Level reviews

"I absolutely loved this, and honestly never really expected to see anything of the sort done with the TRLE. What you get here is a short but sweet adventure featuring a girl who might've been part of the Plastics (watch Mean Girls if you haven't heard of them) having to help out Santa, but the catch is that, in addition to a a handful of lines of dialogue there's a narrator. Quality stuff. The town isn't half bad either, perhaps the indoors feel a bit empty, but the visuals on the outdoor plazas are very pretty and rather convincing considering this is still the engine we've come to know and love for nearly three decades now. There are a lot of beautiful custom objects all over the place as well. Bottomline, this is quite unique and a lot of fun -- maybe even a bit silly, but that's part of the charm. 25 minutes, 3 secrets. 08/22" - Treeble

"Stunning! the architecture, textures, lighting, snowy atmosphere music and objects are perfect i was blown away! i really felt like i was in this snowy almost abandoned town exploring around for objects, levers and keys etc. The cutscenes, narration and the dialogue especially of the rich and snobby girl we play with (alice) is very funny had me smiling a few times listening to her interacting with others we come across the way. I only wish the gameplay was better because apart from a tricky timed run which i loved btw it was mostly search and find quests to progress etc but it was still enjoyable because of the beauty and humor of it all very original and memorable with a great christmas message that we all need to make sure we never forget" - John

"This has to be the third attempt or download for this level and for some reason I never completed it. I think I mistook it for a similar level whereby a snowmobile was involved which was a bit tricky! The dialogue was quite original - involving a spoilt girl named Alice who cares only for a new pair of shoes. Alas, the shoe shop is closed and now she has to make favour with the lovely Santa Claus and complete some tasks - namely the collecting of gifts for the town. There is one timed run which I found easier to execute by saving my progress in a different slot - basically it is easy to get tense and fall of the broken wooden stairs when making your way to the top after the timed switch. The graphics in this are simply breathtaking. I didn't mind the cut-scenes either because they were very entertaining. A really lovely level and highly recommended!" - High Priestess

"Filled with humour and invention and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. You don't play as Lara, but instead a spoilt girl whose only wish is new shoes! Along the way she realises the true meaning of Christmas, eventually. Immaculate texturing and lighting. The narratives are hilarious and fantastically done. Not sure why she visits the sewers at one point, surely she would object to it! A little gem, don't miss it." - Ryan

"Nice level to start the holiday season for me, I hope I'll play more. It's enjoyable, easy tasks but interesting, I didn't like that there were way too many cutscenes but I guess that's for the story. Great level though, very beautiful with christmassy atmosphere. Check it out!" - misho98

"This game is the most hilarious game TRLE has ever had on their website. it was also very fun too. I like how White Tiger has a game that is very fun but also very funny. I can't wait to see what White Tiger makes next!!!" - Kyle

"Loved this level, wonderful setting and atmosphere. Everything was beautiful, the graphics. Great job, I highly recommend this one!" - young Lara Croft

"I have no idea why I didn't know of this level sooner, this little gem! This level is obviously a Christmas level, and Lara is replaced by a bitchy little girl called Alice. I have to applaud to whoever the voice actress is, she got the annoyingness absolutely spot on, and I had a really good laugh about it. I really liked how the game pauses when she interacts with people, and the inside jokes were really funny. The city itself is absolutely gorgeous, I really enjoyed running around in it (even though it lagged a bit), texturing and modelling is perfect. There aren't many puzzles, but where there are, they are very clever. And it goes to see how determined Alice is to get new shoes! Like, Duh! The target audience is obviously teenage girls and gay men. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I finished the short 30 minutes level. D'awww." - Gecko

"This was a really enjoyable level. The city was nice and very reallistic. My only problem was the way alice spoke. It annoyed me! My favourite part of the level was when she was inside the palace (or I think it was). I did play the original lonely christmas and it was not as good as this one. I would recommend this to everyone." - afzalmiah

