Reviewer's comments |
"Somehow I felt that this first part of a series (which I dearly hope to see improvement in the next parts) felt too tedious for my liking. It's not bad as such, but there are quite a few beginner mistakes in existence. Gameplay feels needlessly dragged out due to the overdone length of some of the tasks, in particular shimmying and swimming and a couple of the mazes. Camera and sound usage isn't too bad, but the textures aren't really well done and the lighting is too dark in places, due to the flare bug and the overuse of shadow bulbs. Overall, 45 minutes of somewhat aggravating raiding." - Ryan (15-Apr-2018) |
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"I didn't enjoy this level with the very dark areas, some
badly textured places, tedious tasks to do like jumping
over the fire in slopes, etc. The flare bug appeared near
the end, and the only way to see was to drop the flares to
the ground. I would need a lot of flares so I had to
'create' some more. Background music and tracks are
missing. I really don't feel like to play the other parts
but, whatever. I found 4 of 5 secrets." - alan (19-Nov-2017) |
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"This level often feels and plays like the very old debut level it actually is, but there are some small signs of talent hidden in the mess. For one, the design isn't very well done at most, with haphazardly architecture, missing textures, paperthin walls, the flare bug occurring at some point, walkthrough walls and a very buggy exit out of a pool (but, just like the builder stated, it's possible to do without cheating). But then there are at least a few rather interestingly designed areas (if still not anywhere near perfect) like the caves, here and there good use of cameras and sounds and a few okayish tasks to solve (I liked the boulder jumps across the lava pit, even if most boulders are not dangerous at all...). Still there are tediously long ladders, unmarked death tiles, mazes and quite a lot of running across huge spaces that needlessly lengthen the playtime which netted 25 minutes for me at the end, with five rather good secrets to find." - manarch2 (09-Oct-2015) |
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"I hope you like mazes, because you get two in this first part of a six part series (which I have to say I'm really hoping improves as it goes along). The first maze is actually quite interesting in construction, being largely transparent with some walkthrough walls, which makes it rather challenging and/or frustrating, depending on your viewpoint. The second maze is much more mundane and easier, albeit rather boring. Actually, that's a bit of a fault with this debut level, as is often the case, i.e. actions can go on far too long (shimmying, bouncing along slopes etc) and thus become tedious. Looks wise, it betrays its debut status too. Otherwise, it's explore, find artefacts, shoot ninjas and grit your teeth as the flare bug kicks in just when you really could have appreciated actually being able to see! Fingers crossed for part 2." - Jay (21-Jun-2015) |
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"It notices all the defects from a novice builder in this level: paper walls, stretched textures, the flare bug in the last areas, no animating lava textures, unmarked deadly tiles... The gameplay is not good, only some gymnastics and swims to pull levers with no puzzles; there's a four pushables puzzle although, but I found no sense about where to place the statues 'cause there were several repeated tiles in the floor I saw over the door (trial and error). There is an effort with the musics and the shadows, but even in this section, often the musics were not aproppriate for the actions. Also there is some bactracking here and there only to go back to the same places and get some secrets. As usual in this kind of levels, only white ninjas and red scorpions as enemies (and some mummies in the final room). No worth to play for me." - Jose (13-May-2015) |
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"Dutchy has bundled this six-level series into a single walkthrough, so I've decided to play the entire series (the levels still must be downloaded and installed individually). Even though it's now more than 13 years old, this first level didn't get off to a good start for me. The tasks are varied and challenging enough, but the textures are rather blah and the flare bug kicks in not far from the end. A pretty routine raid, but not without its good moments." - Phil (27-Mar-2014) |
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"This is a good example of a speed-built and self-tested level.It's not poor as such;but it's awfully scrappy,both in terms of textures (which are often terribly stretched)and gameplay concepts,which are occasionally somewhat baffling - viz.the 'no-way-out' corridors,and the unmarked death squares. It's one of those levels which goes from moment to moment,spiced up by occasional massed enemy attacks. Lighting is on the dark side,and is not aided by the flare bug toward the end;but cameras are helpful,and the player is never standing still for long. Fine for an undemanding raid,but it doesn't instill a great deal of emnthusiasm for its sequels." - Orbit Dream (17-Jul-2010) |
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"I must confess that I can't do nothing with this level. The quality of the textures reaches from well to miserably, the quality of the lighting reaches from almost normally brightly to too darkly, the quality of the riddles reaches from easily to illogically and why appears in a partly very dark space still of the Flarebug, does not want to make sense to me so really. At a place one comes only with luck out of the water and a room is already filled with water, before one puts down the lever. The only interesting place is the maze with the transparent walls. But this is for a thus long level too little. Besides, there were still several places without textures. No, so the level plays give generally no pleasure. I have not played the other parts yet, there I can only hope that they are better than this." - Scottie (18-Sep-2009) |
