Xbox 360

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Lara Croft has always been a great video game companion. She looks great, can handle nearly any task thrown at her, knows how to ride a motorcycle, and looks great in a swimsuit. Her latest globe-spanning adventures provide hours of fun and good replayability, and the story is top-notch, especially for history or mythology buffs. If you enjoyed Legend's retelling of the King Arthur tale, you'll get a kick out of the search for Thor's hammer (which is named Mjolnir, so all you fellow Halo fiends out there can know where the armor gets its name). Good puzzles, great music, and amazing graphics are all to be found in Underworld. Now go get this game - you wouldn't want to keep Ms. Lara waiting, would you?

So while it's got enough faults to keep it from being a GOTY contender for most, it's still the best Tomb Raider title I've ever played, and I'm really curious to see what's next for the franchise once again. Definitely pick this one up; even if you've been turned off by the series in the past from some shoddy sequels, I think a lot of people will be surprised by this one.

Tomb Raider: Underworld ist meiner Meinung nach der Höhepunkt der gesamten Serie, die Entwickler haben aus alten Fehlern gelernt und liefern dabei ein eindruckvolles Ergebnis ab. Steuerung und Kollisionsabfrage sind nun nahezu perfekt und sorgen für Spielspaß anstatt für Frust (wie wir ihn aus vielen alten Teilen kennen). Technisch hat man endlich den Sprung ins neue Zeitalter geschafft und liefert vor allem referenzverdächtige Umgebungsgrafik und stimmige Soundkulisse ab, die für eine einzigartige Atmosphäre sorgen.

In tone, Underworld hits the target dead center, delivering the perfect mix of isolation and discovery with larger dramatic encounters. No modern cities mar Lara’s excursion this time – this is tomb raiding from beginning to end. Remarkable visuals sell the experience, and a moving score deepens your involvement. The formula behind the game is ready for some fresh ideas, but as a wrap up of old ideas, Underworld hits the sweet spot.

That’s the rub though. Underworld does practically nothing with its aging formula beyond offering an aesthetic overhaul and streamlined, sleeker control scheme. The thing is, those glorious vistas, hugely atmospheric new tombs and fluid platform mechanics expand the core essence of the Tomb Raider experience in such a way that, yes, it feels fresh and new. It’s not a radical advancement for the series in any way and that’s a massive disappointment, particularly given the sheer wealth of game aspects seriously in need of attention. Scores are awarded for what a game is though, not what it isn’t and, despite its failure to move the series forward, Underworld is still fundamentally an incredibly enjoyable experience and a real return to captivating tomb raiding on a grand scale. It might be the same Lara we’ve enjoyed over the years but there’s no denying the lady’s still got style.

The Xbox 360 version of Tomb Raider: Underworld is the way to go for those curious in purchasing the next installment in the series. Xbox Live will play host to two exclusive chapters via download content for Underworld in the form of “Beneath the Ashes” in December and “Lara’s Shadow” in January. Both of them will help extend the replay value of one of the best adventure titles on the Xbox 360 at this current moment. It’s recommended that you take a leap and begin your journey with Lara as she hunts for mythological treasure in Tomb Raider: Underworld.

The puzzle solving elements in Tomb Raider: Underworld aren’t as tough as nails, at least at the beginning, but there’ll be times when you are left scratching your head on what to do next. Luckily the developers included a little hint system to help you when you’re stuck. Never once did I want to quit playing as each exploration is more fun than the one before. Overall, Tomb Raider: Underworld is an exotic game that offers an adventure of a lifetime, right on par with the Playstation 3 exclusive Uncharted. What other game would you be in search for Thor’s Hammer? Don’t let Tomb Raider: Underworld go under your radar, there is plenty of things to do with Miss Lara; including a future promise of exclusive downloadable content for the Xbox 360.

The game never bothers to explain what object you just picked up, making it hard to determine if it was a critical item or just a bonus treasure. The save system is also confusing, and sometimes it doesn't even restore from your latest save! While the action is fairly linear, you may find yourself needlessly backtracking in more expansive locations like Thailand. Be sure to use Lara's PDA if you get stuck, because it offers valuable hints. Tomb Raider Underworld has some unexpected technical flaws, but that shouldn't prevent thrill-seekers from enjoying this lush, exotic adventure.