"Now that's what I call atmosphere. Everything starts in a house just exactly like I would never wanted to live in. All is full of, You can say, too perfectly clean brightness, filled with glass ornaments, smooth surfaces and lots of unused space, what all together shows very well Alice is a filthy rich person. Then, she calls a taxi and the thing moves to gloomy sewers and a bell tower with a beautiful timed run - as we ascend, we can see more and more light getting into the building. This is exactly "simple ingenuity" bringing any level to life, no matter how many polygons it has. Speaking about polygons, lots of them show up in the last - city hall part, and they are all applied in so non-disturbing way the atmosphere remains untouched. Shame everything ends after max 30 minutes, with a rather naive plot twist. I feel a lot of acting talent wasted here, because the voices are too good for such a simple story they tell. If one gathers so good actors, why not to write them something ambitious? I understand the level is only a tale for children, made mostly in educational purpose, but the screenplay writer should have noticed children are smarter than most of adults think. I can't help need for lines containing some deeper meaning, and I think younger receivers can't help it as well. Anyway, sound receives 3+1 extra point for uniqueness and lots of devotion to put as much life ingame as possible, what I consider a successful, very well done job. Also, music fits the situation, with initial Not-Some-Yet-Another-Teen-Movie-like mood, Home Alone version of the Carol of Bells (long live J.Williams), and ambience accompanying the final scenes. Secrets: Hey! Never make finding one of them being necessary to find another one! Doing so, especially in case of more difficult secrets, may cause frustration. But, as long as they are easy in this level and there is a little chance to miss them, I can forgive that. Also, a whole different staircase available to see for a secret hunter, and a videoclip of Britney deserve appreciation. SUMMARY: Am I supposed to believe a girl like this was so brave she picked up a dusty and rusty crowbar from the ground only with her bare hands, and got them dirty? Also, I will never believe she was intelligent enough to solve puzzles - so maybe it's good there is only one of them ingame. But I can believe she jumped into the sewer and destroyed her already existing pair of shoes, only because she was determined to get a new one. It's a very clever idea to place this "oh-no-please-don't-make-an-another-teen-movie" mood in Christmas environment, let them fight each other and see which one wins. Still, the ending is disappointing. Completing this game, You'll wish it had some extra rooms, even if You agree Alice is not a raider like Lara. The city she lives in is a technical gem, perfect for taking a short break from typical traps and challenges." - DJ Full

"A wonderful level in which a stuck up rich girl learns to be a bit less materialistic and selfish by helping others. The story line was perfect. The amount of characters was perfect. The trouble with the game play was that there was a lot of great space but not a lot to do. The secrets should've served some purpose. But the plot and details and accessories and interactions--all were superb. Definitely put me in a good mood." - drguycrain

"Oh my gawd, like, a true Christmas level! Simple yet right in the spirit. I think I liked this (different) remake better than the original... I thought the narrator's voice was perfect, Alice sounded just the way she should, the sound was of high quality and the music very well chosen and there was not the slightest irritating aspect about this short yet well designed level (well, I had to try a while before I found how to get to the bell's chain). Quite relaxing, thank you." - Jorge22

"How funny! A blond, rich and futile Lara, who only wants a pair of"hot" shoes for Christmas. She will discover that there's more to Christmas than that... The author certainly has a sense of humor, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of this different game. I loved the dialogues, too. It is a short and easy level, but I had to use the walkthrough, for I never imagined that Lara could"fly" over a rail in order to get some presents..." - Josey

"Visually I think this is great, and there's some nice character voice queues and more interactions Music, and ambience are well selected, and the lighting is pretty much prefect too. I did struggle pick up the sack behind one of the fences, but eventually worked out how to get over. Ultimately there isn't masses of gameplay here, and I had the whole thing wrapped up in 30 minutes. Visually this is great, and mostly soothing until the character starts rabbiting on about shoes! Recommended. Stiggy" - TheStig

"Don't you love it when a guy rebukes a superficial blonde platinum young woman (seems even more artificial than 2 years ago) who can't help pity herself with"zomg" about new shoes ? A great moment. Way to go buddy ! I like the ending though. The fact we hear the"use object" sound when the girl places the coffee inside the belly of the buddy is funny. There are enough differences with the former version to justify playing the platinum edition. The first part is almost the same , but the second is totally different with the exploration of another town district and a visit inside a building with white marble, instead of the quest with the snowmobile. Some very detailed objects can be admired since the starting apartment , good quality audios ( i quite like the voice of the person who tells the story by the way ) even with a couple of missing sounds and the volume of the first music had to be turned down but this kind of song seems to fit well the character (which seriously lacks any). The gameplay is quite fluent , and the looks quite clean even better than in 2008." - eRIC

