Tomb Raider: Underworld

Exploring Tombs and finding treasures to Raid with iconic Lara Croft.

Edios' Lara Croft is an iconic video game character for any number of reasons, primarily because she was among the only female game characters in existence when Tomb Raider was first debuted. Underworld continues after the franchise reboot of Tomb Raider Legends and continues the story that Legends started. All the elements that fans have come to expect from a Tomb raider title are present, exploring, combat and puzzle solving along with an engaging story and decent game play / visuals. Tomb Raiders' have traditionally been a full package and Underworld continues to deliver.

Game Play

Game play is broken down into two basic areas, combat and exploring / puzzle solving. Combat in Underworld allows players to fight, shoot and out maneuver their opponents with a fairly intuitive combat system. Lara has access to an adrenaline gauge, a gauge that fill sup every time she lands a hit or a shot. The adrenaline feature allows the player to slow down time and make their shots more powerful. While time is slowed, the gauge slowly depletes. Weapons are all accessible through a PDA system and Lara will often have a large selection to pick from to cover any situation you may get her in. Puzzle solving is largely done by platforming, although the maps and physics system are quite good. largely if you can see a place that you think you should be able to get to, you can get to it. To aid the user, a sonar map is available as well as a 'hint' for when they get well and truly stumped.

Presentation

Tomb Raider Underworld was released in 2008, so the graphics are dated, but still hold up. Models are well made and the maps that Lara is given to explore are expansive; the largest areas yet. The 'if you can see it, you can do it' aspect of the game gives a huge sense of realism. Underwater areas also lend some diversity to where Lara can explore. This is still, seven years later, a good looking game. the story as well, is well worth the time to play through the title and holds up to other Tomb Raider titles.

Pros

• Great story
• Expansive maps to explore and tricky puzzles to overcome

Cons

• Combat may be easier than you'd like with all the tools and methods at your disposal
• Graphics are good for 2008, but dated compared to modern games