Tomb Raider Underworld
Tomb Raider: Underworld for Wii by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off. This installment introduces a new, interactive playing environment that gives players a chance to immerse themselves more fully into the game. Players once again take the role of Lara Croft as she explores such wide-ranging places as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
Lara’s environment is now much more realistic and interactive. View larger. |
And now she can hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other. View larger. |
Interactive Worlds Introduces Realistic gameplay
Unlike the previous games in the series, Lara’s environment is now much more realistic and interactive. Footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away. Lara’s shirt will also get wet, and she’s more likely to lose her grip if she is standing on a slippery, rain-soaked ledge. When the sun comes out, her shirt will dry and the slippery surfaces regain their friction.
In Underworld, Lara also has a lot more flexibility in how she makes her way through a level, as there is often more than one way to get from here to there. She can now climb walls with texture and rocky outcroppings to reach areas she previously wouldn’t have been able to access.
All of these additions have been made to give the game a non-linear, open feel. Players can interactive with the environment by doing things they find to be intuitive, and the game will respond in an appropriate way. When Lara interacts with trees, for example, she will push aside leaves using either one or two hands depending on whether or not she’s holding something. These details give a lifelike, immersive sensation to the game.
New Melee Combat System
Underworld introduces a new melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers. Lara can now attack enemies with different punches, kicks, knees, and other acrobatic onslaughts. Items lying on the ground, such as poles that were previously walked on, can be picked up and swung at enemies. Players can also perform a greater variety of actions with weapons; for example, Lara can now hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other.
Exclusive Wii Content and Controls
The Wii version of Underworld features specially designed levels and environmental challenges that incorporate the unique capabilities of the Wii remote and nunchuck. Whether you’re using the multi-tool kit to excavate secret treasures, taking advantage of the active aim combat system, or controlling the in-game camera angles, the Wii remote and nunchuck deliver unprecedented as you battle your way through challenging levels.
Realistic Enemy and Animal AI
The AI in Tomb Raider: Underworld has also taken a big step forward–both enemies and animals now make independent decisions based on their surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics when fighting, and will retreat if deemed necessary.
With updated graphics and a more immersive and realistic gameplay, Tomb Raider: Underworld will have both fans and newcomers excited about the newest installment in this popular video game-pinup franchise.
Tomb Raider: Underworld is loaded with a new melee combat system, various weapons, and smarter AI for both enemies and animals.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Major bugs took all the fun out of this version
I am truly an original Tomb Raider fan–had it on the Sega Saturn (who even remembers that console?) when it first came out. I love these games and was so excited when I saw that there was a new Tomb Raider game for wii! I played it for quite some time the first night I got it. I had trouble saving, checked the directions and some information online and finally got it down…or so I thought. Although I’d made it past the first two levels–with frequent checkpoints AND saving it manually along the way–I came back the next day and it kicked me to the very beginning. I tried several times over that first week and I could never get it to hold a save. It’s not a game that you can complete in one sitting (nor would I even have the time to try!) so I had to return it. I’m still bummed that it didn’t work but have read that a lot of people are having problems with the wii version. I ordered Anniversary instead, although I still remember a lot about the original game, and hope it gives me the Tomb Raider experience I was expecting.
I will say, though, that barring the bugs it seemed to be a great game and very much like previous versions, which is why I was so disappointed. Four stars for fun (it was headed to four or five from what I got to play of it!) but one star for the bugs.
4 Stars Tomb Raider: Underworld excells
This game is perfect for the occasional gamer (me). It is easy to manuver and control the charcater/actions, and yet also challenging in game plan. The expert/experienced gamer may think it is too easy. It is also noted on other reviews that the wii version is much easier to complete than the same game on other systems.
Overall I would give it a B+
5 Stars Best Tomb Raider And Platform Yet
With all of the different confused reviews here, its a wonder anyone buys anything. My review will clear up ALL of the wrong information posted here, add some, and concur with what others have posted.