"I haven't played the original version, so this was a completely new experience for me. Instead of Lara, the level stars a bratty young girl named Alice, who is on a quest not for ancient artefacts, but for new shoes. One highlight of the level is the fantastic and hilarious voiceovers - kudos to the voice actors, especially the one playing Alice (I love how Alice interrupts the narrator right in the beginning). The story is appropriately Christmassy, though I felt the moral was a bit tacked on.
The other highlight is the gorgeous architecture: the city looks simply stunning with lovely buildings, snow-covered trees, fountains and Christmas decorations.
The gameplay is quite simple. The best part is certainly the timed-run up the belfry steps, but apart from that, it's mostly just exploration of the city streets, buildings and sewers. I felt the trips into the sewers were a little inappropriate - somehow, I can't imagine Alice willingly going into the sewers, even for the sake of new shoes!
Overall: It's a rare level that manages to evoke the Christmas spirit while being very funny at the same time. Add the eye candy, and this turns into a perfect little treat." - Mytly

"An absolutely gorgeous level with an engaging storyline of a preppy girl who begins to learn the meaning of giving. It is a rather short level however, half hour tops, and there is not much to speak of in terms of gameplay as you find a few presents to finish the level. At least the sewer action made things more interesting. If this were a more substantial level, I could see this easily entering the hall of fame. Even as it is, however, I would still recommend players give this a look as it will be sure to warm your heart." - SSJ6Wolf

"Without having played the original level, this was surely a very well-planned and atmospheric level that doesn't have too much gameplay elements, but very nice conversations with other people in the town and some extremely well builded houses, like Alice's or the one with two secrets in it. The quest for four presents was a nice task, however never challenging. At least it was not so difficult to get on. Good but very short level." - manarch2

"This is apparently a remake of a 2008 Advent level. I must have played that one when it was released two years ago, because I reviewed it, but this version was fresh and new to me. I won't go back and replay the first one to refresh my recollection on the differences, but what struck me most about the Platinum Edition was the breathtaking outdoor visuals. The architecture is simply stunning, and to me that's what makes this a don't-miss gaming experience. The chick with the valley girl vocabulary grated on the nerves somewhat, but even she learned a valuable lesson in altruism at the end. There's also a nice timed run, apparently carried over from the earlier version. Highly recommended." - Phil

"Definitly an outstanding one. The dialogs in the beginning of this short level show some similiarities to AOD; but luckily we had real gameplay after the starting sequence. A blond attractive girl has to find several bags and gifts and place them on chariot near a Starbucks restaurant (Is this level sponsored by them?). Unusual parts in fluent and inspired gameplay, perhaps a bit overloaded with special effects. Nice environment and atmosphere. Good work!" - Christian

"Although the gameplay of the original has been improved (gone is the aggravating snowmobile quest - to be replaced with a straightforward search on foot),there's not too much in the way of challenges and puzzles to keep players occupied for much more than thirty minutes;(or five minutes,if your name happens to be Magnus). Not that it matters,as this is an utterly charming little adventure,filled to the rafters with humour and invention. The town is a delight and looks completely wonderful,with immaculate texturing,atmospheric lighting,well-designed camera fly-by's,appropriate music and charming use of objects (particularly interactive characters). The vocal acting is superb and highly entertaining,and (as with the original version) the level tells a well-developed story with a simple and charming message. An absolute winner!" - Orbit Dream

"This is a very mixed level. It really wont appeal to anyone looking for an adventure that has great gameplay and lasts more than 1 hour. The gameplay is very odd, with the iphone being used only when you are in a certain place, and some levers which do nothing at all (the two crowbar levers seemed to have no function). When we got into the huge built-up area, I thought I would be here for some time, exploring. However, I was wrong. With only one building that can really be accessed in this area, if you know what to do, you can be out of there in about 5 minutes. Soon after this the level ends. But that is where my complaints end (other than that I could get down under the bridge). The level is beautiful, with magnificent buildings, great arches, and not one texture out of place. The best thing about this level, however, was the story, and how it was shown. With great flybys and hysterical voice actors, this is a level that really cant be missed if you want a good laugh and a level that will get you in the Christmas spirit. If the level was longer, and there was a bit more exploration, it would definitely be one of the best Christmas levels around. I recommend this to anyone with 30 minutes to kill thats looking for a fun, tongue-in-cheek adventure." - Cory

