trle.net
Level: Temple of the Four Elements back home search
Author(s): PiterN
total rating:6.21 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
Boris 8 7 8 8
CC 5 5 4 5
Dimpfelmoser 5 5 6 6
G.Croft 5 4 4 5
Gerty 7 6 6 7
Kristina 9 7 8 8
MichaelP 6 4 6 6
Momster 6 5 6 6
Orbit Dream 7 4 8 7
RaiderGirl 8 6 8 7
Sash 8 6 7 8
Selene 6 5 6 5
Treeble 7 6 6 5
category averages
(13 reviews)		 6.69 5.38 6.38 6.38

Reviewer's comments

"As the title indicates this is a level located inside a catacomb/temple containing rooms of the four elements that Lara must struggle her way through in order to escape the temple. I have always been especially fond of levels with element rooms so I found this one pretty ok in overall. The puzzles were quite easy and fairly straight-forward, you never really got stuck anywhere so for that part it could have been harder. I think this level lacks that intense, realistic atmosphere that makes you almost feel like youre actually present there with Lara and I also missed that excitement that continuously keeps you on the edge of your seat. The storyline was pretty linear, there was never much doubt on where to go next and the rooms were rather clean and simple. The music was ok, nothing that really caught my ear. When it comes to enemies there were far too few to my liking, only a couple of mummies and skeletons. I could not find any secrets either. On the other hand there were plenty pickups along the way. The Air chamber was way too easy in my opinion, but I really loved the Earth room. It was without doubt the best part of the entire level. I was quite surprised to see that the level did not end right after unlocking the four doors like I had almost expected it to, something which was a nice twist. All in all a good level for beginners, but the more advanced players might be a bit bored with the lack of enemies and the straight-forward gameplay." - Selene (07-Jan-2006)

"Lara slides into a room with four doors. Though each are different environments for the four elements, Earth, Air, Water and Fire. She must find a gem in each one. Fire, has columns to jump to over a lava floor, not all of which are safe. Water, is a time-consuming but cleverly constructed underwater maze, opening door after door to find switches. Earth is an interesting series of jumps with boulders in hot pursuit and spike traps. Air, the easiest room of all, with platforms very high up in an enormous room. Enemies are skeletons. And finally she finds the Knot and Pillar and escapes through a large tunnel to freedom. I liked the overhead camera every time Lara runs under a see-through ceiling tile. Even these days, this is a nice little level to play." - CC (07-Jun-2005)

“This just goes to show how tastes differ. I'd put off this quest because despite the admirable and small download the reviewers had all complained about a giant water maze which (for all those who don't know me well enough) is one of my pet hates. But by a peculiar quirk of fate I discovered the air-hole almost immediately and thereafter swam through the maze with no problems and found my way to the centre quite easily and logically. As a puzzle it is actually one of the best and well thought-out water areas I've so far encountered and shouldn't really be a problem for most players. What irritated instead me in this level was the 'Fire Element' sequence which seemed completely random and without logic. As a Grand Concept this storyline has appeared several times (in 'The Elements' for one and also in the endlessly brilliant 'The Final Quest') but it does work and bears different interpretations well. This Builder has done his best to come up with appropriate challenges for the respective Elements (even though the 'Air' seems to be a slightly wasted opportunity) and the variety of challenges which result from the overall concept make it all enjoyable; in particular the 'Earth' sequence which is the undoubted highlight. It's a pity it all fizzles out at the end in a long sequence of pointless running despite the sprint out of the Cave being a suitable Finale. I was also disappointed that once again there appears to have been no ultimate objective to the challenges on offer except for the satisfaction of completing them. Nonetheless this remains a good rather underrated level which should be more popular; if only because of its tiny download.” – Orbit Dream (15-Apr-2004)

“Finding four gems is your goal in this game as you need those if you ever want to see daylight again. Traveling through 4 rooms earth water fire and air will give you the so needed gems. One room is more difficult to go through that the other and luckily after getting the gem you don’t have to travel back the same way. The underwater maze is tedious to say the least but once you manage to find the first push switch you make some air hole to get some needed air so you can continue without drowning. Then there is a pillar and a knot to find. Camera work with the transparent tiles was great to look at. 05-02-2003” – Gerty (09-Feb-2003)

“The idea behind the level is a simple one - to solve a puzzle for each element getting a blue gem as you complete each one. Not a new idea but it was very well executed here with a tricky underwater puzzle and a fire puzzle that will have you reloading quite a few times. The earth room was my favorite with its interesting jumps around spikes and boulders but the air room was a bit too easy for me. I was pleasantly surprised when I placed the four gems and there was still more to the level - I assumed it would be over pretty quickly. Instead I found more skeletons and a little more work needed to escape from the temple. I'm not sure if the crossbow was supposed to be a secret or not but I didn't find it till the very end so it didn't do me much good. The view outside the mouth of the cave at the end was just brilliant and it was worth playing the level just to see it.” – RaiderGirl (27-Nov-2002)

