Gah! I just want
Amanda
dead! Lol.
Moderator Edit: Please use spoilers when discussing characters not everyone knows has returned, .
Gah! I just want
Amanda
dead! Lol.
Moderator Edit: Please use spoilers when discussing characters not everyone knows has returned, .
Moderator Edit: Please use spoilers when talking about characters that not everyone knows about yet, .
I am very sorry about that, Moderator. But I just don't know how to use spoilers or attachments. But I'm glad you told me so I will be more careful with my comments.
BTW t.A.T.u. I'm totally with you on that.
Spoilers can be used by highlighting text and clicking the SP icon during a post (while you're writing it), and attachments are found on it's own tab above the smilies. By the way, the moderator edits were by me .
Anywho, I read an article in a gaming magazine at the pharmacy (that I regret not buying when I had the chance) that there is a physical fight between
Amanda and Lara.
Thank you for the info, Cat.
Do you remember the name of the gaming mag ? We hardly get any info about the TR Underworld here. Really annoying.
BTW I'd love to see the fight between
Lara and Amanda
You're welcome, and unfortunately I do not. I went to the pharmacy right after school but they were fresh out, . Regardless, I don't doubt that it'll be floating online sometime soon.
And for some Thursday goodness for everyone, I've got a smorgasbord of media! First off, new screenshots!
http://i37.tinypic.com/2v9sow0.jpg
http://i38.tinypic.com/dy3ync.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/mpjqo.jpg
http://i35.tinypic.com/10navxx.jpg
http://i35.tinypic.com/2iuf0ub.jpg
http://i38.tinypic.com/34xl11y.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/33dkoc5.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/w88c3q.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/2ntvcdx.jpg
Now, some screenshots of Lara using Thor's Gauntlet.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2201.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2202.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2203.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2204.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2205.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2206.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2207.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2208.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2209.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w22/Lam92/100_2210.jpg
And, a new conspiracy theory for you all to ponder: Recognize this?
Hmm...the similarities are striking, .
Also, a review of Underworld that aggravated me very much.
Here i found a review by Ellie Gibson from Eurogamer. There's something about Lara's breasts with this woman.
"Ah, the lovely Lara. With your penchant for raiding tombs, your amazing acrobatic skills and your honking great tits, you've been entertaining us for years now. You're like a female Indiana Jones! With big tits." © Almost every article written about Tomb Raider in the last 10 years. Including this one.
But for many of those years there wasn't much more to say. This one's got a speedboat. Oh look, a motorbike. This one's too hard. Oh look, her tits are bigger. By the time Chronicles came along no one could be bothered to say anything at all.
Then came Angel of Darkness, about which there was much to say. Things like "Why did they do that?" mainly. The game was so late and so poor Core lost the Lara licence to Crystal Dynamics, who set to work on TR: Legend.
They made the decision early on in the design process to take Tomb Raider back to its roots - beautiful, atmospheric environments, greater isolation during exploration, a control system that worked. As a result the game was a solid, if not stunning return to form. The Anniversary remake of the original Tomb Raider was more impressive; "The best Lara Croft adventure to date," as Kristan put it.
Now the series is at a critical juncture. Legend was good, Anniversary great, but Tomb Raider: Underworld is the game that needs to push the series forward. It's time for Crystal Dynamics to really show what it can do.
Show and tell
This process begins at a screening room in central London. Eidos has invited us here to see Underworld in action for the first time. Disappointingly, no one from Crystal Dynamics is present. "Obviously, they're making the game," says publishing designer Bill Beacham. "But we're here to act as consultants and keep an eye on what they're up to."
The demo is being presented by Underworld's senior producer at Eidos, Sarah Van Rompaey. The fourth level of the game, she explains, is set in Mexico. We're going to see the final section of it being played on Xbox 360.
There stands Lara, larger than life. She's swapped her plait for a ponytail but her clothes are still very small. She's standing in the jungle surrounding a great stone temple. It's raining and her clothes are soaked through. The level of detail on the building, the gloomy lighting and the raindrop animations are all very impressive.
