Tomb Raider: Underworld / XBox 360 / Reviews

Tomb Raider: Underworld

ESRB:

Platform: XBox 360
Category: Adventure

Graphics 8 | Sound 8.5 | Gameplay 8 | Tilt 8.5 || Overall 8

Author: Kirby Y

Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Eidos

Features

1 Player
2 MB to Save Game
HDTV 720p/1080i/1080p
Downloadable Content

I remember the first time I played a Tomb Raider game. I took my original PlayStation to my girlfriend’s house (who is now my wife) to play some games and I found myself amazed by the 3D adventure playing out on the TV in front of me. Solving puzzles, fighting various enemies, and swimming in shimmering blue water was great back then as it was fresh. Well fast forward to the present and Lara Croft is back for her second appearance in an original story on this now current generation of consoles (Editor’s Note - Tomb Raider: Anniversary was a remake of the original Tomb Raider). We here at GameBoyz were lucky enough to receive a copy of the Xbox 360 version to review. So how does Ms. Croft’s latest adventure fair? Read on.

Graphics

The visuals of Underworld start of with a bang, but as you progress some issues raise their ugly head. In terms of the positive, the various locales you find your self venturing through look pretty darn good. From such destinations as the Mediterranean, Thailand, Mexico and the Arctic Sea, each looks solid and displays a somewhat realistic interpretation of what you would expect it to be. Each area has its own distinct look to it and you can tell that Crystal Dynamics took the time and effort to make each one their own level. It was nice to see visual variety and not have to see rehashed textures and geometry. You will find yourself stopping now and then just to take in the available scenery before you decide to move along through your level.

As the title of this latest Tomb Raider game seems to suggest, you spend a lot of time underground. There is ample use of lighting and shadowing in Underworld, from the flashlight on Lara’s outfit lighting her way to the flicker of fire in a freighter’s halls, you will notice a pretty good level of detail in the lighting effects. I really thought the flashlight you carry underwater with you had some pretty cool lighting effects and it really hit home how the lighting is that good in this game.

As this is a Tomb Raider game, and it once again stars Lara Croft, a lot of attention has been paid to her and it shows. Her animations are superb and the new moves that are included this time around (e.g. balancing on thin beams) are solid looking. Of course Lara has her familiar repertoire of jumps, dashes and ledge grabs too. You’ll find the underwater swimming pretty fluid and if you could you may want to stay under for as long as possible just swimming around. Lara also once again packs a serious amount of fire power and she looks darn good using it too. As one would hope, Lara has various outfits throughout the game too so you are not stuck at watching the same Lara go through the whole game. Some of these outfits are pretty sexy, in an adventuring kind of way, and it was nice to see some variety here too.

Although there is a lot of good in Underworld, there are some very big technical problems that raise their head. First off, the amount of clipping in this game is very discouraging. There were numerous times that Lara would go through solid walls or blocks and actually get stuck. There were also instances where she ended up jumping into a pillar, and when I say into I mean she ended up in the pillar. There were also some strange instances where she jumped onto or grabbed onto a ledge or platform and she was actually not even on it as it seemed she was hanging or standing on something invisible.

The second issue that raised its head was the in-game camera. It could be darn right horrible at times. As you venture through the various levels the camera seems to try getting all cinematic as it zooms, pans, and even tilts with a mind of its own. Now this is not necessarily a bad thing, as it can add to the atmosphere of a game if done right and the user has some control during these instances (e.g. Gears of War 2), however in Underworld this was not the case. Many times it would just move for the sake of moving and made some of my adventuring a journey in discontent. Having the camera cause me to not see where I need to go, as it seemed it did not want my view to go in some directions, could be very frustrating. As well, many times the camera would give me a next to impossible angle to judge my jumps, and even block my view at times. I would think by now the camera used in a Tomb Raider game would have some sort of finesse and refinement given how many games have been released in the past.

The two aforementioned technical issues are a letdown and did affect a lot of my gameplay experience. If it was not for the other areas in the visual department that were so good, Underworld would have been a major disappointment in this area. However the rest of the visuals are pretty solid, but the clipping and the camera do take away from immersing you in the whole Tomb Raider experience. I hope to hell they fix these issues in the next installment because if they do, then the game will be rock solid in this area.

Sound

The sound in Underworld adds to the overall experience that the game wants to portray. The voice acting from all those involved is solid and does not include the cheesy dialog that has become associated with so many other adventure games that try to interweave a story with the gameplay. There is also a very solid musical score that seems to pull you more into the game. I found the music choices matched the levels you found yourself exploring pretty good and they also amped up the emotions when it needed to. Finally, as for the sound effects, I have no problem giving them the ‘thumbs up’ as they manage to get the job done. From the various weapons in Lara’s arsenal, the vehicle sound of her all terrain motorbike, to the environmental sounds of each level (e.g. water running, wind blowing, snow falling, Lara walking on various types of ground (e.g. stone, sand, snow)), all manage to further envelop you into the world of Tomb Raider and help make it a more enjoyable experience. And for those with a full 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound system, you won’t be disappointed in this area either.

