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The Tomb of the Cat by Raider of Tombs

alan 5 4 5 6
CC 6 7 7 7
Dimpfelmoser 7 6 7 7
Drakan 7 6 7 7
eRIC 4 6 6 5
eTux 8 7 8 9
G.Croft 7 6 6 7
Gerty 8 8 7 7
Jay 7 7 8 8
Jose 4 6 5 7
Kristina 7 7 8 8
manarch2 4 5 6 6
MichaelP 7 6 9 8
Orbit Dream 7 6 8 9
Phil 8 8 8 8
RaiderGirl 9 8 8 9
Ryan 6 6 7 8
Sakusha 8 8 7 7
Sash 7 8 8 8
Scottie 7 6 8 7
Torry 9 7 9 9
Treeble 9 7 8 8
 
release date: 11-Nov-2001
# of downloads: 47

average rating: 7.06
review count: 22
 
review this level

file size: 16.06 MB
file type: TR4
class: Egypt
 


author profile(s):
email(s):
joeverdi@excite.com

Reviewer's comments
"You can finish this level rather quickly and miss a big chunk of the gameplay. I finished it under 10 minutes but I didn't use any bug or skip of any sort. The key items are right there after you kill the two demigods, and all you have to do from there is pull some switches, enter a gridded room, and then what seems to be a part of Lara's home and the level ends there. After I looked for a walkthrough, I realized there was more to the level. But I didn't bother to replay it because I don't think I missed anything special, so... When you hit the finish trigger there's nothing more to worry about so let's leave it at that." - alan (02-Apr-2023)
"I would like to know what was the progression intended by the author , and what was the meaning of some of the things we may encounter in this level. In the looks department, lighting is either too dark or incomprehensibly bright or absent with no reason , there is some other design flaws like illegal slopes, the builder seemed to have reserved the best of his skills for the big Cat statue which is well done. Now the gameplay is a mess, the fact there are a few original things in it does not compensate the lack of sense of progression you can have. You are never quite sure you are doing things right in this level, not many camera work to help , and you can face the company of skeletons long before you get the shotgun. Enemies placement is a bit annoying , you can trigger small beetles just for a medipack so the normal raider will simply reload a savegame to avoid doing that. Well, this level can provide some good moments of raiding , however globally it feels so desorganized that it is quite unsatisfying in the end." - eRIC (14-Sep-2019)
"This certainly has its moments - the settomb atmosphere is very well executed and the room setpieces like the sphinx statue are quite impressive for a level of its age. However, it is difficult for me to recommend a level that can only be completed properly by cheating. In this case, a skeleton hides a crucial gem but there is no explosive ammo around (at least I couldn't find any). I had to use a savegame editor to get explosive ammo as it was really the only way to proceed. If you don't object to it, then it's fine, but it ruined the experience a bit for me. The deadly tile room and other oddities like the shortcut and the useless room were also a bit irritating. Having said that, the other gameplay sequences scattered round are actually quite neat. Definitely worth playing, but could have been so much better." - Ryan (29-May-2018)
"Many mistakes in this level, lack of flares, ammunition to kill the skeletons for recover a gem. It is only a series of jumpswitchs to maneuver to open a door (it will have to look to know which). And a labyrinth like that was done a lot at the beginning. If you like the Egyptian levels with returning home." - Drakan (22-May-2017)
"This is fun but flawed, the main problem being you have to cheat to finish the game - never a good option. However, if you don't object to giving yourself explosives to destroy a skeleton and gain a necessary artefact, there is some fun to be had here with the various traps and puzzles in all the side rooms of the imposing sphinx room. The maze is a bit boring, but if you employ the usual protocol of following the left hand wall you can't go wrong. Not bad, but could have been better." - Jay (26-Sep-2016)
"More bad features than good features. Not entertaining the nasty maze or the excessively large room with deadly tiles where I couldn't find a hint to cross; not good if you have to use a savegame editor if you want to play the entire level; not enough flares for the many dark areas; not explosive ammo to deal with the skeletons... The only interesting puzzle I found was the three chains puzzle in the spiked room, the remaining gameplay was tedious and boring, consisting about pulling jumpswitches to open doors. Evenmore, there are not cameras to show what you're doing when pulling a switch so you must go outside the room and explore the whole area a lot of times until you find the open door. Even with a decent texturization, it's not a level for my taste." - Jose (03-Mar-2016)