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"A darkish level and the first of this series. Having to look for two cartouches and the Eye of Horus to enter the second level is an easy task. Ninjas scorpions mummies with the last easily avoided are the enemies the player is up against. The puzzles are not much we only have one with moving statues and a short maze but there is also a bigger yellow one that irritated me. I am not a fan of Egyptian or gloomy levels and this is under that category. In one occasion Lara had trouble getting out of the water because of a crawlspace underneath I had to immediately press the jump key to make her go forward and reach the lever. Lets not forget the flare bug at the end of the level. In the forty five minutes I spent in this I found only two secrets again like the first time I played it long time ago." - Kristina (04-Jul-2003) |
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"Huge caves plainly textured for the Seth Tomb swatch. One cave has sand floor with high long walkways another has lava floor with ledges and pillars built across the lava. In the lava room the so-called sky is missing and we only see white squares. An annoying underwater maze. A run to avoid rolling boulders an interesting glass maze and a statue to push around. Then a black room. It wasn't my cup of tea I'm afraid but I can see a lot of players liking this level. Off to see what part 2 has to offer . . ." - CC (06-Jun-2003) |
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"The first of a series of six levels I found this level to be interesting but had a flare and binocular bug at the end. This was very annoying due to the fact that it was very dark. Loved the glass maze and trying to figure out which glass could be walked thru and which could not. Could see the baddies (ninjas) in it but not too many. There was an area which had me very frustrated until I figured out that it was just a trap! A lot of large areas that had me looking for a quite a while for what might be there or not. Sound and atmosphere where pretty good. All in all I thought it was a fine level but am looking forward to playing the rest of the levels in the series." - Patson (15-Apr-2003) |
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"Hmm I am little disappointed here. Ok it's just the first level of this author but it seems to be endless! You are always looking for the finish of it and when you cross that door you figure there's still a lot more exploring to do. There were way too many puzzles for my liking the flare bug appeared in the darkest room of the level and there's no way to finish the level without fly-cheating once. There's a serious design bug where Lara must climb out of the water BUT there's a door right below underwater and when Lara climbs out she will enter the underwater door. Things like this make me wonder if the author REALLY bothered to test the level (not just to fly through it) because there are many transparent textures where they shouldn't be many thin walls and a lot of other little flaws that could be easily avoided/fixed. It lasted about 50 minutes for me but if I were the creator I'd cut it to 30 minutes as a maximum because the textures in the level didn't please and they were somehow boring. Also there were many unmarked death tiles that you would only know about once you'd die by stepping on them. I intend to play the whole series in a row and I hope the next levels are better than this one." - Treeble (05-Apr-2003) |
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"This is an easy level. The puzzles are not hard. But I like this typical Tut-Level. The enemies were scorpions and ninjas. I had to find some ammunition but I had found no gun. The atmosphere is okay and the textures were stretched at some places but nice at the most places. I had found two secrets and I was playing 1:10 hours in this level. I had fun." - Andi Croft (16-Feb-2003) |
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"Oh great a headache level that means I found it too dark and not enough flares. Then there is the flare bug as well at the end. As for gameplay I found it rather confusing you can't go back if you forgot something as it is not all that obvious where Lara has to go. Had a hard time finding the items you need. As for ideas they are rather good if sloppy constructed. The glass maze was a novelty as there is glass you can step through but not back. The statue puzzle was for me a big mystery and took a long long time to solve and I still don't know what I did. I encountered the same bugs as the other reviewers. Enemies: scorpions and ninjas not that many but this game has traps and not the nicest ones. 08-08-2002" - Gerty (13-Oct-2002) |
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"A pretty level of the six part series. Lara begins in caves with lava and finds various puzzle pieces. Lara has to swim master jump combinations and overcome two mazes. This level is constructed more on riddles. The opponents were baddies scorpions and mummies. The textures were processed well usually. Sound and camera added suitably. Lara finds five secrets in this first part. Unfortunately also here again the flare bug occurs but it does not interfere with the atmosphere. One should play this Level however in the evening because it takes place mainly in caves. Recommended! I will play these six parts through as this one is only the start of the adventure." - Navi (05-Sep-2002) |
