Level: Lara Croft Returns - Episode 3: In the North Author: Boris Samoilenko total rating: 9.00 Gameplay & Puzzles Enemies, Objects & Secrets Atmosphere, Sound & Cameras Lighting & Textures dmdibl 10 9 10 10 eRIC 8 9 10 8 MichaelP 7 8 9 8 Orbit Dream 9 9 10 10 category averages (4 reviews) 8.50 8.75 9.75 9.00 Reviewer's comments "Northern Town (7/7/8/8, 35 min): A pleasant city setting in winter here and you meet Jean Yves and his brother inside the houses, which seem to have rather too high rooms and many, manby buttons and levers throughout, although several doors just open (and close) on approach as well. I had to laugh at the hint of an erotic establishment and of course at Winston roaming that place. The 2CV animation is also worth a chuckle. Gameplay wise you go around in circles with solid camera guidance and the ride with the Quad bike is fun too. A quiet level, as there are no enemies. Excavation Site (8/9/9/8, 50 min): This part is anything but quiet then. Starting underground with overdimensionalized trains & wagons, you quickly start using your weaponry against a myriad of guards who try to protects the area. At times this almost turns into a Base level. The highlight is of course a very clever code card puzzle and then a worthy boss battle against a bunch of willards! Great fun and for me one of the best levels of the entire set. Temple of the Five Artefacts / Altar Isis (7/8/9/9, 10+10 min): These two short levels were a bit underwhelming and you cannot help think the author kind of shortcut the work on them. Especially the first offered so many options to have it easily expanded, as you only get to solve a small trapdoor puzzle and push a few blocks around in a nice colourful room and then the second is a quick escape while enduring Sofia & her clones. Overall, the three Episodes comprise a great level series with many diverse locations and solid enough looks, given the age of the levels and the engine chosen. Gameplay is maybe a bit too easy, repetitive and strightforward most of the time to keep the interest very high for the almost 8 hours of net gaming time that the entire series has, but if you are in for a more relaxing but longer raid then this may be just for you!" - MichaelP (25-Jul-2010) "NORTHERN TOWN [44 minutes / 8 8 9 7] As in the previous episodes, this one starts rather slowly with this first level where a little town has to be explored, this was quite pleasant neverthless with a good winter atmosphere , gameplay consists of spotting a few things before using the quadbike, the author has added another one in case of... The looks are good even with some thin wall. No enemy here but we have a couple of Jean-yves , one of which seems to be the boss of a business of little morality. I quite like the shimmying at the end along a cable. EXCAVATION SITE [52 minutes / 7 10 10 8] Another army base , more modern , very fast paced and much enjoyable. There is firstly the traversing of a room with jumps monkey swing and back, then much of the level turns out to be a shooter with the slaughter of plenty of SAS. Near the end a great puzzle with a code (well done !), and a big battle with giant mutant spiders (great !) The use of music here adds a lot to accompany the course. TEMPLE OF FIVE ARTEFACTS / ALSTAR ISIS [12 + 13 minutes / 6 9 10 8] The author has chosen again the AOD textures for this finale , where Lara is without weapons ; she first has to do a bit a pushing in the first part , I really like the background atmospheric audio in this one, then in the second part has to escape from Sophia’s dangerous darts while climbing a huge room , escape from Sophia’s doubles and defeat them all by flooding all the place. The invisible walls near the top of the room were a bit annoying and the last crawlspaces after the impressive special effect where the Crystal appears were superfluous Anyway an impressive and suitable ending for a great series that you simply can’t miss." - eRIC (09-Nov-2009) "The exciting conclusion of the series, four levels, starting with "Northern Town." Starts with Lara standing in the snow, and a red car should be nearby. This is supposed to be northern Scotland, according to the author's doc file, though it looks more like a Baltic town, and note the signs in the brothel, where Winston seems to have gotten lost. Nice design, and Lara gets to ride the quad bike; not a retextured motorcycle but a superior quad bike. After this quiet level, there follows an action-packed "Excavation Site." Around a train are a squadron of sniper guards, and every time Lara tries to look about they start shooting at her. In self-defense Lara has to clear the area. Use the MP 5, and let her target one guard after another (some you won't see until Lara spots them). This took about 400 rounds for the MP 5. (At the end of this level Lara loses all her weapons and ammo, so freely indulge in the mayhem.) To solve a matrix puzzle Lara needs a security card, but in inventory the card won't stop rotating to allow one to read the markings. The first time playing this, I had to take a screenshot or load the game in fexinspect to read the card, and work out the solution. Now one can use the walkthrough. Next everyone will enjoy the giant mutant spiders. There is a brief linking level, before the encounter with Sophia. In the author's doc file there is a conversation (not actually in the game) where Sophia demands an artifact, and Lara graciously agrees to enclose it when she next mails Sophia her Christmas card. The final brief level has Sophia laughing maniacally, and shooting energy bolts, while Lara climbs a tall room. When I first played this, it took a few attempts to learn the route, but it all goes very quickly. This is in an Arctic slot, so the water is freezing and deadly, and will also destroy multiple Sophias. One hates to see the series end. There should be a number of closing credits, but because of this buggy release none of the credits showed on my screen at the end. This is a major and professional series, and players are doing themselves a disservice if they do not experience it." - dmdibl (02-Nov-2009) "The final four-level episode of the trilogy doesn't disapoint,although it is markedly shorter than the other two.The first level is probably the best of the entire series,with terifficaly thought-out progression through a northern town.Inspired moments abound;but it was Lara's discovery of a Bordello,with Winston offering tea to one of the girls,which was the undoubted highlight.The second level was a somewhat prolongued shooter,with one highly cryptic puzzle (thanks to the redoubtable Harry Laudie for the solution);while the third and fourth levels were very quick and fast-moving,leading to a good confrontation with four Sofia's. If gameplay wasn't perhaps quite as varied as it could have been (too many bullets were needed to get through the second level),the variety of the enemies more than made up for it;while atmosphere,sound,cameras,lighting and texturing were all as superb as can possibly be achieved within the confines of the Unnoficial Editor. All-in-all,this is a fantastic 16 level series and should be far,far better known among the TRLE community.What wonders Boris could achieve if he ever worked with the NGLE I cannot begin to imagine,but I hope that the day won't be too long in coming before he releases another masterpiece.Hearty applause from me for a superb achievement." - Orbit Dream (31-Oct-2009)