1987 sleezy funny guy - adventure or strategy?
You, Larry, are a lounge lizzard and it is your conquest to get laid. You play through an adventurous few tasks before you reach the finale. There was a VERY good idea for this game, you needed to pass a test - ie a list of questions only adults should know the answer to. Only then could you play the game once passed.
First off you're stood outside a bar. The graphics in those days were simple, yet this game did enough to give a colourful show and depict the sleezy locations you need to frequent. The theme is obviously very adult and when you need to buy "lubbers" for the less safe kinda girl you get the idea. However it isnt too bad after that.
Oddly most of your actions are by written command. Only the arrow keys let you walk about. Different speed settings were required for different performance PCs. The written commands were tiersome but worse still you often didn't know what had to be written and lets not forget it was all American spelling and gramar - so Candy and not Chocolate.
You also needed to use KEY words, like READ - as this would give you a brief summary of where you were, often giving hints.
Your location was a still-picture, allowing you to move about it. Walk upto the door and type Open, and sure enough Larry opens the door and goes through to the next location, for example into the bar. Be careful, as walking into the road only gets you run-over - Game Over. Walk down an alley where the developer doesnt want you to go and you're met by a thug who beats you to death. Thankfully there is a save option to use before you meet your untimely death.
There are not many hints. Its up to you to explore your environment and figure out what to do. A locked door obviously means you need to find out how to open it - if you're aksed a password, go find one. There are loads of neat places to find clues - try "look in the sink" or "read wall" etc etc.
There is a score bar to total up; I think the target was 888. Larry has a wallet of money, its up to you to fill it and use it. Call "Taxi" and this takes you to new locations - ie Casino.
The game is full of funny moments; the typical corner shop is run by the poorly spoken chap who sells you many needed items.
The graphics did a job. There was no sound except the jazzy juke-box tune. Gameplay tricky. Value?
The game is full of challenges and puzzles and entertains you along the way. An innovative game in its day. REMEMBER my scores are comparative to its day - ie this game was good for 1987.