Reviewer's comments |
"Philip, Philip, when will you learn. It is such a pity because in itself there are some nice levels made by this builder but one after the other just fall short. Bugs city in most of them and this level is no exception. Very buggy in the pole department and although I started this many moons ago I had to throw it in the bin as I couldn’t proceed. Yes, it was the pole swinging. So downloading it again, still the same buggy version. Oh well, I did had a good time though (apart from the buggy part) and the idea was a great one." - Gerty (14-Apr-2011) |
"Well, this is a very interesting and diverse set of level that is a bit hard to rate properly within the given criteria. The level set consists basically of 3 playable parts and a couple of short cut-scene segments which are selectable from the main menu: The playable parts are all in typical PH fashion and contain tons of new moves, which once learned, are actually pretty nice and well used for the most part. Santa Claus in Trouble: A Christmas level on platform jumping basis where Santa gets to use his newly acquired double jump to reach far away ledges. It is lots of fun to play and a pleasure to look at. Nice use of objects and old enemies as something completely different, like the coughing mummy as Christmas tree. Mirror’s Edge: I am not familiar with the original game, but this is a fast paced straightforward action game with lots of climbing and jumping, rope walks and pole swings from building to building. It turned out to be a fairly easy quest for the most part, except for a double pole swing over a timed burner that seemed to ask for luck instead of skill. The atmosphere was nice with good action music and texturing was very basic and minimalist, which in this case was definitely not a bad thing at all. Princess of Persia: This part has three sub levels and the game play here is nice and offers a variety of different tasks, even some 3D puzzle work, but for the most part it was based on jumping and climbing using the new moves and it was a fairly relaxing and enjoyable play until the sequence where Lara (without weapons) has to outrun a wolf in a maze to lead the beast into a trap. I found that part extremely irritating and thought it didn’t add to the game play in any way, except for frustration and constant reloads. The atmosphere was good with well-chosen music and the texturing and lighting was superb looking with a pretty Lara model and lots of high-rez textures. The end of this Persia part wasn’t playable but offered a well-done cut scene where Lara reaches the end of the playable and also the end of the textured part of the level. Another short level with a stage and singing girls ends this interesting and fun game. Conclusion: A wonderful adventure but not free of bugs or problems. There are quite a few reloads necessary here and there and especially the pole swinging didn’t always seem to work, as it should have. Definitely highly recommended if you don’t mind a few imperfections!" - Blue43 (01-Jan-2011) |
"I liked the way of building rooms and textures in this game. I
think for who wants to remember other games while playing tomb
raider it would be a great choice. I personally loved this
idea. The game have great animations and creative challenges.
In spite of that, there are a lot of technical errors and
texture errors, the game would be with a better rating if this
was fixed before the releasing. I didn’t like the act that the
princess of Persia can hold pistols in one of the levels. The
author should do like he did in other levels. The game has
it’s bad points but it still a good game to play." - Adriel (24-Dec-2010) |
"Three games with different topic.
Santa Clause in trouble: very short game, but lot's of jumping, running and avoid traps. Quite nice Christmas game.
Mirror's edge: again lot's of jumping, running through the roofs of big buildings, not much to do.
Princess of Persia: the best game of this custom. Nice textures, beautiful atmosphere. However too many poles in these levels.
In conclusion:
I liked new moves, the ways for defeat enemies were ingenious." - Andzia9 (03-Dec-2010) |
"Santa Claus in Trouble (6/8/7/8, 10 min, 1 secret): A quirky little level with a set of seasonal tunes and largely designed to show off the funny double jump. The bouncing snowman and mummy trees are hilarious and if you go for the secret you even get to do all the jumping twice.
Mirrors Edge (7/8/9/8, 15 min): I really enjoyed this short run with the engaging ambience music. The spirit of the game is captured really well - except maybe for the use of the tightrope. Great flyby about half way through.