Not since God of War have I had my breath taken away so frequently by a game’s level designs. Lara’s polypropylene twins never once steal your eye from the magnificent sights – ranging from foreboding skyscraper-sized statues to lush jungle backdrops. As an adventure game, Underworld is a towering success that raises the bar for the series. Unfortunately, it also aspires to be a shooter. Whenever a gun is fired, the immersion factor is lost. The gunplay is antiquated to the point of absurdity, with enemies bouncing in place as they are riddled with bullets. Regardless, Underworld remains exhilarating, and is one of Lara’s finest efforts to date.

Tomb Raider Underworld was far more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be. The expansive environments, solid platforming sequences, challenging puzzles, and adventure-filled storyline should appeal to anyone who loved the Prince of Persia games and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Disappointingly, combat is fairly mediocre, and a lot of technical inconsistencies are troublesome. Nevertheless, Underworld is a very good game. Eidos can feel confident that Crystal Dynamics has returned this gaming superstar back to her former glory. I expect the next entry to be substantial. After all, third time's a charm!

Tomb Raider Underworld es una fantástica propuesta para los amantes de los puzzles y las plataformas, a la que sólo le ha faltado una cámara que haga su trabajo como es debido y algo más de contenidos. Y es que a estas alturas presentar únicamente un modo individual sin posibilidades on-line debe verse acompañado de una campaña larga, y no es el caso. La nueva aventura de Lara Croft es breve pero intensa, plagada de buenos puzzles y consolidando una entrega imprescindible para fans.

Even with the crazy camera and lack of control that it gives you, Tomb Raider: Underworld is a nice progression in the long-running franchise. The new move sets are a great addition and the smooth animations and transitions from ledges and other handholds make this game feel more fluid and natural than past games in the series. For every two steps forward, the game did take a step backward, but in general, fans of Lara Croft will be happy with how Tomb Raider: Underworld plays out. I do wish that the cut-scenes gave off a bit more energy. Even though the story in this new adventure may be forgettable, the gameplay does make up for it in many ways. Now, let me get back to raiding more tombs...

Tomb Raider: Underworld is a visually stunning, epic adventure that continues Crystal Dynamics' excellent run. We reckon it's the best completely original Tomb Raider (Anniversary was, of course, a remake) we've had in years, and is only let down by the odd control quirk and camera issue. If you're looking for a game heavy on exploration instead of gun-play and don't mind looking at a finely toned arse for 12 or more hours, Underworld comes highly recommended.

In Tomb Raider Underworld, Lara Croft must overcome dangers across the globe while solving a mythological mystery that ties in with her parents' disappearance. Unfortunately, the in-game camera is a hassle, especially when enemies get too close. The open-world exploration is fun, but a lack of hints of where to go next may frustrate you. Overcome these problems, however, and you'll be handsomely rewarded with outstanding visuals, fun shoot-em-up gameplay, excellent puzzles and hours of maneuvering the sexy Ms. Croft. Like her previous two games, Underworld is a welcome, if slightly flawed, addition to the franchise.

Epic without ever pushing boundaries for the series, Tomb Raider: Underworld is a game that fans of the franchise will no doubt relish. But with its occasionally obtuse puzzle solutions, this isn't the great instalment it could have been - and falls rather flat in the end.

La nueva entrega de Lara Croft nos deja con un muy buen sabor de boca. Los chicos de Crystal Dynamics nos han vuelto a demostrar que la franquicia está en muy buenas manos, dotándola de coherencia, creando un universo lógico y realista en el que todas las acciones y los viajes de Lara tienen razón de ser. Underworld es una entrega muy satisfactoria, que puede considerarse, sin muchos problemas, superior a las últimas cinco o seis entregas; combina las innovaciones y elementos novedosos introducidos en Legend pero los adapta a unos escenarios y un planteamiento más apropiado con las primeras aventuras de Lara. A lo largo de toda la aventura, destila ese espíritu único Tomb Raider, que nos deja con ganas de más. Tan sólo algunos problemas técnicos, sobre todo por esa cámara tan molesta, y su corta duración ensucian un título que nos hace esperar grandes cosas para el futuro. Lara ha vuelto, y parece que no tiene mucha intención de marcharse.

