Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking For Love
    (In Several Wrong Places) - Sierra On-Line RRP œ24.99

In this very tongue-in-cheek 3-D animated adventure you assume 
the role of one Larry Laffer - the man every girl yearns for - 
or so you think! This latest episode in the 'Larry' quests 
continues with a supposedly wiser and more mature Larry in his 
search for the girl of his dreams. He's had enough of the 
endless string of disco's, dubious broads, unsavoury guys and 
downtown bars and casinos, and feels the urgent need (sic!) to 
settle down for once in his life......the only trouble is that 
they're all still here!!
 
With his white lounge suit, appropriately updated from a 
previous story and lashings of the old Grecian 2000 to bless 
what's left of his hair, he sets off in search of fame, fortune 
and a woman - the accent being on the latter!
 
Rated by the author - Al Lowe - as an adult fantasy/fun 
adventure, LSL2 is literally peppered with churlish humour and 
sexual inuendo and I have a feeling that everyone who gets into 
this game will recognise the type of character that Larry 
portrays.......you know - "He's just like so-and-so over the 
road" or "Isn't that like whatsisname from wheresit?". The game 
isn't 'dirty' but you should have a very broad mind when 
playing this adventure - talk dirty and it talks back 
dirty....be warned!! Mr. Lowe was recently quoted as saying 
that nobody ever caught a social disease from a computer 
keyboard and I'm inclined to agree.
 
There are several means of controlling Larry, including the use 
of the numeric keypad, which I found easier for diagonal 
movements and sudden stopping. Type-in commands are necessary 
from time to time throughout the game and are easily and 
humourously implemented. There is a response for absolutely 
every input and a novel facility is the Filthometer, which 
allows the player to vary the degeee of the obvious!
 
An added feature of this game is that you can run an installed 
music program through a synthesizer if you choose and full 
details are included on the reference card that accompanies the 
software.
 
The game package includes 3 disks, the informative Sierra 
catalogue and a copy of Larry's little black book. On starting 
up you are required to match a screen shot of one of your girl 
friends with a picture in your book, and enter the 
corresponding telephone number. As usual the adequate 
instructions provide you with an initial introduction to the 
game by taking you through the very first stages, more or less 
move-by-move to aquaint you with the controls of the main 
character, familiarise you with the options available and offer 
the first sprinkling of in-game clues.
 
You start in the colourful suburbs of Los Angeles and many 
experiences and accidents await you! Many clues and directions 
are subtly hidden away in the mechanics of the game and these 
become more apparent as you progress. I cannot over-stress the 
need to look at every scene and attempt to strike up a 
conversation with everyone that you encounter. A very good 
example of this is the little notice on the back wall of the 
Drug Store ('Just say no'), which is recalled by you when 
approached by a shady character touting a poisoned drink 
outside a run-down bar!
 
There is an abundance of initial locations to explore and one 
or two fellow characters to communicate with. Before long 
you'll find yourself on a T.V. game show, not a million miles 
from the familiar 'Blind Date' theme, and a 'Lucky Draw' show 
where you stand a good chance of winning a million dollars. 
then it's off to the harbour (or 'Harbor' as they say!), to 
find the ship that will take you on your prize cruise to exotic 
parts - don't forget your passport though!!
 
The little sub-plot built into the game involving secret 
documents and the KGB, is initiated by striking up a 
conversation with the girl in the Music Store which, 
incidentally, doesn't open until you have overcome a certain 
number of previous obstacles. From then on, you should be very 
wary of any unsolicited approaches from men or women!
The graphics are up to the usual Sierra standard and many 
pleasing scenes are enhanced by the inclusion of aeroplanes and 
birds flying overhead and boats sailing by. There are several 
very well-produced animated sequences, especially that of your 
demise by body ripping laser at the hands of one of 
'Goldfinger's' pussy cats!!(See note 'B' in the 'DO NOTS' in
the LSL2 Hints in Hints and Tips) 

Look out also for the amusing references to other Sierra games, 
such as what you see through the knothole in the fence at the 
side of the Drug Store.
 
Overall, and I'm left secretly wondering what the ladies will 
make of this, LSL2 is very amusing, entertaining and reasonably 
acceptable, even if you don't have a truly honed sense of 
humour!
 
                                   John