| Reviewer's comments |
"I keep running up and down the short list of 2003 levels I've yet to play (well, short is a bit of a stretch as it's still well over 50), and I decided to pick this one as Sheevah's levels are usually entertaining and somewhat straightforward. The beginning here was a bit rough, with a series of traps that had me reloading quite a few times and one nearly impossible to spot jump switch inside an alcove, although I believe that was just for a secret only, but from that point on it became increasingly simpler while still keeping me engaged. I loved exploding the TNT crates, even if they're triggering points didn't always make sense (ie. an underwater lever in a room previously filled by lava). There were a few pushblock puzzles as well, the first one was a bit tricky as the spaces were rather tight, and the second one was quite the red herring as you have very faint hues on three specific floor and ceiling tiles and after doing the long push around and not getting anywhere, I opened the level in trview and realized the triggers were right there on the floor instead, a single push on each of the objects was enough to light up the torches lol. This is also a good looking level overall, perhaps a bit too dim. 45 minutes, 4 secrets. 12/20" - Treeble (06-Dec-2020) |
 |
| "After a rather complicated start the game becomes interesting with a final in a very nice room well decorated and enlightened. The passage of crates in a restricted place to open the hatch was well thought out. Excellent." - Drakan (28-Oct-2019) |
|
| "No rest for the wicked at the start of this
level as Lara is pursed by a boulder and if you
don't reach the upper level quick enough, it's
Lara pancakes for breakfast. This is another
enjoyable level from Sheevah and just as
challenging as her "Amazing Tower". Varied and
challenging gameplay takes centre stage with a
couple of extended push puzzles, devious traps,
some exploration and a few tense enemy
encounters. That puzzle at the end was a bit
tedious, but don't let that put you off." - Ryan (13-Jul-2017) |
|
| "Nice to play this lineal level with some interesting features. Not very difficult tasks, but the time to shoot the vases through the crawlspace was very tight, and the timed doors in the monkeyswing area with the darts were tight too. Also I got problems to move the TNT boxes in the small room with the trapdoor in the middle; I had to jump several times between the moveables and the pillars 'cause jump over the fires was almost impossible. I missed some more ammo to deal with the enemies. Talking about the enemies, only a question: how many bullets needs a rat to die? Those rats seem to be mutant rats or so, lol! Definitively an entertaining level to take a good time." - Jose (09-Oct-2011) |
|
| "This interesting level starts with an adrenaline rush by Lara sliding down into a shaft onto a collapsing tile above a deadly lava floor. As if that wasn't enough there is also a boulder chasing her and a secret to be found. It took me quite a few tries to accomplish this part and there isn't really much opportunity to save in between. After that part everything feels a bit easier but it is still far from being easy at all. Most of the areas of this cave setting are tight, small and cramped and there are several levers to find, push block puzzles to solve, breakable tiles over lava to survive, TNT boxes to blow up and crawlspaces to conquer. The enemies in this level reached from really annoying bats to baddies who loved to attack while Lara is either monkey swinging or climbing and can't shoot back. There were also a bunch of rats, which caused lots of health damage to Lara but appeared almost bulletproof. Later on, the scenery changes into a more temple like setting with three areas in which Lara has to complete tasks and none of them are easy. In this roomier area there is still plenty of combat against harpies and demigods and a couple of not so easy timed sequences. There was some interesting camera work, although a few times the fixed camera was a bit irritating. The atmosphere was very good and I couldn't find anything to complain about lighting and texturing at all. I would definitely recommend this very entertaining level for every seasoned player. (60 minutes, 3 secrets found)" - Blue43 (30-May-2011) |
|
| "Another solid, entertaining level from Sheevah. This one had sufficient light for me to see my way around, and there were many brain-twisting puzzles mingled with difficult jump sequences to keep you on your toes at all times. And I have to agree with the other reviewers--yes, that pushpiece puzzle at the end was too tedious. Dutchy has documented all 8 secrets in his walkthrough, some of which were very well hidden. The cramped TNT crate puzzle gave me trouble for a while, until I realized you simply couldn't solve it without making use of the corner cheat. You get nearly an hour and a half of challenging gameplay in this one, and anyone who hasn't already played Sheevah's levels needs to make up for lost time like I'm doing how. Recommended." - Phil (10-Oct-2007) |
|
| "This level starts out with some really tricky moves and jumps that make the rest of it seem like a piece of cake. It's set in some caves that remind me of Tomb Raider I and the first thing you have to do is get by some falling boulders, collapsible tiles and deadly lava covered tiles. Then you're off to explore three underwater tunnels, each with an object necessary to open the final door and get the golden rose. Expect to find some fun puzzles and good exploring - a level by Sheevah is always a real treat." - RaiderGirl (18-Sep-2003) |
|