I’ve enjoyed playing the game, and I think most of you will too. It’s certainly familiar territory and in this regard is a title worth picking up. The story is a little cliché, but fitting for the components that comprise the game’s premise. Lara Croft is an endearing character, and certainly one we’re well acquainted with. This is a good game, but still has room for well-polished improvement. Tomb Raider: Underworld leaps to heady heights in the level of details presented, which cannot be faulted, but somewhat loses its grip and slides down a slope to an irregular floor that blemishes this graphical accomplishment.

Tomb Raider Underworld is an excellent game of that there is no doubt, having played many of the previous games in the series I can honestly say that I have enjoyed this one the most, sure it has it’s problems but anyone who is a fan of the series or who is just looking for a first look into the world of Lara will not go wrong with this game.

All this said, Underworld is impossible to actually dislike, as at its core you know this is what games should be about, pure escapism, discovery, immersion. This doesn't stop Lara's latest failing to be greater than the sum of its parts, however, and while this is unquestionably a step forward for the series, Crystal Dynamics could perhaps have gone a few inches further still.

All in all, I enjoyed Tomb Raider Underworld; the platforming is a blast, and Lara's treasure hunter story makes for a fun little tale. Thankfully, the story and the platforming are the main focus, as they rightfully should be. The title's other distractions aren't very good, and the game is not technically sound, with slowdown, a poor camera system, and frequent bugs throwing a pallor over an otherwise enjoyable experience. There's not much replay value and very little challenge, but if you can tolerate the buggy gameplay, you'll have fun taking Lara on her latest globe-trotting adventure.

Despite all our complaints, Underworld is still absolutely worth playing for Tomb Raider fans. The problems don’t detract from the core of the game, which is really entertaining. What they do highlight, however, is that this far into the series, with Crystal Dynamics already having cut its teeth on the franchise, Tomb Raider should know what it’s about. We shouldn’t have to deal with severely sub-standard combat. We shouldn’t have to deal with weird mechanics that seem to have been added in at random. This should be a much slicker product. Still, it’s good fun for the most part, and at the end of the day that’s why we play, right?

Crystal Dynamics osoittaa jo kolmannen kerran, että Core Designsin luoma sarja on päätynyt hyviin käsiin. Tomb Raider: Underworld on varsin viihdyttävä, vaikkakin yllätyksetön Lara-seikkailu niin sarjan uusille kuin vanhoille ystäville. Kilpailu pelialalla on kuitenkin kovaa, sillä esimerkiksi Naughty Dogin PlayStation 3 -seikkailu Uncharted: Drake's Fortune tekee paljon samoja asioita, mutta paremmin. Vertailu on kenties hieman tarpeetonta, onhan Unchartedin ote seikkailuun huomattavasti suoraviivaisempi ja toimintapainotteisempi kuin rauhallisempaan tutkimiseen keskittyvä Tomb Raider: Underworld. Aihepiiri on kenties sama, mutta molemmista saa täysin erilaisen tyydytyksen.

Lara undoubtedly is growing stronger with each incarnation on the 360 and we hope she can continue this trend and relive former glories. Crystal Dynamics have without a shadow of a doubt rescued the series but the game still has too many bugs and issues to be declared a must buy. One day we hope to be able to use must buy and Tomb Raider in the same sentence, but this is goig to be the best Tomb Raider game you get until then .. or the next one.

Then again, perhaps the short play-time is a blessing in disguise: it helps spare you from a really long adventure where you have to suffer with that camera. Plus, the sooner the story ends, the quicker you can stop paying attention to it. While that has to count for something, it’s highly doubtful that this is what Eidos was hoping for with the title. Maybe that downloadable content will address the ridiculous camera issues, so let’s be hopeful for that at least.

It's certainly worth playing, but after so many years without a decent Tomb Raider to tackle, now isn't the time to drip-feed new ideas and content.

Tomb Raider Underworld se présentait comme le meilleur épisode de la saga mais se pose uniquement comme un "simple" très bon jeu. Accumulant quelques bugs gênants et divers défauts de gameplay, le titre de Crystal Dynamics n'en reste pas moins très abordable. En somme, malgré ces soucis, ce titre reste fort plaisant grâce à son level-design aussi torturé que celui du TR original, sa plus grande accessibilité, son ambiance enchanteresse et une volonté de terminer en beauté une trilogie en revenant à la source mythologique et familiale.

