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Level: Frozen back home search
Author(s): Marksdad
total rating:5.99 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
bERT 7 6 7 6
CC 7 5 6 7
Chris LP 5 6 3 5
Cuqui 8 7 8 7
Dimpfelmoser 7 7 8 7
Fairy Godfather 8 7 8 7
G.Croft 5 5 5 5
Gerty 7 7 6 8
Grayboy 8 7 7 6
Jason 7 5 7 7
John 7 6 6 6
Kristina 7 7 7 7
LaraFan 3 5 6 6
Leandro 6 5 6 7
MichaelP 6 5 6 6
Phil 8 8 7 8
RaiderGirl 7 6 7 7
Ruediger 4 6 5 5
Sash 5 5 6 5
Scottie 5 4 5 4
Sheevah 2 3 3 3
Torry 7 7 8 9
Treeble 5 5 6 6
TrueRaider 7 5 6 7
Wendee 7 8 7 5
Whistle 5 5 5 6
Xxenofex 4 3 3 2
category averages
(27 reviews)		 6.07 5.74 6.07 6.07

Reviewer's comments

"Lara is on the move here in the cold regions of north russia and searches an Eskimo artefact. Now the players, who are no fans of labyrinths, must be quite strong!! There is a time run labyrinth which one can consider himself, however, luckily from above on the wall and an underwater labyrinth. These are still also the most difficult places. Otherwise one must put down only some levers to open some doors. Opponents are scorpions and many Baddies. Then after half an hour one is at the level end. Result: Quite a nice level without bigger highlights." - Scottie (17-Apr-2009)

"I've got mixed feelings about this one. There is some good camera work (it makes for example the ice room you fill with water look real good, or the fight with the ninjas outside between the cars), an interesting maze with a timed door (and climbable walls, really original!), challenging jumps... but on the other hand there is as little reason for an area with snow meeting sunburnt mountains in the background as there is for the gameplay to use levers which open doors in a completely different area - without any camera to explain. I was swimming through the simple underwater maze again and again, believing I had overlooked a second lever; that was annoying. The level can be finished in short time if you know what to do, but probably most players will be as confused as I was. Also you can get trapped until Lara starves behind timed doors. So, despite the action, no marks for the gameplay in the upper half." - Ruediger (12-Nov-2005)

“This is a good workmanlike level that I played for the primary purpose of writing the walkthrough. Like the idiot who works a crossword puzzle with a pen I wrote the walkthrough as I was playing the game but I got all the way through without any major glitches. However I found only one secret and may have missed many more. The progression here is quite linear although there are few if any cut scenes providing clues as to what's next. However such clues aren't really necessary as the next task is usually quite close at hand. The enemies consist of ninjas and a few scorpions (one of which drops the crossbow!) together with a disco-wannabe mummy that just piroutes around atop a pillar and never poses a threat. There's a neat timed door sequence near the end where you need to pick the right door to complete the level. There was a Ba Cartouche pickup also near the end but I couldn't find a receptacle to place it. A fun diversion for beginning raiders.” – Phil (04-Oct-2004)

“Took a while for me to figure there was a timed door in the first big maze. This maze is in a huge ice room and looks very good from the top of the wall that is. A bit of lever pulling and boulder dodging to get to a water maze which was confusing as you get no idea/camera shot what you're aiming for. I eventually went back to a room where a mummy was standing on top of an ice block and the door there was now open. So from there on it was ok. I pulled the lever in the huge ice room before getting the star anyway and didn't notice there was a problem about doing it 'til I read the other reviews. I liked the shoot out where the jeeps are the climb out of there. In the last timed run room I got to the exit on the second run. I liked the lighting in most areas. So we have timed runs boulder traps climbs jumps ropeswings and mazes. A good level that isn't too easy while playing but with hindsight was actually easy.” – CC (22-Nov-2003)

