Tomb Raider: Underworld

"Lara's Back Again!"

First, let me say that I am a huge Tomb Raider fan so my review goes more toward the positives in the game, but that won't stop me from talking about what wasn't so good in the game.

Right, so Lara Croft is back again in Tomb Raider Underworld, searching for her mother who disappeared when she was nine after pulling Excalibur out of a stone dais. The general storyline of Underworld was pretty interesting in my opinion; having to do with the god of thunder, Thor, his arch enemy Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent and of course, his hammer Mjolnir. Lara has to track down Thor's other treasures; his iron gauntlets and his belt before she can get the hammer since all three are needed to wield it. Such searches take Lara from the Mediterranean Sea to Thailand to Mexico, Jan Mayen Island, and the Arctic Circle.

However, two of Lara's old friends have returned, Jacqueline Natla, the immortal Atlantean that Lara faced in Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider Anniversary, and Amanda Evert from Tomb Raider Legend. The two are working together for a few reasons; one, Natla wants to get to Avalon (soon we learn is actually called Helheim) to bring about the Seventh Age. Amanda wants to go to Helheim to learn about it and to prevent Lara from finding her mother in an attempt to exact her revenge.

So, all in all, it's a good storyline if you ask me. The gameplay is pretty fun. You have an arsenal of weapons at your disposal; her dual handguns, submachine guns, an assault rifle, shotgun, speargun, and tranquilizer gun, sticky grenades, and soon after she gets Thor's hammer, she can use it as a weapon as well. All of which have limited ammunition except her dual handguns and the hammer since it strikes lightning.

The graphics of the game are incredible; the environments feel so real, and Lara's never looked more realistic. When she talks and makes facial expressions, she sometimes wrinkles her forehead, and you can actually see it. It's insanely awesome.

The length is all right. I think the game could have been longer, but it only seems short if you play straight through it like I did. But it has a somewhat good replay level. The control interface is a little annoying. Sometimes when Lara gets "stuck" after moving to a certain spot, she won't move if you wiggle the movement stick, so you need to let go of it completely and try again. That, or make a swan dive, roll or jump to get her out of the area. Somewhat annoying.

Also, her in game movements aren't as amazing as the developer made it sound; I liked Lara's movement in Legend better. Yeah, Lara moves a little more realistically WHEN SHE RUNS. When she walks, she looks like she's about to pass out or something. Her steps seem lazy and she can't be bothered to pick up her feet when she walks. And if you stand and then start walking, she leans forward then starts walking. It's weird and annoying after awhile. If you have her walk while climbing steps, it seems like she's spazzing out or something.

But that's the only negative point in the game that I have to make anyway, and it's nothing big. Nor should it prevent you from trying this awesome game. Tomb Raider Underworld was a good game that I think everyone who likes action and adventure should give a try, even if your not a fan of the series. The gameplay and storyline is enough to make you like the game anyway.

I recommend it to anyone looking for a good action/adventure game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/09

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