Tomb Raider: Underworld

"It's a large underworld after all"

Let's just dive right in, shall we?

Gameplay

The mechanics are pretty similar to the previous games in the series. You can roll, jump, shoot. It's all very basic. Your main objective in each level basically consists of getting from point A to point B while navigating through caves and jungles, solving numerous puzzles along the way. The environment is filled with texture that you can latch yourself on to. You can climb up rugged walls and rocky ledges. The challenge usually comes from trying to find the correct object to grab on to and where to go. For the most part, you'll easily be able to recognize a ledge or object you can grab, but sometimes there's really no way to know for sure. You'll just have to take the jump sometimes and risk getting killed, which isn't a big deal either way. There are many checkpoints throughout the game so you'll never find yourself repeating large segments. However, Lara does have a very low tolerance for surviving falls. You'll be surprised that what may seem to be just a short way down is a far enough distance to get her killed. I can understand the reason for this however, for if this wasn't implemented in this way, one could easily avoid traversing segments of a level.

The combat is scarce, which is probable for the better, considering the way its executed. You lock onto a target and just fire a barrage of bullets, occasionally stepping out of the way to avoid a counter hit. These shoot-outs will take quite a while. You'll find yourself unloading about 25 or so shots just to take down one of the tigers or panthers. Even the human enemies take quite a few number of hits.

The environments that you will visit are very large and sometimes quite overwhelming. There's lots to explore and often times no clear indication as to where you are suppose to go, which by no means is a bad thing if you enjoy that type of game. If you do get lost, you have a sonar gadget that lets you see a 3D render of the area around you. This is really just a confusing mess. A regular map would have been much better suited. You also can ask for hints which often are very direct as to what you need to do. They also give you a flash light which you will need to use often, as you will be venturing through many dark passages. The battery does not run out luckily. You also have a pair of binoculars which generally have no purpose. And finally, you have health packs which, once again, are fairly useless, since there is really no penalty for dying.

As far as collecting goes, there isn't anything outside of key items for solving puzzles and jewels and whatnot, which are mostly used for unlocking concept art. They don't unlock costumes this time around, which is unfortunate. However, you are given a choice of 2 or 3 different costumes at the start of each stage. As far as weapons go, you have a limited selection to choose from when you start a level. You'll be able to choose things like a shot gun or a rifle and a few others. What you choose really doesn't matter as combat is very limited.

Graphics

The graphics are very impressive. When you see the water of Thailand for the first time, you'll want to dive in yourself and start swimming. The game is filled with detail and lush environments. Most notable on Lara herself. When she gets wet, you'll see droplets of water all over her body. As you traverse through dirt and mud, you'll see that get picked up by her too. The only true fault lies within her animation. As your moving around, you might feel that her body is a bit rigid and that the transitions from one move to the next are not quite smooth. It's nothing drastic, but worth mentioning.

Sound

There are lots of sounds to be heard. You'll hear everything you'd expect to hear. In the caves you'll hear the sound of bats fluttering around and in the jungle you'll hear birds chirping and the roars of tigers. When Lara falls front a high drop, you'll hear her bones break, or so it sounds. There's always a strong soundtrack accompanying critical moments in the game.

Final Words

If you love adventure and exploring, you'll surely enjoy the game. Just traveling through the environments is an experience in itself. The puzzles are fairly simple. Like I said before, the challenge is often from finding where to go. So if your a fan of the series, you probable won't mind paying the price, but if your not, a rental will probable do, since the game is fairly short. Not a bad game by any means. You won't go wrong either way.


Final Score: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/08

Game Release: Tomb Raider: Underworld (US, 11/18/08)