| Reviewer's comments |
"Interesting to play Debbie's debut level, especially since I recently finished playing through the Lara at the Movies levelset and was very impressed by her 'Rebecca' entry. The Haunted wasn't stellar by any means but it did occupy me for about 45 minutes. The puzzles are not puzzling, consisting of mostly levers and a key item. Finding the way forward was as easy as keeping your eyes open for places to go. Lots of massive rooms that were very empty and hollow feeling. I can see the kind of overwhelming and gloomy atmosphere that Debbie was working at. I did enjoy the room with the jar fountains and the haunted pool. Found all 7 secrets!" - Chel (12-Oct-2018) |
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| "Well it certainly was interesting to try out Debbie's very first level, which is pretty embryonic compared to the super games she brought to us later on. It has a certain quirkiness, but it's rather gloomy and the gameplay isn't very exciting. She became one of my favourite builders and I really regret that she made the decision to stop building a few years ago. If you want to see what I'm talking about, play some of her more recent games, but probably best leave this one to fade quietly into the background." - Jay (28-Jul-2018) |
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| "This is Debbie's first offering and it's nice to know she's human, just like us. She went on to release amazing masterpieces later down the line, but her start was just as humble as (most) of us. Oversized rooms, stretched textures, random object placement, the occasional door bug -- though most of the doors open upon approach -- and to wrap it up the flare bug kicks about halfway in, which is a pity as some of the areas are rather on the dark side. Fairly linear in design which means you shouldn't get stuck, I only did so because I didn't realize the Shotgun secret (first thing I found in the level) was actually part of the main path later on... 20 minutes, 4 secrets. 01/18" - Treeble (05-Jan-2018) |
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| "If you like exploring vast sparse rooms
with very little to do in them, then
you'll probably find this level to be
right up your street. But, for me it lost
its lustre pretty quickly because
otherwise there's not much else to the
level apart from huge climbs, jumps and
swims while finding a huge amount of
pickups and deja vu ensued. The
surroundings are rather dark and
repetitive but some rooms do have a
certain charm. Maybe I'm being too
critical and I usually enjoy this
builder's levels, but this one wasn't for
me, sorry." - Ryan (30-Oct-2017) |
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| "An average level from year 2002. It is very easy to pass this level. Enemies and textures are very average. Lighting is quite OK. This level needs more fine-tuning and puzzles to be good level." - vienna (10-Apr-2017) |
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| "When I began the level, turn around and saw that enormous black grate I thought: oh, my God! In fact this is the level of the many useless pickups and the very elongated textures. The rooms are huge and empty of objects, many areas can be avoided and are not necessary to finish the level. There are some unmarked spike traps, some paper walls, bad placed objects (you can see from the backside they're not "solid") and what all the ammo and weapons are for? I only need the crossbow with explosive ammo to shoot the skeletons. The level is playable, but the only sense here is to look for the very easy secrets and the pharos knot to finish the level. Not funny for me." - Jose (07-Jul-2016) |
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| "Gigantic rooms and partly endlessly stretched textures promote guaranteed not the play fun. This is in any other level thus and this also is here in such a way. But then it gives pleasure absolutely to play this level. Since he has some good ideas. And some rooms look really good. But hardly one has seen interesting places, one must endure such things like these endless laddder. One gets constantly in hot and cold baths of the feelings. Here the joy at nicely built rooms and interesting duties, there the frustration about wallpaper textures and desolate Gameplay. And this is really a pity, because with more care this could have become a really good level. But in this form the frustration is bigger than the play joy." - Scottie (23-Feb-2010) |
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| "This is not very well building level. Lot's of missing textures, flare's bug. Some enemies which were mentioned in walkhtrough, didn't appear. When Lara dies, game crashes. The same thing happens, when I tryied to use binoculars. I understand, this is first level, but I cannot finish it, because of many missing things." - Andzia9 (01-May-2009) |
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| "I've waited a long time--too long it seems--to play one of Debbie Overstreet's levels. She's fast becoming one of our most prolific level builders and the reviews of her output have inched up into the 'green' range of late. My plan is to play her earliest levels first and work my way up thereby experiencing the anticipated thrill of seeing the quality of her workmanship improve steadily. It also doesn't hurt that Debbie is one of the few authors (Richard Lawther is another) who include walkthroughs with their level downloads. The Haunted is a pleasant diversion that has an effective mix of enemies and puzzles a floor switch here a long safety drop there. The cut scenes are well spaced and the sound effects very well thought out. The 'secrets' for the most part were a tad obvious but on the other hand you could call them nice morale boosters for less experienced players. There was a very nice musical fanfare near the end that I thought was an excellent touch. Not one of the classics but an entertaining level that makes me eager to try out the next ten in her repertoire to date." - Phil (05-Aug-2003) |
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| "What an extraordinary looking house. A haunted house there's no doubt about that what with the skeletons wraiths and that wonderful laugh (worth the download for that alone). Enormous rooms that have a mix of Rome objects and coastal textures plus new ones. But despite the impressive look the gameplay is a LOT of swimming slogging through water in a maze pulling floor switches climbing very high ladders and running around that's all the level is about. It certainly has a style of it's own and it keeps you going 'til the end despite the game crashing constantly for me. There was only one thing that stumped me. That was the movable column thing in the dark brown maze with water on the floor. Haven't a clue what that did. Certainly worth a look." - CC (08-May-2003) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Dougsan (05-Mar-2003) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Dimpfelmoser (10-Nov-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - John (03-Sep-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Sash (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Michael (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Torry (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - TrueRaider (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - G.Croft (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Leandro (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "For some reason I really love to play levels that take place in a house so I was excited to read that this was a haunted house and that there were seven secrets to find. This was unlike any house I've ever seen before though with a few huge rooms and huge bodies of water. The secrets are not too hard to find but at one point you have the option of going through a door at the top of a ladder or at the bottom and I chose the bottom door first and ended up having to come back later plus it took me while to find the last secret because it was in the dark but it turned out to be very close to where I started the level. So I spent an hour here the first time through but it could be done much faster. This is not a level filled with hard puzzles but more of exploration and some really clever effects like a haunted pool that you literally fall into and some platforms that raise when you stand on them. The music was also used very well and added a lot to the level. Just make sure to keep track of your surroundings because you might suddenly find yourself being chased by a wraith wondering where exactly it was that you last saw that bird statue and if it's not them it's a skeleton that you've woken up from the dead. Just make sure to bring your crucifix and your running shoes because you'll need 'em." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002) |
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| “Some level do sort of speak to me and some don't. This one didn't and I found it rather confusing. It started by installing and not knowing which TOM file to convert. It turned out you needed the catacomb.tom. I do love huge rooms and there were plenty of them. I even didn't mind the loooooong loooong climbs, and swims because it is a part of vast rooms. What I surely didn't like was the darkness, it does hinder my gameplay. By using loads of reddish brown colours it was very dark and above all the flare bug appeared. Lots of wraiths, but none of them harmed Lara and for good measure, some skeletons and if you are a bit hesitant you may encounter some beetles, they even follow you under water. Apart from 7 secrets and the Pharo's knot, some levers to pull, I still don't know what the second block lift had to do. Some new textures were used, over and over again and mainly also in a dark colour. For a first not bad at all, but for a next, please make it a bit lighter." - Gerty (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Orbit Dream (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Kristina (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Kersaho (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "review comments unfortunately lost" - Pitec (21-Jun-2002) |
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