PS3 Update - Tomb Raider Underworld
Tomb Raider Underworld
Overall - 6.5
Art direction/ animation - 8
Story - 7
Controls/ Combat/ Platforming - 5
Replay Value - 4
(Scale 1 - 10)
Another in the disturbingly common trend of games that don't seem to be worth the current ticket price. This game is ok, mildly amusing despite it's flaws, and had some moments that I actually enjoyed but it's 6-8 hour play time just doesn't justify a $60 sticker price.
Lara is back in her latest mission which is apparently to prove that there isn't an original idea left in the world. If you've played any tomb raider game you've played this one already. Nothing is new or exciting here, not the locales, not the enemies, not the puzzles not even the villian who they resurrected from TR2. The story is passably entertaining although it relies really heavily on a reprise of Tomb Raider Legend ( having not played that game, I had to go on Youtube and watch the cutscenes from it to catch up). The game's strong point is very much its graphic presentation which just looks great particularly in two expansive underwater levels. But frame rates are uneven, and my game crashed three times during the short play time.
Controls are a major problem. The camera is actually demonic in its ability to never allow you to see the one area necessary to land a jump or hit an enemy. Lara has a perverse tendency to spontaneously change directions just before you press jump and go flying off a cliff. They have also created some eloborate animations for her when she is performing certain actions which I guess are suppose to look cool but more frequently than not result in her jumping in the wrong direction or falling off a platform while trying to pick something up. There is a persistent vehicle section involving a motorcycle that handles like a pregnant cow married to level design that requires pricely timed jumps. But the gold medal winner for frustratingly uncontrollable game play goes to the zip line that Lara must use to assail down walls and swing across chasms. Trying to get Lara to swing in the direction you intend is roughly akin to trying to herd a cat and you are likely to be about as successful. There is one jump in particular late in the game that I easily had to attempt 30 times. Maybe that's good because the extra 45 minutes it took me to do, at least extended the total game length to 7 hours.
There are treasures to collect along the way, but no rewards for collecting them so I'm not sure why you would bother. The combat is passable - with the bullet time head shot mechanic fun to employ if a bit overpowered. The discovery of a uber-weapon that you get 3/4 through the game makes you essentially invincible.
I sound like I hated this game, and I didn't. It was ok. I am a fan of the series and I enjoyed playing a new episode. The graphics are awesome and it is fun to be Lara. I just kinda wish that it didn't feel quite so identical to the other games and that it had taken me more than an afternoon to complete. Rent this one.
Overall - 6.5
Art direction/ animation - 8
Story - 7
Controls/ Combat/ Platforming - 5
Replay Value - 4
(Scale 1 - 10)
Another in the disturbingly common trend of games that don't seem to be worth the current ticket price. This game is ok, mildly amusing despite it's flaws, and had some moments that I actually enjoyed but it's 6-8 hour play time just doesn't justify a $60 sticker price.
Lara is back in her latest mission which is apparently to prove that there isn't an original idea left in the world. If you've played any tomb raider game you've played this one already. Nothing is new or exciting here, not the locales, not the enemies, not the puzzles not even the villian who they resurrected from TR2. The story is passably entertaining although it relies really heavily on a reprise of Tomb Raider Legend ( having not played that game, I had to go on Youtube and watch the cutscenes from it to catch up). The game's strong point is very much its graphic presentation which just looks great particularly in two expansive underwater levels. But frame rates are uneven, and my game crashed three times during the short play time.
Controls are a major problem. The camera is actually demonic in its ability to never allow you to see the one area necessary to land a jump or hit an enemy. Lara has a perverse tendency to spontaneously change directions just before you press jump and go flying off a cliff. They have also created some eloborate animations for her when she is performing certain actions which I guess are suppose to look cool but more frequently than not result in her jumping in the wrong direction or falling off a platform while trying to pick something up. There is a persistent vehicle section involving a motorcycle that handles like a pregnant cow married to level design that requires pricely timed jumps. But the gold medal winner for frustratingly uncontrollable game play goes to the zip line that Lara must use to assail down walls and swing across chasms. Trying to get Lara to swing in the direction you intend is roughly akin to trying to herd a cat and you are likely to be about as successful. There is one jump in particular late in the game that I easily had to attempt 30 times. Maybe that's good because the extra 45 minutes it took me to do, at least extended the total game length to 7 hours.
There are treasures to collect along the way, but no rewards for collecting them so I'm not sure why you would bother. The combat is passable - with the bullet time head shot mechanic fun to employ if a bit overpowered. The discovery of a uber-weapon that you get 3/4 through the game makes you essentially invincible.
I sound like I hated this game, and I didn't. It was ok. I am a fan of the series and I enjoyed playing a new episode. The graphics are awesome and it is fun to be Lara. I just kinda wish that it didn't feel quite so identical to the other games and that it had taken me more than an afternoon to complete. Rent this one.