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New Tomb Raider details

Underworld takes shape.

US magazine PLAY has revealed new details of the rumoured Tomb Raider Underworld game in development at Crystal Dynamics.

The game is tentatively aimed at next year on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, according to Tomb Raider Chronicles' dissection of the preview.

Set after the events of Tomb Raider Legend, Underworld is - in the magazine's phrase - "pure woman versus wild".

It sounds like the technology has taken steps forward since Legend, with Lara leaving footprints in the mud that wash away in the rain, while bodies and debris maintain their position even after she leaves an area [what century is this? - Ed].

Other additions include motion-capture for Lara, a new "hybrid lighting model" that combines dynamic lights and light maps, and neat little touches like mud that sticks to her knee then falls off in the rain.

Sounds amazing. Then again, Tomb Raider: Anniversary pretty much actually was, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't looking forward to Underworld. Despite the name.