Princess of Persia (9/10/9/9, 50 min): And so PH returns to his roots, as his levelbuilding career started with a demo effort around the Prince. He has come a long way in these 2+ years though, as this is an entertaining and engaging adventure, largely through the use of a variety of new moves that take a bit of practice to master. All the pole jumps, wall runs, pillar jumps etc keep you busy quite a lot and I thought they were great fun! Add to that a timed run, a push puzzle, a small element puzzle in a simple hedge maze and you get a nice diverse level. Very clever as well how you need to kill a wolf and two lions without any weapons and the 'finish trigger' is a cool idea too.
As an overall package, this works quite well too with the added intro and long Singstar outro on top of the FMVs that connect the individual games. Something special and a little different - so for sure worth a look!" - MichaelP (02-Sep-2010) |
"This is a difficult level set to review given that all the levels within it are very different. I really love the idea of making levels about existing games, and I have always wanted to see a Prince of Persia type Lara game. This level was definitely my favorite. Honestly, though, without the fancy moves, the other levels would have been just mediocre. That said, the moves were there and I loved them. I wish everyone would make levels with these new moves. The double jump would be very helpful, and it was a very smooth movement. I love the idea of the wall bounce in Mirrors Edge, but sadly, this was not used much, and the level became a jumpfest. The most eventful level was the Princess of Persia one, with the awesome pole swinging and puzzle solving. Even killing an enemy became a puzzle! Very nice. I just had to laugh when the guard came running toward the fire and stood there pointing his sword at it like he was going to put it out with that thing! I was quite impressed with the wall running, but bummed that it was only automatic. I have to give PH credit, though, for somehow developing these great new moves. They make levels so much more interesting." - Shandroid (21-Aug-2010) |
"Because the levels are completely differnent, I make a
review for each one: SANTA CLAUSE IN TROUBLE A nice
christmas level and I enjoyed it very much. The new double
jump was really funny and of course helpful. Not many
objects, one secret and rather little use of different
textures, but they were coherent. MIRRORS EDGE As the
original it is completely about running and jumping (and as
Santa Clause level). Many new moves were interpreted for the
world of Lara. Very nice to see the wall jumping which one
can find in TR:Underworld now. The only enemies were guards
shooting at you but they weren't dangerous. I also liked
that Lara rolled instead of stumbled when she falls from a
higher platform. Atmosphere was rather little but some
textures were good. PRINCESS OF PERSIA I didn't play the
real game but I think the blade traps, the new jumps, the
interesting puzzles like the water/fire puzzle made these
levels to the best in this levelpack. It was very
challenging and sometimes hard to perform, but doable. I
don't think that these things are bugs. Textures and
lightning are well done, but not so that I love them.
All in all a very innovative levelpack which is
recommendable. The fact that there weren't much textures
didn't make me change my mind. A must-play.
Single points: SANTA CLAUSE IN TROUBLE 8/6/8/7; MIRRORS EDGE
8/7/6/7; PRINCESS OF PERSIA 10/10/9/9" - manarch2 (27-Jul-2010) |
"Santa Claus in Trouble: A very cute little level, involving jumping around on floating ledges and blocks, collecting gifts. Bouncing snowmen, hostile Christmas trees (which aren’t really dangerous), talking candy canes, and a lot of other Christmas paraphernalia: it’s all adorable and quite a lot of fun, especially the new double jump move. The main downsides are the music (argh, ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ playing over and over hundreds of times can drive anyone crazy!); and the fact that going for the sole secret in the level means having to play the whole level again.
Mirror’s Edge: I haven’t played the original game, but I do know a bit about it. The builder has done a good job of imitating the gameplay style of this game, but not the looks, which are too grey and dreary. The music adds nicely to the sense of urgency throughout the level. There are plenty of enjoyable bits, from Lara’s cool new moves to killing a guard by pushing a box on him.
Princess of Persia (3 levels): Being a huge fan of the Prince of Persia series, I was eager to see how the games could be translated into the TRLE world. Sadly, even though the builder has done a good job of trying to imitate some of the Prince’s signature moves, he has not managed to capture the looks or atmosphere of the original games. But even without the comparison to the Prince of Persia games, these three levels are not very enjoyable. The first one has some good bits (like distracting a guard by setting fire to a nearby barrel; inserting a pole into the wall and climbing on it), but they feel outnumbered by the tedious bits (like trying to swing on some very buggy poles; the seemingly never-ending jaunts in the dreary sewers). The second one mostly involves more buggy pole swinging, and the last one is very tiny, little more than a cutscene.
