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Emerald Lakes by Inchdix

alan 5 6 8 8
Boris 9 9 10 9
Brigidsgirl 10 8 9 10
CC 9 9 9 8
Cuqui 9 9 10 9
David 9 9 10 10
Dimpfelmoser 8 10 10 10
DJ Full 9 10 10 10
Drew 8 8 7 7
EssGee 9 10 9 10
eTux 7 9 9 9
Freeman Porter 9 9 9 9
G.Croft 9 9 10 10
Gerty 8 8 9 9
gfd 8 8 8 8
janachorider 6 8 8 9
Jason 8 8 9 7
Jenni 5 9 10 9
Jorge22 10 9 10 10
Jose 7 7 8 9
Knuxx 8 8 10 10
Kristina 9 9 10 9
Loren 7 9 8 9
Loupar 9 9 10 10
Magnus 9 9 8 10
manarch2 8 9 9 9
MichaelP 9 9 9 9
Monika 10 9 9 9
Moonliteshadow 10 10 10 10
Navi 10 10 9 10
Nomad 9 9 9 9
Phil 9 8 10 10
QRS 9 9 9 9
RaiderGirl 10 10 10 10
Ryan 8 9 9 9
Samu 9 9 9 8
Sash 8 8 9 8
Tombraidergirl 9 10 10 10
Torry 10 9 10 8
Treeble 9 8 9 9
Whistle 9 8 7 8
Xxenofex 10 9 9 8
 
release date: 16-Dec-2001
# of downloads: 184

average rating: 8.89
review count: 42
 
review this level

file size: 70.60 MB
file type: TR4
class: Cave/Cat
 


author profile(s):
email(s):
inchdix@yahoo.com

Reviewer's comments
"Very good minus issues. I thumb up the remake, not even for NG but for the fixes alone. The OG is broken in a way which may disorder the intended path a lot. Not with many ways to softlock so it's relatively safe, but oh boy it is confusing. I won't max the gameplay score but ofc the palpable, gem quality immersion is worth it so take kapil's walkthrough and dive in. [same review for all 5 levels since they're the same game]" - DJ Full (27-Sep-2024)
"While I appreciate the effort put into creating this level, I must admit that it wasn't quite my cup of tea. As a player who prefers straightforward gameplay, I found this level to be overwhelmingly complex. The multitude of paths and obstacles made it difficult for me to discern where to go or what to do next. This lack of clarity detracted from my enjoyment of the level. The underwater section at the beginning of the level was particularly challenging and stressful for me. The abundance of obstacles and the need for frequent backtracking added to the frustration. It felt like an unnecessary hurdle that hindered my progress rather than enhancing the gameplay experience. Despite my reservations about the gameplay mechanics, I must commend the level designer for the attention to detail in the textures and atmosphere. The visuals were well-crafted and contributed to creating an immersive environment, which I did appreciate. In conclusion, while I can see the appeal of this level for more experienced players seeking a challenge, it simply wasn't to my taste. The complexity and difficulty level were beyond what I typically enjoy in a gaming experience. Overall, I would recommend this level for seasoned pros looking for a tough challenge, but it's not something I would revisit myself." - alan (07-May-2024)
"Another very good level in the Hidden Garden serie. The underwater parts in the beginning are very well crafted and the various structures blend perfectly with the water, giving a feeling of a realistic scenery thus exploration. The gameplay in the said parts is actually not that hard (a tad confusing sometimes though), because the builder gave a lot of air pockets to go up and breath, priority is to find them and then you can go on about easily exploring and finding the levers and such. Of course the hammerhead sharks will harass you but they tend to get stuck around so they can be dodged easily, and if they follow you to a certain part you can kill them from above the column. I found the last area behind the black double doors less entertaining, though it still looks very well made and the horseman fight is a good spice. Recommended." - Nomad (04-Mar-2020)
"You'll probably want to brush up on your swimming skills before setting forth on this second leg of the adventure. It's certainly well constructed and beautiful to look at, but it's also quite confusing and widespread. There's a lot of underwater activities to conquer as you search for the necessary tridents and gems to successfully complete the level. The enemies and secrets were rather well placed I thought, rather sporadic but also making you think in both cases. There were occasionally too many switches to use and a bit too much backtracking, but as a whole it keeps up the high quality of the Hidden Garden. After a brief revisit to that level, you enter Firewalk where the challenges ramp up a notch..." - Ryan (21-Dec-2018)
"Another level that i hate so much. specially being underwater i can't remember the times that i got drowned." - janachorider (21-Feb-2014)
"The first swimming path with two very annoying sharks was at the beginning really fun for me. The good textures helped to find a way through the maze, but after some time I really knew every part and it grew in a boring to and fro run. The second part was much better, with interesting puzzles like the torches and the big area with many hidden levers and keys. I really enjoyed this part, mainly because of the enemy fights which always were cleverly placed, and because of the beautiful greenish atmosphere. Texturing again was great. All the traps made this classic raiding difficult, like the burners and floor spikes. I really enjoyed this half of the level. The quest goes on, now to Firewalk..." - manarch2 (30-Jan-2011)