I was surprised at Christmas to get this game from my wife. She has a habit of doing those things. I was very unsure about playing any of this type of game on the Wii as I had tried Final Fantasy and it was horrible. I had assumed that I would only be using my Wii for such games as Carnival Games, Carnival Golf, The Fit and a few others, and that the real games would be played on the PC like all of the other hundreds I’ve played over the years.
When I finally decided to give it a try, I was very pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, I was never a PS2, XBox Wii gamer so I did not, and do not, get the grasp of their wacky controls. Most young gamers today, they know the controls like Democrats know how to spend. So I was at a disadvantage from the start having only the skill to press A or B and swing the WiiMote. So my first tip is, if your not used to playing games on the Wii or other similar platforms, get used to the controls first. Expect to die a lot, and expect to get frustrated until you master them, its not the game, its you.
With that aside, lets get into the game. As has been mentioned, the Tomb Raider franchise has been around for a while. I’ve played most of the PC versions in my day, hated some, loved others. The first thing that will impress you is the artwork and scenes are very well done. Are they 100% perfect, no, no game is, but the quality of screens, scenes, and art work is very high and impressive. I am absolutely thrilled with the Wii version in that Edios finally got back to the roots of the Tomb Raider games. They are puzzle games, not war games. If your looking for a lot of shooting and hanging from ropes blazing machine guns, and never getting 5 minutes to play and relax, this is not the game for you. In fact, game play although not a cake walk, is ralaxing at times, and trying at times. The whole game is a puzzle in that your always having to figure out where to go, and how to do it. The game is very intuitive in that there are hints everywhere so you would have to be fairly oblivious not too see where to go and what to do. You’ll have to look for those clues, they are mostly pretty obvious. Sometimes, its a bit harder to see things, and sometimes there are multiple paths to take. But with the exception of one instance, even if you take the wrong path first, they all end up being part of the play, so in essence there are no wrong moves. Game play is very straight forward, and you cannot get into areas your not supposed to be yet until you follow a sequence of events first. No one should have any real difficulty finding their way around, finding the levers, puzzles, and traps needed to progress. There is enough of a challenge in all areas that only the most advanced gamers would feel that its too easy. I find that its more rewarding to be able to successfully traverse an area, or to activate something, or solve a puzzle without it being a major hassle each time which is a turn off. The game does get a little tougher as you play through the levels, and that’s expected. There have also been comments about enimies, or the lack of them. I think this is a good move. As mentioned before, this is a puzzle game, you solve the way to go, you solve puzzles, you move things, you collect things, its not supposed to be all out warfare. I found the number of enimies to be just right. You will encounter mercinaries, Jaguar Thralls, Myan Thralls, and others. At no time did I find that the number of enimies I had to deal with was rediculous. At most I encountered 2 Thralls at a time, and 4 mercinaries on the ship. Once you master the controls, they are a challenge, but rewarding adversary that make the game interesting, yet does not turn you off because its rediculously hard. Another thing I liked a lot was not being attacked during a difficult part of the game like walking across a log high above a ravine or climbing up the side of a cliff etc. This maybe different for platforms other than the Wii, but this review is for the Wii version.
There are some cons to the game and I will list them here. Some I feel are legit, and others are just whining, and I’ll address both. First of all, ALL versions of ALL games for ALL platforms, IE: Wii, XBox, PC, PS2 etc have bugs. They are unavoidable. Most of these are well known and published in multiple web sites. All that’s needed is a Google search, and to read up a little before you start playing so you know how to avoid them or work around them. The one big bug in the Wii version is in the Coastal Thailand – Remnants level. In the beginning, do NOT swim near the doors under water in the pool at the beginning, this will cause the missing lever later on that opens those doors. The second is in the Southern Mexico – UnNamed Days level. If you do not go and inspect the first Myan puzzle first and trigger a cinematic sequence, it prevents the player from completing the second Myan puzzle. These are a pain, but nowhere near as bad as some of the bugs in other platform versions. Also, some have complained that the Wii version of the game is shorter and levels were omitted. This is not correct. The Wii version is just as large as any other, they just combined the Midgard Serpent level into the Land of the Dead so if you count the levels you would assume that its one level less, it is not. Game play may be longer in other versions, but the difference is neglegent. Also, others were disappointed at the number of relics, and treasures that Laura can find. They are less in quantity than on other platforms, and later in the game some of the treasures are very easy to find. Still, others are a great challenge, and others very difficult to get to. I’m not sure why there are less in the Wii version, probably due to the limitations of the platform that reduced the amount of things a player does in each level, but I found the amount satisfactory.