"This level evoked memories from one of my favourite times in LE history - the 2008 advent calendar (which in my opinion was the best one so far). I adored the first version of this level but this new update really fixed the issues with the old one and added a whole lot more. Simply put, you MUST play this. The script is absolute genious and I lost count of the amount of times I laughed. My favourite line: "Oh my God! What is this?! Like the 1800s or something?!". The voice acting is increadible, the best in any level I've played by a clear mile. The objects are stunning and really give that cold Christmas city vibe. I guess it's a little short taking only 30 minutes or so, but it's, like, SO worth it!" - TrueRaider

"This is most definitely an upgrade from the original level. The seasonal 'morality tale' storyline has been retained and much of the gameplay remains unaltered (I'm certainly glad the rather entertaining timed dash up the belfry steps has survived the revamp). The city scenes have been rendered in the most exquisite detail - the snow laden trees, ice covered fountains and Christmas lights make for a truly magical setting. The new voiceovers are brilliantly hilarious and the axing of the snowmobile hunt in favour of searching the city for the lost presents is, for me, a huge improvement. Short, but very sweet." - Jay

"OMG! This was, like, you know, fun! Not having played the original this was all new to me and, as such, came as a pleasant surprise. Lara has been morphed into a spoilt brat Valley girl with as much empathy as a used yoghurt (and about as little brain). She is set tasks to save Christmas, ringing the bells and finding Santa's presents. I must admit I found it difficult to believe that an airhead like her would even know what sewers were, never mind running through them, getting her shoes dirty and her hair wet! Well, it's a fun romp with a well made town, one generously timed run and a few puzzles to sort out. The voiceovers were just right and I just loved the 'buff' guy's dismissal of her. Definitely one to play." - Diz

"Oh my God - is it like 2008 or something? Did we not have this level before? So - like - why would we even want to play it again now? Instead we could spend our time with much more useful things - like, totally... buying some shoes for example... but wait... No, I get it... so, I did play through this level, which is really rather a marvellous objects and voice acting showcase with the same wonderful Christmas message conveyed as two years ago in the original version, but done with an extra breath of humour and without the annoying snowmobile excursion, so it is a must play (or rather must see and must listen to) adventure. Big Thanks to White Tiger for putting a few big smiles on my face today!" - MichaelP

"A revised version with much improved appearance, plus voice-overs and dialogue to clarify and enhance the story. This is a morality tale about self-centered Alice learning a little lesson for Christmas, and it is now much clearer what the author's intent was all along. (Though one suspects that Alice still has a ways to go in her love of material things like shoes.) In the original version Alice rode a snowmobile in a quest for presents, and this seemed like a good idea, but in practice it distracted from the story. The snowmobile ride has been removed. The timed run up the bell tower remains, but now there is a new hunt for gifts that Santa has dropped, all done in an attractive setting. I liked the gift up on top the fountain, and the posters for the movie Tangled were a charming touch. This version seems shorter, so it can be done in about half an hour. A delightful little Christmas carol for the season." - dmdibl

"First of all, I don't know the original version of this game, but I can say that this is a really different kind of Christmas level and it is also a different type of Tomb Raider level in general. The game play is sure not what one expects from the Tomb Raider engine. Yes, there are some typical TR features like exploration, finding key items, a timed run and some jumping, but in general this reminds more of an interactive game like the Sims or something like that, because of many different character interactions and speech scenes. I think this level is really well made for what it's supposed to be and the target group here is obviously teenage girls. The player controls a Bimbo named Alice, who at the end of the level, learns that Christmas is more than just buying new stuff. The atmosphere is pretty well done and the outside areas have a nice, peaceful snowy look to them. Sounds were nice too, except for the first song in the beginning of the game - I had to jump up and turn down my speakers. There are lots of cut scenes with speech and I thought they were exceptionally well done. Probably one of the best voice acting I have seen in a TR game in a long time. Objects are used nicely and are well placed. The texturing and lighting in this level is beautiful and the city is well laid out. Definitely a nice Christmas level with a good message!" - Blue43

"Wonderful level! What a great architecture and beautiful stages, perfect textured and very well ornated inside and outside, with marvellous objects and sensitive touches in all corners. Ambience is impressive, and the level, except for the jump over the fence is quite easy and nice to play. The best for me was the final message when Lara talks with Santa, takes the coffe and finally talk with the boy. Excelent! A level you can't miss this Christmas." - Jose