"This was a rather carelessly and prematurely released effort, in which there were just a few too many bugs/issues than I can forgive. First, the "shortcut" to finish this level earlier is absolutely the only legal way to finish this level, since there's definately no way to get the gem from the skeleton unless you are using cheats. Second, the puzzles in this level are mainly trial and error, mainly that exaggeratedly large burning tile room, and I also disliked the large maze and the jump sequence with some objects always hindering your progression (though the platforms looked cool this way). The setup of this level is to get through the respective puzzle room finding a jumpswitch which opens up the next puzzle room, fairly repetitive if you ask me, and actually there is only one puzzle I really enjoyed (the raising block one). I also liked the new arch objects (the only innovation in that regard) and the texturing is rather decent as well, mostly "settomb"-inspired but there are also some new ones. The lighting is fairly flat though, and the rooms are way too large for their own good. A few interesting flipmaps can be seen in this level, and the end is quite ambitious, so I think that the builder could've done a better job if he at least tested the level himself before the release. 30 minutes." - manarch2 (13-Mar-2014)
"Here's another level which I played years ago and wrote an accompanying walkthrough but never reviewed. (And I made an error in the walkthrough in describing the route through the burning tile room. About halfway through you need to walk N two tiles instead of one.) Playing it again I experienced the same frustrations that I encountered the first time around. I apparently enlisted the aid of Moonpooka at the time, but even with her considerable skills we never figured out the builder's intended route for completing his level. Among the enigmas: (1) you come across a crowbar in the only secret I found, but there's no crowbar door in sight; (2) there's a rope that appears near the cat's head, but there's no apparent use for it; (3) there's at least one pickup of revolver ammo, but no revolver; and (4) most important, a skeleton carries a horseman's gem, but with no weapon loaded with explosive ammo it's impossible to acquire it without cheating. Some of the reviews mention a shortcut that enables the player to use the music scroll prematurely and skip the lion's share of the gameplay. Other reviews mention two secrets, and if I knew the location of the other one I might be able to clear up some of the mystery surrounding this level. However, none of the matters mentioned above keep you from finishing the level, courtesy of the aforementioned shortcut. It's an old school Egyptian raid that's still fun after all these years, so give it a try if you haven't already played it. And if you figure it out, tell me what I missed." - Phil (05-Mar-2014)
"What I am glad that there is in this level a legal abbreviation. My problem was which I have not found the shotgun and so I had constantly these stupid skeletons in the heels. But I do not want to grumble, because I was too stupid quite obviously to find the shotgun. And as well as it looks, I have seen most rooms. And the three Demigods were the smallest problem, one can do that laxly with both pistols. However, it was a little bit annoyingly which there was no Flares. At least I have found none. This is disagreeable of course, because there were some dark places. But I already see, I grumble once more too much. Hence, now something positive: I have really liked the level, in spite of the missing Flares and the not found shotgun, because the rooms were built diverse and were well textured. Playing time was about 25 minutes. And if I should play this level once more, I will look around a little more thoroughly after the shotgun and take also the last pair of rooms in inspection." - Scottie (18-Jun-2009)
"This is certainly an improvement (compared to "Arctic Ship"). The skeletons are challenging, especially since Lara only has the shotgun at her disposal. There are a few doors to open, spikes to avoid (I appreciated the raising block/spike area), burning tiles to jump on and demigods to face. There was an interesting room that contained a cage, lava, two skeletons and two chains. I got lost in the maze at some point, but I eventually found my way out of it. Aside from detonating a bomb in order to kill the skeletons, I didn't see what else I was supposed to do in that room. The cat with the claws (spikes) was a nice idea. Lara needs to obtain a music scroll, a horseman's gem and a pharos knot in order to finish the level. For some reason, there was one door that was still closed at the end of the level, and I found the transition from the tomb of the cat to a Tron-like place to a mansion very peculiar. Was Lara traveling through time?" - Sakusha (11-Jun-2006)
"I liked this. Lara slides down into a huge room with a huge cat statue like a sphinx with outstretched paws (loved the spikes for claws idea) and long balconies on two levels with lots of doors to open. You can get inside the cat's mouth and up on top of its head. Textures and colours are dramatic but overall it has a settomb feel. Lots of pull-down switches and I'd recommend anyone who's intending to play this now to search very carefully in each area before leaving because there were two times I missed pull-down switches and only found them when frustrated and decided to go back into previous rooms to see if anything had changed. You're also looking for two blue gems and a scroll. There were some confusing places: one was a room with lava below and a trigger tile on a slope but