"A good part of this level is underwater, the last part is in a temple. I liked the architecture and textures, but I didn't like the gameplay always pulling a lot of switches to open doors or trapdoors, going from place to place revisiting the same rooms several times only to pull switches and have to return to previous rooms to pull more switches. I only find the shotgun as extra weapon and only disposed of three flares for all the game. Many times there are cameras to show you what you're doing when triggering something, but another times there aren't and you have to figure out where to go running around and around looking for something. I missed some interesting puzzles but the game is not bad." - Jose (04-Nov-2008)
"One of the sublevels visited from the Hidden Garden, this level takes place mostly in underwater caves and even though the environments are mostly claustrophobic with a somewhat mazeish feel, I never drowned. I did get somewhat confused and ended up swimming a lot more than needed because I had seen four statues so I assumed I need four tridents, and when I realized there was nowhere else to swim I went back to place in the two tridents (thinking that would trigger a door or something) I had and only then I realized two of the statues did not require a trident. D'oh. Shortly after collecting the golden vraeus you get off water and get to a lever sequence that goes on for way too long so you end up going back and forth in this area for quite a while. I also noticed that the columns have no collision, so you can completely avoid the flams in the stairway by running through the columns. 75 minutes, 4 secrets. 04/08" - Treeble (01-May-2008)
"This was pretty interesting level including plenty of swimming and underwater areas to explore. Usually I don't like time consuming swimming sessions but this level was still very enjoyable. Maybe because areas are planned just so well. Enemies are few sharks, bats, horsemen and beasts and I think they fit very well in the setting. Textures are chosen pretty nicely and lighting is good too despite it's a bit too dark in some areas. I think this is truly a good level." - Samu (18-Apr-2007)
"Playing Inch's Hidden garden series is an inspiration. I recommend them to any builder as something to aspire to. When I wrote this review I was unaware that the levels were listed individually. I played the game as an entire series and my review is done on that basis, so you find an identical review for each of the levels. Architecture, texturing and lighting are stunning and provide an amazing atmosphere. Inch is the master of not having a straight surface, so you'll always be checking every little corner for something hidden, especially in the cave like areas. The Emerald Lakes level provided me with the greatest difficulty and I particularly enjoyed the Firewalk level. The atmosphere of Obsidian Heights is a must see. Enemies are never overused, but you'll be kept busy figuring out some great puzzles. And even if you get stuck with some of these puzzles you can just walk around and soak up the atmosphere of these picturesque levels. Although now an older release and lacking the bells and whistles of custom objects, you'll marvel at how well these levels stand the test of time and match it with any of the latest releases." - EssGee (10-Mar-2007)
"A very solid and beautiful level. The environment is stunning and all the water areas makes you want to go to this place on vacation to relax and some swimming. At least when all the monsters are gone and the water can be tested for germs ;)The textures and lighting fits the level very well and the architecture is great. All the cameras are close to perfection and the sound adds to the amazing atmosphere. One room that I really liked was when you had to use a few switches to activate a flipmap to lower a pillar to go and get a gem! A very clever puzzle. A few not so good things: A lot of the places can be reached without doing some tasks. You don't really need the gem in the end as you can get the golden vraus and drop down into the water etc. On the same place you can ignore the flames leading up to the bridge as they can be traversed by hanging from the sides of the pillars. Beside those flaws, a very fine level from an author that is extremely good at making very entertaining game play!" - QRS (02-Aug-2006)
"A beautiful level ruined by allowing the player to get stuck in rooms without having all items necessary to proceed - notably, I went to the Poseidon room without the tridents yet the door closed behind Lara so she was trapped (why shut her in?) There were trapdoors in the bottom of the Poseidon room but they were both closed - one of my biggest gripes is levels with points of no return. So, unless I follow the walkthrough faithfully, I'll never be able to proceed - what's the point in that?" - Jenni (20-Mar-2005)