“This was an average level bearing in mind it was Marksdad's first level. It starts with a maze which is easily beaten if you climb into the walls then it gets a little interesting with a nice room however the excitement went away with the underwater maze in my opinion. I loved the area with the jeeps those cameras were great. I didn't find the secret but I thought that the tough jump over that sloped hole should reward one! I tried it many times and even found out that there was nothing but a wall - then I discovered that I should fall into the hole...” – Treeble (14-Feb-2003)

“Having played over 700 levels I'm wondering why I waited so long to load this one up - it was a lot of fun! The level itself is short but has some fun moments like the three rope swing and the confrontation with the ninjas - all with great camera angles. Even for a short level I found myself reloading a few times - I pulled a switch in the underwater maze and then didn't think to look in an area I had already been in for what to do next and I admit to being killed by every single one of the boulder traps in this level LOL I missed the level’s one secret but just read that it was on the pillar with the mummy. Thanks for another fun level Ian!” – RaiderGirl (16-Jan-2003)

“The level begins with a clever little fly-by where it sets up the maze in time with the music very well small but great I felt like pointing that out. This maze was rather large I must have ran around for about 15 minutes before I figured out how to get into the next area. At one point I felt like cheating I had already pressed "DOZ" and had my finger over "Y" but I thought I should do it properly and felt more accomplishment when I finally completed it. I liked the blue ambience theme throughout the level a nice touch. I was desperate to see a few camera aids when pushing some of the levers because I've never been through so many difficult mazes. The scorpion turning into a crossbow made me frown but made this level enjoyable because it made me laugh (not something easily accomplished). My favourite bit was close to the end with the jeeps that was a piece of genious! A simple but fairly challenging level and was good fun!” – TrueRaider (27-Dec-2002)

“A short nice level with ice atmosphere. Good lighting and some huge rooms. I liked the large Ice Chamber where Lara finds the Star of Orion. This is the objective of this level: to pick up the Star of Orion and escape through a timed gate. In this adventure there are two mazes timed runs three rope swings spike balls unexpected attacks of snow ninjas switch levers to pull oh! and a scorpion... bringing the crossbow. Fun to play!” – Cuqui (21-Dec-2002)

“Small level very linear gameplay sometimes a bit far fetched (crab that once shot leaves a crossbow behind...) but here and there the author shows potential like with the for once not annoying camera view from far away (three-in-a-row rope swing). Also something weird happened: at one point (won't give it away) the secret chime sounded but the secret counter remained at zero.” – bERT (20-Sep-2002)

“First I would say that I don't like this level so much. There are some aspects which have bored me. An easy adventure (about 1 hour and half) but not a funny game. You are starting in a big maze (setting is in an arctic temple). I'm usually not very fond of mazes. I find some are too lengthy boring and vain. And this is one of them. Texturing and room building are not good enough. Lighting is strange for some moments with some fine blue colors but in the rest of the temple lights are not brilliant. But the worst thing to my eyes is the specially use of cameras. The author doesn't want that the player can explore the setting in one's own way. Cameras aren't for helping you but exactly the opposite (I don't mean that cameras should be used just for this but in this level it's clear for me that you can do nothing that he wants). I find that the big room with ropes and faraway sight of cameras is a curious and artificial way to create a level with some correct and funny puzzles. Some rooms of the level are not so bad but they are very few and appear too late just in the end of the adventure. So...try another one...” – Chris LP (25-Aug-2002)

“I enjoyed most of this level but I did find some parts a bit boring especially the maze parts I liked the camera views because it made playing the level a bit more interesting and even challenging especially with those ropes lol. It’s nicely textured and made. There is a few boulders and spikes to avoid as traps and mummies scorpions and guards as enemies you spend a lot of time trying to find and get to levers to open new doors by working your way through mazes both dry and underwater and in other rooms jumping and climbing to platforms eventually you find a star artifact which turns the bottom half of the beautiful cavern into water which was nice :) Overall an average enjoyable level set in the Artic which has a few nice touches to offer :)” – John (11-Aug-2002)

