trle.net ::: Level Reviews

Level:	Necro's Domain 6 - Lost in the Catacombs
Author(s):	Necro

total rating:	7.28	Gameplay & Puzzles	Enemies, Objects & Secrets	Atmosphere, Sound & Cameras	Lighting & Textures
	dmdibl	8	7	8	6
	eRIC	8	8	8	5
	eTux	8	6	8	6
	Jay	8	7	8	7
	Jose	7	6	8	6
	Kristina	8	8	8	8
	MichaelP	7	6	8	5
	Phil	8	8	8	8
	Samu	8	7	8	6
	category averages (9 reviews)	7.78	7.00	8.00	6.33

Reviewer's comments

"Everything is here to make a good game, but it seems undeveloped. There are good sequences in a room where Lara has to finds ways to shoot five gems in lions' mouths, or where Lara swings across triple ropes. There was a mirror room where we have to maneuver Lara's reflection, and various puzzles. But there is little decoration in barren rooms. For me interesting architecture is essential for a pleasant Tomb Raider experience. And I had trouble with Von Croy's AI. I would quickly and easily play the game, then consult the walk-through to make sure I wasn't missing any secret keys, and read that Von Croy was supposed to be standing on the ledge with Lara when he was nowhere in sight. I had to replay one section three times before Von Croy finally caught up with Lara. Well, this is hardly the first level to have problems with the Tomb Raider guide AI, though it may be the first to have different people doing voices for Von Croy. Hiding the third secret key at the bottom of a large and opaque pool of oil (one that will soon be on fire) did not strike me as fair. There is an odd bonus level "Lara's Knightmare," which has Lara with a helmet over her head, and we have to use cameras to direct her, and to solve various riddles. This can be fun--I was happy to go along with the riddles--but sometimes Lara has to make choices, select two out of three objects, without any clue as to what is needed. The bonus level may be quite appealing to some people, indeed, may be the highlight, the whole reason to recommend these levels, though some may find it mostly a curiosity." - dmdibl (10-Jun-2009)

"The first and regular level is good , despite some minor bugs, as it has many various puzzles, and some actions with the ropes that need to be accurately done. It is a pity that the author has not taken more time to embellish the rooms, and that the lighting is not very pleasant at times. I don’t recall other enemies here other than elementals and little scorpions. On the other hand a good work has been done with the use of Von Croy , flybys and audio tracks for the direction of the gameplay. I could not find all of the 3 bonus keys so I played the bonus level by renaming it and with the according scripts. This level is really original with plenty of riddles to solve , even questions of general culture where you have to answer by false or true. Excellent concept, it is a pity that I did not always understood quite well what was being asked. I guess English players would enjoy this even more than I did. Still it was very interesting to get through." - eRIC (25-May-2008)

"So far for me - definitely the best level of the series. Despite the usual author's hiccups like over-sized rooms, stretched textures, door bugs, repetitive texture issues that you'd expect to be eradicated by the author's 6th release, I had the best time playing a level of the author's so far. After the intriguing end of part 5, this doesn't carry on the story immediately, but instead offers a sort of a flashback level with a gun-trotting young Lara and Von Croy raiding some random catacombs setting. Aesthetically this was the most pleasing level for me yet - with good use of colourful lighting to create a convincing atmosphere and the textures, despite the usual problems with the author's levels, being put to good use in some rooms, like the one in which you find the scroll to name an example. I had no major objections as far as the puzzles went - the coloured tile one was way too obscure for me, but at least that was soon forgotten when I figured out how the invisible tile one worked in the next room. The highlight probably is the hunt for the 5 lion heads to shoot and the wraith chase. I found only 2 of the 3 secrets, and couldn't really be bothered to search for the one I was missing, so you'll have to turn to other reviews to find out what the bonus level was about. A thing that has irked me in other levels of the author too is, why he provides ammo for guns we can never find in the level? Seems kind of pointless - and a waste of his own resources he could've used to improve other aspects of the game. I also would've loved to find out what the purpose of this whole excursion from the main storyline was when I reached the abrupt ending (though I suppose it's hardly abrupt - with the author always using the same banner and audio track to indicate you're close to the finish line) which I was sadly not given, taking into consideration that the storyline is actually the series' strongest point, but I enjoyed this all the same - so can definitely recommend it if you're not tired of the catacomb settings." - eTux (19-Nov-2007)