I've no idea what it did another was the last door on the balcony to open (the one nearest the cat's head) had another slope but the trigger tile is missing nothing there at all except an invisible wall. And that's where I was stuck for ages until I decided to go back into the cat's mouth and fall into a room like an empty holodeck and into what looks like a part of Lara's mansion. (Of course you can do this early on and finish the level very quickly but that's a shame really). Another confusing room was where there was a lava floor a tall cage skeletons inside the cage that explode when you pull one of the chains and a receptacle up above for a gem I've no idea what was going on in there. But I was very impressed with the chains that raise blocks on a floor full of spikes excellent. And how could I forget all those skeletons and the beetles and you've no weapon to deal with them. Apart from these hiccups in my opinion it was a very good level." - CC (26-Oct-2004)
"Ah, now I understand! 'Arctic Ship' was just an experiment with the LE, 'Tomb of the Cat' is its result. And a very good result it is too, in a sort of 'Sphynx level from TR1' sort of way. However, this adventure poses a few unanswered questions. What was that unopened door for? Was that opening above the Cat's head reachable? Were those 5 tasks necessary for completion? Well, as far as the last question is concerned, I was a good boy, and dutifully completed all the five tasks I was presented with (although that random burning tile room was extremely annoying) only to discover I could have missed that all out and had time for a cup of Tea instead. No matter, I enjoyed the adventure and its attendant atmosphere rather well. There's a good climactic battle sequence (and two exciting lever jumps) before the Level Builder goes into his (now customary) 'experimenting with the LE' bit, and throws in a rather desultory and irrlevant 'flip-map' sequence at the end, which brings the level to a rather baffling (although amusing) close. Not at all bad, provided you do it the proper way." - Orbit Dream (07-Jun-2003)
"This is a weird but a good level. 'Why weird?' you might ask. Well the first time when I started playing this I ended already after 10 minutes. Sure the ending and the passover between the Egyptian tomb and Lara's mansion is brilliant but that left me wanting for more and I noticed that there were loads of doors still closed. That proved to me that something's wrong and I checked the reviews and gave the level another try. This time I found the quite well hidden hallway on the first level and got through all of the puzzles (but there still was a closed door when I ended the level this time). I liked how the author went through the maze the 'beetle field' the tiles that are placed on the obelisks to one of this levels' highlights - the spike raising block & chord puzzle - very smart. This gave about 30 minutes more of the gameplay but the closed door is still a mystery to me and I still don't like the idea of giving you a chance to play a 10 minute level or a 40 minute level this is not a training level where you should be able to leave when you think it's enough! Despite that just the ending was worth it and no matter which of the ways you choose play this level!" - eTux (28-Dec-2002)
"A level with classic textures with a gloomy atmoshpere. Gems a pillar and many jump switches that open doors plus a maze is what the player will see. Skeletons unfortunately the shotgun is the best you have to deal with them demigod that leave important items behind are your enemies. A big room to start with and the cat high up. Rooms with spikes fire tiles you need to jump to with a cage and a few pulleys. Almost everything has been said so what I will say is play it it's fun and well designed." - Kristina (10-Dec-2002)
"You start underground and before you slide down towards the room where The Cat is there is another small room just on the left with a statue and some golden plates (?). Apart from some ammo there is nothing to find got me wondering though. After reading the reviews I also finished this game too soon so went back and had another half hour or so of gameplay. I plainly overlooked a crawl space. I think that getting on top of the cats head was the easiest way to get the game started. After placing the pillar and a gem there is a jump toward a lever I haven't seen before. It is not hard only I have never seen it. I also climbed outside the tomb through a hole in the room where the first demigod appeared there is a wall there you can climb weird though nothing to do or to see. There are some novel puzzles a maze with a difference a fire puzzle and a step on a tile and burn puzzle that solution is up there though and you don't have to do it again as you found the lever there is another way back. A spike puzzle that had me puzzled because of the camera angles I didn't look around enough. What to do with the crowbar I don't know. I was also amazed at the teleporting and could go on raiding in that house though. In the Tomb itself it is rather dark could have use more flares and I hate those skeletons and no way to get rid of them although I did find the shotgun a bit later in this game. Found 2 secrets. 10-10-2002" - Gerty (13-Oct-2002)