“I enjoyed the earth branch with its tricky boulder traps and good jumps whereas the hit and miss hopping over the fire tiles was a bit of a nuisance the air part a rather short affair with a couple of jumps and the notorious underwater maze is one of the worst I've ever seen. You need to open 10 doors or so and you get no hint whatsoever which way to proceed. So it's a matter of tedious searching drowning and reloading. After you found the four gems in the first part you get a lot of uneventful running and climbing towards the end but I liked the above camera view when Lara passed under the transparent floor tile. The atmosphere is quite good the simple gameplay has a nice flow (apart from the underwater maze) but I think more could have been made with the enemies as skeletons are no fun when you have explosives with you.” – Dimpfelmoser (22-Oct-2002)

“Here is another level that splits the game play into two distinct adventures. The first has you searching for four gems through different puzzles and traps to open four consecutive large doors and the second has you making your way through maze like tunnels and a couple of rooms where you eventually climb a circular staircase then climb a ladder to end walking out of a wonderfully stunning mouth of a cave. The puzzles in the first half of this level were really fun though not too difficult although some players may find the underwater door maze a little repetitive but I thought it was smartly done and in the second half there really isn’t much in the way of puzzles but more in just progressing. All in all though this is a very entertaining 45 minutes level.” - Sash (21-Jun-2002)

“A rather uneventful though nicely set catacomb level with a theme. You have to find four gems in four areas representing the 'elements': Earth (with spikes rolling balls and jumps) Fire (in a big lava room with fire tiles) Air (on high walkways with a few skeletons) and of course Water (with the unavoidable and very tedious underwater maze which consumes most of the 45 minutes of net gaming). After that it is some running around finding another Pharos Knot and Pillar meeting another two skeletons and climb to freedom.” – Michael (21-Jun-2002)

“The level is good. Lara has to find 4 gems to open 4 gates among rooms with traps hinders and labyrinths in the first part of the level that is even more difficult long and a little boring above all the labyrinth under water. Then Lara finds other artifacts killing some skeleton warriors and she open gates to end the level. I think that I have found a secret (the crossbow) but there was not the usual acoustic signal. I have not found any bug and I have ended the level in about 1 hour.” - Boris (21-Jun-2002)

“You start sliding down to the main hall of the temple which gives you access to the four elements (fire water air and earth) challenges: the easiest is the air one where you just cross a large bridge with some skeletons and the hardest is the fire one with some pillars that will fire up just when Lara stays on them. You will have to swim a lot in the water challenge and the earth is not hard but it's not that easy. After finishing the four challenges where each one will give you a gem you use them to open your passage to the final part of the level where the challenges aren't so challenging. A nice level after all but more care with the texturing would help to make it better.” - Treeble (21-Jun-2002)

“A nice little level with nice looking rooms some puzzles and some running just for the running. I get a feeling that most of the effort has been to do the building not to make an exciting level.” – G.Croft (21-Jun-2002)

“I really enjoyed this level. It has a very good flow with some traps that can actually kill you for once not like most levels that traps are to laugh for. Spike balls can surprise you often enough the spikes are visible but still you need to maneuver a little to get past them. Although in the room with the three doors and the spikes all over it I didn't understand their purpose as the faces you needed to push were easily accessed. Gathering four gems which I guess were the elements the player has to pass through a number of obstacles the lava room and burning blocks going around them isn't easy as they are not in a sequence you might have to get close to the beginning of the room and back to the end to be able to finally get to the opening across. Slopes with spikes on the floor and balls coming down when you least expected and even when it looks like you avoided the first one guess again another one is coming. The main area has four doors one of them lead to a water maze with many doors and faces to push behind them. It needs patience to get past it and acquire one more gem. I admit I got a little frustrated but as the openings were near and Lara could get some air without drowning all the time I managed to pass it. The big room with the many skeletons and the floating platforms was easy though the other tasks were more challenging. One more puzzle the knot and you work your way up to reach the exit with the camera showing you every time you step on a transparent tile the ladder above. As you are getting close to the exit the horizon is very nice and I liked the view with the rocks but not the usual karnak a different view. It took one hour for me and I am pleased to say I would do it again.” – Kristina (21-Jun-2002)

“Lara needs to explore 4 areas representing the 4 elements earth fire wind and water. Enemies not too many and manageable. Some rather tricky boulder traps. The water maze swim took me about 10 tries to find the exit but still uneventful. Not a bad level predictable.” – Momster (21-Jun-2002)
Tag Cloud from Reviews:
back home search