"This is the second level in 'The Hidden Garden' series. Once again Inchdix has done an amazing job with textures and lighting. This is true eye-candy. However I really do not like the underwater labyrinth at the beginning mainly because I always get stuck in water mazes and drown poor Lara way too much! But that aside it's still a pretty amazing level. Although most of it is set underwater later on it's set in a very beautiful temple. Here you will have to do a variety of switch puzzles battle mechanical men and monsters. Once again there are some confusing puzzles to solve in this level but as long as you explore it thoroughly you shouldn't have too much trouble." - Knuxx (14-Mar-2004)
"I have to say that I love the way Inchdix uses lighting in his levels. In this level the textures are very nice and the layout is great. It was very challenging to figure out where to go layer on top of that much of it is swimming and you have a tough cookie to crack. It wasn't so difficult that it took the fun out of the puzzle though. Lots of swimming around looking for switches (both underwater and in hidden passages in the rooms) and tricky traps. The enemies weren't all that bad some sharks some ahmets and a few bats for flavor. The sharks always totally stress me out :) Anyhow I enjoyed playing and would recommend to anybody!" - Brigidsgirl (06-Mar-2004)
"I liked this better than Hidden Gardens and I liked that to begin with! It's a very nice water-based map where you really have to explore every nook and cranny to proceed. Fights are pretty good and are against ahmets tinmen bats and a couple of sharks. All in all this was one of the better 'water' maps I have played. I completed it in 2 hours and found 4 secrets." - gfd (03-Jan-2004)
"I had a lot of fun playing this level much more than the previous Hidden Garden I must stress. Mostly it's an underwater level where you can easily get lost and confused but where you also find lots of places where you can come up to breathe. And once you get to know the place it all gets much easier anyway... Then there's a different part of this level with Lara solving puzzles on solid ground. There are a couple of tinmen and even another one on a horse but they didn't bother me much - and I'm the first to say I hate tinmen on horses. It all flows so perfectly... There's also a lake and you have to solve a couple of puzzles in order to get the vraeus which will be necessary to finish the game. I must say I was very pleased with this level since albeit not being overtly easy I managed to find my way from start to finish without ever once looking at a single line of the walkthrough! And another very good thing unlike Hidden Garden I didn't find any serious bug during the entire game. Apart from that I couldn't find any use for the receptacle of the star of whatever that is by a door in maybe the first room you come up to for air as you're being chased by two hammerhead sharks. Fortunately it wasn't necessary to finish the level or maybe the author simply forgot about it... Anyway I keep getting a little confused with these level names - Emerald Lake? It sounds like something very beautiful when mostly it's all about underwater caves and buildings. Catchy name though... I urge you all TR players to try this one (together with the rest of the series of course) - you won't regret it." - Jorge22 (11-Oct-2003)
"Emerald Lakes is one of four 'spoke' levels off the central 'hub' level of the author's Hidden Garden series. Gameplay is essentially divided into three parts. In the first part Lara has to find two Tridents and gain access to the cave in which she has to use them. Unfortunately if she enters the cave without one or both of the Tridents and if she hadn't opened an underwater gate earlier that allowed her back into the first part of the level she will be trapped. The second part of the level Lara has to obtain the Golden Vraeus from this level that she will need back in Hidden Garden. Once she has collected it she can proceed on to the final part of the level which is a sort of temple-like area with linear gameplay the point of which is simply to pass through it so she can return to Hidden Garden. At the end of the level Lara is faced with three choices of how to proceed. Unfortunately two of these end in spike pits and it's a bit of trial and error to determine which way to go. Enemies consist of four sharks some ahmets bats and horsemen (one of them mounted). There were four Secrets all of which were fairly easy to find. The atmosphere of underwater caves and temple worked well here. However one music file was missing from the download that was not included in the original set with the Level Editor and there were a couple of times that I had to hunt for a door that I had opened with a lever that didn't give me a camera shot. Lighting and textures worked well here although some of the Tibet textures (specifically with the emblem) seemed out of place." - Loren (28-Sep-2003)
"The second in the series this one started in a way I am not fond of whatsoever. Straight away you are thrown into an underwater cave with maze like qualities with underwater switches to find as well as life giving breath holes and some pick ups all the while having to avoid big ol' sharks phew was I happy to finish that section of the game. Once on dry land in this 80 minute level you meet some tinmen one on horseback ahmets and a jam packed lever-athon. I came across 4 secrets in this gorgeously built level but I wouldn't for the life of me play this again as all the confusing swimming in the first half just did my head in." - Sash (13-Sep-2003)
