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Dinosaur Research Centre by Mr XY

afzalmiah 9 9 10 10
DJ Full 8 8 9 9
EssGee 9 9 10 10
eTux 8 9 9 9
Gerty 8 9 9 9
Jay 9 8 9 10
Jez 9 8 8 9
Jose 9 9 10 10
Kitkat 8 9 10 10
Kristina 8 9 10 10
manarch2 8 9 8 9
MichaelP 8 9 9 10
mugs 9 8 8 9
Mytly 8 8 9 9
OlafRaider 8 8 8 8
Orbit Dream 8 8 9 10
Phil 9 9 10 10
Ryan 9 9 9 10
Shandroid 8 8 9 9
Spike 9 9 10 10
Torry 7 9 9 10
Treeble 8 10 10 10
 
release date: 30-Mar-2007
# of downloads: 130

average rating: 8.94
review count: 22
 
review this level

file size: 62.60 MB
file type: TR4
class: Base/Lab
 


author profile(s):
email(s):
mr_xy@live.de

Reviewer's comments
"In a lot of ways you can see how things were eventually going to become the wonder that is Emporia right here. The combination of textures from AOD and Legend help create a beautiful environment and it's quite a pleasant experience overall, there are few enemy encounters (given the type of level you'd expect packs of enemies at any given time) and I liked how the author used shimmering on pretty much every object Lara interacts with, be it doors or inventory items. While the level itself is not expansive, you do spend a quite a bit of time all things considered as there's a lot of running back and forth with lots of keys. The secrets didn't seem to be hidden at all and in the 'epilogue' bit the door they open will open automatically anyway, so I suppose the author might have decided to simply hand them out so people wouldn't miss out and still made them optional. Either way, good fun, check it out. 50 minutes, 2 secrets. 04/23" - Treeble (09-Apr-2023)
"Nice little level that provides some good raiding with one or two timed runs and jumps that require almost exact execution to complete. I liked the idea of the bonus level at the end if you found both secrets and acquired the two Red Crystals. Only issue is that the bonus level is anti climatic. Once you arrive at the trophy room there is nothing for you to do and after 20 minutes of careful exploration no end trigger either. It appears to be something that was never finished and therefore should have been left out in my opinion." - Torry (26-Mar-2018)
"Quite entertaining three levels..All three not too long and not too short. I would have expected more dinosaurs to be honest when the game is called Dinosaur Research Centre though. No real puzzles instead cards,keys and crystals. gameplay, there is a particular difficult jump in the last level where you had to reach a higher jumpswitch and for that you must run, jump at an angle to grab the switch..it took me one whole day." - OlafRaider (16-Mar-2018)
"The gameplay in this level is mostly rather straightforward, with some nice jumps, traps and timed runs, but nothing too demanding. I liked the timed runs, especially the one over the electrified pool. The crate pushing puzzle in the main warehouse room is pleasantly complex, but also a bit obscure – I wouldn’t have figured out that it’s possible to move stacks of crates without checking the walkthrough.
For a place called ‘Dinosaur Research Centre’, there are rather too few dinosaurs – just a few random raptors and compys. The lack of a T-Rex felt almost anticlimactic. There’s a very short bonus level, but there’s pretty much nothing to do there but look around in a trophy room.
The red brick textures combined with the greenery and the blue-green water make for some lovely visuals. However, most of the main rooms look far too similar – a little variety in the settings would have been nice. The majority of the level takes place indoors; there’s a very short excursion to an outdoor area and an underground area, which are rather underused. Fog is rather badly used – it just appears in thick clumps over some of the pools. There are few decorative objects – most rooms are simply filled with crates and not much else.
Overall: Compared to Mr XY’s latest levels – which generally have excellent gameplay as well as visuals – this old level falls a bit short. But if we avoid such comparisons, this is a rather fun romp in a very nice setting. Recommended." - Mytly (30-Jul-2017)
"What a gorgeous level. The visuals are nothing short of stunning. Lighting and texturing seemed very professionally done. From the title, you will be expecting dinosaurs to jump put at you and indeed they do, although there are not as many as you'd think. Gameplay flows nicely and is generally straightforward, mainly revolving around finding keys to open doors and pushing buttons. Recommended if you want an easygoing raid in an atmospheric setting." - Ryan (21-Jul-2016)
"The place well resembles a research centre but it has not enough dinosaurs, too many crates and definitely too much backtracking, also through already negotiated traps. I liked the electric pool, the new pushable and the final "trophy". The side canyons are a nice addition, as well as the cave but the latter could contain something more, possibly a boss fight with a brand new beast enemy. SUMMARY: Convincing and mostly enjoyable." - DJ Full (19-Jan-2016)