So impressive, in fact, that one gaming publication recently described Underworld's visuals as looking "altogether photo-real". Does Eidos think that's an accurate assessment? "Underworld has a level of fidelity and realism not seen in a Tomb Raider game to date," Van Rompaey says. "However, there is a certain level of stylisation which is synonymous with Tomb Raider. Realism isn't our goal."
The improved graphics are generated by a brand new engine. New materials and an improved shader system mean multiple textures can be blended together. A new piece of lighting technology called Spherical Harmonics is being used to make Lara appear connected with her environment; if she walks through green foliage, for example, her skin will take on a subtle green cast.
Vertex shading makes objects move realistically - think trees swaying in the breeze and bushes rustling as animals move through them. There are contextual animations, so if Lara walks through long grass she will automatically use her hands to clear her path. If one hand is holding a gun at the time she'll only use her free one to do this.
In addition there are dynamic environmental effects and each level has its own weather system. In the level we're being shown today, that means storm clouds moving across the sky, trees shaking in the wind and the occasional lightning flash.
On the move
But the best thing about what we're seeing on screen is the fact it looks like a Tomb Raider game should. Ancient temples, lush jungles, Lara alone and with a great expanse of environment to explore. And she hasn't even started moving yet.
But as two panthers burst out of the undergrowth Lara leaps into action and the first of her new combat moves is revealed. She can dual-target, shooting one panther with the pistol in her left hand while simultaneously taking out the other with her right. She can also perform new moves while shooting, such as a swan dive.
Objects in the environment can be used in combat now. To demonstrate this, Lara finds a large pole and whacks the panthers with it to finish them off. In previous Tomb Raider games you'd expect their bodies to disappear, but they don't. Underworld's environments are persistent so if you kill something or move an object it will remain as you left it for the entirety of the level. You could say it's about time, but still.
Time to show off Lara's new acrobatic moves. "Each one creates new exploration and combat scenarios," says Van Rompaey. "Every move has been expertly animated using motion-capture of an Olympic-trained gymnast, and the results are some of the best ever seen in a videogame."
Good to see they managed to get semaphore back in.
Lara can not only balance on beams but vault and backflip along them. She can rappel down vertical surfaces, perform wall kicks and melee kicks. She can shoot while clinging from ledges and hanging onto ropes. She's got a new sprint move, which allows her to run so fast it's almost funny. All of these moves are performed with spectacular grace and fluidity, making you wonder why that gymnast was only Olympic-trained and not a medal winner.
No fear
The most exciting-sounding new feature is the ability to "free-climb". Without being able to try this out first-hand, however, it's hard to gauge how it works. You can see Lara's no longer constricted to pulling herself along ledges; she uses her arms and feet to traverse a section of wall like a rock climber would. We're told Lara can now move around concave and convex surfaces, but this isn't being shown in the demo.
Lara can now use objects in the environment to create new paths. "This is very exciting for us. It's not used in any other game," says Van Rompaey. "It really does change the way you think and play Tomb Raider." Lara grabs the pole again and slots it into a hole in the wall, turning it into a pole she can swing and jump from. We're told Lara can also destroy or manipulate objects in new ways to establish routes, for example burning trees to clear a pathway.
The grapple hook is back, but Eidos has listened to criticisms the catch points in Legend were "too bling". Now they blend quietly into the environment and it's up to you to spot them. The grapple won't detach if a solid object comes between Lara and the catch point. This means she can exert force on the grapple line and use it to, as is being shown here, pull a large stone block off a pillar. The blocks in Underworld are physics items, so they won't fall into the same position each time.
The falling block smashes open a pair of stone doors and Lara retrieves the relic she's after. It's only one in a series of objects she's had to obtain in this environment. "The levels are of a scale we haven't seen before," explains Beacham, adding that you have the freedom to decide what order you solve puzzles in.
According to Van Rompaey, "Underworld features large-scale mechanisms and challenges which span entire environments rather than just being restricted to a particular locale in order to open the next door. Each environment is a formidable adversary that the player will have to overcome."
