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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #817 in Video Games
• Brand: Eidos
• Model: 1000044581
• Published on: 2008-11
• Released on: 2008-11-18
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .57" h x 5.24" w x 6.72" l, .30 pounds

Features

• Tomb Raider: Underworld for Nintendo PlayStation 3 by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off and introduces a new, interactive playing environment
• Lara Croft explores a wide array places, such as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea
• Environment is much more realistic and interactive -- footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away
• Melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers
• Improved AI allows enemies and animals to make decisions based on surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics, and even retreat if deemed necessary

Amazon.com Product Description
Tomb Raider: Underworld for PlayStation 3 by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off. This installment introduces a new, interactive playing environment that gives players a chance to immerse themselves more fully into the game. Players once again take the role of Lara Croft as she explores such wide-ranging places as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

Lara's environment is now much more realistic and interactive. View larger.

And now she can hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other. View larger.

Interactive Worlds Introduces Realistic gameplay
Unlike the previous games in the series, Lara's environment is now much more realistic and interactive. Footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away. Lara's shirt will also get wet, and she's more likely to lose her grip if she is standing on a slippery, rain-soaked ledge. When the sun comes out, her shirt will dry and the slippery surfaces regain their friction.

In Underworld, Lara also has a lot more flexibility in how she makes her way through a level, as there is often more than one way to get from here to there. She can now climb walls with texture and rocky outcroppings to reach areas she previously wouldn't have been able to access.

All of these additions have been made to give the game a non-linear, open feel. Players can interactive with the environment by doing things they find to be intuitive, and the game will respond in an appropriate way. When Lara interacts with trees, for example, she will push aside leaves using either one or two hands depending on whether or not she's holding something. These details give a lifelike, immersive sensation to the game.

New Melee Combat System
Underworld introduces a new melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers. Lara can now attack enemies with different punches, kicks, knees, and other acrobatic onslaughts. Items lying on the ground, such as poles that were previously walked on, can be picked up and swung at enemies. Players can also perform a greater variety of actions with weapons; for example, Lara can now hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other.

Realistic Enemy and Animal AI
The AI in Tomb Raider: Underworld has also taken a big step forward--both enemies and animals now make independent decisions based on their surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics when fighting, and will retreat if deemed necessary.

With updated graphics and a more immersive and realistic gameplay, Tomb Raider: Underworld will have both fans and newcomers excited about the newest installment in this popular video game-pinup franchise.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is loaded with a new melee combat system, various weapons, and smarter AI for both enemies and animals.

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Customer Reviews

Lara returns...
Tomb Raider Underworld is the continuation of a storyline from Legend and to a lesser extent Anniversary. It sees Lara continuing her search for her mother. The theme of the game is as the title suggests, underworld or rather the many underworlds or realms of the dead that exist in many different mythologies.
Lara travels to various locations in search of Thor's hammer. The locations include an underwater temple in the Mediterannean, Thailand, Mexico, and Greenland.

Gameplay - 4/5: The gameplay revolves mostly around solving environmental puzzles. In this respect it is very similar to Legend and Anniversary, the two previous TR games. The main difference lies in the degree of freedom afforded to Lara. She can do many more things and utilize objects such as the grapple or her motorcycle in more creative ways than in the past games. The battle system has been updated too - you can now fight enemies using hand to hand combat as well as weapons. Speaking of weapons, you can now climb and shoot which is nice (only took 'em nine games to figure that one out :D). The levels are large and well designed. The puzzles are not very difficult and mostly involve pushing and pulling levers, and manipulating objects this way or that. Lara now has a sonar at her disposal to map levels (though I confess I never used it) and she also gives hints to help solve puzzles. The game is almost educational at times - you'll learn a lot about different myths and legends. All in all enjoyable if you liked previous Tomb Raider games, Ico, or the more recent Drake's Fortune (though Lara's game concentrates on puzzle solving rather than combat).

Graphics 5/5 - One word: Gorgeous. Lara looks great and so do the environments around her. Large, gorgeous environments, lush vegetation, huge, imposing statues all rendered with loving detail. This is truly a beautiful game. The first level takes place underwater and is truly memorable.

Controls 3/5 - The controls are mostly the same as in Legend, but I confess I found them a little less stellar. There is some collision detection problems too. Basically the controls could have used a little tightening up but otherwise they're bearable and any slight problems that exist don't really detract from the gameplay. In the pre-Legend era Lara had a lot of problems with falling off cliffs accidentally or if you didn't line up a jump exactly so, she would die. Here it's a lot more forgiving. The combat controls are also quite nice - Lara autoaims when fighting melee and with guns so enemies are rarely a problem.

Sound 4/5 - Nice music, good ambient atmosphere, not very memorable but not annoying either. This game is a lot darker than Legend so the witty banter between Lara and Zip and Alister is missing. Mostly Lara narrates and her voice actress is quite decent. The game can be played in English, French (which is how I play), German, Spanish.

