Just (Free) Adventures
Larry Vales: Traffic Division

Author: Philip J. Reed
Creation Program: AGS (Adventure Game Studio)
Download Size: 2.38 MB
Approximate Playing Time: 3 hours

By Audrey Wells

Everyone likes free stuff, right? Well, if you have checked out the JA Review Index lately, you may have noticed a new section entitled "Just Free Adventures." There are lots of free adventures roaming around on this vast information highway that we call the Internet. And now I present to you a brand-new column reviewing these adventures. Enjoy! If you know of any free graphical adventure games that are not yet reviewed by JA, then by all means, email me and perhaps I'll review it!

This week's game is (drum roll please) ... Larry Vales: Traffic Division!

Click here to visit the official site of Larry Vales: Traffic Division
Click here to download Larry Vales: Traffic Division (2.4 MB)

Parking enforcement technology has advanced a great deal over the past few years, and recently a mad scientist by the name of Professor Semprini unveiled his newest creation, the "Lovely Rita 4200 Parking Enforcement Cyborg." However, the robot turned out to be deranged and is on a maniacal killing spree, executing people for minor traffic violations. In Larry Vales: Traffic Division, you play a sideburn-adorned traffic cop by the name of Larry Vales, nominated by the commissioner himself to rid the city of the menace. And so armed with your Traffic Division badge and nightstick, you set out to save the world ...

Larry Vales: Traffic Division, by all estimations, is a real treat to play. Sure, the graphics are simple, but you have to understand that I'm reviewing a free adventure game, created by a sum total of one person (with the help of a few invaluable testers). That taken into account, I think the graphics are quite appreciable. Nonetheless, you can look forward to significant graphical improvement in Larry Vales 2. The highlight of Larry Vales is in the humor. Some of it could be classified as "toilet humor," but it is never over the top. It is fun to try to find all of the references in the game to pop culture, TV, movies, books, etc. For example, the painting in your hotel room is similar to the one found in the living room in The Simpsons. Conversations between characters are well written and amusing. Larry's comments about various objects throughout the game can usually elicit some good laughs as well.

I had no gameplay problems with Larry Vales. The Adventure Game Studio interface is based on the tried-and-true Sierra style: icons for walking, talking, etc., and points for completed actions (you'll hear, "Points! Ka-ching!" every time Larry scores). The only minor complaint I have is that the author did not program a response for every user action, even a repertoire of generic ones like, "I don't think that's possible." Sometimes I would try to use inventory on things and couldn't tell if I was hitting the hotspot since Larry said nothing. However, this does not impact the fun factor of the game.

As far as puzzles go, Larry Vales: Traffic Division also has a lot of good ones. Though many of the puzzles are inventory puzzles (use inventory on hotspot), there are a handful of puzzles that will require other actions from the player. The inventory puzzles usually aren't nonsensical or impossible to figure out, as there are plenty of clues to lead you in the right direction.

Story: B
Graphics: C
Music/Sound Effects: B
Gameplay: A+

Overall, Larry Vales: Traffic Division has a good length, a fun story, and a lot of laughs, and it is well worth the small download. Quite simply, it's fun! If you like the old Sierra and LucasArts games, this will surely be a game you would enjoy. If you like what you see, expect the sequel soon!

Final Grade: B