Tomb Raider: Underworld (BTA DLC 24/2/09 p19)

Agent47 wrote:The exclusivity doesn't mean squat to me, but it does seem to be getting to a point where if you aren't online, Sony/Microsoft really couldn't give a strawberry float about you.

Rubix78 wrote:http://www.game.co.uk/Xbox360/Action/Adventure/~r337518/Tomb-Raider-Underworld-Special-Edition/?s=Tomb+Raider+Underworld

What's this????? £35

Rubix78 wrote:ffs I never ordered it

Monkey Man wrote:News of 2 extra chapters for the 360? 2 of my mates will be delighted at the news, they're both Tomb Raider nuts.

BID0 wrote:

Rubix78 wrote:ffs I never ordered it

Doh

always order it, you can always cancel!!

Looking some more, it won't be anything to do with the DLC as that's 360 only and a special edition of the PS3 version exists

Every couple of months, Eidos has been willing to pull back the curtain on its latest adventure starring Lara Croft and show off glimpses of what the gaming icon will climb, swim and shoot her way through. Tomb Raider: Underworld will take Lara around the world in search of a mythological artifact, Thor's Hammer. Surprisingly, the Norse weapon of the God of Thunder appears to have much more in common with other civilizations than previously thought, and could potentially destroy the world. While I've had a chance to check out segments of the title, I recently had a chance to play through an early PS3 preview build of the game to get a better grasp of the story and how Ms. Croft will explore tombs in her new quest.

I won't spoil any of the story elements that are revealed in the game's first couple of chapters, which do appear to pick up some time after the events in TR: Legend; however, what I will mention is that the developers were thoughtful enough to include a quick recap trailer, which will serve to fill in newcomers to the series on the lore of Lara's adventures as well as a refresher for fans. Of course, covering the events of previous games within the series is a dramatic task, but not nearly as much as the explosive beginning of the game, which has been shown in teaser trailers with Croft Manor blowing up. In previous Tomb Raider games, Croft Manor has been used as a tutorial level, and that remains the case, albeit in dire circumstances, as Lara has to escape her burning mansion.

Here, players are introduced to many of the basic mechanics that they will use throughout the game. For example, hitting the Square button deploys the grappling hook, which can be used to help you interact with various elements in the world. Shooting it at doors will allow you to pull them off their hinges, but it can also be used to help you swing from one area to another. The Circle button allows players to perform rolls underneath debris, but also avoid incoming attacks. The Triangle button appears to be an all-purpose action button, as you can use it to interact with the world. That means picking up items on the ground as well as using it to accelerate Lara when she's climbing walls or moving along ledges by her fingertips. The directional pad is also extremely vital, as you'll be able to use it to automatically turn on her flashlight with a press of the left button, heal Lara by pressing up, change weapons by pressing right or pull out her camera by pressing down.

Eventually, you manage to escape the confines of the Manor, and the story begins, as Lara attempts to explore coordinates left over from her father's journals. To a degree, I've already covered some of the first few stages of the game in previous articles covering the Mediterranean , Thailand and Mexico areas, but there were a few new elements I picked up on that I wasn't previously aware of. For one thing, while I knew that Lara had complete freedom to swim around her environments without worrying about finding air pockets, I wasn't aware that she had a dolphin kick that could be engaged by holding L1, which allows her to quickly move through the water. Another thing that I wasn't aware of was the number of items included within Lara's PDA, which is her most important piece of equipment. Not only does it house her sonar map that provides a 3D map of her immediate surroundings, it also provides a journal that keeps track of story elements and characters met in her travels, gives access to the photos taken by the player, and hosts an inventory of items held in Lara's backpack.

An additional feature held on the PDA is Field Assistance, a feature that I'd previously referred to as Help on Demand. This system still works pretty much as it did before, allowing users to determine how much hand-holding they want as they explore each section. However, Lara now speaks to the player as if she's thinking her way out of the situation that she's in, so if you trigger the Hint option, you'll find out what you should focus on if you're slightly stuck. If, on the other hand, you're completely lost, you can hit the Task option and hear directly from Lara what you need to do. It won't always help you solve a number of the puzzles that are scattered throughout the game, but it will be enough of a push to get you started in the right direction.