Title sequence
This particular bit of the environment overcome, Lara heads outside the temple and across a Mayan ballcourt. She stops at a turnstile above a pair of giant gates set into the floor. The relics she's collected will allow her to open the gates - which, it turns out, are the gates to the Mayan underworld. This is what the game's subtitle refers to; not thankfully, any nonsense about Lara "going dark" and dealing with mobsters or drug dealers.
"Underworld has nothing in common with Angel of Darkness," says Van Rompaey. "If Tomb Raider: Underworld comes across as darker it's not deliberate. It's more to do with the fact that she is travelling to underworlds, places of the undead. Therefore it has a more mature tone and naturally will feel darker."
Eidos's Kathryn Clements says she doesn't want to give too much of the story away, but "it's safe to say Lara will be going to multiple underworlds throughout the game". Not just real-world locations, then? "No. The guys at Crystal have let their imaginations go. They're taking Lara to places she's never been before, places people will find surprising."
According to Bill Beacham, "Underworld is more mythology- than archaeology-based. I think it's important to have a grounding in reality; you can see that with the Mayan temple. But you have to go beyond that."
On her bike
This is where things get really interesting - with the potential for exploring fantastical environments and fighting off mythological creatures. Unfortunately, this is where today's demo ends. There's only time to show us Lara's new motorbike, said to be much improved and more useful.
It's got gears and can do everything a real motorbike can, including donuts and wheelies. It's also "much more integral to the levels", says Beacham. "It's one of the tools Lara has in her arsenal of gear now. If you want to get from A to B quickly, that's what the bike's for. It also has other functionality we'll be revealing later."
And that's it, almost. We sent Eidos a Q&A after the event, and you've just read many of their answers. However, they declined to answer quite a few of our questions. So we can't tell you whether Underworld will be longer than Legend, whether there will be episodic releases, why there's no PSP version or whether they're considering a Tomb Raider II remake.
Nor can we tell you why, oh why they made the T-Rex bit into a quick time event in Anniversary. (Quick Time Events will be back in Underworld but "not as we knew them", according to Beacham. "It's going to be a new system. More flexible, more natural, a bit more freedom, more rewarding to the player.")
We can tell you this: what's been shown of Underworld so far is impressive and intriguing. It looks beautiful, it looks fresh, but it still looks like a Tomb Raider game. Crystal Dynamics appears to be focusing on why fans love the series as much as how to push it forwards, and that can only be a good thing.
There's still much more to be revealed, and it will be intriguing to see the new mythological environments Lara will get to explore. But so far, Tomb Raider: Underworld is looking spectacular. Much like Lara's tits."
The summarized version:
Here's the short version:
Of course, all that really impressed her was the size of Lara's breasts. I was ready to punch the wall after reading that. From that review, it seems that the only thing that interested her was Lara's breasts. Bloody damned shame!
Thanks Cat.
All I can say is WOW !!!! It is a shame that this E.G. concentrates so much on the size of Lara's boobs, but perhaps she is just jealous.
But I really like the summarized version. After reading it I went straight down to my local EB store and pre-ordered TR Underworld by making a $ 10 down payment. Still 55 days to go.
About your conspiracy theory, maybe it's just a flashback to legends or do you think they are going to re-visit some of the " legendary " locations ?
Can hardly wait
Oh my god. The article would have been well-written if Gibson hadn't used the word 'tits' so much... so much for high-quality journalism...
It's got gears and can do everything a real motorbike can, including donuts and wheelies. It's also "much more integral to the levels", says Beacham. "It's one of the tools Lara has in her arsenal of gear now. If you want to get from A to B quickly, that's what the bike's for. It also has other functionality we'll be revealing later."
Haha, that almost sounds like the bike will be in her inventory. What a fascinating, shrinking bike! Oh nevermind, I know I'm talking nonsense.
About your conspiracy theory, maybe it's just a flashback to legends or do you think they are going to re-visit some of the " legendary " locations ?
There are no flashbacks in the game, believe it or not.
And RedHell, I totally agree. Honestly, I could have written a better article at the age of eleven. Shame on her, putting the name of journalism to shame.