"As I came to expect from this builder, this level is a visual treat. The looks are really stunning in this level because of great texturing and lighting, although it's maybe not as polished this time - I found a few badly clashing textures and some parts, especially the trophy level which follows the main one, are a bit bland. The shiny objects are used in this game too, I don't really like those still but the pushables are at least clearly visible because of that; in general, the object design is really nice - not overdone, but very decent and fitting to the setting. The main critisism I have regarding the atmosphere is the lack of flybys or various audio files, most of the time you'll hear one looping (but bearable) track. Mr XY's levels often lack the necessary depth in gameplay, this level is not really an exception - you often find and use an item to find another item nearby and so on - but it's not as bad as in, say, Snowwhite, since there are a lot of challenging tasks in this level (timed runs, block puzzles, nice shootouts) and you'll need a good sense of orientation because of many items and keyholes you need to remember. At parts, this turned a bit into enerving backtracking sessions, especially after finding that I actually need two keycards to open one of the final doors, and the missing one is much better hidden than either of the two secrets. The short second level was a bit strange because placing the two secret gems opens a door in the mirrored first room, not needed at all, so was it intended as a bonus level or not? It also could've had a finish trigger in it, if you ask me. Despite those things, I really enjoyed myself in this charming 50 minute level. Recommended." - manarch2 (08-Oct-2013)
"For an adventure based within a research centre for Dinosaurs,I was expecting to encounter rather more of the beasts than I actually did! Mostly,the more often encountered opponents were guards;but then again,from the outset this never really felt like it was going to develop into a Shooter - instead,it became very clear that it was a 'pick something up and find a place to use it' adventure;and very good it was too,albeit somewhat of a round-the-houses affair. The locations were very well crafted (although the outside area was perhaps a little too modest),and the atmosphere throughout was suitably tense and interesting.Plenty of variety was offered in the tasks (including a somewhat elusive 'double push-block' sequence);loads of visual and gameplay invention was on display;and there were several examples of cunning object placement.Perhaps the Bonus level should have featured a Finish Trigger;but it was a charming denouement nonetheless. All in all,this was an extremely well crafted adventure,and worthy of anyone's time." - Orbit Dream (14-Apr-2012)
"This was a really fun and a pretty hard level. It is a base like level and there are lasers and textures which fit the place. There was quite a lot of puzzles like pushblock puzzles. You need to search for keys or keycards. The lasers was a good touch because it makes the gameplay harder and more entertaining. Enemies were guards and dinosaurs. The research centre was a pretty big place and it was sometimes hard to know where to go but the walkthrough helps. The lighting and textures were really nice and that makes the atmosphere really breathtaking. Very nice level and recommended." - afzalmiah (19-Apr-2011)
"Dinosaur levels are a weakness of mine, so I could not miss this one! I kind of was disappointed that the dino's ended up not really playing a that huge role here after all, but the level certainly makes your stay here worthwhile in other ways too! The "Angel of Darkness" inspired looks are masterfully done and a pleasure to look at throughout your time here, and the gameplay involves some long forgotten but welcome additions, like being able to walk through spikes without being damaged, movable boxes you can stand on and arrange and stack to achieve whatever is necessary at that particular moment. The shining effect on wooden boxes did look somewhat silly, but I suppose was as good way as any to distinguish them from the rest of the boxes in the one or other warehouse you stumble upon in this base setting. What I didn't like that much was that essentially the game ended up being a fetch quest with making you traverse the whole area a number of times just to get the next item with little diversity or depth to the tasks. For example I thought that turning off the electricity could've had more implications than just making a nearby pool safe to swim for Lara, and the potential (no pun intended) was not fully explored here. Same for the outside areas - I thought they were too brief and could've offered some nice change of pace and scenario within the level. But on the whole that doesn't detract a whole lot from the things that the level already has, and even if you're half as picky as I am, you will enjoy your time here entirely. Recommended!" - eTux (12-Oct-2007)
