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| Welcome to the Underworld; Tomb Raider VIII Review | |
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| Topic Started: 21 Nov 2008, 04:58 AM (129 Views) | |
| Nate_Samson | 21 Nov 2008, 04:58 AM Post #1 |
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Tomb Raider Underworld Welcome to the Underworld  Does CD's game live up the the hype and to the TR name? Movements From the very moment the game starts you are thrusted into the shoes of Lara and put into a suspenseful setting, learning her every movement. She no longer moves like a game character, you can thanks to the amazing motion capture (done by gymnast Hiedi Moneymaker) so leaping from ledge to legde and all of her past movements look and feels very real, and she no longer feel like she is made out of paper just gliding. They have made her feel like she has some weight to her. All the cutscenes have been motion captured as well making watching them feel like you are watching actors in a movie. With that in mind we move to the Story... Story The game begins in the middle then back to the beggining again. If this sounds confusing let me explain. You are thrusted into Croft Manor as flames engulfe all around it. You then reach a scene where you are in complete shock wondering what has led to this event. It then closes as a white screen appears with the title itself Tomb Raider Underworld. It then opens two weeks earlier in the Med as Lara is searching for a ruin her father may or may have not discovered. As you reach the very bottom you find Niflheim. In there you find a Kraken, deadly traps and one of thor's gaunlets. After being hit in the head and left dizzy for a moment Lara finds herself trying to find a way out of Niflheim to find the culprit. As she reaches the top she is lead to revalations and old advesaries of the past. The adventure takes you from the Med, Coastal Thailand and to Mexico for the search of the Mighty Thor's precious artifacts. All in a search for Lara's mother, her answers come at a great cost. This is truly an epic and emotional story weaved through clever level design, beautiful graphics and detailed cutsenes. The characters voices are top notch which will now lead us into the sound of the Underworld.... Sound Colin O' Maley & Troels Foreman have made a truly classic soundtrack that strongly out does all of Lara's outings. The music isn't the only great part of the sound. They have also given this game pure ambience. Wheter you are in Thailand or in the deep Arctic you will hear the sounds you expect from each location. The music comes in at the right moments. Voice Acting is also brilliantly done due to a very talented cast, Keeley Hawes returns with a performance that outshine her past games and maybe even past Lara's. She is very covincing and makes Lara feel like a real bad ass yet and very classy at the same time. The other voice actors for Zip, Alister and other characters (which I will not spoil for many) play a small yet important part in the events to come. The story telling could not work if it wasn't for the cast. All the animals in the game also sound realistic, you will hear growling from behind bushes as you wait for something to come but will it? Gameplay This is the most important aspect of the game and it is the best part of this one. It has that classic feel again. Each leap could eventually lead to your death, and enemies are fast to attack. Sometimes they will leap out of nowhere to suprise you to the high heavens. As gunplay is usually not TR's strong point it goes the same for this game. During combat you can slowdown time with the push of a button to shoot enemies and take them down fast. But if you fill the arenaline meter to the top you can perform an adrenaline headshot that is a one hit kill. Ledges and poles return but now you can climb on top of poles and do things you would expect Lara to do. All of this feels real and fluid thanks to the mo-cap, and a bliddy good time. Now for the puzzles, there are some fairly easy ones and some very hard ones. I was stuck on a puzzle for about an hour trying to figure out my next move sometimes the solution can be obvious but you won't realize until you have tried everything. There is a level where you use the motorcycle freely to get from one point to another (much like the horse in Shadow of the Colosuss). The levels are huge and take quite a while to navigate through. This game is deffenently the best TR in 10 years. Pros -Great atmosphere. -Beautiful graphics. -Amazing score & voice acting. -The classic TR feel -Hard to beat -Puzzles are a challenge -The story is one that SHOULD be experienced. -Great & fluid controls. -Mo-cap make Lara feel real. -Levels are massive taking a long time to complet each one. -Fairly lengthy game. -Answers questions from both Legend & Anniversary Cons -Some glitches here and there (nothing that threatens the experience) -Camera can be a hassle. (But very rarely) -Lack of bonuses. -It ended!  (that's not a real con I just wish it lasted forever xD)-Some questions from Anniversary were never explained  All and all it was a great experience and I am looking foward to the downloadable content later this holiday season. Feel free to ask any questions and I will answer every one with extreme honesty. I do recommend this game to any TR and casual gamer out there.  Edited by Nate_Samson, 21 Nov 2008, 12:25 PM.
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| oOwayneOo | 21 Nov 2008, 09:33 AM Post #2 |
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Deep down they had to get this game right i feel with legend not living up to the hype, maybe this game with how it sounds just may of extended the tombraider future of the game, im glad they have gone back to the old style and the fluid movement and one shot head kills sound great to me. have you completed the game already ? thank you for a great review has this covers everything about the game |
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| High Priestess | 21 Nov 2008, 11:51 AM Post #3 |
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Thanks for adding that, Nate! You finished already? Wow! I'm still stuck on Legend  Oh, using spoiler tags can you answer my own spoiler below?  Spoiler: click to toggle Many thanks! |
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| Nate_Samson | 21 Nov 2008, 12:00 PM Post #4 |
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@oOwayneOo - Yes I completed it in 11-12 hours, it's a fairly long game and from my understanding a lot of people are getting stuck on the game and lost. So I'm guessing it depends on the player. @Lo - Of course I can but beware look at your own risk Spoiler: click to toggle
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| High Priestess | 21 Nov 2008, 12:09 PM Post #5 |
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OMG *Is shocked*  Thanks for using the spoiler tags. This makes me inclined to buy the game now. Woo hoo! What a great plot line. (Oh nobody really look unless you really aren't fussed about the storyline)
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| Nate_Samson | 21 Nov 2008, 12:22 PM Post #6 |
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Indeed it is. This game has a quite a few shocks that will leave you in awe until the very moments the credits start rolling.
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| Nate_Samson | 21 Nov 2008, 01:04 PM Post #7 |
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Small updates to pros & cons. 
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| High Priestess | 22 Nov 2008, 04:45 PM Post #8 |
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This is such a good review I'm going to pin it, Nate
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| Nate_Samson | 24 Nov 2008, 05:28 AM Post #9 |
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Awww thanks. Makes me feel good:p |
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| Ruum Taedor | 24 Nov 2008, 02:53 PM Post #10 |
Keeper of Zippy
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Great review, Nate. Thanks. I hope to get Underworld in the near future. |
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