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"This level offers a good amount of puzzles and exploration in a cave atmosphere the little glass maze is enjoyable and the many jumps and moves in the big cave with pillars is really great fun. The only downside point for me is the texturing it could be better with some missing textures." - eRIC (01-Sep-2002) |
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"I found a few things in this level to be annoying but gameplay overall was diverse. Not a straightforward level by any stretch of the imagination with plenty of traps along with armed ninjas and some scorpions and a few mummies wander in at the end. Objective is to find 2 different cartouches to be able to exit the temple. There's a foul route with unmarked burning tiles which leads you into a nasty jump-to-the-safe-squares-while-spiked-boulders-come- rolling-down-puzzle. The flare bug presents itself again and a simple climb out of the water exercise became nearly impossible bug there too and in my opinion it's way too dark." - Momster (24-Aug-2002) |
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"I has been quite some time since anyone rated this here if the cast of veteran reviewers is anything to go by. I must say I had a wonderful time in the Temple of Seth and thought the gameplay was rather good. A steady progression without being too obvious a nice glass maze (unfortunately there is an ordinary maze as well) a moving statue puzzle and some mean traps. Texturing and lighting aren't really a match for the entertaining gameplay; you get plain dark areas that ultimately result in a fairly amateurish atmosphere. Some rooms are just too big for their own good and in places the design seems to be done rather thoughtlessly. I also had real problems to get Lara out of the water on two occasions she kept vanishing into the floor and right at the end I had a ninja walking around under water. This quest for the amulet (I didn't find it in part one) took me slightly longer than an hour and as there are so many different things to do there wasn't a dull minute here. What I liked best was that you never really knew what to expect as the author ever so slightly strayed from the well trodden path of Custom Level story telling. Mind you it all has a logic of it's own and there were some helpful cut scenes when you needed them." - Dimpfelmoser (20-Aug-2002) |
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"This level is the first part of a six part series being a dimly lit level all the way through gave it a great atmosphere but it faltered somewhat near the end as when you come to a near pitch black huge room the flares that you need so desperately don't work that is unless you throw them down aside from that this is a long level that keeps you quite busy enemies are placed perfectly and a big plus in my books is that the 5 secrets are not only well hidden but are mostly situated in their own rooms." - Sash (21-Jun-2002) |
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"The series starts with an hour long adventure in huge caves where you need to find two cartouches and the Horus Eye. I really liked the use of music and sound and the glass wall maze. Unfortunately as this is an early work there are also quite a few bugs like frozen lava thin walls invisible blocks in front of doors. Very annoying are the unmarked tiles that cause instant death and the flare bug near the end of the level - just when you need flares the most. The five secrets are not so difficult to find and there are a bunch of scorpions and ninjas to battle. If you do not expect too much this is quite an entertaining level." - Michael (21-Jun-2002) |
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"This level was a good departure from the norm with some unusual textures and tricks/traps that made it fun and frustrating at the same time. My one real bitch is that it is WAY TO DARK and then to add insult to injury in the last part of the level the flare bug made an appearance which made the final stages so bad that I nearly exited the damn thing and gave up. However I took stock and finally completed it and trust that level 2 holds better things." - Torry (21-Jun-2002) |
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"One of the earlier custom levels this one still holds its own for gameplay with at least one fairly tricky puzzle some good traps and a few harder passages. The transparent wall maze was probably one of the first of its kind. Sound and cameras are used pretty well too. It comes up short in the texturing and lighting departments though. Many of the rooms are boxy overly large and blandly textured. Thin walls stretched textures and frozen lava flows also detract from the atmosphere. Playing time is about 1 1/2 hours and there are 5 well hidden secrets to find." - Tombaholic (21-Jun-2002) |
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"The gameplay in this level went back and forth between interesting and frustrating for me. Some of the puzzles were very creative and clever but there were a lot of annoying deadly traps that had me reloading quite often including regular looking tiles that were deadly if you stepped on them. There were a few well-placed enemies but often they were running in place or shooting at me from far enough away that I couldn't get a lock on them but was still taking damage. I enjoy the use of lighting and shadows to enhance a level however this was just too dark for me which only added to my frustration in areas and at the end the flare bug left me in almost total darkness. Some areas were textured very nicely and added to the level and some areas could use a little work. Overall this is a good level to play and shows that the creator is very clever but I hope a few things have been fixed in the rest of the series." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002) |
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