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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/839
164 MacDirectory
REVIEW | GAMES
LARVA MORTUS BY RAKE IN GRASS GAMES
Larva Mortus is billed as a "retro horror
action game" by developers Rake In
Grass, and it more than lives up to its
name. Combining an intuitive interface
with addictive gameplay, Larva Mortus will
keep you saying "Just one more level" until
the undead cows come home.
You play as an agent in The Agency, an
organization dedicated to ridding the
world of supernatural evil. Told through an
appropriately somber narrative, the
chapters that herald each advancement of
the story are accompanied by some
worthy artwork that rewards the player
who lets the text play itself out.
At the start of gameplay, you are
presented with a Map screen, upon which
various geographical locations are marked
with a brown envelope. A plain envelope
represents a location to which you travel
to do your job; such envelopes can be
selected at any time. Envelopes that glow
red represent areas for which you are too
low in level to attempt. A white envelope
represents a location that contains a quest
that furthers the storyline. The brown
envelopes break down into two types:
those with a basic shoot 'em up within,
and those with grander objectives.
For example, a basic location will ask you
simply to destroy all the monsters within,
while the other type will ask that you
destroy all champion monsters (those
monsters who are of higher durability), or
to break the curse contained therein.
Clicking on any of these envelopes
transports you to their representative
location, frequently a house containing
multiple rooms. There is a mini-map in the
lower-right corner of the screen that tells
you where you are at all times, as well as
the layout of the entire building.
The action follows an overhead view. The
WASD keys grant character movement,
while the mouse aims and fires. You begin
with two weapons, a two-handed sword
and a pistol. You also have access at all
times to sticks of dynamite, but your
supply of these is limited. Ammunition for
all guns is similarly limited, and when it
runs out, you default to the sword.
There are destructible items in each room
that yield resources such as more ammo,
more dynamite, and special icons that
represent temporary power-ups such as
unlimited ammo, a fast walk, and
improved damage.
When you enter each room, a swarm of
enemies rushes you, ranging from bats to
zombies to flaming skeletons. The undead
creatures bear particular watch, as they
will frequently take many hits, only to still
come after you, albeit with a missing
upper body, or crawling along the floor
sans legs. When you've taken out all
enemies in a room, you receive a "Room
cleared" message, letting you know that
you can move on to the next room.
After the accumulation of enough
experience, you will gain points that you
can spend to increase your character's
attributes — anything from the ability to
take more damage before dying, to a
faster movement speed, to improved
regeneration of one's health.
There are also champion monsters, which
you'll recognize by their visible hit points
bar. These creatures are a good deal
tougher than the average baddie, and
reward with more points and experience
when killed.
With tons of replay value, Larva Mortus is
definitely a must-have for those who've
been itching to get their frenetic,
everything-that-touches-you-kills-you
action on. The demo lets you play as
much as you want, but will only let you
level your character up to 5, and restricts
enemies to a certain number of types.
Buying the game will unlock its true
potential and reward with a non-stop eye-
fizzing experience.
WORDS BY KEONI CHAVEZ
Product Larva Mortus
Made by Rake In Grass Games