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Tomb Raider: Underworld

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PS2
Tomb Raider: Underworld
File:TombRaiderUnderworld.jpg
Developer(s)Crystal Dynamics
Nixxes Software (PS3, PC)
Buzz Monkey Software (Wii, PS2)[4]
Santa Cruz Games (NDS)[5]
EA Mobile (Mobile)
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive
Designer(s)Eric Lindstrom (creative director)
Toby Gard (cinematics director)
Writer(s)Toby Gard
Eric Lindstrom
Composer(s)Troels Brun Folmann
Colin O'Malley
SeriesTomb Raider
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mobile phone[6], N-Gage 2.0[7]
Genre(s)Platform, Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Tomb Raider: Underworld, also known as Tomb Raider 8, is the eighth game in the Tomb Raider series, released in November 2008. It is the third game in the series to be developed by Crystal Dynamics. The PlayStation 2 version was released on 23 January 2009 in Europe, and 3 March 2009 in North America. It is also the first Tomb Raider game to be released on the PlayStation 3. On 25 May 2009 it was announced Tomb Raider: Underworld would be re-released as part of the Xbox Classics and Platinum Range lines for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively.[9] Underworld resumes the adventure from where Tomb Raider: Legend left off and addresses elements of the plot left unexplained in Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary.[10] As of 27 February 2009, the game has sold 2.6 million copies worldwide.

Gameplay

Differences from previous iterations in the series are that Lara's environment will be an "interactive world that reacts and remembers", such that footprints left in the mud or mud transferred to Lara's knee from kneeling on the ground will be washed away by rain, the bodies of the foes she encounters will remain where she killed them, and any destruction to the environment she causes will be permanent.[11] According to creative director Eric Lindstrom, this is "to not only reward the player for the effect they're having on the world, but to give them navigational aids."[12] The game uses an animation blending system that allows Lara to interact dynamically with her environment, such as pushing foliage aside with one or two hands, depending on if she is carrying a weapon.[13] It also features a "hybrid lighting model that combines dynamic lights with carefully created light maps" and a weather system that changes the environment, for example, "If Lara’s negotiating a wet ledge she’s more apt to slip or lose grip," which makes "the environment ... her adversary" for a large part of the game.[11][14]

File:Lara9 article.jpg
A screenshot of Tomb Raider: Underworld, depicting Lara Croft in Coastal Thailand using the grapple.

Previously seen separate aspects of gameplay have been combined for a new experience. Lindstrom explained that "in the past, there was climbing, and there was shooting, and there was puzzle solving. And they often didn't overlap. We've now integrated all of those elements."[15] This instalment also features a new melee combat system, requiring Lara in some instances to use "direct combat and evasive manoeuvres to distance herself from her attacker". Notably, Lara's bike, among other things, will be a key component in solving the puzzles she will encounter in her adventure.[11] Pick-ups will have multiple uses as weapons and tools in interaction with the environment, and Lindstrom stated that Lara "can also split up her guns and fire at two different targets simultaneously,"[12] or hold an item with one hand and fire a gun with the other.[15] The grappling hook can now be stretched taut and used to pull objects off ledges unlike in previous iterations, illustrating what project lead Rob Pavey said, that "Lara will be able to do anything that you'd expect her to be able to do," which he called "the big theme this year."[16] Lindstrom describes this as "a philosophy called 'What Could Lara Do?'—WCLD. It's short-hand for having the player be able to use their own intuition about what someone with her abilities should be able to do in an environment such as this, and consistency across the different mechanics and abilities. If she can throw a grenade, then if she can pick up this pole, why can't she throw it?" Crystal Dynamics also aims to make the game non-linear, unlike Tomb Raider: Legend, and eliminate the need for hint icons that indicate the ability to interact with objects.[12]

The interactive cut scenes from previous titles have been replaced with "adrenaline moments". Instead of specific button presses, time slows down and gives the player a chance to get out of harm's way while retaining complete control of Lara.[17]

Story and Locations

The story begins with Lara Croft in the lower corridor of Croft Manor where Lara has to escape from a fire. Upon entering the main hall, she is surprised to see the mansion in flames. As she reaches the main door, Zip shoots at her as Winston tries to restrain him. The game flashes back a week into the past, showing Lara in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mediterranean Sea