"Lost in the Catacombs (7/6/7/5, 50 min., 3 secrets): This is a rather straightforward adventure in rather big and empty and square rooms with simplistic texturing and rather poor lighting, but it has originality with the use of Von Croy and some rather decent camera action along the way. The secrets are actually tough to find, but necessary to be able to proceed to the bonus level. The puzzle with the colour tiles was clever but a bit too obscure to figure out all by oneself, the pitch black room with invisble tiles very annoying, the shooting of the five gems in lion mouths probably the best gameplay element and the long chase with a wraith on your tail probably the most tedious. I thought it was a bit of a pity that the door to the bonus level was rather hard to find, as I am sure many players will simply not be bothered to look for it.
Lara's Knightmare (7/6/9/5, 30 min.): Now that was fun! Obviously I do not know the TV show referenced here, but the whole concept to go through a series of rooms, solving riddles and tasks was rather nicely executed, especially with the recurring audio hints and explanations. Make sure you get to this part as it is a very enjoyable romp." - MichaelP (25-Mar-2007)

"That was a different kind of TR level but quite interesting. I believe some players might not appreciate the unique gameplay but as always not all games are for everyone. I liked this one though and especially the riddles which were a piece of cake in my opinion. I have no idea about the TV the author is talking about in his readme but it doesn’t matter as I enjoyed playing the level anyway. You need a few keys to access the bonus level and I had the luck to find them all. It is a nice change from all the huge or plain levels we have to play, something out of the ordinary that is always intriguing. I would advise the TR fans to give this one a try." - Kristina (07-Dec-2006)

"A level with some interesting puzzles, but architecture isn't good, and textures are not well applied. I don't know what VC does in the game, only for decorate? Camera shots don't return to Lara, you'll have to use the "Ins" key. This level is quite dark, but I found few flares, and in the last part the flare bug appears. I've find many difficults to kill the ghost with the underwater statue. I only found two of three secret keys, so I couldn't play the bonus level and can't review it. Isn't a bad level, but there are some aspects to get better." - José (24-Jul-2006)

"I'm not sure about the ethics or established rules governing the review of levels one has been unable to complete through no fault of the gamer. I encountered a situation that prevented me from playing the bonus level, but I feel that this shouldn't deprive the builder of a favorable review of the part I WAS able to play. Since the builder says he has no objection, here goes. This level in my opinion has a better "look" than the earlier levels in the series. The gameplay is moderately challenging and there are three secrets in the form of Knightmare Keys, all of which have to be located in order to play the bonus level. There are some rough spots along the way that required me to call for help. If not for the builder's explanation in the stuck thread I would probably have never made it across the room with the invisible platforms. The mirror room with the spikes and the fixed camera angle is also difficult to conquer. You're assisted to some extent by Von Croy, and his animation becomes quite amusing when he gets to a spot where he can't continue without your help. I found this to be an entertaining, high-end level, and I'm only sorry I was unable to play the bonus level for technical reasons that are apparently unique to me at this point." - Phil (14-Jul-2006)

"I must say I was tickled to hear both Lara and Von Croy with northern English accents – it made quite a change. Initially I though this level might be a little boring, but it develops nicely and there’s some rather clever stuff going on – a variation on the mirror room involving a spike maze which kept me occupied for a surprisingly long time, an interesting push puzzle and a ‘leap of faith’. If you find three keys in your travels (which needless to say I didn’t and had to rely on a kind person’s savegame from the stuck thread), you can access a bonus level apparently based on a children’s television programme, Knightmare, which is an intriguing notion. I was really unsure about this from the readme as the builder had to rely on fixed camera angles to try and recreate the feel of the TV show. Now normally I hate fixed camera angles with a fiery passion but in this context they actually work rather well and much against my expectations I found I was having a lot of fun. The puzzles aren’t difficult but the fact that the questions and clues are delivered verbally could leave non English speakers in a bit of a fix. That aside, it certainly kept me entertained." - Jay (14-Jul-2006)

"This is a kind of cave level where you complete tasks with Verner Von Croy almost all the time. I think puzzles are the highlight of this level and especially few of them are really wonderful. The worst thing is that rooms aren't very interesting and textures which they include aren't chosen and used very well. This level would be absolutely very good level if rooms were designed better because tasks which you have to complete are in itself very good." - Samu (13-Jul-2006)