Level reviews

"Doesn't give the plot, just the crossbow and lets you kapuff stuff, so if you're on a coffee break give it a try - it took me 13 min so it will take you 10. Also maybe the only time that artifact doesn't need to be combined - and it will never be, as the sequel doesn't have it. Sniff sniff..." - DJ Full

"In my eagerness to find short levels I can play in my alotted time I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that these sub-10 minute levels almost feel like cheating, so I hope I can find something that lasts around 40 or so minutes to play still today. Lighting here is non existant and gameplay is borderline the same. There was a level jump though, teleporting Lara to a different location of the same tr4 file, something I never did during my short lived building days, so I'll give the author that. Otherwise, just a quick boost to the review count. 10 minutes. 10/21" - Treeble

"Pretty much just a brief 10 minute demo in a rather basic Egyptian setting. Simplistic gameplay (as befits such a short level), bland, unexciting environments and nothing at all to tax the player. There are a couple of boulder traps, but they're easily avoided and the enemies don't pose too much of a threat. Apart from those (and a weird flyby), there isn't much else to talk about." - Ryan

"Merely another run-of-the-mill Egyptian levelset that just so happens to rely yet again on the exact same gameplay formula that the builder in question has been using up to this point, including plenty of quest item collecting and standard enemy encounters present throughout, with the general quality not really seeing much of an improvement from 'Catacombs of Alexander'. So in conclusion, worth a playthrough at the very least if you're bored and want something not too horribly taxing to go through. But nothing more besides that." - Ceamonks890

"There are certainly much worse standard Egyptian levels out there than this one - you can see the builder having cared at least for a halfway decent texturing, even if the deadly water is probably the only effort put into the lighting since otherwise this is a totally flat-looking level. The gameplay is extremely simplistic with a few quest items to find and place in a very fast-paced way, but doesn't outstay its welcome for only 10 minutes of net gameplay time. With this level the builder has showed he knows the very basics of the editor, but not much more." - manarch2

"And once again Lara is on the move somewhere in Egypt in some old piles to find the eye of Horus. Though the adventure is quite short and the lighting could have been substantially better, but, at least, the textures looked good. And a few crusty Baddies were also be one of the party. At first sight it looked, actually, in such a way as if this level was a first work. However actually this was already the third level. There I would have expected, actually, more. Well, sometimes see how the other levels of this level builder look. This level has not torn me yet from the stool." - Scottie

"A short demo of a level which seems will not be very good. Square rooms and passages with few textures, all the places with the same (high) illumination and no puzzles (only pull some switches and place some objects to open doors). Not well situated the trigger for the secret (you can get it and not count in your inventory). No weapons (I think only in the demo version) and enemies only correct. The author will have to learn more and activate his imagination a little if wants to make a good level." - Jose

"I get the impression from this tut level that some of it was redesigned from the actual tutorial level, you know the boulders rolling down the ramp and then the monkey swing over the room to collect the pick up areas, but there's also some self-imagination put into it. Sadly although this is a demo and only lasts a little over 10 minutes, with a level jump into the same level, the gaming felt quite uninspired and ambience was totally lost on me with the monotonously bright lighting throughout. If this is to turn into something the players across the globe are going to want to play then Daniel has to learn to use light and shade in all aspects from actual lighting, gaming straightforward to challenging) and environment (intimate to grandiose rooms and structures). All the best with your project Daniel, oh yeah and don't forget to throw in some secrets! By the way, the level crashed when I used the explosive ammo once, but as nobody else has mentioned this maybe it was just in my game." - Sash

"Ahh this is the best level so far from this author and it is only a demo! I like progress from a builder and Daniel learns from his mistakes. The lighting is better and the level longer (even for beeing a demo) Some clever traps and puzzles makes it even more interesting. I'm very eager to see the finished product. - 2005-10-08" - QRS