"Another eye candy level and although I called Jon every name in the book while Lara was swimming afterwards I can only admit that I had a great time. Enemies are sharks and ahmets both not my favorites and horsemen. There is a lot of back and fro and some of it wasn't as clear cut as I would have liked. I was glad to get out of the water and explore the dry land. There is also much to do here and Jon made some nice traps boulders fire emitters finding artifacts and secrets. 01-08-2003" - Gerty (15-Aug-2003)
"Here is a confusing underwater lake with sunken temples and tunnels. Get rid of two sharks as soon as you can and at least you can swim in safety to get to underwater and wall switches and get two tridents. I spent a lot of time swimming. At least there are three or four airholes. And that's the easy part. Out of water you now run the gauntlet of boulders floor blades fires rotating blades more sharks more ahmets assorted armoured gem-chested knights wielding axes (read about using the shotgun to get rid of these 'knights' if using a mac wouldn't have figured that out myself) and get to see nice lake room with more temples. An awful lot of switches. You pull a switch get a view of another door/whatever and nothing has happened when you go there. There's obviously something else to do! Once out of the water the action is mainly in one huge building with different levels. Quite challenging and frustrating especially as you're not sure which way to go next and you cover a lot of ground from switch to switch and backtracking. The walkthrough is definitely needed. On to Firewalk . . ." - CC (31-Mar-2003)
"I love levels that grow and expand as you play them and THE HIDDEN GARDEN is a great example. We start in predictably enough a garden with monkeys and a cursory explore reveals some areas to get to but lots of locked doors. However further persistence starts to really open up the level and before long the place is flooded and there are entrances to four further levels available: EMERALD LAKES OBSIDIAN HEIGHTS SERPENTINE GORGE and FIRE WALK. Each of these is different and each is pretty hard to complete. Perhaps the hardest is FIRE WALK for which I needed the walkthrough and I also had to check on progress on some of the others from time to time as well. The use of graphics is brilliant and each place seems real and a lot of care and thought has gone into them. There are several things to kill - bats ahmets and clockwork men mainly with dragonflys in OBSIDIAN HEIGHTS as well oh and several crocs sharks and other assorted nasties including bugs in one area. My one complaint in the whole thing is in FIRE WALK when you have to shoot 5 vases in the correct sequence - how are you supposed to know? I thought at first that the colours of the translucent floor tiles on your way into the area was the key but this seemed not to be the case at all. I hate this kind of random-ness to a level - there should be some clue as to what is going on. Despite this I got over 10 solid hours of gameplay from this and it was great fun. Definitely one of the best level sequences I've played." - David (23-Feb-2003)
"This is the second level of this fantastic adventure. It's so entertaining and well done! The atmosphere is great and textures quite perfect. It's not easy to find the way in the underwater labyrinth. The lake is really beautiful. Some enemies are hard to defeat as the horseman in the room with spikes. I liked the way to get the blue gems and the golden vraeus. I enjoyed to picking up the shotgun and the revolver (so well hidden in a hole in the spiked room). I'm going on to Firewalk now." - Cuqui (28-Nov-2002)
"This second installment in the Hidden Garden series was much less frustrating and therefore much more enjoyable than the maiden voyage. The high quality we've come to expect from Jon Heywood is maintained here and although there's an awful lot of swimming required in the early going the level of difficulty isn't such as to throw off the gamer with average skills. The scenery and lighting are superb throughout and the series promises to rank up there with Pascal's and Rene's best efforts. (I did experience one unusual glitch near the end of the level where you climb up a pole past a rotating blade and crawl to a golden switch. If you move forward to the left past the switch and vault into the window sill you're transported to the roof above. It's possible to get back down to where you're supposed to be but only with difficulty.)." - Phil (25-Nov-2002)
"This part has two sections to offer - the first one involves a lot of swimming/diving as you are welcomed by sharks which chase you around and the second is about finding many many levers which maybe was a little overdone in my eyes. There are quite a few pesky bats some ahmets and tinmen to battle and I really liked the good camera guidance that helped you in your progression. Quite a few traps here with boulders blades and fire emitters; two tridents and four gems to find and of course the Vraeus. Again excellent architecture especially the lake area and really wonderfully designed secrets. I found four of those (goodies shotgun and revolver) and you actually need to solve a torch puzzle for a hand to get to one and at least number 2 and 3 are interlinked. 1:15 hours spent here before returning to the Hidden Garden to reach the next level of the series." - Michael (22-Oct-2002)
