TIGSource: Larva Mortus

Larva Mortus

Derek Yu — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Larva Mortus is a new top-down action game from Rake in Grass, the creators of the well-loved indie shmup Jets n’ Guns. In the game you play an agent in an occult crime-fighting organization of sorts… in other words, you’re going to be slicing, shooting, and blowing up every manner of foul Goosebumps reject in your efforts to protect humanity from the supernatural.

The fighting takes place across various missions that you select from a map. Some are “key” to the storyline and and some aren’t. The structure of each type is the same, however – make your way through a series of randomly generated rooms until you achieve your goal, whether its clearing the area of monsters, destroying profane altars, rescuing civilians, or what have you.

Larva Mortus is fun, and it looks good, but it doesn’t quite live up to Crimsonland or Smash TV, which are the two games it most reminded me of (and both classics of the genre). The action isn’t quite frantic enough, the RPG elements are a bit too diluted, the maps are too simple… and the game’s never quite sure whether it’s supposed to be scary or campy. Or maybe it’s the simple fact that it’s not as fun as it should be to blow a zombie’s head off with a shotgun!

But try it for yourself if it sounds interesting. The demo caps the amount of experience you can get, which bars you from attempting the later story missions. The full game is $19.95.

(Source: John Walker, via Rock, Paper, Shotgun)

"Larva Mortus" by Aramatheus

Mon, 19 May 2008 11:46:35 +0000

I like the game, and it has a nice atmosphere/theme. I also like the graphics, the style is unique in its own subtle way. But one thing’s for sure, I wouldn’t pay 19.95 for the full version. Demo’s enough for me.

"Larva Mortus" by Anon

Fri, 16 May 2008 03:53:39 +0000

Oooooh art sytle is very similar to DreamWeb on the Amiga - which is always a good thing

"Larva Mortus" by Ichi

Thu, 15 May 2008 17:54:24 +0000

Well, it LOOKS really nice but the gameplay is lacking. not only are the missions kinda boring, but everything lacks “impact” as well. killing stuff just isn’t satisfying.

"Larva Mortus" by Smithy

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:37:40 +0000

Like Smash TV, eh? Sounds fun. Is it multiplayer? Same keyboard two player? I’d definitely buy it if it were.

"Larva Mortus" by Cas

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:10:13 +0000

Fun game. Might buy this one.

"Larva Mortus" by Richard Dreyfuss

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:42:34 +0000

Who did the music? Nice.

"Larva Mortus" by MisterX

Thu, 15 May 2008 08:45:07 +0000

I’ll give this a try at least. I had a lot of fun with Jets’n’Guns (luckily the full version served as a “free game” in the german pc magazine I’ve subscribed, JnG is a little too expensive in my opinion), so I’m fine if this can provide similiarly simple “pure” fun.