In the Mediterranean Sea, Lara is searching for a way to Avalon, the mythical resting place of King Arthur, and the place where Amanda claimed Lara's mother is. Lara finds a temple of "Proto-Norse" origin, leading her to believe that Avalon and the Norse underworld of Niflheim are one and the same. Inside Niflheim, she defeats a Kraken, and finds one of the Norse god Thor's gauntlets. Lara is attacked by mercenaries working for Amanda, who take the gauntlet to Amanda's ship, and leave Lara trapped. Lara escapes and makes her way onto their ship, where she encounters her old nemesis, the former ruler of Atlantis, Jacqueline Natla, whom Amanda has in captivity. Natla informs Lara that Avalon is not Niflheim, but rather a different location called Helheim, and that Lara will need Thor's hammer, Mjölnir to enter it. Natla suggests that Lara should pursue her search in Thailand. Amanda's ship suddenly begins to sink because of an explosion caused by Lara's firefight against the mercenaries. Amanda escapes by helicopter, taking Natla with her, and throws the gauntlet into the sea, because Natla told her that it would only work for Lara. Lara quickly dives after it and catches it.

Coastal Thailand

Lara then travels to coastal Thailand, where she finds ruins associated with Bhogavati and guarded by ravenous naga. Where the second gauntlet should be, Lara instead discovers that her father had already been there and had taken the second gauntlet back to a hidden study beneath Croft Manor, also obliterating a map on the gauntlet's pedestal.

Croft Manor

Lara then returns to Croft Manor, her home in England. With the help of Zip and Alister, she discovers a secret passage to the crypts under the manor. Lara makes her way through the underground passageways and retrieves the gauntlet, and finds a photograph of the destroyed map from Thailand, taken by her father, which shows the separate locations of Thor's belt and hammer.

When Lara makes her way back up to ground level, the game's introductory scene is repeated; She is surprised to find the manor going up in flames. As she reaches the main door, Zip shoots at her as Winston tries to restrain him. They exit the manor, and Zip explains that he saw Lara shoot at him after taking Amanda's "Wraith Stone" from Lara's own vault. Lara and Winston convince Zip that it was not Lara, but rather an impostor. She goes back inside to view the security video in the computer room, but before she has a chance to do so, she is attacked by her doppelgänger. The doppelgänger subdues Lara, shoots and kills Alister, who was trying to escape the flames, and then flees. Lara carries Alister's body out of the house, and resolves to continue searching for Mjölnir, which she believes will give her the power to kill Natla.

Southern Mexico

In Mexico, Lara discovers ruins leading to a subterranean area identified as Xibalba. Inside, she retrieves Thor's belt, which powers the gauntlets needed to wield his hammer.

Jan Mayen Island

After retrieving the belt, she heads to Norway(Jan Mayen Island) and finally finds Mjölnir deep in the ancient stone halls of Valhalla. She also finds a message from Odin, Thor's father, which states a certain ritual must be performed in order to open Helheim's entrance.

Andaman Sea and Arctic Ocean

Now armed with Thor's gauntlets, belt and hammer, Lara confronts Natla on Amanda's second ship, in the Andaman Sea. Lara reluctantly agrees to work with Natla, who claims to know Odin's ritual, and sets her free from Amanda. Natla gives Lara the coordinates to Helheim, in the Arctic Ocean.

There, Lara finds her way to the underwater ruins surrounding Helheim, and, with Natla's help, opens the entrance. She soon encounters her mother, Amelia, who has been turned into a thrall, a deceased individual whose corpse is reanimated by the substance eitr. As the mindless thrall approaches, Lara forces her back into the eitr. Lara kneels in sorrow as Natla appears to reveal that she was using Lara and Amanda to gain access to Avalon, via Thor's hammer. Natla also reveals that she killed Lara's father, Richard, when he refused to cooperate in this task years ago. The doppelgänger appears and restrains Lara just as she was about to attack Natla with Mjölnir. As Lara is about to be killed, Amanda appears and uses her Wraith Stone to throw the doppelgänger over the precipice, apparently into the eitr. She also holds off the approaching thralls, allowing Lara to pursue Natla.