"Having played Castle Of The Holy Treasure I'm fast becoming a fan of Mr XY's levels, and this latest offering is not a disappointment. This a great lab/base level set with not so much of a twist as it is mentioned in the title! Dinosaurs always spice up a level. Making them fit the environment can be tricky. Do I believe dinosaurs live here? Yes, I do! The textures and lighting really set the scene - This is definitely what an illegal dinosaur cloning lab looks like. There is lots of interesting things to do, but too much back-tracking. And not as many dino's as you would expect! A truly fun level set and not too hard." - Kitkat (09-Jul-2007)
"What a fantastic level! From the very start the graphical quality is excellent, and the background audio fits in perfectly. Once you start exploring, you encounter several areas ripe for acrobatics and a pretty smart crate pushing puzzle in the 'warehouse' area. There were also a few tricky timed runs and some dinos to shoot. It was also nice to see the return of walking through spikes to avoid getting damaged...something that was a relief to see after so many years without it. The secrets were quite easy to find though and could have been hidden better, as I managed to find both of them before the actual route through the level. Another problem was the amount of backtracking at points, although the excellent gameplay in general was not affected drastically by this. After completing the first level, and moving onto the Trophy Room, I was again amazed at how wonderful it looked. This is a brilliant levelset that should be played by everyone." - Spike (01-Jul-2007)
"This is a truly impressive looking level. The textures and lighting are simply impeccable. It plays kind of in and around a Base with added Warehouse and despite the name you actually meet only few dinos and a handful of guards along the way. Gameplay is mainly of the search and explore type, so not necessarily my favourite, but it is well set in scene. I like the innovations, such as walking through spikes without damage, moving and climbing on boxes and the spiced up gameplay on occasion with the timed trapdoors. Very impressive also the cave area on that short excursion to the outside world. Maybe you are being sent from one corner of the level to the opposite one a few too many times, sort of articifically prolonging the net gaming time (60 minutes), but as the looks are so cool, I did not mind much running through the rooms a few more times than would have been necessary. Great level and a nice rewarding Trophy Hall as part two with five minutes of added platform jumps as a bonus." - MichaelP (02-Jun-2007)
"Although you have to return several times to the same places after get the items required, the gameplay is not bad, with some interesting puzzles and old good features from TR2-3 as the moveable boxes you can climb or the spikes you can walk through without any damage. Environment is excellent with a good domain of the geometric elements of the editor and intelligent use of lights and new textures. Only two kind of enemies and few ammo, secrets easy to find but in bonus level I only placed the left red gem and the door opened (?). I couldn't find the finish trigger, but later I visited the forum and read that there is no one. Very good work." - Jose (19-May-2007)
"This was a very fun level that is mostly like a base/lab, but with a bit of jungle thrown in. I loved the useful pushblocks, with one puzzle in particular that was very good. Gameplay was interesting, but there was too much backtracking which I didn't like (I got sick of going through those laser traps). There were plenty of situations that required some thought and a few timed runs to keep you hopping. I kept expecting a few more dinos, and one in particular that didn't show up. I would have also liked to have a translation since my German is a bit rusty, ok, I'm Nebraskan, so a bit non-existent! This was a terrific addition to Mr XY's growing collection of nice levels, and the Trophy Hall was just breathtaking! Nice work!" - Shandroid (16-May-2007)
"This is a remarkable achievement by a relatively new builder. The visual amenities are stunning and the lighting is superb throughout. The research centre must be in its early stages, however, for all we see are a few little green dinosaurs and a raptor or two running about. Other than those, the only enemies I recall are some SAS guards. Most of the gameplay involves finding switches and artifacts to open doors and defuse spike traps, but I never found myself in the least bit bored. I'm not too sure what the builder had in mind by giving us the second level, which you can't access unless you've found both of the secrets and accompanying gems. It has an entirely different look, giving the player a jarring transition, but you can also breeze through it in a couple of minutes without doing much of anything and without ever finding a finish trigger. For my money the builder would have been better off concluding the adventure at the helicoptor. Still, this is a highly recommended gaming experience that players of all skill levels will enjoy." - Phil (03-May-2007)