“I find it a little ironic that Sheevah disliked this level so much as when I played it I thought to myself how much it reminded me of Sheevah’s first level ‘Snowy Trial’. In this 30 minutes arctic level you find yourself on the hunt for a sacred cartouche which means making your way through a couple of mazes and a couple of timed runs. What I had mixed feelings over was the use of fixed camera angles as they made a lot of moves quite tricky like the rope jumps and the enemy battle not far from the end in fact I never saw any of my opponents there only that my weapon targeted on a handful of things so I shot like a blind sniper in a book depository. Another cute level from Marksdad actually this is his first foray into editing that is one to play when you don’t want to burn a lot of brain cells but you still want to be kept interested.” – Sash (21-Jun-2002)

“Like most of the other reviewers that timed door in the first maze had me stumped for a while. After that you spend about half an hour in an icy environment often in huge rooms with some rather strange camera angles making it just the tiny bit more difficult to move. There were just too many annoying things for me to really like this level: ninjas materializing out of nowhere the underwater maze a rather crude flip effect and the lever bug mentioned by others to name a few. But I had a good laugh when that scorpion died and dropped the crossbow.” – Michael (21-Jun-2002)

“Apart from the timed door run at the very beginning this is a fun level with the use of camera angles making usually easy jumps difficult. Shows the author has a bit of imagination. The environment is nicely done and the enemies easily dispatched.” – Torry (21-Jun-2002)

“In the original games Lara never ever gets stuck! There is always a way out or she dies. In this level you can get stuck behind two timed doors and you just have to load up an earlier savegame. Otherwise a rather short level with some mazes some huge rooms and a lot of ninjas to shoot. Some fixed camera angles add a challenging touch.” – G.Croft (21-Jun-2002)

“A level with very simple puzzles weird architecture bad use of textures and interesting lighting. Is this interesting for you? So download it. It isn't? Then don’t!” – Leandro (21-Jun-2002)

“I was very stumped in the beginning till I found a spot to stand on the walls of the maze and finally found out what to do. Yes a timed door LOL. From there you come into a huge room with a lonely mummy on a pillar who made a lot of noise. Finding a rifle was my next quest just for the heck of it I wanted to blast that mummy from that pillar. And I succeeded yeah. Boulders and ninjas are the ones to look out for. Finding some levers to pull you get into a huge room I like huge rooms. Ropes to jump and a nasty camera angle not my favorite. After the ropes be prepared for another huge room and getting the Hand of Orion you do need. Battling another bunch of ninjas again with that nasty camera angle you finally come to the last room with a cartouche in plain sight. Three grates you open and can enter. Another short level but fun to play.” – Gerty (21-Jun-2002)

“This is a fun linear (for the most part) level. I enjoyed the different uses of mazes both on land and underwater. The timed lever/door puzzles thrown in with the occasional baddie or falling spiked ball keeps you on your toes. Only 25 minutes of gameplay but worth a look.” – Wendee (21-Jun-2002)

“What have I ever done to you to deserve this? I spend ages perfecting a timed run to a gate and get clobbered by a spike ball so I go for the next gate opposite and can't get out except down a killing pitfall then finally make it to a third gate and you have a ninja ready for me. I was expecting something. A short level in terms of actual playing time but well worth the time getting the jumps and runs done.” – Fairy Godfather (21-Jun-2002)

“Typical of Marksdad levels that I have played. Large rooms/areas with not much in them. A large maze 80% of which contains not a lot. Time switch which you almost have to guess what it is. Long swims follow on with back tracking which could have had a flyby to help. Generally not impressed by the level with nothing new. Some of the camera work had good effects but others hindered or were to slow to pick Lara up. Texturing also in places iffy-water areas rather bland looking more like ice. Beware bug in the area of the star-do the switch first. The ending I found rather frustrating having beaten three timed switches avoiding the spiked ball and then getting locked in - not fair. After staring up again the 2nd door got through only to find a long drop to oblivion. If you enjoy running around doing not a lot except killing a few ninjas in snow gear this is a level for you. Unfortunately not my cup of tea.” – Whistle (21-Jun-2002)

