Back in 2004, a company called High Voltage Software released Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, the game that was supposed to bring the classic Sierra franchise back to the fore. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. The game was panned by—this is true—literally everyone (even GameCola, who voted it as “Most Disappointing” in the year-end awards despite the fact that it was technically an adventure game). Besides the 2009 Box Office Bust (which is exactly what it was) and the kind-of hilarious MMO version of the original, poor Larry hasn’t been seen since.
UNTIL NOW! Replay Games—who I can’t confirm yet isn’t just Telltale Games wearing a mask—announced plans today to give it another go. They’ve got a remake of the original Leisure Suit Larry in the works (for, according to EGM, every platform they can get it to work on), and if that sells well, they just might remake the others, too.
They’ve contracted series creator Al Lowe to help in this endeavor (which means he can’t complain about it this time), and they’re considering making brand-new games, as well. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, let’s just get excited about the coming remake, and try to figure out how they’re going to make a text adventure work on a console. (My vote is for Kinect-enabled voice control. Then again, that’s always my vote.)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Paul Franzen is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GameCola.net. He also has a very fine beard. Learn more (about the beard) at paulfranzen.wordpress.com. 
Diana (angelfire141) (9)
rizziman33 (6)
JoeReviewer (4)
AnimeF***Head (1)
CaptainZM (1)
Jim Connolly (1)
massielita (1)
Matt (1)
Murat (1)
Nam (1)
Hey now! I paid five bucks for my copy of Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Lauder, and it was worth every penny. Okay, maybe I should’ve haggled a few pennies off that price, but still, it’s not the worst game out there. I managed to please a country girl! Haven’t done that in real life lately.
I’m actually a reformed Magna Cum Laude apologist. When the game came out I immediately hated it and refused to play it because it wasn’t a “real adventure game,” like the older ones; but I’ve only now (as in, the past month or so) actually given the game a chance, and it’s pretty entertaining for what it was. I mean, at least the writing is a lot of fun, even if most of the gameplay is butts. And every time I play it I’m amazed at all the little details the graphics guys put into the background.
Everyone loves butt quests. Wait, that came out wrong…
Oh man, I didn’t even realize how literal I was being!
Box Office Bust had it’s moments here and there, but that completely deviated from the adventure format. While there was still a lot of exploring to do, you travelled Grand Theft Auto style, clambering across buildings or hijacking vehicles.
The story was kind of funny, though. Is Magna Cum Laude better?
Dunno, I haven’t played Box Office Bust yet. While the game’s funny, I think the word I’d use to describe it more is “shocking.” Kind of in a Hector: Badge of Carnage way–”I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE MAKING ME DO, GAME.”
Shocking? Not really. Dirty-minded? You bet. It was probably written by thick-headed college students who tried to have sex with a different girl every night of the school year.
You don’t think shocking? What about the part with the stuffed animal and the strap-on?
True story: I actually know the guy who wrote this game. That’s right. You can call me famous.
…but you’re stuck writing for Indie Games? Priorities, Franzen, priorities! (I’m kidding.)
This way I can write dialogue in my pajamas! There’s no lose there.
I guess I’m just desensitized… plus it’s all harmless fun, right? RIGHT?!
Except for the teddy bear.