"It doesn't take long for the first dinosaurs to turn up, even if it's just a couple of little compys. Actually, dinosaurs don't feature heavily at all, but you will find quite a few guards to deal with. I really liked this level - the whole atmosphere appeals and the gameplay is a nice well rounded mixture. One of the timed runs is slightly tight, but aside from that there really isn't anything difficult to achieve and the action moves along really well. It looks gorgeous too and the trophy hall section at the end of the game is magnificent (although I expected Lara to have more trophies than that, lol). A definite must play." - Jay (23-Apr-2007)
"Mac players I couldn't get this one to play on my Mac, so sorry that you missed out on this beautiful done level. Apart from the eye candy I thought that the pushable blocks you could climb on as well, a far improvement from the blocks we are used to. The hunt is on for gems, keys, cards and fuses. As for gameplay there is way too much back and fro what does prolong the gameplay unnecessary in my opinion. The Dinosaur egg I collected disappeared from my inventory, what was a pity and the door where you had to use the gems, opened up after using just one gem. I was put off a bit when at certain times I saw a clock running in the corner of my screen but that had only to do when using a flare (thanks vimmers, my helper in need as always). The block puzzle in the huge room eluded me completely; little did I know that when pushing the second block, you pushed two blocks stacked together. Oh well, we learn every time something new." - Gerty (20-Apr-2007)
"Wow, what a great level (and bonus). I truly enjoyed my time here. This level absolutely oozes atmosphere with excellent lighting, texturing and architecture/objects. What I really liked, was that everything that happened in this level was believable. There is just a bunch of good logic put into the level - enemies were placed just right, puzzles were logical (really like the stacked pushables puzzles and the electricity pool), traps had fair clues, and I finished nervously with just my last medipac in hand. The music complemented the game very well, and added a calming effect when one was trying to figure some things out. Lara collects an interesting prize for her efforts - I hope she isn't planning on making a very large omelette with it though. Do make the effort to find the two secret crystals, so you can admire the bonus level - great stuff. Perhaps my only criticism would be that the level didn't build in tension, it seemed to travel at the same pace for most of the journey, but being rewarded with my prize kind of compensated for that. The level is not too hard, just keep track of where various key holes and operating panels are located, so it should be playable by all players. A most enjoyable raid, thanks Kevin." - EssGee (16-Apr-2007)
"This game begins with an exhilarating plunge into the Research Center from the roof tops. Be on your toes because the subjects of the research are loose and on the prowl. Lara must navigate laser fields that are cleverly color-coded (according to their capacity to damage) in order to uncover the various things she will need to progress through the level. There are two secrets to find which will be needed to access the bonus level. I loved the venue and the gameplay was very good. There are neat puzzles to complete using boxes and I'm not sure I could have figured it out without the help of the Stuck Forum. Very clever, indeed. Add to that some nice timed runs and a banana jump that requires a bit of skill. This is a thoroughly good game ! I look forward to more from Mr. XY !" - Mugs (14-Apr-2007)
"I have played the previous levels by this author and each one offers something different. This is no exception. Great use of textures and moves in a very atmospheric setting. Enemies are ratpers, soldiers, bats and mutant crocs. Dinosaurs are not my favourite enemy so I am glad there were not more of them. The enemies are well placed and later on Lara picks up the revolver so they become even less of a problem. I found that I kept getting confused about where the rooms were, but that is just me, and I found some of the camera angles slightly irritating but this does not detract from the whole experience. I am now waiting eagerly to find out what type of level the author will come up with next." - Jez (14-Apr-2007)
"The setting in this level is wonderful, very colourful and with new textures. I liked very much the atmosphere, the way we get from one room to another in order to find the disk, fuses and whatever we need to proceed. There are lasers around that sometimes will warn you that something dangerous is ahead, other times they just make the way a bit challenging and there is also the spikes trick that is rarely used so it was a nice surprise. The enemies are enough to give Lara some trouble which can be crocodiles or nasty guys. It's too bad that the builder lost the project so we couldn't play a nice bonus level; I got the two red gems which were secrets, and that's why you won't find a finishing trigger. The Trophy Hall is very bright with nice marbles around, just beautiful. I just hope that the builder will be able to revise the second level at some point. Make sure you give this a try." - Kristina (09-Apr-2007)