Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out! is the fifth game in the Leisure Suit Larry series of graphical adventure games made by Sierra On-Line. It follows the 1991 game, Leisure Suit Larry 5: Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work. The game was first created for MS-DOS in 1993. A better version on CD-ROM was released the next year.

The story continues with Larry Laffer, the main character of the series, who wins a free trip to a fancy health spa with many women. The game features improved graphics in SVGA resolution and includes voice acting, which was new for the series. It is followed by Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! in 1996. The game was released again in 2017 on Steam for Windows computers.

Gameplay

This version has more conversations with women and puzzles than the main story. The entire game takes place at La Costa Lotta. There are many puzzles that require collecting items to solve. Larry can die, but players can restart without saving. The icon system is like other Sierra games, but the bar is always visible. The icons are similar to Leisure Suit Larry 5, but the "Use" command is now split into "Use" and "Pick Up."

The game is easier than earlier versions. Players cannot get stuck without the right items. Although there are death scenes, players can undo their actions immediately, so these scenes are for entertainment. The goal is to meet and interact with all women in La Costa Lotta. Most tasks can be done in any order, but the last one must come last. Each meeting gives Larry an item to give to Shamara Payne, ending the game.

Plot

At the start of the game, Larry Laffer is single because his girlfriend, Passionate Patti, is not present. She is only briefly mentioned by the narrator and appears in the game’s calendar. After losing on a television dating show called Stallions, Larry receives a free trip to La Costa Lotta, a luxurious health spa. Because he is not paying for his stay, he is treated poorly by the staff and given the worst room available. Larry later helps several women with different tasks.

Larry meets Gammie and helps her use a weight-loss machine, but she stops speaking to him after feeling confident. He also meets Shablee, gives her an evening gown, and goes on a beach date with her. The date ends when Larry learns Shablee is a transgender woman. Larry meets Cavaricchi and Burgundy, helps them, and is invited to a sauna with them, but he is left out. Later, he meets Char, gathers items for her, and is taken into a room where he is electrocuted by a machine. He wakes up the next day in his room.

Larry encounters a woman named "Thunderbird" in the resort’s weight room and gives her handcuffs. Later, it is revealed that Thunderbird is a dominatrix, and she humiliates Larry. Larry meets Merrily, who shares her dream of bungee jumping from a hotel tower. After finding the key to the tower, they prepare to jump, but Larry accidentally falls and wakes up in his room.

Eventually, Larry collects all the items needed for Shamara. He goes to a hotel balcony, gives her the items, and Shamara becomes happy with him. The game ends with Larry and Shamara presumably having sex.

Development

The game had better video and sound quality. It also went back to an earlier Sierra idea of making the player lose when they made mistakes, such as by dying. However, these deaths were only for fun, and a "Try Again" button let players restart after a mistake. In one situation, players might reach a dead end where they couldn't finish the game.

The original VGA version used the same fonts and menus as older SCI0 games, which was a way to remind players of earlier versions. Unlike other SCI1 games, which kept icon choices hidden at the top of the screen, this version placed the icons at the bottom for easy access to the player's inventory. Retail copies were available in English or German. A Polish version was also included in the collection "Leisure Suit Larry's Greatest Hits & Misses."

CD version

This was the first Larry game released as a CD version with voice acting. The CD edition included an SVGA mode with improved graphics and a higher resolution (640×480) compared to the floppy disk version (320×200). A VGA mode with lower resolution was also included in the CD edition.

The SVGA version changed the interface by making the lower section larger and adding a text box next to the character portraits. This moved dialogue and messages away from the main screen. The inventory was relocated to the top of the screen.

Reception

In 1994, Allen Greenberg of Computer Gaming World reviewed Leisure Suit Larry 6, calling it "a very clever game that may upset people who prefer strict moral standards or those seeking serious puzzle challenges." He noted, "For new players who enjoy slightly risqué humor and playful jokes, Leisure Suit Larry 6 offers a unique and entertaining experience."

In 1995, Next Generation reviewed the Macintosh version of the game, giving it three stars out of five. The review stated, "This sixth Larry game includes many suggestive jokes, sexual hints, and humorous rejections, all presented in a way that is rated appropriate for general audiences. However, these elements are clearly meant for adult humor."

James V. Trunzo of White Wolf #49 (November 1994) gave Leisure Suit Larry VI: CD-ROM Version a 3 out of 5 rating. He wrote, "The game is fun and slightly sexist, with humor that is clearly meant to be lighthearted. If players enjoy wordplay, suggestive themes, and playful graphics, they may enjoy this game. The humor is up-to-date, and the gameplay is smooth. However, those looking for serious content should consider other options."

In November 1993, Leisure Suit Larry 6 was ranked number six on PC Research’s computer game sales chart. It remained in the top seven positions for the next three months. Al Lowe, the game’s creator, stated that each Leisure Suit Larry game, including Leisure Suit Larry 6, sold more than 250,000 copies. By March 1996, Sierra On-Line reported that total sales of the Larry series had reached over 1.4 million copies, before the release of Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail!.