"Even if there are a few flaws in here it still is a fine level in the series. For a swimming level I would prefer a shipwreck but this one was just fine too a few hammerhead sharks some horsemen and ahmets to fight not very tough but worthy enemies. My main complaint was that you could enter the Poseidon room before getting both tridents and also the fiery stairs before are not a big threat you just have to climb on the side edge and you can walk to the top of them (and since the columns don't have collision they don't hold you up too). Despite of that I liked the placement of secrets and the level itself was quite fun. Nothing more I could add I think a good level to play." - eTux (13-Oct-2002)
"In the second part Lara begins in the water where she was friendly welcomed by two sharks. Major task is it to find again the golden Vraeus. This was to be mastered by different mysteries which were also not easy in some places. Here were also insidious traps. Lara had to watch out well. One noticed that the level became ever more difficult and more complex. Very varied. Again and again there were new ideas. The area with the plates which always disappeared I did not know yet. The opponents were at the beginning sharks and later ahmets and tinmen. Constantly one had to deal also with the annoying bats. Textures were very well and cleanly applied. Camera and sound came suitably. Secrets had been well hidden again. I believe I found them all. For example the shotgun and the revolver. Very recommendable." - Navi (28-Sep-2002)
"My only objection: too much water. All the rest is almost perfect." - Loupar (11-Aug-2002)
"The series runs 1. Hidden Garden - 2. Emerald Lakes - 3. Firewalk - 4. Obsidian Heights - 5. Serpentine Gorge with Hidden Garden being the central hub as you return here often to gain access to the other levels. The order in which these go and the approximate times taken are as follows. You start in Hidden Garden for 75 minutes move on to Emerald Lakes for 90 minutes back to Hidden Garden for 20 minutes then onto Firewalk for 65 minutes back to Hidden Garden again for a quick 5 minutes and onto Obsidian Gorge for 130 minutes. Then a quick backtrack to Hidden Garden for a minute or so and onto Serpentine Gorge the last level for 155 minutes with a final visit to Hidden Garden for 5 minutes to place the 4 Vraeus objects. This ended up for a total game time of 9 hours. Emerald Lakes: Be prepared to do a lot of swimming in this level as you look for a plethora of underwater levers and the odd well hidden jump switch in the dry rooms and grottos you discover. I spent way too much time looking for the third gem because I missed one of these early on. This was unfortunately too dark in places for my liking but the author does provide you with plenty of flare pickups. I am positive Lara ended this level with a severe case of panty itch from being constantly wet." - Torry (10-Jul-2002)
"The second level after Hidden Garden really beautiful! The particularity of it is surely the created atmosphere in the seed rooms dark with the endless levers to activate and the monster in ambush stupendous light and shade as the texture naturally. The level is divided in two parts in the first you have to find two tridents in more caverns submerged with swim to the limit of the survival avoiding even insidious sharks while in the second parts you have to find an artifact purpose of the level in an enormous temple with monsters horsemen traps with fires blades spikes and roller balls in short action and ability! The artifact is necessary for the Hidden Garden level and it's the first of the four it seems to find then I suggest you to hold the final savegame. I have ended the level in about 1 hour and 20 minutes finding three secrets with middle difficulty. Well another level another artifact I think however it was sure fun to have seen the first two!" - Boris (21-Jun-2002)
"This second level of 'The Hidden Garden' mini-game is just as good looking as the first one! You start underwater and have to open various doors to find two tridents and to be able to get on to the second part of this level. Not many enemies but the ones that come along are well placed horsemen and monsters and not to forget the sharks in the beginning. You end up in 'The hidden garden' again to go on into other parts of the game...." - G.Croft (21-Jun-2002)