There are no flashbacks in the game, believe it or not.
It is hard to believe, especially since underworld is a follow-up of legend.
And you guys are right about the so called " journalist ".
Tits is a poor choice of word. Then again isn't the article subject to the editor of the magazine ? If so, we should blame that person,really.
BTW, how do you know there are no flashbacks ?
And Red Hell, I love your idea about the
bike
Wow! Those screenshots look so awesome!
Yeah, the article wasn't a journalistic masterpiece, but every information from the game is good for me...
Hmm... The new features of the motorbike sound good. I wasn't sure about is this a spoiler, but I want to be careful...
BTW, how do you know there are no flashbacks ?
Because Eidos confirmed it.
Anywho, I'm not sure what was running through that woman's mind when she was writing that - well, actually I do, but yeah - but journalism is not for her.
Because Eidos confirmed it.
Well in that case.............
About that journalist, do you think she has a mind of her own?
I think she wrote that article to please all the adolescent boys playing the game, not minding all the girls who also enjoy the escapades of Lara.
Well, that my opinion anyway.....
And Poet
I also like the motorbike . Switching gears and so sounds really great.
You are so right, Cat ! Catch you at the debate.
I've discovered a video of the Thailand level from the start, with a cutscene showing Lara, Zip, and Alister! Yes, he has returned, and his voice is a little different, but still the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng2EZF1eK4M
For those who can't hear it well, the dialogue is as follows (excluding Alison Carrol, the man under her foot, and the announcer).
Lara: (something) is visible from down here...and if Father did explore this site, I see no sign of it yet.
Zip: Pfft. I still don't see how Thailand is connected to Vikings and ruins under the Meta(something), even Avalon for that matter.
Lara: Helheim, Zip. Various myths use different names, but they all apply to the same remnants of the ancient world.
Alister: One of those remnants is still alive. I would hate to be Amanda if Natla ever gets free.
Zip: Pshh, I'd hate to be any of us.
Promising indeed. This pretty much confirms (although we already knew) that both Natla and Amanda have returned, and they are seen in the Mediterranean level. Also, the beginning of the Thailand level is called 'Coastal Thailand'. It's been said that even though there are only seven or so levels, there are 'levels within levels' if you will.
There's something I don't quite understand...
Alister says "I would hate to be Amanda if Natla ever gets free" - I thought they work together and Amanda purposely tries to free Natla, or was it a misunderstanding?
Not sure either.
I know they're working together, but what I'm thinking (and this most definitely won't be true) is that maybe Amanda somehow will get in Natla's way or Natla will transform Amanda into what she wanted Lara to be in the original and in Anniversary (to help her rule the Seventh Age).
Not too sure though. Time will tell as always, !
I've been gone for a while, and so much new stuff has appeared... Has there been any news/rumours about the release of the demo yet?
Below is an interview from the Ed and Ryan Feanor Press Day event that explains the whole PS3 demo situation. The demo for the Xbox 360 is available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace sometime later this month.
Personally, I'm checking the marketplace everytime I play the 360 to check for the demo. You can bet that the minute I hear news of it, I'll be here to inform the lot of you, .
What's the deal with the DLC only being for the 360?
Putting it simply, and we had this directly from the horses mouth (two horses actually!) it was simply a case of Microsoft asking and Eidos giving. Sony know the situation and have made no move. This was not something that was Eidos' fault, it was simply down to Microsoft being proactive in wanting more for the Xbox 360 players, asking for it and getting it.
What about the demo?
Unfortunately the demo was part of the DLC deal, meaning there will NOT be a demo for PS3 but there IS a demo for PC. No date has officially been set, and it is still being worked out by Eidos, so whilst any dates previously posted may well be right, it's more likely to be a good guess rather than firm knowledge.
So basically, PS3 gamers should blame Sony, not Eidos. Microsoft asked for the demo, Sony knew the situation and they didn't ask. That's their problem, not Eidos'.
Well, since I play mostly on my PC ( I do have a 360 ) I should be right, right ?
Thanks for the information , Cat. I,m so hanging out for this demo.................................