Tomb Raider: Underworld Comments by Ellie Gibson

Excellent review.

I understand Eurogamer posted the review under pressure from Eidos' PR company not to, well done! In contrast to some of the comments here I find Eurogamer's reviews to be excellent, knowledgeable, and reflect my own playing experience of games. Fortunately I have learnt not to ignore Eurogamer's unfavorable reviews, having made purchases in the past in defiance of good advice and then regretted it.

The press release from the company PR shills said that the EG review had been altered to correct factual errors. What were these? Does EG keep a log that anyone can see of review changes after publication?

that was probably just the thing about not being able to switch weapons mid-level

and there are no tigers in Thailand, are there?

It is a few Tigers left in the world and Thailand is one of the few places you can find them.

edit: Most of them are held in captivity though :(

Dinosaurs (also in the game) on the other hand are extinct.

I take back what I said about this review, i think the reviewer got it pretty much right.

While the review read like a silly list of complaints (for players of other tomb raiders) there hasn't been a single one before this in which the gripes are so obvious. The invisible walls that appear on the first level (for goodness sake!) are atmosphere killers (and positioned all around the starting location so you really cannot miss them). There are many times during the level (especially on the boat) where boxes (etc.) cannot be climbed for no good reason whatsoever, despite being able to climb an identical one just next to it. It's just slightly jarring, especially with such good graphics and general ambience.

It's still a pretty decent game though, and the 2nd level (the one I'm on) is definitely a lot better. They've really got the moves and animations sorted, and the levels are pretty interesting in both looks and layout.

A side note for PC players: When playing with a keyboard the controls feel a little too fast for me (essentially, there's no acceleration - she just seems to sprint left or right), which makes it somewhat more frustrating than Anniversary as you have to drag her up off ledges more often. Lara's grabs are more forgiving though so it's not a major gripe. Not sure if it's the same with the consoles - she's a lot quicker than in the last game that's for sure.

EDITS: Spelling. Too many brackets, but I'm going to leave them in and chastise myself later

maybe

So far I'm enjoying, but...

1. Camera's fucking hostile. Not quite Angel of Darkness hostile, but not far off.

2. Real skin doesn't look wet underwater, only when out of water, so Scuba Lara looks rather plastic when immersed. Bit sloppy, that.

3. What's with the swimming? Lara always used to do a strong breaststroke (no pun intended, trust me) but now underwater she does this crappy panicking-toddler thrashing legs thing (which is of course the least effective way to propel yourself underwater without fins on - and as she's supposed to be this world-class athlete is just stupid). It feels like the producers or publishers got prudish at the idea that the player's going to be staring up Lara's crotch, but for God's sake, tittilation is two thirds of TR's marketing strategy! Just give her less revealing outfits if you don't want to feel you're pandering to pervs, eh?

Am I the only person reading this that actually only likes this tomb raideritteration, since tomb raider I and II? It has really nice maps, (IDC about glitches, crappy gunfighting or invisi walls, that's not the point for me). And it looks good too, her knockers are better then ever!

Finally a tomb raider in which you have hard riddles and maps that confuse you! It's almost a shame they had to include that nice 3D holograph map for the new generation of soft mindeds who can't even read a manual.

that ''Where the F* do I go now?'' - feeling. I haven't had that in any game since Tomb raider II!

Underworld is still comparatively easy for me when compared to those two, but those where classics in their hellish difficulty. I never finished those, just too hopeless without cheating or walkthroughs.