Level reviews

"A TR1 classic feeling level featuring some good old fashioned egyptian tomb exploration. There are quite a few combat encounters, but they are well spaced and fair. Secrets are also well placed and the trap rooms offer up a decent challenge without being too annoying or difficult. Areas are nicely textured, but lighting could use some work in a few areas as it features near pitch black corridors that you may have to squint in. A few outside areas as well which reminded me of the UB expansion levels. Despite only being part 1 it stands quite well on it's own and there is quite a lot to like here if you're up for some old school TR1 fun. Recommended." - LuxQSD

"This level is also included as part of a later released Part 1 & 2 set, but this one is sturdy enough to stand on its own, so I've decided to review the first part here. This is actually very well done for a TR1 level. If you can overlook the inherent pixelated graphics (actually cleaner than in other levels), then a nice flowing adventure develops, taking place in an outside hub area that has Lara performing a variety of different tasks, from push block puzzles to fast paced jumping sequences and traps. The secrets are well placed and enemies are fairly plentiful although not overwhelming. I had an enjoyable time here." - Ryan

"Lovely little TR1 level that brings back the glory days. Fun raiding with nothing too taxing in this Egypt inspired level. Graphics were very good using the glide batch file through dosbox. One secret had a push block puzzle to complete but again, nothing too hard about it. Only had to refer to the walk through once so credit to the author on this one." - Torry

"I'm reviewing this one after I've already played the full version, so I can recommend you: Better play the full version instead of this, because it includes the same level unchanged at the beginning. Otherwise you will have to play the same thing again... A nicely designed level in the style of Egypt. Gameplay was linear sometimes, but still enjoyable. Finding the secrets was very useful as I ran out of ammo and healing so fast. The whole level in general was not a big challenge. A lever near the end, that activated some boulders, confused me a little bit, because that was senseless after I've already been in that room with the boulders and came out alive and I first thought that I've solved the whole level in a wrong way. But the walkthrough also tells, that this lever seems to be an error." - Nuri

"Another tiny TR1 map with casual, underlit content but this time better arranged and secrets are more useful. No ending, also not that needed in a prologur. No big flaws, no big deal, not bad to play and compare with the full one." - DJ Full

"I had to get used to what Lara can or cannot do, but that isn't so difficult. Gameplay is rather fluent although be aware that you have to reload quite a few times, as the builder made some nasty traps. Some jumping in my chair moments as enemies do sneak upon you. But for future players, do take the Part1 and Part 2 adventure instead of this one." - Gerty

"First I tried to start this level on 64-bit Windows 7. It didn't work because 64-bit OS support only 32 or 64-bit softwares. So, I moved level files to my second OS, Windows XP . On 32-bit Windows XP game works fine. I liked very much on the old style TR (TR1). The gameplay is quite linear but sometimes it is nice to play level as this. Level design is very nice. (Underwater levers, pushblock puzzles)." - vienna

"A beautiful and fun level which draws heavily from the Egypt levels in both the original and the Unfinished Business games. Gameplay is fairly linear, with the occasional side- or backtracking as you hunt down for a few keys. I thought it was odd how most keyholes were paired with a lever, both of which would be required to proceed obviously. A couple of quick pushblock puzzle sequences (nothing too taxing), plus spike pits and a series of enemies will keep you on your toes. Ah yes, I quite liked the underwater lever opening/closing corridors, shame each corridor only housed another lever. The concept allows for more creative and ingenious design, but maybe it's for the best it wasn't overdone. 35 minutes, 5 secrets. 12/15" - Treeble

"As far as gameplay goes,this is one of those levels where doing things in the wrong order will prevent something important from happening later on down the line.Keeping the Walkthrough to hand is probably a good idea;although this will take away some of the surprises from a really rather interesting level design.There are plenty of things to do,and it all takes place in and around a large lake,with many frequent returns to places you've already been but from pleasingly unexpected directions.The action is vigorous,thanks to the copious enemy placement;and objects are used more imaginatively than is usually the case in TR1 levels.Everything else looks expectedly primitive (although The Vagrant shows us that this need never be the case),but it's definitely worth a look for those who don't mind the Old School graphics." - Orbit Dream