“Regarding the fact that this is indeed the first level of the author I would like to describe it like this: There is a number of large rather plain rooms large more or less boring mazes under water and above with nothing more to find than a switch or so switches are placed illogically and bugs that get you trapped resp. stuck if you're doing something in the wrong order. Textures are often stretched and the water is not animated and sometimes not even transparent. There are a couple of baddies and some scorpions to fight. You'll be through in less than 30 minutes.” – Sheevah (21-Jun-2002)

“Quite impressive gameplay for a very small download although textures were a bit basic. The maze was well done and the timed door will keep you on your toes. If you like to practise your TR skills give this level a try – its only a small download.” – Grayboy (21-Jun-2002)

“As you expect this is an ice Level. First you have to find your way through a maze from a trigger to a timed door - so hurry! After that its plain tomb raiding: finding levers and doors. There are no puzzles and few enemies but then in bulks. Few flybys and those you get don’t help much (or have I missed something?). At one spot you have to get 3 ropes in succession to get to a switch. There you get a fixed camera angle being simulataneously attacked by ninjas - very annoying. And after that you have to go the same way back (I dislike these rope-swingings). The level ended for me in the big ice room with the switch and the hand of orion there this switch couldn’t be flipped but I assume the level was near the end anyway.” – LaraFan (21-Jun-2002)

“This level starts off in a maze I found once I had drawn out the maze that it was quite easy to work out the puzzle (I always tend to draw out mazes for help). A lot of the rooms seem very big and plain but I couldn’t see any missing textures. Enemies were only snow ninjas scorpions and a mummy. There were some nice camera views like when you swing the three ropes where you get a distance view of Lara as she jumps. A nice timed door puzzle near the end was fun third door lucky. The final battle with the snow ninjas was interesting due to another distance view of Lara as she fires lead in to their bodies.” – Jason (21-Jun-2002)

“As the title says this level unfolds in ice. Basically the player has to beat a timed door through a maze and after collecting two puzzle items and push a few levers you come to the end with yet another timed run. In between another underwater maze appears before you. The enemies are ninjas and a mummy in a high block that I didn’t understand its purpose. In the area which you pick-up the hand I got a little confused it seems that you must first push the lever and then get the puzzle item fortunately others had the same problem and I was able to complete the level. Also I picked-up a cartouche piece but never used it so I have to assume that it was just the final task. A short level but enjoyable.” – Kristina (21-Jun-2002)

“The time-steered elements in this level were the best ones in it. Particularly the last door was completely well done two other timed doors led to nothing Lara would have starved there. One can see this naturally also as a trap. Sound and cameras also there many baddys were well placed. The textures however: a levelbuilder who has already built several levels should do better. If the timed doors had not been there would be nothing special in this level.” – Xxenofex (21-Jun-2002)

“I like Marksdad’s approach to level building though they are rather short and I wish this would be a bit longer cause it's great fun to play. Good choice and placing of enemies as they tend to attack when it's inconvenient and unexpected. The icy atmosphere is so convincing that more than once I wondered why you can’t see Lara’s breath. Sure this is not a big mission but rather a quick succession of moderately difficult TR standards. No big puzzles yet it took me fairly long to figure out there was a timed door in the first maze. I'm not a big fan of fixed cameras but here they are put to good use and give a new perspective to those actions we did a million times before. Mind you I got a firm grip on that rope on my first try. For some reason I was unable to push the lever after I picked up the hand of Orion so I had to reload and do it the other way round.” – Dimpfelmoser (21-Jun-2002)
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