![]() When Underworld was finally released and I knew it would be the end of the trilogy, I jumped at the chance to play it and more recently, I started a Let’s Play series of all the classic Lara Croft games but in reverse order, making this one the first I revisited. Anniversary added a few more questions but as a remake of the original Tomb Raider, it couldn’t do much in terms of moving the storyline forward. I played and loved Legend, finding the new quest for truth exactly what the series and character needed to evolve. Unlike its predecessors, it featured a completely new engine developed specifically for the game, which would later be used for Deus Ex: Human Revolution after Square Enix acquired Eidos. Tomb Raider: Underworld is the third instalment in what is now referred to as the LAU Tomb Raider trilogy ( Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Underworld itself), developed by Crystal Dynamics after Eidos Interactive transferred the rights to them from the series creator Core Design. Screenshots and videos | Final thoughts | Review round-upĭS, Mac, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 Visuals and audio | Replay and innovation | ![]() Title overview | Initial impressions | Plot | Gameplay | Take a look at his blog The Mental Attic where he invites readers to ‘Think Better, Think Bigger!’. Kevin a geek who plays Dungeons & Dragons and any role-playing game that pops in his path as well as a video-gamer who likes anime, reads manga, watches cartoons and buys tens of novels a year. That’s why it’s a shame that, more than a decade after the “Tomb Raider” franchise started, it’s still plagued by camera issues, especially in tight areas.Lara’s mother is in Avalon? Or is it Helheim? Or maybe it’s another one? Whatever the case, contributor Kevin tries to find her and get some answers in Tomb Raider: Underworld. The feats of fitness on display in “Underworld” are more believable than ever, just as the frequent plunges the player will take to rocky cliff sides and dark cavern floors evoke a genuine wince. More impressive than Lara’s physique, though, is her physicality. Lara Croft is, and has, one of the industry’s most recognizable figures, and her latest outing maintains her decidedly titillating look while keeping a focus on her athleticism. That level of precision is unusual and helps make “Underworld” a more inviting experience for casual players. At any time, players can tweak Lara’s health relative to that of her enemies - how much ammo she has and how easily she can avoid being grabbed. Why should Lara have to suddenly shoot down three mauling tigers, frustrated players will wonder, and why does every guard on a perilous enemy warship look precisely the same?įortunately, the menu options allow dynamic difficulty level adjustments throughout the game. Given the scope of the visual immersion it’s all the more striking that the occasional combat feels like an afterthought. A grand-scale orchestral soundtrack admirably supports the drama of hanging from a tree branch thousands of feet over a chasm or the majesty of entering an awesome Thai jungle lush with vivid greenery, sparkling turquoise shallows and temple ruins. Although it’s old hat for cucumber-cool Lara, awesome visuals married to tight design make it appropriately thrilling for the couch jockey. The player must navigate her across dizzying heights, precarious ledges and just-made-it leaps. As Lara investigates diverse settings including caves, jungles and ruins, the world around her acts as a subtle puzzle. Rather than the plot, it’s environment that’s the star here. New reading material is continually added to the player’s menu for those who really want to keep track, but since it has virtually no connection to the gameplay, there’s little point. ![]() The gist of it, though, is that she’s on a trail of clues that may lead to her vanished mother. The plot is an incohesive mishmash of various mythological influences, mainly delivered when Lara pauses in cut scenes to opine aloud in her High English accent to no one in particular about artifacts, Norse gods, hidden lands and minor characters no one can possibly keep track of. This time around, Lara’s tale begins with the classic Croft Manor in flames, and the gameplay flashes players back through the series of events that led up to the destruction. Whatever her work entails, it’s brought her an enormous mansion, a fancy boat and no shortage of Bond-like gadgets, all of which she uses to launch her latest escapade into ancient ruins, undersea caverns, deserted temples and the like. Even veteran players may find themselves faced with a vexing question as this ninth series entry hits the market: “What does Lara Croft do, exactly?” Contrary to the title, she doesn’t seem to spend much time in tombs.
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