Level reviews

"(Prelininary note: My reviews for Burning Library and Water Library are the same. I’m reviewing both together for reasons that will become immediately apparent.)
M@ster’s trajectory towards minimalism began in Scarabs Temple and becomes more pronounced in his two ‘Library’ levels, short companion pieces which take place a radically reduced version of, presumably, Lara’s library (recognisable only due to a handful of textures), but which use the “Lost Library” wad. Both maps are small (Burning more so than Water), and its rooms were built purely to accommodate the gameplay, with no striving towards creating an atmospheric or even just plausible environment in evidence, which is why well-meaning suggestions such as placing some potted plants are beside the point; the levels look just like the builder intended them to look. The next logical step in his development would have been an entirely abstract challenge, something akin to Reach the Top, but thankfully the builder chose to take a left turn for his final offering (Factory). I say thankfully because unlike Reach the Top, the gameplay is too weak to stand on its own without being propped up by a reasonably attractive environment.
The tasks are very similar in both levels, and none too exciting in either, but I’m giving slight preference to Burning over Water, because in the former you at least have to avoid some flames and steam emitters, whereas the elemental change in the latter merely results in an alternative mode of traversing the level without providing any additional challenge. Burning is also more concise, whereas Water, for all its brevity, feels drawn out. It also inconveniences the player with an earthquake that starts and goes on for minutes on end for no reason whatsoever." - Mulf

"Personally, I enjoyed the general look of this level in total. The only item that this game lacked a little was some creativity. The builder could make the atmosphere look more realistic, he could put some eye-catching objects and satics, could also add some lighting and... . Not tiresome, but not enjoyable on the other side. Thanks!" - Mehrbod

"Ever so slightly extended versus 'Burning Library' and again a quite pleasant environment, but no real substance. There's a couple of very small globe puzzle and a couple of items to put in their respective places, but that's about as exciting as it gets. A couple of nice camera flybys, but nothing to really stick in your mind for too long." - Ryan

"A bit larger than the previous level, but still too short to give high ratings. Again no enemies to shoot, the crowbar, the stars and an extra item; again no musics with the flybys and again well textured. This time an earthquake shakes the screen for a long time, and I couldn't find the hint to place the last movable globe, but still nothing really interesting in this level." - Jose

"A flooded library. Slightly longer than the author's previous level with the same setting Burning Library. There aren't enemies here either. Flybys are good, as well as the textures from TR2, and a flipmap effect where a little pool drains to move a block on a marked tile. There is a very long and unnecessary earthquake that won't stop till you step into a room. Not recommended." - alan

"Basically, this is the builder's previous level 'Burning Library' only with water, extra gold star and an earthquake, which is something no level needs. It's twice as long, but not really a great deal more eventful. Quite well made, with decent camera work, but not particularly enthralling gameplay wise." - Jay

"Practically the same level in terms of concept as the builder's previous 'Burning Library' released only a mere day prior, except this time it involves the utilization of water obviously. And while there are more objects added in to give the rooms some form of life, alongside an unnecessarily brief disorientating earthquake effect and somewhat more complex gameplay(thanks to the gimmick choice), that still doesn't make the overall experience any less mundane to go through. So if you weren't a fan of the builder's last attempt at this idea for a level gimmick, than this will ultimately do very little to change your mind. Best to look elsewhere if you can help it." - Ceamonks890

"Short level in flooded library with easy and rather boring gameplay. I didn't like long camera and some monotonous textures, but I liked the idea of the level." - Casual Raider

"This is exactly the right level for the small level hunger occasionally. A few simple riddles, no opponents, cleanly applied textures and well formed Flybys. Though the lighting is monotonously bright a little bit and the earthquake was superfluous, but with such Levels the inclined player should not have too high claims. Who searches a small pleasure for the lunchbreak, is exactly right here." - Scottie

"A very short level well textured , no enemies and simple puzzles. An earthquake is triggered for a couple of minutes. I was quite surprised that the level ended so quickly, as I thought there was one more room that had to be drained to push another globe object. Good camera work." - eRIC

"Another small level which took me about 15mins to complete. Its a fairly eay path from start to finish, collected keys and pulling switches along the way. the title of the level gives the theme away. It's basically a small building in the form of a library with many pools of water to explore. There's nothing much else on offer here and I saw no enemies in sight. There were no secret areas found but at least when you died you wern't taken to the desktop as previous levels from this author." - Necro

"A sort of logical sequel to Burning Library but a quite bizarre one. How did Lara get there in the first place and how is she expected to leave? (The placement of the finishing trigger was wholly arbitrary).The shaking camera induced nausea and the whole thing was over in little more than 10 minutes. All the same this was pleasantly made non-violent and rather peaceful." - Orbit Dream

"Lara starts in a little room big blue door and a switch on the wall. What to do what to do? Pull switch open doors there's a hole in the floor with water oh dear what to do? Ok enough of the sarcasm. It's mainly a flooded library building using mainly Venice textures. You get to drain one flooded room with globes so you can push them. Throughout the level you see steam coming out of bookshelves and the carpets and fires! What in blazes is going on (pardon the pun). An earthquake that's what. It continues while you pull down five wall switches. I take it these switches raised a number of blocks about the place that you use to finally get out. Unusual very short nicely textured level." - CC

"Exactly a library with rooms full of water. From the start it looks poor just some textures with bookshelves and crates in the water. The crowbar is just in front of you to pry the first star of the two you will need plus a gem to finish the level. Also there are three globes to push after draining a room but I saw another one that I never got to push or pull. Six jump switches five of which you are called to flip in a single room and switches to raise the final blocks that will lead to the finishing trigger. All in all ten minutes of game play." - Kristina

"The only excitement I had is that the game crashed in the middle of the earthquake but no fear after reloading I was on my way again. Getting the crowbar and then finding 2 stars and a blue gem is all. The earthquake mentioned above was a bit annoying and not only for my crashed game. Very straight forward in some 'wet' and 'dry' rooms. 18-12-2002" - Gerty

"10 minutes of healthy toing and froing in a solid if somewhat boring library setting. The earthquake was pretty annoying the globe pushing rather obvious and the five jump levers in a row didn't provide much excitement either. We could have done with some enemies and the odd jump; as it is it seems more like a demo. The fly bys were good though." - Dimpfelmoser

"With a couple of small watery crated rooms a couple of small dry rooms no pick ups besides a few crucial ones to help progress and no enemies this 15 minutes level held zero challenge and sorry to say but zero fun." - Sash

"This will give you a very linear and straightforward level of 15 minutes in a library type environment with a bit of swimming to do. Nice for the beginner experienced raiders should look elsewhere." - Michael

"A very simple little level that took me about 10 minutes to complete. Nicely done though. Save this one for the kids." - Torry

"Nice atmosphere and textures but far too short and easy." - Treeble

"A very easy level for beginners only. The level is entirely puzzle-based with there being no enemies but for me that was not a problem as it suited the level's style. The puzzles are the most basic you could possibly make though prize a star from the wall place it in the key hole right next to where you got it! It's not bad but there are better levels in similar style to this one." - TrueRaider

"This is fun if you're just looking for a short easy adventure to play. It is set inside a large library part of which has been flooded. Your objective is to find the items needed to open the doors in order to progress further into the level. There are no enemies which is nice every once in a while but there is a good earthquake to shake you up. I liked the textures that were used and there was a lot of swimming but nothing hard. The puzzles could be a bit harder but fun to kill a little time and put off doing homework a little longer." - RaiderGirl

"Too short too un-original and too easy. Not worth it. Not at all." - Elpasodude