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Return to the Center of the Earth by sonnyd83

Blue43 6 7 7 7
Diz 6 6 7 6
DJ Full 7 6 8 6
dmdibl 6 8 7 6
Gerty 5 7 6 6
Jay 6 7 7 7
Jose 6 7 6 6
manarch2 5 8 7 6
MichaelP 5 7 6 6
Orbit Dream 7 8 7 7
Phil 5 6 6 5
Ryan 6 7 7 6
 
release date: 30-Oct-2011
# of downloads: 73

average rating: 6.44
review count: 12
 
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file size: 32.70 MB
file type: TR4
class: Cave/Cat
 


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Reviewer's comments
"Changes tone several times, starting like a platformer, then going for a total shooter, then throwing in a puzzle and a trap sequence before you go back to the surface. I would blend those changes so the transitions aren't so rapid and I would give a stronger weapon. Still, it's a sensible debut level only unecessarily tough because of the flare bug. Binoculars still allow to see everything even if it's not always even necessary, but I would rather just remove some sprites which would kill the problem, why not. Also, SOUNDS, please don't mess up the sounds... Obviously, today the author is an evolved pro builder, but it's still good to remind some issues are much easier to fix than they seem, and it's always worth going for a fix. You can try this level, even though you rather won't approve of it." - DJ Full (19-Jan-2024)
"I found this to be quite an odd experience, and it left me with mixed feelings when I hit the finish trigger. On the one hand, it's far too dark in places (there aren't any flares either to make matters worse), the environments and architecture are simplistically constructed, the earthquakes are annoying and the backtracking is a bit arduous. But on the positive side, you also have a pretty neat timed run and jump combination, some nice (although not too challenging) trap sequences) and some engaging encounters with enemies. I'm still quite undecided about it, but don't let me deter you. Give it a go and see what you think." - Ryan (25-Apr-2019)
"This is a great example of how not to release a level. When you have a dark level and run into flare bug issues, don't just say oops and remove all flares and release the level anyway. Rarely have I had to resist the temptation to bin a level in the early going, but I did so here. It's impossible to get past the first ten minutes without playing in god mode and using the flycheat (there's no compass, so you can't use the GUNS cheat) so you can toss unlimited flares to provide a modicum of light while trying to fend off enemies you can barely see. Things improve a little bit when you get into areas with natural (but dim) lighting, but by that time I just wanted to get it all over with. There's even a problem with the timed run. Following the instructions in manarch2's walkthrough I made it up to the timed doorway in plenty of time, but when I jumped to it (holding down the action key) my head still bumped against an invisible barrier and I dropped to the floor. I wasn't motivated to repeat that exercise, so I just flew through the opening. There's more, but I've vented enough. At least the reptilian enemies at the end could be killed with a single shotgun blast. This was one of the most unpleasant playing experiences I've had in quite a while, but fortunately this builder has since given us much more rewarding and enduring raids." - Phil (16-Oct-2016)
"“No flares are available due to bug" the builder lets us know. I say: Poppycock, what a lame excuse. Hasn't been paying attention, anti trigger the flames is the solution. Oh well, let us hope in the next one this lesson is learned. Too much shimmying, long crawls and more of those boring ingredients although I could avoid one boring shimmy part by just running of the edge and got in the opening that way. A very interesting concept, that is for sure." - Gerty (30-Mar-2012)
"Playable this hard-to-play level where you'll find a lot of enemies and dangerous situations. There are some places ecessively dark, also a lot of hard enemies to shoot only with the pistols until you find the shotgun in the TRex area; in this area could be a camera when pressing the buttons to know you must go to a far place you've already visited; also in the mushroom area you can't grab the liana with a running jump when the time runs; architecture and textures are not very worked too, and the earthquakes are not very nice sometimes. Even so, it notices an effort to build a "center of the earth" atmosphere and good quality objects in certain areas. Not bad this level but also not easy to play." - Jose (28-Dec-2011)
"A bit of a mixed bag this one and I was sure glad I could use the walkthrough or I would probably still be searching for one or two of the three needed key stones. The highlights of this 30-40 minute adventure were the lava pit areas, the mushrooms, the extensive battles with snakes and dinosaurs and the sort of fun elevator near the end. The low lights were the partly complete darkness (with no flares provided) and the several earthquakes." - MichaelP (27-Nov-2011)
"This shows much improvement by the author. Within the first five minutes players form an impression: to the good there are impressive large-scale visuals, such as the lava caldera or the dark pit Lara descends; to the bad there is a total absence of flares in what will prove to be an often dark level. I liked the area with the huts and the lake with its nest of snakes, and the climbing poles that are now retextured to really look like hanging vines, and the fanciful mushroom tops. But I don't understand why places are frustratingly dark when the author states there are no flares because of a flare bug. I suspect the flare bug has something to do with the room with the T-rex, as this is surrounded by a trench in which every tile is aflame. Why not just fill the trench with deadly red water, and forget about using forty flame tiles which players don't even see unless Lara goes over to the edge to look down? A minor annoyance was the shootable rock faces which show up repeatedly and implausibly. More of an annoyance was the recurring shaking screen. Once Lara opens a trapdoor to thumpers, there follows mechanical sounds and shaking while she goes for a key object. Next the T-rex gets his own earthquake effects. The secrets can be gotten, but since the water is damaging to Lara they seem too much trouble when the game is already over (after about one hour). The author has creative ideas, and this is definitely promising for later levels." - dmdibl (12-Nov-2011)
