Level reviews

"So far I've found that levels protesting their strangeness in their title do not tend to live up to it. It's a bit like when internet denizens choose a name for themselves that proclaims just how cool they are. This one is no exception.
So it uses Angkor textures with the Library wad. A texture suggesting spikes is merely a marker for a pushable. Stairs that lead nowhere. Various pickups you never need. Big deal. I'll give you the underwater tinman, but that's really it. Otherwise, it's business as usual: pull some switches to open some doors, push a thing onto its designated tile, underwater maze. Since we're dealing with the Library wad, you go up the pole with the circular saw blades. Objects and textures don't mesh, so it doesn't look good, but the texturing is acceptable even if lighting is mostly absent. Everything works, there's a even a camera or two, it's just not particularly interesting. It manages to surprise you only once, and that is by brevity; or to be precise, the placement of its f" - Mulf

"Not as strange or as surreal as other levels with less suggestive titles. The only weird bits were a horseman that kept gallivanting around underwater and the extremely abrupt ending after around 10 minutes, while jumping on a pillar. The setting isn't too badly done, but the gameplay doesn't really hold its own, consisting of a simple push puzzle, a couple of levers to pull and an easy underwater maze. Not really one I can recommend downloading." - Ryan

"An unremarkable level, straightforward, very short, and strange. It uses the library wad, just like all of the author's previous levels. You only push a planet, shoot two balls, swim a bit, and some jumping. Only enemies were a fire wraith and a knight, which was able to walk underwater. I found no use for the crowbar. The ending was abrupt. So, I don't recommend this level." - alan

"Really a strange place. No need to pick up the crossbow and the sight to shoot the brass balls, the cameras are totally useless, 'cause they only show a black room, only two enemies and the thin man walking over the raising blocks, a black room where you can't see anithing even with flares and only two switches to pull. Not worth to play." - Jose

"I think the only strange bits in this short level are the erratic lighting (mostly light but with a pitch black bit suddenly appearing) and the tinman who preferred to mess about in the pool rather than stay and fight. There's a crossbow/laser sight and shotgun on offer but you don't need them, either for fighting or shooting the trigger balls. Otherwise, there's just a bit of swimming, globe pushing and trying not to lose too much health to those deadly pole blades. The library and Angkor Wat textures are quite pleasant, but not really worth the download." - Jay

"Is that really such a strange place? I don't know but I don't agree with Michael here as the level is not a bit dark or strangely lighted. This 10 minute level is actually rather an ordinary game consisting of uneventful gameplay in a not great but okayish setting and bland lighting. The mix between Library objects and Angkor textures might be working well elsewhere but this level is not a great example in that regard. The gameplay was not overly taxing but there is at least a bit of variety to not bore players off for the short time with balls that need to be shot at with the crossbow (or the pistols), a pole climb up a shaft, a small underwater maze and a short and easy pushable puzzle, still some cameras were missing and the end was the only part that could be called "strange" as a) the horseman mostly ran into the pool and only could be shot when he came up the raising blocks and b) the level ended pretty abruptly jumping on a pillar (?). Rather optional, it wouldn't be bad if it was a debut (but it of course wasn't)." - manarch2

"How one says so nicely: "I saw it fine, only my mind could not understand it". One could also write: "Oh thinker's forehead, why these many question marks?" . Nevertheless, however, come we first to the level. As the first, Lara finds crossbow and sight telescope, but they are absolutely needless. Then she shifts a globe and finds a crowbar, which is also absolutely needless. After other levers she comes to a place with two waterwheels. If she has started running them, for what one must simply shoot at both hanging balls, it goes in a small underwater labyrinth. Afterwards she must go on a pole upwards and is at the levelend. Who would want, can admire a metal man, who can run under water. The whole one takes place in Angkor Wat textures and one really asks himself, what should mean this now. There is no right beginning, no right end, and the things which one finds are superfluous. A few stretched textures are still to be seen. But luckily it lasts only a few minutes, then the inclined player is delivered." - Scottie

"It is a matter of opinion but I think that the textures of Angkor Vat go well with the Library Wad. What we have here is only a sample of that as the level is quite short. The setting should not be bad if the lighting had been worked on more, and by the way if this is not a dark level there is a pitch black room where you can't see a thing. Original is the use of the only horseman here as the fellow can quickly climb on the raising blocks to annoy Lara, sadly the level ends abruptly just after that when it could become interesting." - eRIC

"Lara visited the lost library in Angkor Wat temple. Level has little rooms which are nicely textured. Also objects are placed very good. To avoid the cogs from library I jumped in every room separately and didn't get hurt. Enemies are burning wraith and knight with blue gem. Knight was attacking also in water, where Lara couldn't shoot, and it wasn't very easy to target the blue gem. You can't miss a thing in this little adventure, approximately 10-15 minutes of game-play. I would like to see more of this Angkor ruins." - Oxy

"It's not a bad level but again it's short and sweet like an ass's gallop. At the start I side jumped to get the crossbow and lasersight while trying to not get pushed over by swinging chains. I wondered too what the crowbar was for. The hardest thing to do here is climb a pole through three blades. The knight running around under water and climbing up the block that Lara's stands on was such a surprise." - CC

