Tomb Raider: Underworld | 
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| From: Eidos Interactive
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $49.90
You Save: $10.09 (17%)
New (14) Used (2) from $49.90
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 233
Platform: Playstation 3
Genre: adventure_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: PlayStation 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: STOM8KUS00
Model: 1000044581
UPC: 788687500777
EAN: 0788687500777
ASIN: B0012N746W
Release Date: November 18, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Tomb Raider: Underworld for Nintendo PlayStation 3 by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off and introduces a new, interactive playing environment | | • | Lara Croft explores a wide array places, such as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea | | • | Environment is much more realistic and interactive -- footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away | | • | Melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers | | • | Improved AI allows enemies and animals to make decisions based on surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics, and even retreat if deemed necessary |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Tomb Raider: Underworld for PlayStation 3 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. 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.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Frustrating but Fun December 1, 2008
A. S. ALHASSAN
This game has a terrible camera. For the first time in my life, I experienced what is known as 3D sickness. The camera does get less frustrating as you advance in the game and I advice you not to bother to micromanage it unless you have to. That aside, this is a good game. It's even better than Tomb Raider Legend, though shorter. The shooting is mostly boring and, fortunately, you only need to do it every once in a while. Exploring is great as each level is like one giant puzzle of three layers: one above surface, the second below, and the third is backtracking to your start point. The levels are open in a way and aren't necessarily linear since you could solve all parts of the puzzle in any order you like. Bottom line is: if you loved Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, you will like this one, as long as you don't expect it to be as polished.
 Best Yet! December 1, 2008
Stephanie Timiney
This game is AWESOME! I have played all the Tomb Raiders and this one is fantastic. There are some technical glitches. Lara gets hung up on areas of uneven terrain mostly near walls, but if you shoot your grappling hook she gets unstuck pretty quickly. There are a few other graphics bugs like frame rate on one level due to the rain effect, but they are nominal in comparison to an amazing story line, fun puzzles, and awesome locations to raid! The pot kicking for relics is a bit tedious, but again the gameplay overall is a blast. I haven't had this much fun on a TR game since the original! I highly recommend getting this game. You won't be dissappointed.
Fun, interesting, but still full of bugs. December 1, 2008
K.C. Woodruff (Columbus, OH)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been a Tomb Raider fan since the original. I enjoyed the previous version, which continues the story of Lara searching for her mother. But like the previous game, it was entirely too short. The original series could have you gaming for weeks. The last two series have been beaten simply in a matter of 1-2 days. The graphics are incredible. Lara has never looked better. Even with all the incredible graphics, there had to be some problems, right? The MOST annoying thing in the game is the automatic camera angle. No matter how you wanted the camera to face, it would roll back to an angle that was, at times, impossible to view. If you had a short jump with your back against the wall, the camera would zoom in so close to Lara that you couldn't see the edge from where you needed to jump...causing several untimely deaths. There are points where you can jump from wall to wall to climb higher. At one point, Lara jumped through a wall and fell into a black hole to her death. Uh, ok I guess. There are also times where she will get stuck walking around and it takes a minute for you to regain control. One of the most basic features in earlier games was left out...the opportunity to control Lara with a slow walk to the edge before performing a jump or drop to grab a ledge. In this game, Lara typically grabs the edge if you don't intend to drop, but that's not always the case.
Overall, the game is not bad at all. But if you are looking for another follow-up Tomb Raider, the ending doesn't leave any openings for one. That is somewhat disappointing. Graphics are fantastic, but that is the only thing that gets a 10 in this game. Too many bugs with camera angles and overall controls. And again, way too short for typical Tomb Raider fans.
could of been a lot better... November 30, 2008
Amber Jones (Oklahoma, USA)
okay i love lara croft and all of the tomb raider series but i'm really disappointed in this game. the creators of underworld said it was twice as long as legend. what a lie. it was way shorter. in fact it seemed half as long legend. that really made me mad when i finished the game. that's it? the creators also said was it was going to be more dangerous & the most challenging tomb raider game. NOT! it was just too easy with no challenges at all. it bored me sometimes. all lara mainly does is jump from ledge to ledge or wall to wall. there wasn't enough booby traps & puzzles to make it interesting. it would of been alot better if it was like tomb raider 2. there should of been more traps,vehicles to drive,(snowmobile,boat),at least 4 more levels & longer & more locations, enemies too fight. it needed boss fights. the mansion should of been put in the game to explore for fun not counting as a level. overall it was okay. i enjoyed the cutscenes & graphics & the motorcycle but thats about it.
Slightly disappointed November 29, 2008
T (Los Angeles, CA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
For complete disclosure, I only started playing Tomb Raider once it was out in HD, so I have only played Legend and Anniversary (both on the 360). I own both the 360 and PS3 (and the WII for that matter) so I was excited to see what Tomb Raider would be like on the PS3. First off, I agree with the other reviewers in that if you are a Tomb Raider fan, you may as well go out and get it. The graphics really are quite stunning and the levels and puzzles are pretty much what you would expect from this series.
I finished the game on normal level and without any of the "hints" turned on or utilized. While this game seemed shorter to me, I am not sure if it really was since there appears to be about the same number of levels and each of them are pretty extensive. Perhaps there was somewhat of a learning curve involved (by playing the other TR games), but I managed to finish this game in about 10-12 hours. I probably spent 2 to 3 times as long on each of the previous 2 games--would be interested to see what other people think.
Now for the criticisms. As other reviewers have already mentioned, the camera angles at times are not optimal and can give you a limited view of your surroundings. While this is not isolated to this newest version of Tomb Raider, it does seem to occur with more frequency than either Legend or Anniversary. (Both 360 and PS3 reviews seem to be consistent and this is not isolated to a specific system). Expect to be jumping to your death into abysses and chasms with some regularity as you have in other versions. Another problem, in my opinion, is the dizzying movement of the camera as you try and look around. For those of you who have a tendency to get motion sickness easily--beware! This can potentially be a bigger problem than you think. Minor problems include: Lara's movements while swimming underwater or while climbing are "jittery" and unnatural; Lara "sticking" momentarily when she runs into an object or an environmental boundary and infrequently for a longer period of time; and, some "holes" in game play where Lara can disappear into or fall through solid objects. There is also a major glitch in the Southern Mexico level where once you die in a particular area, you may respawn in a situation where you keep dying. Without spoiling gameplay, I would advise saving with some frequency on that level.
In my opinion, while some new features have been added, gameplay seems to have taken a small step backwards, especially from the camera angle/movement aspect. Still, worth owning for the Tomb Raider fan or adventure gamer. Possibly worth owning for the casual gamer, but more likely a good rental. Would rate it 7.5/10. Hope this helps!
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