Rent or Buy: Hmmm...if you loved Legend, and Anniversary, chances are you'll love this one too. If you prefer the more combat oriented Drake's Fortune, my suggestion is to give this a rental to at least try it out. The game's backstory is told in Lara's journal entries and a cutscene that's immediately accessible so while it helps to have played the previous two games, it's not necessary. All in all this game definitely deserves a look if you're a fan of adventure and puzzle solving games.

Three and a half stars rounded up.
I had been anticipating Tomb Raider Underworld for a long time. Ever since the cliffhanger ending in Legend, I don't think there was a Tomb Raider fan alive who wasn't eagerly waiting for the resolve.

A few notes:
If you haven't played Legend, you really need to. This is a direct continuation of its story line. If you don't know what happened in Legend, you'll be lost with the story contained in Underworld. A passing knowledge of what happened in Anniversary would also be advised.

The good:
There was a conscious effort on the programmer's part that if it seems like Lara should be able to do something, she can do it. For the first time the technology was available to let Lara do virtually anything the programmers could imagine. Poles Lara could only swing from before, she can now swing, perch, balance and fire a gun from. By far, this version of Lara can do more than she could in any previous game.

The areas are huge and, for the most part, non-linear. There are a couple sections near the end where you're basically being herded down a single corridor. But for the most part, this is the epitome of what a "go anywhere, do anything" exploration game should be. If you know exactly what you're supposed to do, you can probably breeze through certain puzzles. But if you want to take time to explore and see what the game has to offer, you'll find it has a lot.

The story is also very involving. Like I said, it's a continuation from Legend. So if you've played that, you already have a vested interest in what happens to these characters. Underworld really delivers on finally resolving the story between Lara and Amanda, Lara and Natla...and even Natla and Amanda.

The bad:
As much as I hate to find fault with this game, I have to be honest, there are some faults to be found.

As stated in other reviews, the camera is really buggy. This more than any of the other bugs had me frustrated at times. It never became a game spoiler for me. But many times, you not only can't move the camera to where it would be of utmost advantage, many times it's a challenge just to move it to where it's not utterly useless. This more than anything keeps me from giving this game that fifth star.

While not nearly as irritating as the camera, I also have noticed frame rate issues. But those tend to come and go. There's a brief moment on the part of the player of "what's going on?" But it passes and you're back on your way exploring.

Cinematics are not unlockable like they were in Legend and Anniversary. Once you've gone past them, that's it. Only chance you'll have to see them again is if you either start a new game or go on Youtube.

That brings me to my final point. Since cinematics are no longer unlockable, there's really not much else worth unlocking. There's character concept art, weapon concept art, level concept art and equipment concept art. It's hardly worth going into the "treasure hunter" mode to unlock it all in my opinion. It's a good thing that the levels are so huge and that it should take the average player a good while to finish the game. Because given the lack of anything worthwhile to unlock, that leaves little to nothing in the way of replay value.

Final notes:
This is a fun game. I hate that I had to list so many faults, because really this is a fun game. But you should know before spending the money that this does lack that certain amount of polish. As far as I'm concerned, though the good does outweigh the bad. If you're a Tomb Raider fan, you should get this game. If you're dying to find out how the Legend cliffhanger finally resolves, get this game. Just realize you may need to forgive the game for having a few little quirks.

Great ideas, but poorly executed
I just got the game today and played for a few hours. And these are my opinion on the game.

Bad:
- Environment collisions are bad. You could fall quite easily even from a simple ledge, due to bad collision detection. And you often bump into invisible walls, or even stuck on them, in stupid places that they shouldn't be there.
- Animations look bad. The poses are alright, but timings and in-betweens are bad and too fast. I feel like watching a speedy Charlie Chaplin's film. Lara looks like a monkey when she does wall-climbing. And too-fast animations also cause very annoying errors in controling the character.
- Camera sucks. They make the camera follows Lara too much and track-in too fast. It could cause controling mistakes and a headache. Especially when you stand too close to environment collision, the camera will shake like crazy. I feel dizzy after playing for a few hours.
- Combat system are pretty bad. The gunplay doesn't include cover system, which makes you take the bullets too much. Dodging moves don't help much because a lousy camera don't stay still, so you lose track of enemies very easily.

Good:
Well... it's Tomb Raider after all. That means the story and puzzles are still interesting enough to keep you playing, even with lousy controls and camera. The models, textures, shaders, and lighting look great.

In conclusion:
The developers tried to put new things to keep the series fresh. Unfortunately, they don't really work. On the other hand, the weak points destroy what made the past games in the series so great.

I wouldn't recommend this one to anybody new to the series. Judging from this one, you might hate the entire series all together. Tomb Raider Legend and Anniversary are better than this one.

For average fans, you might want to download the demo and try it first, or wait untill the price drop.

For die-hard fans, well, it's still Tomb Raider. If you're dying to collect every Tomb Raider games, it might not be so bad for you. Just don't keep your hope up so high.

Actually, I wanted to give it 3.5 stars.