"Actually it isn't that strange visually when compared to some 'zany' levels I've played; but in terms of gameplay it's quite bizarre. A crowbar you never need a tinman who wanders around underwater and the End-of-level Trigger placed arbitrarily on top of a pillar. 10 minutes of silliness but at least it looks rather nice." - Orbit Dream

"Definitely a strange place. Have you ever seen before a horseman in water and as blocks raising he can appear on them just like that? I am sure you haven't but that kind of thing exists in this level. It started as a normal level with snakes that open doors and an underwater trigger to open another door only to finally get to the room mentioned above. After five minutes and having seen that phenomenon the level finished while Lara was jumping on one of the raised blocks." - Kristina

"Strange indeed. A very short level with a couple of wraiths and a tinmen that scared the beejeez out of me as one minute he was under water and the next he was on the block Lara was standing. Well there is also a globe to push three dragon levers to pull some shooting and that is it. Found two crowbars one lasersight and the glasses Von Croy used to wear. I found out that by just jumping in the water and swimming will end the level as well but I liked the jumping on the blocks well - reaching the third triggers the end of the level. 14-10-2002" - Gerty

"A strange place indeed where tinmen walk under water. I mean they're bound to rust aren't they? The good thing about those small short and amateurish levels is that you become aware of how much effort has to go into the great adventures. In every respect. This here seems like a showroom for Library customers. 'See here the chain the globe and there is the brass sphere over there; the wraith and the dragon with the lever is upstairs this way please.' Everything is just put there without any concept. Like the lasersight is underneath a swinging chain but you can easily shoot the brass ball with the pistols. Oh well you're through with it in 8 minutes." - Dimpfelmoser

"With a mixture of Angkor and library textures this 10 minute level sure is a strange little place actually I thought the textures worked nicely together. There really isn't much to this level and no-one will have any trouble with it though if you don't kill the only horseman at the end then he becomes quite a pain in the butt because he can walk under water and on top of raised blocks which meant he could follow right on your tail with every move you made usually bumping you off blocks as you are trying to line up a jump. There is one thing that confused me a little near the end you find a crowbar after pulling a lever but there was nowhere to use it I guess that is part of the strangeness of this strange place!" - Sash

"A strange place indeed with only 22 rooms in a very dark and strangely lit environment. Angkor textures and library objects do not fit together too well here. There is a planet to pull two objects to shoot some swimming to do and a pole to climb until you meet a fire wraith and a tinman lurking around underwater. Made it through in less than 10 minutes." - Michael

"This ultra short level of 10 minutes was really quite well done and it could have developed into something really worthwhile if the author had continued it. I particularly enjoyed the Horseman running around underwater who followed you around and even climbed blocks in pursuit of Ms Croft. The puzzles were non existent but as I said this could have been something special." - Torry

"This is the first level I play that uses the library wad in a non library environment. It was fun though. It's a pity that it lasted only 10 minutes. I found only one enemy (a horseman) that was moving underwater and jumping very high! I think there could be a little more detail on the texturing and some more work on the lighting. The finish trigger of the level was strangely placed and last what was that moveable planet for?" - Treeble

"If you have a spare ten minutes and want a short easy level to play this could be just what you're looking for. Though the puzzles are good they lean toward the simple side and won't take you any longer than ten seconds to solve. I did enjoy the end where you have a tin man and a fire elemental chasing after you while you try to jump to each block that is rising out of the water. The level seemed to be a mix of both the library and Angkor styles which surprisingly looks very good but other then the two already mentioned there are no other enemies and I'm still not sure what I was supposed to do with the crowbar." - RaiderGirl

"If this had been a demo it would have been okay but as a level; well it ends after less than eight minutes you find a crowbar in the end that you never get to use (the artifact Lara was searching maybe?) and the flyby in the last room seems unfinished. The texturing isn't very good either but it's okay." - Magnus

"Each level I play of this author is getting shorter ;o) - this one is about 10 minutes. Besides pulling switches to open doors you have to shoot two balls to get the wheels working and that's the most thrilling thing in this level. Ok Ok that was a bit sarcastic. In one place you can find the crowbar but I still wonder what was it good for? All in all another nice try - but unfortunately nothing more than that." - Sheevah

"The level starts with two chains guarding a crossbow and a lasersight. The next room has a pitch-black fog bulb in it (turning off Volumetric FX recommended). But the 'strange' feeling comes when you reach an underwater maze with scrolls on the floor (one is semi-transparent) and a bench which you'll be stuck in if you swim into. You also have to struggle your way up a pole surrounded by the cogs everyone loves to hate (excellent trap ^_^). At the end there's a square room filled with water with a flyby camera which goes through walls. There's a horseman running around in the water too which is unnecessary to kill 'cause the exit is in the same room. When you finish the level the game crashes to desktop (set the finish number to 24 to prevent this). I have two questions about this level: 1. What am I supposed to do with the crowbar? 2. What's the real necessary use of the weapons?" - Ganon93