Hmmm . . . I guess before I start I need to make up my mind how to begin this review. Current fashion is that it's impossible to review a TR game without either a history lesson that includes the death of franchise (Angel of Darkness) and its rise from the ashes (Legend) or some smarmy joke about her tits or bum.
Aww--screw fashion. It's boring. *clears throat*
Underworld is the game Legend should have been. Maybe if we'd started with all that Underworld brings to the table, by the third game we would not be complaining about the camera or glitches. The "formula" would be set, all that would be left would be fixing the code and making up new adventures (and outfits.)
That initial paragraph sounds very negative, but I don't mean it to be. Underworld is a "next gen" Tomb Raider game. Lara controls exceptionally well. No more empty frames of animations to wait on. She is quick and responsive. Personally, I like the new animations, and the new moves really open up the platforming. Lara has more ways to get from one place to another than ever, and that makes for some real platforming mysteries. The sprint returns, and there are many context specific animations that appear like treats. Front walkovers to pick up objects or flips when jumping from one spot to another. To my knowledge, I did nothing to trigger them, so watching them appear was delightful.
Combat has been enhanced for those that enjoy it. Two new moves make an appearance. The head shot, the spiritual successor to the adrenaline dodge, looks very cool and is easy to pull off. If you liked the Bullet time from Legend, you will like this. The only thing wrong with it is the use of the right analog to center the reticule. I found that very unnatural. The other is the "slow time" function where you can use your adrenaline to "slow time" getting off extra shots or melee attacks. To trigger this you have to press R3, a button that never feels natural. I didn't use this much, although it occurs as I type it might have been useful in the last level for evading enemies. If you don't like the fancy stuff, flip-n-fire is there in full force, although Lara is still not evasive enough to make it fun. The moves are cool, but essentially no better than running around. They have finally fixed the targeting so Lara will turn and shoot rather than point her guns at whatever she happens to be facing.
One big change is that rather than acquire weapons throughout the game, Lara is armed to the teeth from the git-go. Kind of a nice change. Ammo for each weapon is limited though, so once you're out of uzi ammo, you have to switch to another weapon. Lara also has "sticky grenades" that are rewarding to use. You also get to use the primary artifact in the game as a weapon. It definitely makes the last levels easier.
The story is the end of the search Lara begins in Legend. It's fine, if you like the drama. Don't examine too closely though, because it's swiss cheeze underneath. But it serves to get Lara from one fabulous locale to another, which is all any TR story ever did. Voice acting is strong.
The music and graphics are fabulous. I played the 360 version. There are anti-aliasing problems, but nothing this non-graphics junkie couldn't handle. The cut scenes will make you think God of War the environments are so massive.
I have a few complaints, of course.
1. The camera. Sorry, this really needs major work. I'd almost prefer a fixed camera to what this one does occasionally. Why on earth would it center underneath the bike? Lara sure has nice fenders. I did not feel the camera was a game killer, although it's a little too in love with Lara. I just want it to pull back and stop trying to follow her around so much. It slows down the gameplay because I spend time reorienting the camera to make sure my jumps don't fail. Sort of the new "hop back" prep for a jump.
2. Mexico. The biggest playground in the game, but also the most limiting. Lara will only climb 10% of what you see. I'm guess the rain makes everything too "slippery" although there were objects knee-high Lara refused to clamber onto. This is a return to Legend where Lara couldn't do anything. Rule number one in TR: If it looks like Lara can get there, she should be able to. Don't program her out.
4. Glitches, glitches, glitches. Vanishing objects, vanishing Lara, spongy floors, walls, etc. I have no doubt coding all the textures is a big job, but maybe a few fewer hallways and tighter programming? These sorts of things as a rule don't "ruin" a game for me, but it sure un-immerses you to see your character disappear halfway into a wall or "hit" an invisible one.
5. The save system. For goodness sake, it's been THREE GAMES. Who likes this system? What's wrong with just a straight forward save system? I can never tell what's saved and what's not. I die, I go back to a spot. Is that spot saved? Not if I turn off the game. It goes back to some other un-named spot. It just gives me fits.
6. The new menu. I don't like how save files are listed. It's tough to tell what's what. Perhaps a GOW style menu with pictures to help remind you where you where? Also, did I unlock any outfits? Where are my achievements? It kept telling me during the game what I had achieved, but I never could find a list of all I had achieved.
7. Too many secrets. With all weapons locked and loaded from the beginning, secrets are reduced to shiny objects that don't do anything. Why am I kicking open all those jars again? I love having lots of stuff to find, it's just too much for no good purpose. There needs to be real rewards for exploration. Find all parts to the *blank* and get this upgrade/outfit/unlockable.
8. Replay stinks.
9. Balance beam walking is stupid. Really, how can a trained gymnast who flips from the tip of one pole to another constantly lose her balance on a six-inch wide beam? *shakes head* Just drop it already.
That list makes it sound like I didn't enjoy the game. Well, I didn't enjoy the bike. Vehicles are a tradition in TR games, but I don't think there have been any I liked using. I spend more time running into walls than anything, and the forced "race to the gate" drove me batty. (I did get the roadkill achievement though.)
However, when Lara is off the bike, it's Tomb Raider. You will wonder where to go, you will wonder what to do. You will ask yourself "how the heck am I supposed to get there?" and grin when you do. Plus riding a giant hammer is just way cool. Much has been said about how short this game is. I've read people saying they completed it in eight hours. Possible, I suppose if you use field assistance and ignore artifacts. I think play time is probably more like 15 to 20 hours for raiders who like to explore and find secrets.