| "Lara goes deeply underground in narrow caves to find the entrance of a temple. In the caves with the textures of Natla's mines good puzzles to solve baddies rats little spiders and (too many) bats to shoot and some traps to avoid. The first trap at the beginning is really really fun. The temple at the end is beautifully textured and Lara will have to find three artifacts (magic mystic and celtic stars) to be able to grab a golden rose. For each star one little adventure: a timed shooting puzzle timed monkey swings and then a spiked wall and a pushing globe puzzle. The golden rose is in an outside area so I wonder if it would be easier for Lara to come with an helicopter and grab the artifact. But you know Lara she likes to complicate things and offer some fun!" - eRIC (14-Jul-2003) |
|
| "I just loved this one. After the not so easy beginning of the level you will find some nice tricks. I liked the way the author hides the entrances. Especially in that room with the crawlspace behind a big block which had to be lowered. The torch was a nice puzzle and as enemies we have rats retextured guys that look like goons and bats. The moving block puzzle was a little difficult as you had to maneuver all the blocks back and forth and place them on the correct tiles. Some spikes thrown in there made it more challenging. I think Sheevah will never run out of ideas and that for the TR world is a blessing. A very entertaining level." - Kristina (26-Jun-2003) |
|
| "This is a very pleasant skill-game but I almost left off at the beginning. By the time I had managed avoiding one of the rolling stones the other crashed Lara. :-) So first I spend some days sitting in front of my computer (and used some bad language :-)). I run out all of my medipacks although it's true I used only the pistols. You have to find the Golden Rose and 3 Stars. The added sounds and the textures are great. The enemies are spiders soldiers bats harpies and demigods. Sometimes the solutions for the next round are witty and they don't need too long time so it's worth trying to do. The author created an excellent level again I recommend it to anybody." - Obig (22-Jun-2003) |
|
| "Very enjoyable level with two different parts. The first one begins in a cave/mine with an endless slide with some traps to avoid. There are some doors that must be opened by solving clever puzzles and searching switches. The second part is completely different from the first even the enemies (now harpies and demigods and baddies rats bats and spiders before). The scenery is an old palace with three colored pools; in each one there's an object needed to open the last door. The final room is one of the most beautiful gardens made with the LE and the level ends with Lara taking a Golden Rose from a pedestal. I got four secrets in 1 hr. 30 min. of net gaming. Although there are too many timed things I've enjoyed this level because it is not difficult; all the challenges can be made with a little patience not impossible. Great level Sheevah!" - Loupar (06-Jun-2003) |
|
| "And there I thought Sheevah had lost interest in building after her Aftermath 3 had been not so well received by the reviewing community and she comes back and gives as yet another great level. I personally found the first part of this just over an hour long adventure very intriguing indeed. After a long slide chased by a boulder you have to master actually very few rooms but they are effectively used to create a clever course and you will need to have a keen eye and think around corners at times to move on. Excellent camera work as well and really pleasant custom music added to enhance the overall atmosphere. The TNT blow ups are nicely included and the jumping over the collapsible tiles in the lava room was fun. When you get out of the caves into the kind of Catacomb area I thought gameplay loses a bit of the initial steam. The timed target shooting is nice but the timed monkey swings and the pushables puzzle are rather tedious and not as inspired as the rest of this level is. Two Magic Stars and a Celtic Star four secrets and plenty of enemies (spiders soldiers bats almost unkillable huge rats and near the end demigods and harpies) round up the picture of a very enjoyable raid." - Michael (02-Jun-2003) |
|
| "This level starting off in a cave (come mineshafts) and ending in a temple should actually be called 'Looking Up' as you'll find the solution to most puzzles and some secrets if you do. The only time I really got stuck was after finding the crossbow because you can expect now that you are equipped with it that progression involves shooting something but that something is very well hidden and took me a while to register where it may be otherwise the game flows fairly smoothly except for a bit of time spent with the movable crates. There are some nicely designed traps included with obvious mention to the initial boulder on your heels and a little gauntlet half way through involving spikes a slide of fire and a bunch of collapsible tiles the enemies on the other hand were more an annoyance for me than a threat and I still am a bit puzzled by the large rats were they an enemy? Why did they not really attack? And were they covered in bulletproof vests as I must have shot each one about 2 dozen times before they went to rat heaven. I spent an hour with I think all 5 secrets found well one isn't supposed to register but the items I found under a trapdoor just had to be a secret and had a really good time but definitely not my favourite of Sheevah's." - Sash (26-May-2003) |
|