"What an amazing level! Within the first five minutes I was hooked and couldn't stop playing until I reached the end. A lot of work has gone into this level and it shows! I found this to be as clever and challenging as the previous level 'The Hidden Garden' and every bit as thrilling and entertaining. There's quite a lot of underwater activity in the first half as you search for the two tridents needed to proceed to the second half (don't worry there's plenty of places to get air). From there your objective is to obtain the Golden Vraeus and then make your way back to the hidden garden. This is a large level with many areas to search usually more than once as every action you take has some effect on another area in the level. However some great camera work is used here to help you figure out what to do next as well as show off the levels beauty with a few excellent fly-bys. As I've come to expect from Jon's levels the textures were used perfectly here to create some visually stunning areas. Each room is a work of art and considerable attention has been paid to the tiniest of details. There are few enemies but they have been used very well and at times will even drop a much-needed object to aid you in your journey. I had a lot of fun playing 'Emerald Lakes' and am already looking forward to playing it again as well as the next level in the series. Hopefully next time I will find the last of the four secrets." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002)
"This is the first of 3 or 4 'sub-levels' which you access from 'The hidden garden'. Also a very good one there is a lot of swimming in the first half of this level. Some levers are very well hidden take a look at everything exactly. In the second half you come to a big area with levers under fire and a lot of rooms to explore. This part is not so difficult anymore but still a lot to do until you find a golden vraeus and the way back to 'The hidden garden'. Can't wait for the next released levels I keep the savegame" - Freeman Porter (21-Jun-2002)
"The first 'sub-level' to 'The Hidden Garden' and if you like swimming you're in for a real treat since you'll be doing a lot of swimming in the first part of this level. There are sharks too (I hate sharks). In the second level you'll have to find a lot of levers and kill several horsemen (one is actually on a horse). You'll also encounter some bats (they may not be as dangerous as the horsemen but they are still kind of dangerous). Good texturing lighting and puzzles and well worth the time it takes to complete it." - Magnus (21-Jun-2002)
"Inchdix for me has improved on the previous level of Hidden Garden with this sequel. There is not as much long return runs and the game play is more logical but with some items easily missed. Good use of knights with the killing of the foot knights you expect easy jewels-not so simple you have to work for them. Only downside was that the level failed on my system to revert to the Hidden Garden-hopefully I can try to get this rectified" - Whistle (21-Jun-2002)
"This level is part of the Hidden garden. This level is well textured and the lighting is just right. A lot of the puzzles underwater were just pulling a lever to open a gate type and as long as you can remember the orientation of the layout you should do ok. Just explore every area thoroughly. I did find that when I went to the room where you place the tridents on the statues I only had one trident and the door closed behind me. When I got back to the door with the other trident I couldn't open the door again. My advice would be to make sure you have both tridents before going in this room. (It might be possible to do but I couldn't and had to do the level again). Once you are back out of the water you have some more switch pulling to do. I did get stuck for about 10 minutes on the 4 switches with flames on until I realised what I was doing wrong. All in all a very well put together level but would have got higher marks had most of the puzzles been more than just switches. I will definitely look forward to playing the rest of Inchdix' levels." - Jason (21-Jun-2002)
"Now this level is in two parts. In the first part Lara spends quite some time swimming around. Here she had to find things like two tridents a hand of sirius and one horseman's gem. I lost partly my orientation (should have used the compass) but anyway there was always a chance to get some air. The other part happens mostly in a building with switches all over. Here you meet some enemies like Iron Warriors one even on a horse. Lara has to get two horseman's gems. Again a lot of walking around but the play goes here rather straightforward. The puzzles are not too difficult. I think I found 2 secrets (I have 4 from level 1 and 2). The end is sort of open. You can just suppose that you have finished the level with one (of four) Golden Vraeus in the inventory. Well done underwater cave and also the other rooms in the level. I'm looking forward to part three." - Monika (21-Jun-2002)
"An underwater labyrinth at first a fantastic adventure as it goes on. The player is bound to swim in those endless underwater passages to get hold of the first puzzle item and to continue through this level. A series of re-entries in the water will lead eventually to other passages with levers while sharks are after you. The general idea in order to complete the level is to have in mind that different areas far apart from them can open most of the gates and some puzzle items require you to search for another access to the areas that hold them. I am still searching for a way to get a hand in that level that opens the door to what I believe is a secret. Once past the first test of the underwater world the player finds another world above the ground. This one is revealed to be another interesting adventure more fascinating. A gem accessed through fire blocks and then a new area revealed. I enjoyed very much the revolver secret and I came this close to miss some ammo because of the clever way that the builder has come with to distract you. Be patient if you want to access the above frieze solve the switches puzzle. The chess room and the return to the first level of this series-'Hidden Garden'-along with the whole game play are going to convince you for the quality of this level. Beware of the mutants." - Kristina (21-Jun-2002)