Speaking of puzzles, the scale of these brain teasers is probably the largest ever included within the franchise, and frequently have a number of moving elements that transforms the entire stage. For example, in the Thailand level, Lara will need to acquire two gems to put into the giant Shiva/Kali statue that dominates an open courtyard. These items themselves are held within a giant underground cavern, locked behind gates and guarded by Naga, bats and other threats. To liberate these you'll have to balance your scaling of columns and your attacks on these creatures. Once you manage to gather these items and return to the courtyard, you have to move across the square, rappelling from one side to the other to set these gems in the hands of the statue so the rays of the sun can be harnessed and reflected into an area. By manipulating the rays, Lara can open a new pathway and continue along her journey.

One final thing that I wasn't aware of is just how much firepower Lara is packing in this game. Sure, she moves through the game with her trademark twin pistols, but these operate as her primary weapon. Lara will also be able to choose between submachine guns, an assault rifle, a shotgun, tranquilizer gun and spear gun at any time to suit the enemy that she's facing off against. For example, you can select the spear gun to take out sharks, but may find it more effective to switch to a stronger weapon like the shotgun to take out Naga or the assault rifle to eliminate tigers, which are extremely fast in battle.

Combat in Tomb Raider: Underworld is much more than simply spraying bullets at your opponents. For one, Lara can target more than one opponent at a time if she's got her pistols or submachine guns equipped, even firing in different directions to eliminate her enemies. These target locks are extremely effective, and can be used to help you keep an enemy in your sights even if you roll or dodge their attacks or gunfire. What's more, Lara can quickly switch between targets by flicking the right analog stick, which allows the player to select the closest threat and deal with them accordingly. While I already knew that successful strikes could allow players to trigger adrenaline shots, I was only aware of pulling off instant kills via headshots. What I did learn was that this headshot move could only be used when Lara was near to an enemy, and only when her adrenaline meter was full. But players aren't forced to wait to fill this meter to use adrenaline either; players can trigger it at any time, slowing down time and adding extra damage to their shots.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Tomb Raider game without treasure, and Lara's PDA also keeps track of the number of items that are found within the overall adventure. These artifacts appear to be broken into two separate categories: the first are Treasures, which may be hidden in vases or other breakable objects. These polygonal items are quite plentiful on a stage, and it's rather easy to collect a couple of them as you explore each environment. The second are much rarer, and are known as Relics. There is only one of these orbs on each level, meaning that you'll have to explore every nook and cranny of a stage to find it. While I'm not entirely sure of the significance of these items as of yet, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that collecting these items would unlock some of the extras, such as character art, environmental sketches and storyboards.

Carlos wrote:Out of everything out between now and christmas this is the only game that has me really excited. Nice to see CD have thrown in some of the larger puzzles from Soul Reaver. Will eidos ever do a new LoK though?

emilythestrange wrote:Giant spiders

Tomb Raider: Underworld developer Crystal Dynamics has revealed the truth behind the controversial Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content deal that has left PS3 and PC gamers out in the cold.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com in an interview to be published later today, creative director Eric Lindstrom said that the 360-exclusive DLC isn't content cut from the main game but "especially made", and only came about after Microsoft approached the developer.

Earlier this month publisher Eidos announced plans for two brand new chapters providing up to six hours of additional gameplay, the first of which will be available to download before the end of the year.

Tomb Raider: Underworld - Beneath the Ashes, which will be available this Christmas, takes place after the Underworld story has finished and will feature a new environment to explore, additional secrets to unlock and different enemies to fight. Tomb Raider: Underworld - Lara's Shadow, planned for early 2009, will introduce players to a new playable character.

Lindstrom explained that the new chapters are "not part of the main game" and that Microsoft approached them to make the extra content.

"To be honest, it completely came down in the other way," he said. "We were approached by Microsoft, who asked us if we could make some downloadable content for them. It was a great opportunity, it was a great deal and we're happy to do it. The DLC that we're making for Microsoft is especially made. It's not part of the main game that we saved - we put all the game out there that we were going to put out there. Now we're going to the trouble of adding on spaces where they logically make sense, telling parts of the story."

The 360-exclusive Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC is the latest in a string of deals secured by Microsoft for its console. 360-exclusive GTA IV and Fallout 3 DLC is inbound, a strategy that has drawn criticism from some quarters for being unfair to owners of other gaming platforms.

Lindstrom added: "Whenever you make a story like Tomb Raider, you're only telling part of it. We come up with all these logical motivations and rationale behind the scenes that inform what story the player understands - but there are all kinds of details that never see the light of day. Rather than making up a bunch of new stuff, there's plenty out there that's never been told - that was never really going to be told - but that we now have a chance to do it, and we're doing it. So it really wasn't about, 'let's make these levels and only give them to Microsoft'. It kinda came around the other way."