| "This could be a sequel to Aftermath 3 I presume but without a story provided this is only a mere assumption of mine. Undoubtedly it is much better than her last work IMO and follows the Aftermath spirit and setting well even if it could be a separate level from the series. The jump and boulder sequences were fantastic and very fun and even if the pushable object puzzles were good too I found them tedious rather and uneventful. The timed monkey swings were great though and I liked the last area. Of course the music from 'Rayman' fits the level well and the whole area is textured and lit beautifully. A highly recommended level for those who want a bit from each of the Aftermath levels." - eTux (26-May-2003) |
|
| "What a fabulous level! Right from the start your heading for danger with a marvelous boulder run then some searching for rooms with TNT boxes to move around and at times set off the dynamite to explode your way out a wonderful addition! Get the crow bar and torch to proceed make a brilliantly sneaky lever manouver to move on and find the spectacular lava room with collapsing tiles which really had me stuck for a while some annoying bats to cope with whilst weighing up those tile runs but hey that's what bats are for! Enter a room with coloured water pools and gateways under water to find the stars some good timed doors unless like me your keyboard is a pain but managed to overcome that! Enemies are spiders bats guards harpies and demigods at the end so a good supply of those and a well balanced mix. Easy to find secrets and some difficult situations which are really great to play. The music was superb especially as you slide down into the dreaded lava room that was just so dramatic the atmosphere throughout was exciting and certainly never boring as you just didn't know what to expect next. Textures were rocky rooms then onto some beautiful tomb textures with columns and urns plants and also the lava room which was quite harrowing! Find the Celtic star to finish the level and was I sad the level had ended? Yes! Would love to play it again and it's added to my fav list. A really fantastic level and a must to play as usual my comments can't possibly give this level as much praise as it deserves so I can only recommend it to everyone and promise it will not disappointment at all." - Moonpooka (26-May-2003) |
|
| "Sheevah is improving and impressing all the time! I didn't want this great level to end! The adventure starts right away with a breath-taking boulder-slide and continues with Sheevah's usual tricky tricks and traps. I especially liked the idea of the use of TNT boxes to open up new ways. Start off in the underground to slowly work your way up into a palace where your task is to find the secret rose." - G.Croft (24-May-2003) |
|
| "It's a thin line between love and hate sings Chrissy Hynde (The Pretenders). Don't let the seemingly impossible begin sequence get you...erm...down. Well basically you go down in more than one way ie slope alert! ie a kazillion deaths alert! but once you get it how to overcome that the game grips you. The author does deserve some slapping though because of that beginning sequence: dead sure you 'loose' a lot of gamers there and why should you do that when the rest is so good. Ok now it's dark and claustrophobic (all small corridors and places with one exception or two) but no darkness hell and it's a 'progressive' level meaning that just looking around good makes you go on give now and then a death or two whilst trying. Basically it's the Quest for the Golden Rose in beautifully lit corridors and rooms with some block pushing (look good and you'll find out) no timed runs but timed monkey swings (can't really remember doing that in other levels) and TNT-explosive flip map room fun. There's some nice 'touches' like with the shimmy in the lava room where in the crack a spider comes crawling around (come to think of it now maybe you can shoot that one too once reaching the other side of the room and using your crossbow). Hands where nicely recoloured. Enemies where well put (spiders bad men and bats). Found 4 secrets. A must play." - bERT (21-May-2003) |
|
| "Looking forward is just what I was doing with this level as Sheevah's are always enjoyable and this is my favourite to date. Great start - a long long slide with spike pit and boulders to avoid and no idea where to go. I died dozens of times until Terje very kindly helped me out. It is quite a cerebral level which I always enjoy although the running jumping and fighting aspects are well represented as well. A good all round level in fact. Enemies are spiders (shudder) those blasted bats rats the size of Shetland ponies that seem to be begging you not to shoot them thugs harpies and demigods. That should be enough to keep you occupied. Good puzzles nice jumps and runs without being too impossible a few objects to find in various nicely constructed attractive locations. Lovely stuff! One and a half hours of pure entertainment. I found three secrets. 19.05.2003." - Jay (19-May-2003) |
|
| "What a sneaky woman Sheevah is and I mean it in the most positive way. This is a trap galore level as the beginning had me reloading so many times as it still wasn't clear to me what was going on so I was glad to get finally a grip so I could save and not to have to do that boulder trap again. And if you are thinking that is the end well Sheevah will throw even more tricks at you. Very well done. Getting that crowbar is a must and that alone is an adventure. I was locked in a room with a rat and a torch for quite a while before I figured out what to do. I said sneaky didn't I LOL. The part with the trapdoor was so easy when you think about it. Getting two beautiful textured Hands and one Celtic Star is the main goal here. Enemies are some spiders bats very pesky ones big rats some baddies and later the fiercest ones demigods and harpies. Getting that Golden Rose triggers the end. I found one bug in the room where you get the Celtic Star I could grab it without the globe pushing. Found 4 secrets. 18-05-2003" - Gerty (18-May-2003) |
|
