EIDOS' 'Tomb Raider Underworld™'—  Fearless Play!
Designed specifically to take advantage of the latest technologies Tomb Raider: Underworld represents a new advancement in exploration-based game play. As fearless adventurer Lara Croft explore exotic locations around the world, each designed with an incredible attention to details resulting in a most breathtaking high-definition visual fidelity that creates a believable world and delivers a new level of challenge and choice. For generations, allegorical stories have been told of the fearsome weapon of the Norse god Thor. Legend holds that he who wields the hammer has the power to smash mountains into valleys and the strength to destroy even the gods. For more than a thousand years it has existed only as a myth...until now. In an ancient ruin on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea, Lara Croft uncovers proof of the Norse underworld and the mythical hammer. As she attempts to unravel the secrets behind these myths, Lara's perilous journey leads her toward a forgotten power that, if unleashed, could lay waste to all civilization. Master your surroundings: Reach new heights with the broadest range of acrobatic abilities and utilize objects within the environment to uncover new paths to explore. Explore epic and unknown worlds: Discover ancient mysteries of the underworld hidden within the coast of Thailand, frozen islands of the Arctic Sea, the jungles of Mexico, and more. Treacherous and unpredictable challenges: Each level is an elaborate multi-stage puzzle masked within an interactive environmental playground offering more flexibility over how the area is solved.

Brand new state-of-the-art gear— Utilize the latest technology in Lara's upgraded inventory to navigate the world including: Multi-purpose grapple: A claw-like device with a high-tension cable designed for climbing, rappelling, performing wall runs and also manipulating objects within the game environment. All-terrain hybrid motorbike: A unique vehicle design built to drive on everything from mud to snow and ice. Level design and environmental challenges are designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The combat system has been further enhanced for more fluid character control and more precise aiming with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Take more control of the camera using the Wii Remote. If the Wii Remote is not pointed directly at the screen, the camera will follow Lara automatically. If it is pointed at the screen, the game will enter a "free look" mode. The game starts off with a very serial-like "Previously on... " introduction that recaps the events of the previous game in quick-edit fashion where the player learns that her motivation has something to do with tracking down her mother. After getting the player caught up, Lara's whisked into action as her mansion's set ablaze. This is the "tutorial mission" of sorts where players learn how to control Lara by getting her the heck out of harm's way as her house is turned into a burning wreck.

Lara still retains her ultra cool "Prince of Persia" like platforming abilities, and the puzzles she works her way through still have the "convenience factor" built in. Like, for example, one of the first creatures you face off with is this enormous squid-like beast— a Kraken [see Pirates of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest]— with tentacles so huge that could make any fan fiction writer blush. But he's strategically positioned under this platform complete with spikes jutting out from the bottom of it. Once again, what the Wii version gets exclusively are control modifications that can only be performed with the motion and pointer capabilities of the remote. Puzzles have been tweaked to utilize the strengths of the controller. Some puzzles require getting out a welder torch or a dirt blower before you can access the items, and you'll shift around items, like gears during the aforementioned Kraken puzzle, by pointing and clicking. Of course, you can target and shoot using the pointer, and the designers even throw in a bit of motion when pulling levers or pushing buttons. The camera control seems to have been given a bit of a tweak in this sequel. Instead of using the on-screen reticule to maneuver the camera around for a better view, instead you simply nudge it around using the D-pad. This seems to make a little more sense, though we can't say that it ended up being super-smooth considering the D-pad is digital and doesn't allow for subtle movements the same way that analog stick camera controls do.

Tomb Raider Underworld will also allow her/you to multitask like never before: Lara will be able to shoot her gun with one hand while hanging from a ledge with the other hand, use the grapple hook to latch into unsuspected areas or interact with objects while in precarious situations without falling. The grapple hook will play a more important role in Underworld, as it won't only let you grab onto things but also will serve to retrieve and possibly destroy many objects. Lara's motorcycle is back as well. It was used in Tomb Raider Legend, and it will be part of Underworld. As it is to be expected, players will also notice the A.I. is much smarter than in previous installments. The enemies will calculate their moves and attack when they feel it's safe or wait until you journey off and attack them. They'll even run away sometimes, especially when things are getting really ugly for them. If you plan it right, you can also make the enemies fight each other, like in the case of panthers and poachers that appear in the game demo. We HIGHLY recommend this game! UB


Beth E. Cochran is a nationally syndicated journalist as well as the illustrious West Coast Editor for UPBEAT Entertainment News Online. She has written for several prominent entertainment publications including Entertainment Weekly, Soap Opera Update, and Soap Opera Magazine, to name but a few. Beth is currently working on several screenplays.
 

   
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
 

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