"I've seen most of it I reckon. There was only one door left unopened I never put in a gem in the room with the big cage between the two pulleys and I didn't use the crowbar. I think I tried the crowbar at that closed door but I'm not absolutely sure. But when the author allows you to take a shortcut you might as well do so if you had enough of being hassled by those impertinent skeletons. So you pass through seven rooms with seven different tasks that always have a jump switch at the end. Some are tricky some boring and some clever. The atmosphere somehow didn't click with me and I found the textures not that exceptional but bearing in mind that this is sourced from the Cleopal Wad it is certainly a great environment. I'm not so sure about the Tron like area though. The camera work is excellent sliding down the big cat was fun and had there been less skeletons I might have enjoyed it a bit more." - Dimpfelmoser (11-Oct-2002)
"Whoops!?! - and suddenly it ends after less than 20 minutes and you just got into it - too bad. This starts so nicely with a great cave and then you meet the 'Cat' in a short flyby and there is a little bit of gameplay around it and a great long hallway and a scroll a gem a pillar three demigods and four skeletons. And the best thing is the neat effect when you suddenly are teleported into a Tron-like nothingness only to exit into a mansion where it ends - weird. I wonder if I missed most of it? This could have turned into a fabulous adventure. Go see for yourself and be puzzled...edit: after reading the other reviews I went back and added another half hour of gameplay behind all those doors you do not actually need to open. So I got a bit of interesting jumping a maze a smart raising blocks/spike room and many jumpswitches and increased my gameplay rating by a point for all of those." - Michael (22-Jul-2002)
"I don't know if this was the intention of the creator but this level can be finished in roughly 15 minutes with almost all of the puzzles overlooked but otherwise this took me 45 minutes to play and even then I seemed to miss a few rooms that I couldn't get into. What hits you first of all with this level is the beautiful sphinx replica that is not only used to climb over but to also enter but this wasn't the coolest textural aspect here I was taken by complete surprise when I was transported into a Tron like environment and then into part of Lara's mansion to end this level. With some nice puzzles especially the never before seen raising blocks in a spike room puzzle some deadly enemies that at some places are just unkillable because of lack of weaponry and a well designed atmosphere and look this is a really fun level which would have been more fun had I found how to enter every room." - Sash (21-Jun-2002)
"What a great level. If you like puzzles then this is for you. From the opening when you are greeted with the cat like sphinx to the surprise ending you will have an enjoyable hour. My ONLY complaint is there were too many of those pesky skeletons and nothing to blow them up with. (Well I didn't find a crossbow with explosive bolts - I could have done with it). One puzzle was an ingenious spike pit with raisable blocks. You'll know it when you see it. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the author's first Level. Whoohoo. What can we expect from him in the future?" - Torry (21-Jun-2002)
"This is a great level! It features a tomb with a lot of doors and behind each door there's a puzzle to solve with a lever to open the next door. I loved it. I didn't notice how fast the time went and when I looked and saw 1 hour I was surprised! Lara didn't take out any artifact or special reward other than her life but the final rooms made me wonder... was Lara using her virtual reality program to create this tomb?" - Treeble (21-Jun-2002)
"It would have been nice to have found something to blow up the skeletons with they do get a bit annoying after a while! Open one room after another by working your way through puzzles to get to a lever to open the next door. Finally you meet two of them demigods that shoot blue thunderbolts at you before you can end the level" - G.Croft (21-Jun-2002)
"This was a great level! - full of clever and interesting puzzles and some of the best textures I've seen in a long time. All of the rooms are just gorgeous from the main room with a giant cat sphinx to an ending room that looks like something out of the movie Tron. There's is some great camera work here including some smooth flybys to show off the interesting rooms. Lighting is used very creatively along with the music to make a chilling atmosphere thick with suspense. There are actually few enemies here but the problem is that they are mostly skeletons with nothing to blow them away with so just try to run really fast. There are a few objects to find in order to progress further into the level including two gems and a music scroll but most of the doors are opened with a well-placed switch. I found two secrets and plenty of medipacks and ammo to take care of the few baddies at the end. Great level - I hope to see more work from this level builder and highly recommend this to anyone." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002)