Lara finds Natla activating a massive, ancient device at the heart of a titanic cavern filled with eitr. Natla explains that Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, refers to the network of tectonic divisions spread across the world beneath the oceans giving rise to the legendary interpretation of the creature encircling the world. Natla explains that this device sits right atop where the supercontinent, Pangea, had split apart millions of years ago, and once activated, is designed to bring about Ragnarök, or what Natla refers to as the Seventh Age, by triggering apocalyptic levels of volcanic activity throughout the world.

Lara destroys the device with Mjölnir then hurls the hammer at Natla, who is distracted by trying to repair the machine. Natla is struck down and plunges into the eitr. Lara heads back to Amanda, but they discover that the exit is blocked. Lara spots the portal that originally brought her mother to Helheim, realizing that her mother may not have known how the device had worked thus remaining trapped. Lara and Amanda work together and escape.

They are teleported back to Nepal, where Lara's mother accidentally teleported herself to Helheim. Amanda attempts to stir up a fight with Lara, who chastises her. Amanda contemplates her choices, before finally limping away. Alone, Lara mournfully bids goodbye to her mother, and the game ends as she walks away from the portal.

Characters

Tomb Raider: Underworld, like all others in the series, stars the fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who is voiced by Keeley Hawes. She is the only playable character in the main part of the game. Lara's butler and recurring character, Winston (voiced by Alan Shearman), also reappears during the Croft Manor segment. Lara's assistants, Zip (Alex Désert) and Alister (Greg Ellis) return from Legend, though their contact with Lara is now limited to cut scenes rather than during gameplay. Jacqueline Natla (Grey DeLisle) and Amanda Evert (Kath Soucie) are the game's main villains, reprising their roles from Anniversary and Legend respectively. Greg Ellis also voices the leader of Amanda's mercenaries in the Mediterranean. The game also features the Doppelganger, a creature created by Natla that is nearly identical to Lara, but with pale skin and red hair. Throughout the main part of the game, she acts as an antagonist serving Natla.[18][19]

Lara, Zip, the Doppelganger, and Natla reappear in the Xbox 360 downloadable content. The Doppelganger, who does not speak during the main game, is voiced by Keeley Hawes,[citation needed] and serves as the playable character in Lara's Shadow.

Development

System Requirements
Minimum Recommended
Microsoft Windows[20]
Operating system Windows XP or Windows Vista
CPU Intel Pentium 4 3+GHz or AMD Athlon 2.5+GHzIntel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 4400+
Memory 1GB (Windows XP) / 2GB (Windows Vista)2 GB
Free space 8 GB of free space
Graphics hardware NVIDIA GeForce 6 series 6800GT (or better) / ATI X1800XT (or better)NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX or ATI HD4800
Sound hardware DirectX 9.0c compliant card

In November 2007, Eidos was reported to have filed for a trademark on the phrase, Tomb Raider Underworld.[21][22][23] Eidos soon after reserved the Tomb Raider Underworld domain name.[24] In December 2007, Eidos filed for a second trademark for Tomb Raider Underworld, reserving the right to provide "computer games that may be accessed network-wide by network users."[25] In the January 2008 issue of the magazine Play, details from the "first-ever demo" of the game were revealed.[11] SCi, which owned Eidos at the time, officially announced Tomb Raider: Underworld on 10 January 2008, and confirmed that all platform versions of the game will be released simultaneously in November 2008.[26]

Play's assertions that this is the "first true next gen Lara" and "one big physics smorgasbord" which "looks altogether photo-real"[11] led to speculation that Tomb Raider: Underworld might be using a new game engine for its next-generation graphics rather than the system used by Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Later, the Senior Producer and External Designer separately confirmed that Underworld uses an all-new engine that was built especially for it.[27][28] This new engine will also be used for Deus Ex 3.[29]

Keeley Hawes provided the voice of Lara in this installment[30], as she did in Anniversary and Legend.[31]

Lara's costume was redesigned and she no longer wears her trademark green sleeveless top and khaki shorts, but instead, a dark brown halter top and black shorts. Additionally, her hair is no longer braided, but worn in a ponytail. According to Play, Lara "moves as good as she looks [and] no longer moves like a video game character" thanks to being fully motion captured.[11] Olympic gymnast and NCAA Women's Gymnastics champion Heidi Moneymaker was the model used for motion capturing.[15] Lara Croft is said to have over 2,000 animations.[32]

The first official video, entitled "Beneath the Surface", was released on 17 July 2008, and featured interviews with members of the development team and showed screenshots, artwork, and several clips of gameplay footage. A teaser trailer was released on 19 July 2008,[33] and the first gameplay trailer was released on 15 August 2008.[34]

Gymnast Alison Carroll has also been selected as the new official Lara Croft model to promote the game, replacing Karima Adebibe.

