My initial encounter with Leisure Suit Larry, like many in my generation, occurred in the late 80s on my Atari 1040 STe. Having already engaged with titles like King’s Quest and Police Quest, Leisure Suit Larry presented itself as another entry in Sierra Online’s catalog of text and point-and-click adventure games, characterized by their low-resolution, pixelated visuals. As a young player, the nuances of the game’s themes were largely lost on me; I simply recall a challenging experience distinct from my previous gaming endeavors.
With age came a better understanding of the game’s subject matter. Later playthroughs of the sequels involved navigating age restrictions to unlock mature content. While such games can feel somewhat antiquated today, the 2018 trailer for Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry piqued my interest. Could Larry Laffer successfully navigate the complexities of a post-#metoo world?
Due to time constraints, I approached Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice, the sequel, without prior experience of its predecessor. I reasoned that a sequel implied a certain level of merit in the original.
The narrative picks up directly following the events of the first game, with Larry facing impending nuptials that quickly devolve into a series of complications.
Regarding the game’s strengths, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice boasts polished and visually appealing graphics, complemented by engaging character animations. The voice acting is well-executed, contributing to moments of genuine humor. The game occasionally pushes boundaries in ways that are surprisingly uninhibited. The intuitive controls facilitate quick immersion in the gameplay. Experimentation is encouraged – interacting with various elements, regardless of their apparent relevance, often reveals unexpected solutions based on unconventional logic. Successfully executing these bizarre combinations can trigger amusing reactions. Larry’s mobile phone and its Siri-esque assistant streamline mission tracking and provide guidance throughout the game.
A notable drawback of Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice is its relentless pursuit of humor. The sheer density of sexual innuendo ultimately detracts from the overall experience. The exaggerated depiction of phallic imagery, applied to nearly every object, combined with pervasive sexual undertones, becomes tiresome despite the developers’ self-awareness. In contrast, the earlier titles (as I recall) maintained a more coherent narrative thread, avoiding constant juvenile humor.
In conclusion, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice demonstrates moments of brilliance and engaging gameplay, but is undermined by its excessive reliance on crude and overt humor. Consequently, the game receives a positive assessment, though it falls short of achieving excellence.