Singstar: Just a cutscene, which might have looked good if the dancers hadn’t lacked joints.
There’s also a nice Intro cutscene, as well as FMVs in between the levels.
Overall: This levelset has an interesting idea at its core, but it has been executed so unevenly that it feels more like a showcase for the builder’s animation skills (which are good, no doubt) rather than a coherent game. Still, it’s worth checking out if you are in the mood for something a little off the beaten track." - Mytly (03-Jul-2010) |
"I first played this level just as a player and I was puzzled as to the moderately low scores as I enjoyed it very much. I have just replayed it as a reviewer and am still puzzled! Basically, the level is in three parts, the first is a silly, fun level where you play Santa, no weapons, nasty Christmas trees and lots of jumping about, including an interesting ‘double jump’ that’s easy to master. All in all, great fun! The second is set on the skyline of a city. Again, no guns, lots of jumping about, imaginative way of killing a guard and a great finishing trigger. I particularly liked the way Lara drop-kicked doors and tumbled after a long jump. On the down side, I felt that there was so much more scope for the rooftop scenario and there was a slight ‘unfinished’ feel to it all. The last level sees Lara escaping from a cell, distracting the guard with a very imaginative move, and escaping via a bazaar and a maze. Lovely rip-off of the Prince of Persia’s run along a wall, novel way of killing a wolf and some lions (no guns) and some fun pole work! I found the poles to be a little ‘buggy’ but easily got round by changing direction of the approach to them. Great shout-out to Douggie Fairbanks Snr with a knife slid down a strip of cloth! I enjoyed playing this the first time round and still enjoyed it the second." - Diz (28-Apr-2010) |
"Probably better than the scores indicate, but with several buggy pole jumps. I wasn't familiar with any of the games. In "Santa Claus in Trouble," Santa Claus does a double jump [hold down ALT in air], making this mostly a curiosity. In "Mirror's Edge," the heroine springs off walls to go higher and higher up a vertical shaft. Tight rope walking is difficult, as side-arrow keys make the main character do an about face, rather than correct her balance. This brief level is similar to another author release, which is why we find the same laser sight, even though in this version there are no weapons. The highlight game is the longer and well-developed "Princess of Persia." If one plays these levels in series, there is an opening movie that suggests exotic Persia in the female's sinuous dance, so we assume our heroine will be playing in a gauzy harem-girl costume. At level start I had to recover from shattered expectations. There are savegame bugs, probably from shooting a barrel when there aren't supposed to be weapons. A forum post gives the solution: don't play these levels in series, but restart, choose "New Game," and then level select "Princess of Persia." This bypasses the opening and misleading movie, and insures that Lara has no weapons. The emphasis is on new moves and new animations, and some work better than others. Lara can plant a pole in the wall, jump to it, pull up to stand on it, and leap forward to grab a higher ledge. This worked well in play, giving a fresh feeling. But the more common pole jump has problems: in several places a jump is impossible unless Lara grabbed the air above the pole--sometimes far above the pole--then swung and leaped. There is an annoying hedge maze with a bounding hurtful dog: to dispose of it, lure it to put its head in the path of a rolling boulder, which is easier said than done. Much here is creative, the new moves leading to original design and actions, such as the opening sequence to light the candles. A review could make a long list of good moments. But when actions like pole jumps don't work, players are made to feel stupid. A saintly reviewer would put such feelings aside, and rate the game on its many merits, but in the end I was just glad to finish." - dmdibl (28-Mar-2010) |
"It is really pity which this project was not completely implemented. One finds here interesting places and some Moves which I have never seen from Lara. That, what PH has published, looks good, but partly incomplete. But one by one
Santa Claus in trouble: Who thinks up only such music? Terribly! This sounds as if a small boy jingled on a toddler organ. And one must endure this in the whole level. Well, the level is relatively short, but one gets of this awful sound a hearing damage. The Gameplay is relatively easy. One is on the move as a Santa Claus and must run only a little bit and jump and collect a few presents. This level reminds a little bit of these early Jump & Run-Games from Nintendo
Mirrors Edge: In this level one is on the move mainly on high-rises and must jump from roof to roof to reach a helicopter. Now and then one also has to go into the high-rises. The textures are remarkable, because only few colours were used. Two times the player is fired by soldiers. But this is no big problem, because these soldiers stand on roofs and one must simply go on, then they stop solely.