"This level is included with no changes in the Part 1 & 2 bundle released in May of 2015, so I've elected to review the first part here. Since TR1 levels are incompatible with Windows, and since the installation instructions for Dosbox seemed so formidable to me, I've shied away from any TR1 levels posted on this site. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of play characteristic of the later Part 1 & 2 bundle. After downloading, all you do is open the Dosbox folder and find two batch files. Double click on either one of them to start the game automatically. One of the batch files (the one with the word "glide" at the end) displays the game with high-resolution graphics and also uses the full screen. The other batch file opens the game in windowed mode, and I frankly couldn't see much difference in the graphics quality. I haven't checked to see if these batch files are present in the Part 1 download; if not, you'd be better off playing the more recent bundle. Anyway, this is certainly a worthwhile download and gives you a nostalgic gaming experience with a challenge or two thrown in for good measure. I spent nearly 40 minutes here and had a good time. Recommended." - Phil

"After seeing this game engine get pushed further and further in terms of visual quality there is something deliciously retro about playing a level based on the original tr1 engine. The feeling is very much"Tomb Raider - Unfinished Business", with plenty of panthers, mummies & crocodiles lurking for you. Game play wise everything revolves around classic TR elements which means lots of levers, keys, jumps and the odd bit of push-block pushing. Grabbing the final secret wasn't too tricky. Medi-packs are very light but still managed to complete mainly using pistols. Structurally the levels look sound. Texturing is pretty good (though perhaps a little repetitive in some rooms). The bundled dos-box bat files make playing this much easier than the last level of levyhgb's that I reviewed. I explored both options (software accelerated & glide). The glide exe worked well but did lead some some of the lighting being a smidge washed out. Sound etc worked perfectly. All in all I netted 49 mins from Recovering the Scion1. By the name I'm guessing this was going to be a multi-part series? I hope the author continues. Still the last TR1 based custom level released on the date of my review in Sept 2014. Recommended - embrace the retro TR1 feeling :) Stiggy." - TheStig

"Serving as the last custom level to be released under the TR1 Unofficial Editor(at time of writing), this Egyptian romp is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a fun level to play. Gameplay is challenging but fair as you search for keys and levers to continue onwards(avoiding deviously-placed enemies and traps along the way), objects used fit their environments accordingly and texturing is done rather impressively(for a custom level using the TR1 engine anyway). The main tragic aspect to this release though in the end, is that not many players will go back and give this one a shot, due to having to use Dosbox and run it forcibly at a lower resolution to even get it working properly, which is a shame(as it's definitely one of the better TR1 custom level releases). And with TRNG offering so much more to the average builder these days, it's not hard to see why there were no more levels released under this engine from this point onwards. Still, on the whole, I would recommend this to anyone who's a fan of Egypt-themed levels, a decent challenge or fun in general." - Ceamonks890

"Another good level from this author. With a TR1 Gold style, the mummies, the panthers, the golden blocks... Decent gameplay with nice tasks, a well worked environment with a good architecture and correct texturization. As in the previous level I couldn't find the magnum or the uzis, but only the ammo. Perhaps using the latest trl editors the leves could be played for more players." - Jose

"Ok so i decided to play a TR1 Engined level. I must say i liked it pretty much with its clever puzzles it had me entertained. The gameplay is pretty good and its a level you definetly should check out. The textures worked pretty well most of the time. Despite the fact that you have to use DosBox with its low resolution i must say i recommend this level, especially if you like TR1. I got scared of the mutant in one of the areas as i wasn't prepared for that. All in all i liked this and i Think you will too." - totizedger

