There have been two Tomb Raider games to appear on the Xbox 360 thus far, with the newly developed Tomb Raider: Legend and the more recent, and remaking of the original Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Our adventuring heroine and aristocratic Brit, Lara Croft has plundered many a tomb and just about survived the many elements that claw at the heels of any determined adventurer. It's now 2008 and this November we're going to be treated to another adventure in Tomb Raider: Underworld. We recently got some hands on time with the game when we visited Croft Manor itself and met Lara Croft in her own home.
Looking at the game from a perspective of a fan of the series, I think the first thing that is going to stand out is that the gameplay feels very much like the Tomb Raider you're used to, but with an added layer of smooth polish applied. The developers have made an effort to balance out the exploration puzzle solving elements with the less subtle combative shooting elements. It's this heady mix of styles that makes the series a compelling experience without being too heavy in either direction. This mass appeal is good in the long run and means Underworld simply nudges the player into familiar turf so that they can focus on the story and action/adventure scenes. The controls are the familiar set up, to anyone who has played the previous Xbox 360 Tomb Raider titles and are easy to pick up as you begin the game's tutorial mission in the burning manor we see in the first trailer released for the game. The opening level explains all you need to know as you progress avoiding the fire, The simplicity of actions are seamless with the progression here; so you'll be jumping, shimmying and swinging in no time and understand the visual cues given before they become second nature. There's really no steep learning curve, as you are thrust into enjoying the game rather than focusing on game breaking gripes.
The first level of the game beyond the rather hot intro sequence, sees you in Europe's Mediterranean Sea. Here you're treated to the game's underwater changes, and changed they have as the urgency has been removed, allowing the medium to become another stomping ground for exploration. There's a real sense of depth as Lara drops into the sea and starts exploring. The area was quite open (and filled with sharks), and what's really neat is Lara can breathe underwater for as long as she likes due to packing some breathing apparatus this time. I found myself swimming around and perhaps feeling a little lost at first, as there's no on screen prompts to guide you. It's pure exploration and using your own navigation to succeed. After gaining my bearings The first puzzle lay before me in the form of a giant set of wheels required to be turned so the images on them aligned. Completion of this required searching the area for keys and then figuring out the right amount of turns. The fact that I wasn't under the constant pressure of running out of air meant I could take my time and explore. This element really does provide for more engaging water moments. Once the puzzle had been solved The game entered a cavern where a giant creature in the form of a puzzle needed to be solved. There's a blending of complex and obviousness about the puzzles and I think with more lateral thinking, they are easily solved. For those gamers who lack the patience, or are truly stuck, then there's an option where you can use a hint to work out what's required. We were informed that there's no penalty for using hints, as it means those gamers who are looking for a more action experience can crack on with the killing with out getting tangled up in confusing head puzzles. There are levels to the hints so you can always cheat a little bit with out giving the game away completely. It's a rather unique method and certainly works for those moments where you're on the verge of giving up.
Another level I played was in a South American style ruins and the sort of typical environment you'd expect Lara to be in. The gameplay here offered the classic navigation element of exploration, where you can see where you need to go, but need to work out how to get there. Lara is as nimble as ever and with some new moves means you've got more angles to work from. The developers were keen to point out that there are multiple ways to navigate the environments, and different ways to solve puzzles - offering a more free form gameplay experience.
On the subject of navigation, there's going to be a lot more rewards for gamers who don't try and rush for A to B as quickly as possible. There are lots of hidden items in the levels and means that those gamers who really have a keen eye and immerse themselves into looking around thoroughly will be justly rewarded. The games single player should last between 8-14 hours but for those gamers who take their time to explore and replay levels, will find a more prolonged time with Lara. Sadly the time trial mode is no longer feasible in the way the game is designed, but the sheer number of other unlocks should keep gamers well and truly occupied.
Aesthetically, Underworld is looking very slick indeed, and with a new game engine being used by Crystal Dynamics, there's certainly a very colourful and realistic brush carefully placed over the graphics. The textures are looking far more detailed and with designs taken from the actual real life locations, means that you'll get to experience a lush and well re-created rendering of beautiful locations around the globe. The lighting and shadows are as good as in Legends and there's a general level of more atmosphere and contrast within the game's environments. In the short play I had, I'd traveled from burning house, to watery depths into an ancient ruins, with each feeling very different from the other. The music is also of a very high standard and kicks in at just the right moments whether that is upon entering a new area or during an action moment. Your ears are treated to the very best and most suitable of sounds.
I think what will strike most gamers when they first start playing is how well crafted Lara has become, and not only in terms of how she looks, but more in the way she moves. She has more moves to mess around with now, and so there's enough variety in movement to make for a more believable character. The animations/motion capture is spot on and really brings Lara to life, although it's always slightly amusing to see Lara fall to her demise.
Tomb Raider Underworld aims to be Lara's greatest adventure yet, and whilst I'm not giving anything away with regards to the game's story, it's safe to say that what's on offer should make for another great game for the series. Lara is a very well known commercial character, and there's always a tendency to feel that long running series' can become cash cows for publishers and developers. However it seems that Crystal Dynamix and Eidos are moving forwards with the Tomb Raider series; by still retaining the charm that made the early games popular, but also offering some new elements to keep the series up to date. The game releases on November 18th 2008 and is a game well worth keeping an eye on whether you're a fan of the series or not. As a game to offer engaging gameplay aside from the large number of shooters on the system, Tomb Raider Underworld should provide a most welcome accompaniment and contrast.