Princess of Persia: This three-parter still looked the best, but it comes to a sudden end. And one can take this literally, because one recognises exactly the place at which this level did not build any more. Except two devoted lions and an irritating dog there are no opponents. And because one has no weapons in all Levels, one must get rid of the lions with a spike trap and the dog with a Rollingball. One riddle is built up a little bit illogically. Though Lara can escape from her cell, but was not attacked by the guard who was positioned before the cell if she passes him. This was also with Mirrors Edge in such a way. There a soldier stood on one of the high rises. This soldier had a Disk which Lara wanted to have. The soldier has not stirred himself when Lara passed him.
In the end one could still have a look at a small "music video". To sum up, one can say that here a few people have had a really good idea. Unfortunately, this idea was not implemented completely, but what one could see and play, has made fun. Well, apart from this awful music in the first level." - Scottie (19-Jan-2010) |
"This is a most interesting idea, with Lara adopting the gameplay mode of various other genres, together with a selection of new moves to fit each scenario. Beginning with Lara as Santa and a super new double jump, you have to negotiate a series of sky high platforms, inhabited by some wonderful objects (loved the bouncing snowmen and weird walking Christmas trees) to collect presents, before driving off in a sleigh. The second segment mainly consists of leaping around on rooftops, with quite a bit of use of pole swings and some fascinating wall jumping to achieve. The final two part ‘Princess of Persia’ segment is the most interesting in terms of gameplay and, given that Lara has no weapons, you will need to find cunning ways to kill off enemies etc. I enjoyed this level a lot and would have given it a higher score if the pole swinging animations had not been so hit and miss. Sometimes they work like a charm and at other times you can be reloading time after time, trying to get Lara into the exact position to achieve multiple swings, which is immensely frustrating. For this reason, I’d have to describe it as fabulous but flawed. It’s still a brave attempt at something different and well worth playing though." - Jay (01-Jan-2010) |
"Not bad, but this author apparently only makes an alpha-test when he finish levels, or is that his beta testers are not very good 'cause I found several serious bugs. Is generally in line of previous levels. It has some good details and I liked some new objects-traps near the end, animations and some stages, but greatly abused the horizontal poles and the game relies almost exclusively on the movements of Lara, not including puzzles that make us think a little. It notices little attention to details and a lot of precipitation for wanting to publish the game as soon as possible, for example, rendering of the final singers. This author has much potential, but must learn to use it in another way." - Jose (30-Dec-2009) |
"I thought that this level deserves some high praise. Yes it does have the odd glitch but i'm going to ignore that for today since a lot of hard work has gone into the project and a good game has come out of it. I thought that the levels were well designed (mostly) and the outcome of them were all great for me. I'm quite liked the Santa level since for once i didn't have to use the guns which i am getting bored of hearing the same sounds over and over again with. The lighting was great, not too dark and not too bright in some areas and the textures suited the levels well. I won't give any of the story away as i don't like to spoil it for others who may read the reviews before they play it. All i can say for next time is that the game should be tested more often, the glitches arent exactly ruining the game for me but others hate to play with problems in the game. Grade = A/B(if i include glitches)" - herothing (30-Dec-2009) |
"Not really a good PH level.The sparks part was really funny because of the animations and the girls had no joints at all lol Okay let's look at the gameplay.The levels needed a lot more beta testing in my opinion! There were a few very big bugs.Especially in the Mirror's edge level!The Santa Claus level was fun,but the impossible jumps were really annoying!The Princess of Persia level also had a few big glitches and some of the moves need fixing.It's a good try thought,but the levelset needed more time before releasing...." - Yoshi (30-Dec-2009) |
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