"Yes,the design of the outdoor areas verges on the simplistic;and yes,the lighting is often too murky for its own good;but the concept is sufficiently quirky,and the gameplay progression sufficiently intelligent,that I was actually pretty impressed with the whole adventure. Puzzles are generally straightforward,but require a little searching and contemplation from time to time;the traps are quite original (a gameplay point easily added for the collapsible railway bridge sequence);the imagination of the author so obviously fertile;and the placement and attainment of the three secrets so ingenious (my fellow reviewers obviously never worked out how to successfully retrieve them - although it was easy provided you didn't rush straight to the finish trigger)that the adventure really ought to get more credit.It's fast moving;often action packed (the choice of enemies is highly effective within the storyline);and perfectly competant from a technical point of view (with some reservation toward the volcano itself) that it really ought to be very popular. I sincerely hope to see more from this quirky builder." - Orbit Dream (06-Nov-2011)
"This level starts with a really good looking flyby over a volcano with the chopper and a nice distance fog, which makes one instantly want to play this level. Once inside Lara has to descent down deep by shimmying, shooting breakable walls and running over breakable tiles. This might sound like fun but it is not because all this has to be done in relative darkness and even with a bright monitor things are very hard to see. On top of it the builder decided not to give Lara any flares, which in my opinion is never a good idea. At least the binoculars were there and I used them a lot! Down in the center of the earth (where it is surprisingly bright and well lit) there is plenty of combat with a wide variety of nicely customized enemies, some good jump and run sequences, a timed multi-rope swing and plenty of traps in form of boulders and big saw blades. I found a single Medipack and especially during the gauntlet run toward the end, I wished the builder had included a few more in this game. The secret placement was also strange. I triggered the chime by doing a banana jump over one of them and later realized the they could be picked up at the end when the volcano gets flooded. I did pick up one or two, but they didn't register in the final statistics anyway. At certain times I thought some areas were a quite confusing, but after checking with the attached walkthrough, I was on my way again quickly. The texturing and lighting was a bit of a hit and miss but for the most part the level was good looking and the atmosphere wasn't bad at all. If you can make it through the dark areas without much aggravation, this is actually an entertaining and interesting level. (About 40 minutes" - Blue43 (05-Nov-2011)
"With the nice title flyby and high expectations I came into this level, but soon they broke, sorry. While the first area was at least bright and playable, there are three secrets in this area, but two of them you only can jump over and the third can be picked up, but none of them registered. Some sounds were missing. After the lava jumps that had a little fun factor you enter the caves, and even if the setting was a little more convincing than the one in Dave's previous level, it was mainly very hard to navigate through this area as it was very dark and the things you have to do weren't really obvious. After the cave part, you reach an outdoor setting with few trips inside the caves again, gameplay had its moments here I think, as the room with the locust nests, the mushrooms and some platforming to get the three items you need in order to finish the game. There is plenty of fight to do, with some nice looking T-Rexes, ahmets, spiders and snakes, but the setting is rather crude at times and isn't so realistic. The hut objects, the lift and the different blade traps were well built. However, I found it hard to know where to go as the buttons mostly didn't have a camera hint, and often a button triggers something on an entirely different place. The ending was quite nice (returning to the start and having a boss fight) but the level in general would have been better if tested enough, as some parts were close to unplayable." - manarch2 (01-Nov-2011)
"This does give a slight feeling of those old 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' Doug McClure films but it starts out most strangely with an easy to get to 'edge of the world', secrets on slopes going to certain death, odd floating stepping stones and nothing much to do. Then on into the bowels of the earth, still not much to do. Down and down, getting bored and wondering if anything was going to happen. It's also getting dark and there are no flares (see the 'Read Me'). I know the arguments about adjusting one's settings but there are some cards (mine included on a fairly good desktop and a new monitor) that can't be adjusted enough and if everyone can't play the level then what's the point? Well, persevere with the darkness 'cos the second part of the level is where all the action is. And pretty good it is too. Re-textures Ahmets, great bats, a couple of T-Rex come Spinosaurus with their offspring and a great Pterasaur will test your lack of medi-packs. Add on the snakes that keep appearing in droves and you'll be kept busy. A kindly timed run and some agility completes a level that ended far better than it started." - Diz (01-Nov-2011)
"I was far from convinced about the merits of this level initially, what with the readme explaining there were no flares because of the flare bug. As it happens, I rather enjoyed this short (approximately an hour) outing with its brisk, uncomplicated gameplay. There are snakes, ahmets, bats, a brace of T-rex and some other dinos to deal with, but the action is pretty straightforward and there's only one timed run (not hard) through a delightful room of giant toadstools, plus some innovative saw blade traps to negotiate. The ending felt slightly abrupt with Lara picking up a green key. Perhaps a sequel is planned - I wouldn't say no." - Jay (01-Nov-2011)