It may not be a revelatory interactive gaming experience in any way, but Underworld is great fun nonetheless. The combat can be a pain – at least until a late-game twist turns things around – but the puzzles, which form the bulk of the gameplay, are both challenging and enjoyable. Fans of the series can definitely look forward to a solid 8-10 hours of adventuring with Miss Croft and her many, many assets.

Tomb Raider Underworld is a good game that Lara Croft fans will enjoy, but it’s not quite the experience that will live up to or even surpass that of Legend. It’s a shame, really, because there was a large amount of promise, particularly with the “What Could Lara Do?” system, which highlighted good controls for the game, more realistic animations and exploration for Lara, and slightly improved combat. Unfortunately, the game was held back by “What The Technology Couldn’t,” leaving Underworld firmly in Tomb Raider: Legend’s shadow. Only the upcoming downloadable content and achievement points make the 360 version stand out just ahead of the PS3 copy.

Tomb Raider: Underworld é assim uma obra ambígua, composta pelo melhor e pelo pior que a série nos tem oferecido. Uma câmara indomável prejudica a experiência, assim como uma dose de bugs que se pensava não voltar a ver nestas aventuras. O jogo flutua ainda entre ambientes de cortar a respiração e outros perfeitamente dispensáveis, como o é igualmente o abuso de backtracking. Depois de Legend e sobretudo de um Anniversary de luxo, esperava-se mais deste regresso de Lara. Os fãs têm aqui uma boa aventura, mas que precisava de uns quantos meses de afinação para ser verdadeiramente digna da mítica Lara Croft.

Despite some of its technical flaws, the series hasn't lost its charm. Lara Croft is as attractive and agile as ever, using a range of moves to reach her goal. Unfortunately, the mishaps in Tomb Raider Underworld left us mostly disappointed and annoyed. Tomb Raider fans are no doubt going to praise this one and may feel inclined to look the other way. The developers haven't straightened out the bad camera after all these years and that's a major problem throughout the main campaign. Well, with the best intentions we just cannot let this one slide. We expected more from the combat and we sure as hell expected the whole game to be more polished.

However, for every moment that Tomb Raider: Underworld shined, there were two or three where I was extremely disappointed. The fact that it feels at spots like a big movie broken up by interactive segments, rather than a deep game with cutscenes to give you a brief respite from the action, was one of the biggest offenses. Also, though some will want to go back on a “treasure hunt” to find all the hidden items, there’s little other reason to replay it and no multiplayer to add to the longevity. Rent this one for a weekend and you’ll probably squeeze out all that it has to offer.

"Tomb Raider: Underworld" continua com a boa fase da heroína, que foi revitalizada pela Crystal Dynamics em "Tomb Raider: Legend". Para os fãs é um grande prazer reencontrar a musa em busca de sua mãe, algo que amplia sua mitologia, ainda mais depois de notar que a moça volta em excelente forma, repleta de movimentos naturais e precisos. Pena que, com certos defeitos técnicos, alguns combates sem emoção e curta duração da história, os admiradores tenham que continuar na espera por um jogo definitivo da heroína.

Tomb Raider Underworld is een heel genietbaar avontuur. Sommige fans zal het allemaal wat te vertrouwd overkomen, terwijl anderen dit juist zullen waarderen. De vorige Tomb Raider kondigde een comeback aan, Underworld bevestigt die. Het is niet de ultieme aflevering geworden, maar wel de beste sinds vele jaren.

Tomb Raider Underworld gives us our beloved Lara Croft in her best outing in recent years. Offering the same gameplay from a decade ago, Lara gives us the same routine we have all come accustom to. Sadly, this may put some of us to bed less than satisfied. Underworld sought out to capture the essence of the Tomb Raider franchise and it accomplishes that. What it doesn't accomplish is pushing the series forward. In the end, Underworld is great title for Tomb Raider faithful, but falls short for the rest of us.

Le gameplay, quant à lui, s'inscrit totalement dans la lignée d'Anniversary avec l'accent mis sur l'exploration de décors gigantesques et des phases de plates-formes spectaculaires. Bien sûr, d'aucuns regretteront que le jeu ne tente pas d'amener la série un peu plus loin sur des terrains nouveaux et inexplorés jusqu'alors plutôt que de rester prudemment sur ces sentiers connus. Bien sûr, d'aucuns pesteront contre la caméra capricieuse et railleront les petits bugs encore présents çà et là. Mais ces imperfections, si regrettables soient-elles, sont très vite et largement occultées par les qualités indéniables de cette aventure. Peut-être l'un des épisodes les plus réussis de la série depuis sa création.