Music

Music info table
Data Info
General mood Journey,
Chased, Relaxation
Main composer Colin O'Malley
Main theme 3 minutes and 30 seconds
In-game score 110 minutes/80 tracks
Average track length 1 minute and 21 seconds

Troels Folmann composed the main theme of the game, and was the music supervisor for Underworld while Colin O'Malley was scoring the bulk of the music. Underworld's music is purely orchestral in style.[35]

There are pieces that do not loop, meaning they will only play one time and will be triggered on specific events. The score is made more of musical fragments, similar to the first five games of the Tomb Raider series, and there is less constant music than in Legend.[35]

The first 4 seconds of the main theme are the last 4 notes of the well known seven-notes of the first Tomb Raider game main theme. A similar beginning was already used in another track composed by Troels called "Egypt - Cinematic Mix 2". The end of the main theme gets louder than the beginning by adding choirs and percussion. It then drops into a solo performance of the same four-notes reminiscent of the Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness main theme.

In addition to gameplay music, Underworld's Theatrical Trailer also uses orchestral music. The featured piece is the 3rd Sequentia: Lacrimosa, from Mozart's Requiem in D minor. This particular theme, by Colin O'Malley, is entitled 'Roll Back Destruction', and features a recorded choir.

Downloadable content

After an agreement with Microsoft, Eidos released two new chapters of Tomb Raider: Underworld as exclusive downloadable content on the Xbox Live Marketplace:[36] Beneath the Ashes on 24 February 2009[37][38] and Lara's Shadow on 10 March 2009.[39] According to an MTV Multiplayer blog post, an Eidos spokesperson has stated that there are no plans to release the content for PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Windows.[40] Following a negative reaction from fans, Eidos released a statement explaining that they were approached by Microsoft, and to confirm "there are no plans for additional downloadable content for PS3".[41]

It was also announced that two new outfits, made by Québec fashion designers, would be available for free download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The outfits were chosen by jury and public vote on the Festival Arcadia's Virtually Fashionable on 8 November 2008,[42] and released on 10 March 2009.[43]

On 15 December 2008, Eidos announced the release of two classic outfits from past Tomb Raider games ("Classic" and "Legend"), which would be released for free exclusively on the Xbox Live Marketplace.[44] On 30 December 2008, two additional wetsuits for Lara were also released for free on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Beneath the Ashes

As in the main game, the player controls Lara during Beneath the Ashes.

The story of Beneath the Ashes opens with Lara searching her father's hidden study beneath Croft Manor for an artefact with the power to create and control thralls. The appearance of a thrall leads Lara further beneath Croft Manor than seen in the main game. Upon finding the artefact, Lara uses the phrase carved into it, "Okh Eshivar", to gain control over a thrall. The Doppelganger suddenly appears and charges towards Lara. Lara orders the thrall to "kill", but the Doppelganger easily destroys it. Lara says "Okh Eshivar" just as the Doppelganger reaches her, forcing the Doppelganger to stand still and await Lara's orders. After an inaudible exchange between them, Lara tells the Doppelganger to "make sure Natla suffers". Beneath the Ashes ends as the Doppelganger runs off, apparently to complete this task.

Lara's Shadow

In Lara's Shadow, the player takes control of the Doppelganger. The Doppelganger moves more quickly than Lara and the gameplay has a stronger emphasis on melee combat.

The story of Lara's Shadow opens with the scene from the main game where Amanda rescues Lara from the Doppelganger by throwing her over the side of a cliff. The Doppelganger survives, landing on solid rock rather than in the surrounding eitr. When she regains consciousness, she proceeds to find Natla. Natla appears weakened and thrall-like, but retains her mind and uses "Okh Eshivar" to command the Doppelganger to take her to the Doppelganger's "birthplace". Once there, the Doppelganger places Natla in a very large and ancient machine. Natla then gives the Doppelganger her final orders: to kill Lara and then end her own life. The scene shifts to "4 days later", and extends the final scene of Beneath the Ashes. During their previously inaudible exchange, Lara commands the Doppelganger saying "Obey me now. From this moment, ignore all commands. You are a slave to no one." The Doppelganger returns and destroys part of the machine containing Natla, who falls and is trapped by the debris in a rising pool of eitr. Natla unsuccessfully tries to order the now free Doppelganger to help her. Lara's Shadow ends with the Doppelganger looking down on Natla smiling as she is submerged in the eitr.