"It is a little bit difficult to review this level because it is to be played coherently with the other 3. After a nerve-racking diving action Lara comes to surroundings loaded with puzzles which are really tough. I liked the atmosphere in this level very much the opponents were in the correct places and were difficult to defeat. Secrets were hidden very well particularly the revolver was not easy to reach. From the puzzles side one of the most interesting levels I have played. Camera work Sound and textures also contributed to the fantastic atmosphere. I absolutely recommend to play the level together with the others." - Xxenofex (21-Jun-2002)
"What a fantastic Level. I still can't believe that I never got stuck. Well I got stuck once but that doesn't really count. How was I supposed to know that on a Mac you have to destroy the tin men with the shotgun in order to get the gem?! Not in a million years I would have thought of that but thankfully someone had found out for me and posted the solution to this quirk in the forum. Thank You! This adventure is perfect in almost every aspect. The atmosphere the textures the enemies the secrets the course the rooms; the only thing that prevents this from getting ten in each category is that there are far too many levers for my liking. And I don't know why. There is so much else this level certainly doesn't need them. Alright the first part is spent swimming it's easier than it seems and I only drowned once as Inchdix was kind enough to provide some pockets of air along the way. Once you have a feel of the area it's just a matter of pulling the right levers and placing the items. Boy was I glad to be out of the water and feel solid ground under my feet again. After a short interlude in a brilliantly designed cavern the second part of the level will have you groping your way around in a cleverly constructed building with many rooms and nooks to explore. You get to fight the dreaded horseman have to run up and down those stairs over and over again in order to make progress and then you must try pulling those switches without getting burned. Highly enjoyable throughout very satisfying and with a setting so gorgeous no matter how long this takes you you're gonna be sad when you have to leave. Pity about the levers though. Ahh well you can't please everybody I guess." - Dimpfelmoser (21-Jun-2002)
"Like Hidden Garden this second level is confusing; the gameplay is exacting and rigorous. For example when you throw a switch in the middle part (which is reachable even if you haven't done everything in a previous area) backtracking to the beginning area will 'un-trigger' what that switch is for. So you need to throw it back again (those who played this know what I'm talking about). Maybe it's just me but even just as soon as I finish it I can't remember anymore which switch opens what gate! You see for the first part the level takes place in an underwater area with levers and switches to acquire two pick ups again necessary to flood an exit. The next part though mostly in temples is not any easier. You need to find well-hidden switches to open gates that you may have not seen yet depending on how you explore the area. This is really some switch-throwing level of a game! I mean I've never seen so many switches and gates in one level! But if you're blessed with a keen memory and observation for details you'll be able to go back to Hidden Garden (and back here at Emerald Lakes if you happen to miss a secret or two). So bless you :)" - Drew Pizza (21-Jun-2002)
"The whole of the Hidden Garden Series is brilliant. It is well thought out and well connected. This level involves plenty of swimming through tunnels and submerged towers to find what you need and need to do in order to swim through to a beautiful area with fire and waterfalls. When you finally get back on solid ground again there are horsemen and all kinds of things to fight and to work out before you can finally return to the Hidden Garden with one of the vraeus' that you need. Brilliant." - Moonliteshadow (21-Jun-2002)
"Part 2 of the Hidden Garden Series is like you could have guessed by the title a very 'wet' level. You have to do a lot of diving. There are some levers to find under water and in well- hidden chambers. Again you have to find tridents and flood a chamber. You will encounter a couple of sharks. A bit of climbing to get the first vraeus will follow. In the last part of the level you have to collect gems. You will meet a horseman a couple of knights on foot and ahmets. You have to find the right triggers to extinguish fires. The usage of cameras was very well done; secrets are very good. The opponents are well placed." - Tombraidergirl (21-Jun-2002)