage, fetishism, lesbian sex, etc. There's also a huge focus on getting drunk, farting, and urinating, which are actually integral to the gameplay. Again, my complaint is not a matter of being prudish, but rather wishing for a more judicious use of them to better effect. Little did I ever imagine I'd pine for the "innocence" of older Larry games. Beyond even that, the game crosses over the line from rendered to realistic. Along the way, it's easy to acquire bonus photos of actual models in skimpy outfits and skanky poses. As these are used as loading screens, you'll be seeing a lot of them throughout. How that makes the game more fun, I don't know.

All is not tawdry in MCL, thank goodness. The world of Leisure Suit Larry is now in full 3D, free-roaming splendour. The graphics are bright and cheerful, and really quite appealing in a simplistic, stylized way. The default view is in third-person, with fluid control handled through a mouse/keyboard combination familiar to any action gamers—the keys handling movement, and the mouse providing full camera panning. For those who relish the thought of kicking back, MCL also offers gamepad support, though for some reason I couldn't get any vertical panning (a minor nuisance) and experienced less responsive controls in some of the arcade sequences (we're getting to those; keep your shirt on).

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