"This level is only a demo, but I expected more. The textures are only average, there are no added sounds, and it's very short. There are not much enemies, only some gunmen and scorpions. Beside the default pistols we can pick up only the crossbow, though maybe we can find ammo for the Uzi and the shotgun too. Maybe these weapons will be presented in the continuation. In order to complete the level we have to gather the Hand of Sirius, the Hand of Orion, the Ba Cartouche, and the two Eye Pieces, but this latter we can't use anywhere. I could find any secrets. You can find a Hungarian walkthrough (as we don't have English version), savegames and pictures here: http://treditor.freeweb.hu/15/the_trail_of_the_unknown_the_temple_demo.htm" - Obig

"This is a fast pace pretty small level with a level jump into the same level. That was a new one for me. It starts with a fly by that can use some fine tuning. The only enemies are ninja's and a lost scorpion so I am a bit puzzled about that crossbow. I liked the look of those mummies in the deadly water and on the deadly floor. Almost at the end I still have two doors closed, but hey... Lara escapes with the Eye so that is not bad after 12 minutes raiding. 25-08-2005" - Gerty

"It's a demo so don't expect to see much. Unfortunately there's no imagination when it comes to textures or puzzles, therefore it is a bit dull to wander in such a setting. Even if it's supposed to be a classic Tut level with just a few levers to use and ninjas, it could have been more interesting. I'd say work on puzzles and textures, meaning work on the entire level again before releasing the full game." - Kristina

"This is only a short level, as befits a demo - a taster really. It's simple, linear and easy Tut1 style raiding. It's quite nicely built with light airy (albeit somewhat empty) rooms with a few ninjas lurking around and a cartouche, eyepiece and hands to find. As a demo it's quite appealing, but would certainly need a bit more oomph in terms of gameplay to make a fully satisfying level." - Jay

"If anyone wants a stress-free, very short run through with lots of goodies, this one is for you. Nicely designed rooms - maybe a bit too bright- it's in need of challenging puzzles and more engaging gameplay. It's a demo and as such, it's only the beginning. Looking forward to it's development." - Bene

"I don't want anyone to be under the impression that (simply because I have played over 600 Custom levels) I am some sort of an expert at any of this. Far from it. But you may nonetheless be interested to know that I only had to re-load once during this entire level. Would that it were due to my gameplaying prowess! Unfortunately, the real explanation is that this is an incredibly simple little adventure which will cause problems only to those of unusual talents. The texturing is capable enough; the lighting non-existent; gameplay as elementary as it is possible to be (why did that burning floor not burn?);and the flyby was horrendous. But I must say, I've never experienced a 'level skip within the same level' before; and this is also just the thing to follow on from a tough 'biggie'." - Orbit Dream

"A demo as the title says and with about 10 minutes of rather linear and easy gameplay in a standard Tut1 environment that is what you get. Daniel noticeably keeps refining his skills though as rooms become smaller and more realistic, textures are applied with more care and cameras and fire are used well here. Also a nice idea to have a level jump within a level. Time now to add a little more spice to the actual game, because running from one lever to the next will not hold the interest of players for too long." - Michael

"A fair tutorial demo with ninjas, levers , a spike balls trap , straightforward progression with a bit of backtracking. After 8 minutes, I thought to be at the end of the level, but the jump level the author has designed is to re-enter in the same level giving 4 more minutes of game play (nice surprise) with an obvious movable statue puzzle , a bit of shooting, climbing and crawling. If it is really a demo, I would suggest the author to take care of the lighting for the adventure to come as it is too bright resulting in absence of atmosphere (try to place a sun in each room next time as Michael already advises in The Mystery of Catacombs review), add audio triggers (for example at the beginning of the level, when an enemies ambush happens, or in the corridor before the ending area), add a sky for the outside area (the raw file may have been forgotten before converting the level into the TR4 file), rework the camera flyby, and why not using pickup triggers to open doors, and if possible add a bit of challenge. No need of complicated puzzles but I missed some good jumping and a bit of suspense. The overall construction of the rooms is rather solid, the enemies are placed rather well and I like the dead mummies in the toxic water." - eRIC