My cons are that the camera angles were about half the time horrible. There were parts were you had no choice but to see Laura from a distant corner or oddball angle. Other times your right on her back or arm, and moving the camera was at times fitfull and/or fruitless. The controls were also very finicky. This is a common complaint on the newer non-PC platforms along with the camera angle complaints. There are certain areas where the controls seem to have a mind of their own. You’ll climb up quite a way in some chamber and have to jump back to a ledge or out cropping behind you, and even though you pull back on the numchuck and Laura looks behind her to jump, when you press the A button to jump Laura will jump sideways to her death. Its frustrating, but persistance pays off.
Over all, I think this game for Wii is a winner. I love the stunning art work and scenes. I like the game play, and the level of challenges. Some puzzles were rather easy, but getting to them was the other half of the challenge. The number of enimies you actually encounter at any one time was enough to give you some angst, but the number of them over all through the game, and the difficulty in eliminating them was not rediculous or unreasonable. More advanced gamers might want to consider another version, maybe for the PC, XBox or PS2 so there is a little more involved game play. If your looking for a lot of gun play, and fighting, you should choose a different game. I had a ton of fun playing this Wii version of Tomb Raider, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent game to play on the Wii.
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4 Stars Underworld On Wii
I’ve been a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise since first picking up TR3 for Playstation, which led to me backtracking through the series and then forward as they were released. There have been some disappointments (Angel of Darkness) and there have been some feats of greatness (Legend), but I can’t help but agree with some of the other reviews of Underworld that I’ve read, those that say this game could have been better.
I thought the story of Underworld was well thought out and served as an appropriate sequel to the combined plots of Anniversary (ie: Tomb Raider 1) and Legend. However, as gameplay goes, I had issues with my version for Nintendo Wii.
My biggest complaint is the ‘camera’ or player’s viewpoint. It was difficult to control and occasionally misleading. Why couldn’t the camera just stay behind Lara? I kept asking myself. Why all the zooming around and hintful panning out? Ugh.
Also, there were times in the game when I got stuck and became so frustrated I had to leave it for a few days. I hate cheating, but I’ll admit that at one point during the game that I got so tired of seeing Lara die while attempting to perform a simple backwards jump (the Valhalla level, specifically the bridge with swinging hammers) I broke down and did a search online for a walkthrough. And before you get Thor’s hammer, defeating the regenerating beasts was a nightmare until I discovered how to blow them up with ’sticky’ grenades, a feature I learned of only because of online help.
Another of my complaints, and really the most dishearting, is the length of the game. In all the other Tomb Raider games I felt the story flowed naturally and had an appropriate ending. I was so greatly disappointed when Underworld seemed to end abruptly. Its possible that there is more to Underworld on the other platforms (Xbox, PS3, whatever), but for the Wii I felt it went too fast and ended too soon.
Natla wasn’t even a challenge (unless she returns AGAIN in the future) and there was no true resolution between Amanda and Lara. I didn’t get why Amanda chose to help Lara escape Hellheim, only to have a confrontation with her when they returned to Nepal. If anyone should be pissed, it should be Lara! Her mother is dead because of Amanda, her mansion destroyed and her friend killed by the doppelganger who we never really learned the fate of.
All-in-all, though I love the Tomb Raider franchise and look forward to more Lara in the future, I think they missed the mark with this one. Good effort, but lousy follow-through. ::sigh::
3 Stars Tomb Raider on the Wii
The game is a typical Tomb Raider, but the the control of the character on the Wii is more difficult and certain moves that were second nature on other systems, are difficult to do with the wii controllers. It could just be a matter of time to get used to it.
Buy/More Info