"Thus author will likely never get a large audience in the community because playing a TR1 level is a bit quirky with DOSBox and you get the rather low resolution etc. But the adventure presented here does have a lot going for it and is really worth a play. It flows along smoothly, but is cleverly constructed, has decent use of traps and enemies throughout and as such is really a rewarding gameplay experience. With the obvious talent the author has, it would be great to see him try his hands on the newer trle building tools and produce a level that is more accessible to a wider group of players around the world." - MichaelP

"The next TR 1 adventure by this builder, and it was a fairly nice one set in the original Khamoon setting with suiting enemies and textures. The latter often had a rather rough appearance as some of them were streched quite a bit especially when the room geometry differs from being squaric, but I think there is improvement over the builder's last level. The interlinking of the rooms was well done, especially to prevent backtracking. In general I really do not enjoy TR 1 level as much as, say, any other TR, as they often are painful to play due of the limitations of the engine, so this was no difference here but I respect that the builder has managed to craft a quite decent level with quite a few block sessions, five nice secrets, a lot of traps and very clever enemy usage (mostly panthers and mummies). Also loved the fixed camera with Lara being inside a pillar. 40 minutes." - manarch2

"A pleasant surprise, better than the author's last released level, and right from the start a bit edgier than most TR1 custom levels. The looks are good, too. The setting is Egypt with matching enemies. First Lara gets dumped into a pool with a crocodile and the sides are too high for her to climb out. The discovery of a push block is invariably followed by a release of famished panthers. I thought that early TR enemies couldn't climb, so Lara hopped on a push block to be safe...and the frisky panthers followed suit. Players have multiple routes at times. This is a compact level of about forty editor rooms, fifty minutes of play with three secrets. The only real downside is that this is TR1, with its inconvenience of play, and a low resolution. (When enemies surprise, one forgets and foolishly hits a shortcut key to draw shotgun or Uzis.) The author would have a much wider audience by designing in TR3. Sometimes there are odd texture choices for ceilings, such as wallpapering with a golden door texture, or making a busy ceiling with hieroglyphics (a favorite author texture), but most rooms are well done." - dmdibl

"This builder is unique in that he specialises in making levels using TR1 editor. This gives a very distinct and original feeling to them, I don't think the TR4/NG editors can give that old school ambience. I must say the texturing is really good, even the night sky has twinkling stars, the beginning area with slender pillars supporting some ledges with elegant fences, and the Egyptian pharaohs are nicely framed in between, it looks very appealing, the murals in the next room are better still - I can easily imagine the pharaoh being quite at home here! There's even a throne and some cat objects to spice things up. You begin by being chased by a crocodile - quite challenging, a lever is pulled, and a further area is revealed, some spikes here, but the pushable block is the way to go, panthers come out of nowhere and again challenging foes they are! They even climb onto blocks. Each area is quite large and is better than the previous one. Pull a switch, then fight a mummy and enter an area with a collapsed bridge, collapsible trapdoor with spikes, then find and place a key and I like how it goes back to the start of the level, there's a few small jumps around here too. Followed by another door into a new area with a large central block with holes around the side. Tasks here are pulling a lever - this actually opens one door on one pull, and closes that but opens another on the second pull - quite good idea, then switches, rolling balls, swimming, crocodile escaping, and working your way up, including one difficult jump, to locate a key enclosed from the outside. I do like how each part of the level is linked to other parts so it's not completely linear. Then we have a stair case with a rather god like looking mummy waiting for you, then more mummies and spikes, and panthers. A little later on we have a room with more spikes than I care to see all at once! Key is placed here, and trapdoor opened, another switch, and behind another door lies the end. Oddly, I got 4 secrets of 3! The sound is TR1 standard sound, all done correctly - crocodile sounds, water sounds, door sounds etc. There's the odd camera shot when a door opens but not used much. Secrets are well worth finding - they're well hidden. This is an oasis of calm in an otherwise uncertain tomb raiding world, well worth playing. Although graphics are pixellated and it requires dosbox, doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go. Net gameplay 1 hour 20." - sonnyd83