I give Underworld a "B". I would have scored it higher except for technical issues. If I were just scoring the raiding, I would probably give it an "A."
Aww--screw fashion. It's boring. *clears throat*
Underworld is the game Legend should have been. Maybe if we'd started with all that Underworld brings to the table, by the third game we would not be complaining about the camera or glitches. The "formula" would be set, all that would be left would be fixing the code and making up new adventures (and outfits.)
That initial paragraph sounds very negative, but I don't mean it to be. Underworld is a "next gen" Tomb Raider game. Lara controls exceptionally well. No more empty frames of animations to wait on. She is quick and responsive. Personally, I like the new animations, and the new moves really open up the platforming. Lara has more ways to get from one place to another than ever, and that makes for some real platforming mysteries. The sprint returns, and there are many context specific animations that appear like treats. Front walkovers to pick up objects or flips when jumping from one spot to another. To my knowledge, I did nothing to trigger them, so watching them appear was delightful.
Combat has been enhanced for those that enjoy it. Two new moves make an appearance. The head shot, the spiritual successor to the adrenaline dodge, looks very cool and is easy to pull off. If you liked the Bullet time from Legend, you will like this. The only thing wrong with it is the use of the right analog to center the reticule. I found that very unnatural. The other is the "slow time" function where you can use your adrenaline to "slow time" getting off extra shots or melee attacks. To trigger this you have to press R3, a button that never feels natural. I didn't use this much, although it occurs as I type it might have been useful in the last level for evading enemies. If you don't like the fancy stuff, flip-n-fire is there in full force, although Lara is still not evasive enough to make it fun. The moves are cool, but essentially no better than running around. They have finally fixed the targeting so Lara will turn and shoot rather than point her guns at whatever she happens to be facing.
One big change is that rather than acquire weapons throughout the game, Lara is armed to the teeth from the git-go. Kind of a nice change. Ammo for each weapon is limited though, so once you're out of uzi ammo, you have to switch to another weapon. Lara also has "sticky grenades" that are rewarding to use. You also get to use the primary artifact in the game as a weapon. It definitely makes the last levels easier.
The story is the end of the search Lara begins in Legend. It's fine, if you like the drama. Don't examine too closely though, because it's swiss cheeze underneath. But it serves to get Lara from one fabulous locale to another, which is all any TR story ever did. Voice acting is strong.
The music and graphics are fabulous. I played the 360 version. There are anti-aliasing problems, but nothing this non-graphics junkie couldn't handle. The cut scenes will make you think God of War the environments are so massive.
I have a few complaints, of course.
1. The camera. Sorry, this really needs major work. I'd almost prefer a fixed camera to what this one does occasionally. Why on earth would it center underneath the bike? Lara sure has nice fenders. I did not feel the camera was a game killer, although it's a little too in love with Lara. I just want it to pull back and stop trying to follow her around so much. It slows down the gameplay because I spend time reorienting the camera to make sure my jumps don't fail. Sort of the new "hop back" prep for a jump.
2. Mexico. The biggest playground in the game, but also the most limiting. Lara will only climb 10% of what you see. I'm guess the rain makes everything too "slippery" although there were objects knee-high Lara refused to clamber onto. This is a return to Legend where Lara couldn't do anything. Rule number one in TR: If it looks like Lara can get there, she should be able to. Don't program her out.
4. Glitches, glitches, glitches. Vanishing objects, vanishing Lara, spongy floors, walls, etc. I have no doubt coding all the textures is a big job, but maybe a few fewer hallways and tighter programming? These sorts of things as a rule don't "ruin" a game for me, but it sure un-immerses you to see your character disappear halfway into a wall or "hit" an invisible one.
5. The save system. For goodness sake, it's been THREE GAMES. Who likes this system? What's wrong with just a straight forward save system? I can never tell what's saved and what's not. I die, I go back to a spot. Is that spot saved? Not if I turn off the game. It goes back to some other un-named spot. It just gives me fits.
6. The new menu. I don't like how save files are listed. It's tough to tell what's what. Perhaps a GOW style menu with pictures to help remind you where you where? Also, did I unlock any outfits? Where are my achievements? It kept telling me during the game what I had achieved, but I never could find a list of all I had achieved.
7. Too many secrets. With all weapons locked and loaded from the beginning, secrets are reduced to shiny objects that don't do anything. Why am I kicking open all those jars again? I love having lots of stuff to find, it's just too much for no good purpose. There needs to be real rewards for exploration. Find all parts to the *blank* and get this upgrade/outfit/unlockable.
8. Replay stinks.
9. Balance beam walking is stupid. Really, how can a trained gymnast who flips from the tip of one pole to another constantly lose her balance on a six-inch wide beam? *shakes head* Just drop it already.
That list makes it sound like I didn't enjoy the game. Well, I didn't enjoy the bike. Vehicles are a tradition in TR games, but I don't think there have been any I liked using. I spend more time running into walls than anything, and the forced "race to the gate" drove me batty. (I did get the roadkill achievement though.)
However, when Lara is off the bike, it's Tomb Raider. You will wonder where to go, you will wonder what to do. You will ask yourself "how the heck am I supposed to get there?" and grin when you do. Plus riding a giant hammer is just way cool. Much has been said about how short this game is. I've read people saying they completed it in eight hours. Possible, I suppose if you use field assistance and ignore artifacts. I think play time is probably more like 15 to 20 hours for raiders who like to explore and find secrets.
I give Underworld a "B". I would have scored it higher except for technical issues. If I were just scoring the raiding, I would probably give it an "A."
