Tomb Raider Underworld

by Eidos

Product Features

• Tomb Raider: Underworld for Nintendo PC 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

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0012N5EQE
• Item Weight: 4 ounces
• Media: DVD-ROM
• Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,836 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #89 in Video Games > PC Games > Adventure
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC

Amazon.com Product Description

Tomb Raider: Underworld for PC 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.

System Requirements
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	PC: Microsoft Windows XP (admin rights required)/Microsoft Windows Vista (admin rights required)
CPU	Intel Pentium 4 3+GHz or AMD Athlon 2. 5+GHz	Intel Core 2 Duo 2. 2 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 4400+
Graphics Hardware	NVIDIA GeForce 6 series 6800GT (or better) / ATI 1800XT (or better)	NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX or ATI HD4800
Sound	Direct X 9. 0c compatible sound card and drivers	Direct X 9. 0c compatible sound card and drivers
Memory	1GB (Windows XP) / 2GB (Windows Vista) system memory	2 GB system memory
Hard Drive Space	8 GB Free Space
Other Requirements	DVD-ROM drive. Keyboard and mouse required for controls; Microsoft Xbox 360 controller recommended for controls.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun game, great graphics, lovely Laura is back!, November 21, 2008

By 

AeroEngineer (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Tomb Raider: Underworld (DVD-ROM)

I never played TR until last years Anniversary and thought it was surprisingly fun since I'm more of a Sci-Fi/military shooter/racer type. This game focuses on exploration and puzzle solving with cool Indiana Jones type of mythological environments that are really nice to look at all with a very lovely lady doing the exploring with the occasional battles. I found myself not wanting lovely Laura to get hurt even though she can take care of herself!

I can definitely say this is a pretty big improvement from last years graphics and Laura has some pretty cool new moves with very intuitive controls configured very well for the PC gamer. I did have the occasional camera wigging out problems but it was not something that happened often. The sound was well done and fit into the whole mystical environment with the story occasionally coming in as cutscenes.

The whole interface is very well done and up to date. One thing I wish this game had was an autosave option at the checkpoints which are signified by a distinct sound, otherwise I can't always remember where I last saved. Also the saves don't go exactly to where you save, they go to the last checkpoint, this can be annoying if you finished a particularly tough climbing sequence. That's pretty much all that I don't like.

You should get this if you like exploration and puzzle games or Indy Jones/Mummy type of movies, it's not a run and gun or horror type of game but that's a nice break from the many games in those genres.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best games of the year, November 29, 2008

By 

TJB (Cambridge, UK) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Tomb Raider: Underworld (DVD-ROM)

Underworld is a great game, with a clear focus on exploration, acrobatics and puzzles - all the things that make a good tomb raider game. The environments are the most beautiful ones I have seen in a long time, and I play a lot of games. Granted, there are some games that might be technically more advanced, but Underworld's levels are simply breathtaking. Also, a mid-range pc is fully satisfactory to run it (I use my Inspiron 1520 laptop).

Lara's model and animations have improved considerably too, so that she looks and moves more realistically. Further, the game is full of little details bringing Lara and the world to life; for instance, Lara brushes away leaves when she runs through foliage, she gets dirty when she performs acrobatics, she gets wet when she swims, etc. One can clearly see that Christal Dynamics put a lot of effort into making her adventures believable, and they succeeded. The music is great too and could be from a Hollywood blockbuster; it fits the game well, with many memorable tracks.

On the downside, the combat is a bit lackluster, and I would have preferred Crystal Dynamics had retained the focus attack of Anniversary. Some people complain about the camera/controls, but I had no problems at all - granted, one should use a controller (I use the Xbox-360 one), since a mouse-keyboard combo is simply not well suited for this game. The story is ok for a tomb-raider game, but still rather silly.

As for DRM: there is no activation needed and no installation limit, which is good. It does have a disk-check facilitated by Securom as far as I can tell, and even though I loathe Securom, it is used in an unobtrusive manner here (compared to the nightmares that Electronic arts imposes on its paying costumers).

Compared to Legend, Underworld is bigger, more challenging and simply better (as much as I liked Legend, it was too easy, short and lacked the exploration bit, but I guess they needed a game whith a broad mass appeal to restart the franchise).

Bottom line: Underworld is a great game, which I can only recommend. I hope it will be a financial success for Eidos, since it would be a shame if Eidos were to go bankrupt (they have quite a few financial problems right now). Over the years they have published many memorable franchises, such as Hitman and Legacy of Cain, and the last thing I would like to see is Electronic Arts buying yet another publisher to screw over customers and fans.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not so fast, January 17, 2009

By 

Lucky 7 (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Tomb Raider: Underworld (DVD-ROM)

I had high hopes for this as the reviews were favorable.It has a good look and plays nicely on my XP, but the controls are clunky, there's not enough guidance for the novice as to Lara's linear focus. Even switching between the game & a walkthru I found myself wishing for an easy death. Frustration is putting it mildly.
I enjoyed the puzzle aspect, but could not continue, it's just too slow. Compounding all this is the game has no quick save option, no quick load, forcing one to relive the slow painful repetitive track thru nothingness.
Without the quick load/save,the game is monotonous. Good luck, you'll need more than that my friend.

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