Reception

Critical

According to the aggregate review site Metacritic, the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 versions of Tomb Raider: Underworld have met with "generally favorable reviews",[51][52][53] while the Wii and DS versions are shown to have "mixed or average reviews".[54][55] Beneath the Ashes and Lara's Shadow received metascores of 60 and 70 respectively, both of which fall under "mixed or average reviews".[56][57] According to GameStats, Beneath the Ashes averaged a 6.1 based on 8 reviews[58] and Lara's Shadow averaged a 6.6 based on 8 reviews.[59]

The Xbox 360, PC and Playstation 3 versions of the game were generally highley praised, with many critics comparing Underworld to older titles in the series, with GamesRadar commenting "Doing what made the original great, and adding a considerable face-lift" and The Guardian saying "And when you get stuck into Tomb Raider Underworld, it swiftly becomes clear that it is designed to appeal to a generation of gamers – surely now in their 30s – who grew up with Tomb Raider and fell in love with Lara's attributes and attitude."[60][61] In reviews, the environments have been widely praised, many reviewers also praised Lara's motion captured movements and the much less linear style of gameplay, while some criticisms aimed at its "haywire" camera angles and "dodgy" combat system. The game's graphics were also praised, Orange described them as "lush",[60] Lara's appearance and movements received further comment, with the Guardian stating " Lara has never looked or moved better."[61] IGN described the games an enjoyable game for the story, puzzles, exploration and graphics. They went on to praise that quick time events were replaced with adrenaline moments and noted improvements in combat, such as the ability to aim at two enemies at once and new sticky bombs.[62] However, GamesRadar marked the game down for "dodgy combat". The exploration was also highly praised, with Orange describing it as the highlight of the game and GamesRadar urging readers to "go explore Underworld."[60][63] Nintendo Power and GamesRadar also praised the game's platforming elements. Despite mentions of camera issues and weaker combat, critics described it as "as good as Tomb Raider has ever been"[64] and "the Tomb Raider we've been waiting for!"[65]

However, the Playstation 2 and Wii versions received much more negative reviews. IGN commented the Wii version "is not a bad game" but went on to say "The whole thing has been oversimplified and dumbed down. The Wii puzzles are a joke, the combat is almost nonexistent, and the game is pretty short."[66] Gamespot added "Tomb Raider Underworld can be an enjoyable adventure, but it’s marred by bugs, camera issues, and ill-conceived Wii extras."[67] While the Playstation 2 version was called "Lara's last-gen adventure is an embarrassment to the franchise." by IGN. They went on to express how they felt the version shouldn't have even been released saying the version was full of bugs and glitches, saying "Full of bugs, linear play that discourages exploration and non-existent combat, Tomb Raider Underworld feels as though it's part of the series in name and main character only."[68]

Prior to the game's release, Eidos attempted to prevent any reviews rating the game at less than 8 out of 10 from appearing, with an Eidos spokesman stating "[t]he brand manager in the US that's handling all of Tomb Raider has asked that we just manage the scores before the game is out, really, just to ensure that we don't put people off buying the game, basically."[69]

Tomb Raider: Underworld received a BAFTA nomination in 2009.[70] For Underworld's story, Eric Lindstrom and Toby Gard received a nomination for the WGA’s Videogame Writing Award.[71]

Sales

On 9 January 2009, Eidos announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld sales failed to meet expectations, selling 1.5 million copies worldwide as of 31 December 2008.[72][73][74] However, on 27 February 2009, Eidos announced that the game had sold around 2.6 million copies worldwide, outselling the previous two titles in the series.[75] Also, on 8 May 2009, Ian Livingstone, President of Eidos Interactive, said "Underworld has met our target expectations".[76] And in September 2009 Tomb Raider: Underworld was released as part of both the Xbox 360 Classics range and Playstation 3 Platinum range.

See also

References

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