Tomb Raider Underworld is an enjoyable adventure, but it's one that's just too familiar for anyone who's played the previous games. The basic problems with clipping and the unruly camera are still annoying, and while Lara's new abilities add to her impressive athleticism, the route through most levels is still rigidly linear. The AI and combat are also weak, and while fighting is a relatively small part of the game, Underworld would arguably be better without it. That said, the environments are stunning, and working your way through the many different challenges is still as enjoyable as ever. Ultimately there's still life in the Tomb Raider series, but as the title suggests, it may be in need of another resurrection.

With a Christmas line-up that's one of the best in recent years and includes games that really push the envelope, we're sad to say that Lara isn't cruising above the competition this year round, she's struggling underneath it.

Lara tries to whip out the twins -- get your mind out of the gutter: the "twins" I'm talking about here are 'action' and 'adventure' -- in order to evoke some excitement in Underworld but there isn't enough solid action to back up the platforming. All in all, Ms. Croft's latest effort falls a bit flat with a dated feel; it's obvious that the genre that Lara helped pioneer has long passed her by.

At its best, however, Tomb Raider: Underworld is everything that's great about videogames. It's beautiful, exciting, challenging, rewarding and absorbing. Many of the locations are stunning, and so's Lara. There are thrilling moments, there are scary moments, there are even a few surprising moments. There are times when you feel truly alone and free to explore the huge, expansive environment laid out before you. Sometimes you feel like James Bond, and sometimes you feel like Bruce Lee, and sometimes you feel like 1996 Olympic gymnastics gold medallist Lilia Podkopaveva. But it's not quite the next-gen Tomb Raider adventure we've been waiting for, even if it's enjoyable all the same.

That may sound extreme but an extreme change is what the series needs. Crystal Dynamics' objective with the past two games was to recapture the magic of the early Tomb Raider games and they've proven they can follow the formula from 1996 - but that's just not enough. It's time to shed some of the shortcomings that have been with the series since the beginning. Stagnation is the reason the series switched hands form Core Design to Crystal Dynamics in the first place.

Lara remains a compelling protagonist supported by a well-rounded cast of characters, and Underworld’s visuals are a gorgeous step up from Legend’s, but the gameplay has more problems than a time travel paradox.

I still don’t understand how Lara can use her guns underwater or why she insists on kicking priceless vase’s, but niggles aside Tomb Raider Underworld is actually pretty fun in places. It’s just a shame that this so called update was is so horrendously out of date in comparison to something like Uncharted which trounces Underworld at every turn. Worth a buy if you’re an avid adventuring fan but a rental to the rest of us.

To move away from the pack, Underworld takes a very interesting stance by focusing on tackling cliffs rather than tackling tigers. It’s the right idea with wrong camera and gunplay to pull it off. The ledges lining the walls of the mansion would be more impressive if the camera could actually show them to me. I would appreciate the foliage slowly climbing the sides of the wall if I wasn’t scratching my head over what to do next or why I’m even there. Tomb Raider Underworld heads in the right direction, but just doesn’t have the right tools to accomplish it. With that said, I will save a spot on my dance card for the next time we meet, Ms. Croft.

The numerous performance issues in Underworld mar the overall experience and detract from what could have been a perfect conclusion to the trilogy started by Legend, Anniversary. While it's likely worth it for fans to get closure from Underworld, expect to trudge through a large amount of frustrating gameplay to get it. Suffering from a distinct lack of polish, Tomb Raider Underworld seems like it could have benefited greatly from a little more attention. If it didn't have so many technical issues, Underworld could have been a brilliant conclusion to Lara's latest trilogy.

Beginning to end, the game runs roughly six hours, but there’s little reason to revisit it. For as short as the game is, the only substantial reason to play through it is to witness the excellent visuals. On the surface, Tomb Raider: Underworld looks and sounds fantastic, but much like its heroine, it shows its age upon closer inspection. Both Lara and her series are well past their prime, and both try in vain to look half their age. Though she might be worth a few hours of your time, Lara’s best days are far behind her.