Gameplay

Underworld is a sequel to the Lara Croft’s first original next-generation release, Tomb Raider: Legend, which saw release in April 2006. For those who did not play the first game, or those who want to remember what happened during the Legends storyline, there is a neat little video that recaps the events from that first game. As with many of Lara Crofts previous adventures, Underworld has her searching the globe for a mythical item(s). This time around she uncovers proof of the existence of the Norse underworld and the mythical Hammer of Thor. She sets out on a perilous journey towards this forgotten power that, if unleashed, could lay waste to all of civilization. All the while you will continue the storylines that involved her mother and her adventuring father that was started in Legends. Overall the story is very Tomb Raider like, but it does manage to keep your attention throughout the game. Key points are told through cutscenes and overall you should find yourself enjoying what how the story plays out and what this latest narrative has to tell you.

If there is one thing that has stayed the same throughout the Tomb Raider series it is a focus on adventuring, platforming, and puzzling, and Underworld is no different. The adventures that Lara Croft has taken gamers on throughout the years have always seemed quite linear and Underworld keeps this formula intact. The game literally guides you in the direction it needs too. However, not all is bad though as Crystal Dynamics has made some great additions to this area in an effort to manage the linear feeling. Lara has some new moves this time around. You can free-climb, balance on thin beams, or use your new multi-purpose grapple which is a claw-like device with a high-tension cable designed for climbing, rappelling, performing wall runs and manipulating objects within the environment. These moves are not only fun, but great to watch too. There is a reason for all this though, and it is that it allows you to access more areas.

Also new in getting you through each level is that you will find there can be more then one way to reach your goal, and if you think an area is almost within reach, odds are if you explore more, and get a little creative, you can get there. The aforementioned moves and items help you accomplish this. I found that I was able to spend more time exploring each area to find innovative ways to get from point A to point B. As Crystal Dynamics puts it, each level is an elaborate playground that offers more flexibility over how to navigate each area. I would have to agree with them, as you really can have some fun in each level trying different ways to get where you want or need too.

Should you still have some difficulty finding your way to a specific point, or should you need a clue if you are confused on what to do next, Crystal Dynamics has implemented some new gameplay elements to help you along in these two areas. First off, Lara now carries and active Sonar Map. This is a new tool that emits an active sonar ping to create a 3D image of her surroundings. This is extremely helpful in uncovering hidden items and locations. Secondly, your PDA now has a new feature called Field Assistance. This will provide you with a hint as to what you may need to do next (press A), or it may give you a detailed explanation on how to get through a trouble spot (press Y). Overall these two new elements really make the game more accessible and help you get through the various levels when you need a little help.

Of course Tomb Raider games are not only about climbing ledges or solving puzzles as you will come across various enemies that you have to fight. Along with the changes that Crystal Dynamics made to the platform and puzzle elements they have also made some changes in combat. Lara can now target and fire at two different enemies. This is useful when fighting more then one enemy or taking down a swarm of bats. Also new is the inclusion of an adrenaline system, which fills up after each successful melee attack or bullet hits its mark. This adrenaline system can be activated at anytime, as long as you have filled some of it, and it slows down enemies allowing you to pull of more accurate shots which are also stronger then when fighting or shooting normally. Should you store your adrenaline and fill your meter up to 100% you can then get close to your enemy, bounce off of them, line up a reticule to a highlighted area, and then pull off a one-shot kill. This is pretty neat as you can get some really fine looking kills this way.

Overall I had a good time with Underworld. The exploration of the levels was more enjoyable given the fact that I was not as tied to how I got to my final destination. This gave the game a less linear feeling. Knowing that there were many different areas that I could reach to assist me in reaching my final goal encouraged me take more time to explore my surroundings and try different things. I also enjoyed the new additions of the sonar map and field assistant as it allowed for a whole new aspect to this game. However, not all is roses with the time I spent with the game. Enemy AI could not be as smart as I thought they could be at times and as noted in the graphics section of this review, the clipping and camera issues really made for some confusing and frustrating moments. Regardless though, the game does feel more accessible to every gamer out there now, and not just to fans of the series, and maybe that is where it is going. If so, I think it is a great idea as it allows more of an audience to enjoy the adventures of Ms. Croft, but that being said they need to continue to fine tune the hiccups that still appear.

On a final note in this area, as my review covers the Xbox 360 version I thought I should touch on the addition of downloadable content. Those who choose to pick up Underworld for Microsoft’s system will be happy to know that they will be able to continue on with Lara Croft’s adventure through downloadable chapters that are exclusive to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The first chapter, called Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes, is supposed to be available this December and it takes place after the Underworld story ends. It will feature a new environment to explore and additional secrets to unlock. The second chapter, called Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow, will be released in early 2009 and will introduce a new playable character to the Tomb Raider experience.

Conclusion

Tomb Raider: Underworld is a pretty good game. I had some high hopes that this latest release would take the series to new heights, but the technical issues that raise their ugly head take away from the overall experience. The game does have some great gameplay additions though and they seem to make it more accessible to all gamers out there, and this is a good thing as Lara deserves more admirers. Technical issues aside, people should have fun with Underworld on the Xbox 360, and the addition of DLC to extend the story and gameplay gives you even more reason to pick up this game.