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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Altered Beast
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Master your surroundings: Reach new heights with the broadest range of acrobatic abilities and utilize objects within the environment to uncover new paths to explore. Explore epic and unknown worlds: Discover ancient mysteries of the underworld hidden within the coast of Thailand, frozen islands of the Arctic Sea, the jungles of Mexico, and more. Each level is an elaborate multi-stage puzzle masked within an interactive environmental playground offering more flexibility over how the area is solved. New range of combat options: Choose to pacify or kill, target multiple enemies at once with the new dual-target system, and shoot with one hand while suspended with the other. New state-of-the-art gear: Utilize the latest technology in Lara's upgraded inventory to navigate the world including: Active Sonar map: A revolutionary new tool that emits an active sonar ping to create a 3D image of Lara's surroundings, perfect for uncovering hidden items and locations; Multi-purpose grapple: A claw-like device with a high-tension cable designed for climbing, rappelling, performing wall runs and manipulating objects within the environment; All-terrain hybrid motorbike: A unique vehicle design built to drive on everything from mud to snow and ice. [Eidos Interactive]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 91
Gaming Age
So while it's got enough faults to keep it from being a GOTY contender for most, it's still the best Tomb Raider title I've ever played, and I'm really curious to see what's next for the franchise once again.
 90
Console Monster
While the camera is still iffy at times and puzzles not as challenging as I would have expected, the fascinating storyline provides enough twists and turns to keep you engaged.
88
Game Informer
In tone, Underworld hits the target dead center, delivering the perfect mix of isolation and discovery with larger dramatic encounters. No modern cities mar Lara’s excursion this time – this is tomb raiding from beginning to end. Remarkable visuals sell the experience, and a moving score deepens your involvement. The formula behind the game is ready for some fresh ideas, but as a wrap up of old ideas, Underworld hits the sweet spot.
87
AtomicGamer
Old school fans and new tomb raiders alike should find lots to love in Lara's latest (and best in years) adventure.
85
GameZone
An impressive game with beautiful environments, excellent platforming, and superb puzzles.
85
IGN UK
Despite its failure to move the series forward, Underworld is still fundamentally an incredibly enjoyable experience and a real return to captivating tomb raiding on a grand scale. It might be the same Lara we’ve enjoyed over the years but there’s no denying the lady’s still got style.
84
Planet Xbox 360
Don’t let Tomb Raider: Underworld go under your radar, there is plenty of things to do with Miss Lara; including a future promise of exclusive downloadable content for the Xbox 360.
82
3DJuegos
Tomb Raider Underworld is a fantastic proposal for fans of puzzles and platform gaming. Sadly its camera and control issues let down its many virtues. Nevertheless the new adventure of Lara Croft is brief but intense, and has plenty of good puzzles and great environments.
82
Cheat Code Central
Tomb Raider Underworld was far more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be. The expansive environments, solid platforming sequences, challenging puzzles, and adventure-filled storyline should appeal to anyone who loved the Prince of Persia games and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Disappointingly, combat is fairly mediocre, and a lot of technical inconsistencies are troublesome. Nevertheless, Underworld is a very good game.
81
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
A stunning adventure for gaming's first lady...which is still far more flawed than it should be. [Jan 2009, p.60]
80
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Underworld is an excursion worth taking for fans of low-impact, low-commitment adventuring; I just wanted more. [Jan 2009, p.71]
80
Eurogamer Portugal
Tomb Raider Underworld is specially made for the fans because the game’s minor problems will not bother them. Still, is a different experience from the other games we can find right now and, nevertheless, it can be considered like one of the bests in the series. Unfortunately, this isn’t what we really expected. Despite, anyone who loved Legend and Anniversary can be happy with this one, because the fun is still assured.
80
Play.tm
Underworld is impossible to actually dislike, as at its core you know this is what games should be about, pure escapism, discovery, immersion. This doesn't stop Lara's latest failing to be greater than the sum of its parts, however, and while this is unquestionably a step forward for the series, Crystal Dynamics could perhaps have gone a few inches further still.
80
WonderwallWeb
You could almost call this game a flawed genius, for fans of the series it’s a must have, for everyone else it’s a maybe.
80
Cynamite
Okay, the new Tomb Raider adventure is not really innovative. But Lara has never looked so good before. The gameplay is smooth and the puzzles are great. But the stupid motorcycle trips, the camera and the senseless gadgets are fun-killers.
80
MS Xbox World
Tomb Raider: Underworld is a concise, consuming and meritorious addition to the franchise, which is well worth playing for fans of adventure, puzzle solving and action (despite a lack of cohesiveness in the action department).
80
Da Gameboyz
Tomb Raider: Underworld is a pretty good game. I had some high hopes that this latest release would take the series to new heights, but the technical issues that raise their ugly head take away from the overall experience.
80
Meristation
Tomb Raider Underworld is one of the best entries in this long-running series. Lara Croft is back with her best abilities in a game that combines the spirit of the first adventures and the innovation of later iterations. As a result, Underworld is a great game that, unfortunately, has a bad camera system and is not very long.
80
Total Video Games
Epic without ever pushing boundaries for the series, Tomb Raider: Underworld is a game that fans of the franchise will no doubt relish.
80
GameDaily
Like her previous two games, Underworld is a welcome, if slightly flawed, addition to the franchise.
80
VideoGamer
A visually stunning, epic adventure that continues Crystal Dynamics' excellent run. We reckon it's the best completely original Tomb Raider (Anniversary was, of course, a remake) we've had in years, and is only let down by the odd control quirk and camera issue.
80
Edge Magazine
While it’s occasionally fiddly, it has pace and spectacle and style to spare. Underworld is that rare game that manages to provide a real adventure to go along with its action. [Christmas 2008, p.95]
80
X360 Magazine UK
One of the finest adventure games you're likely to find on the 360. [Issue#39]
79
IGN AU
This should be a much slicker product. Still, it’s good fun for the most part, and at the end of the day that’s why we play, right?
79
Worth Playing
Thankfully, the story and the platforming are the main focus, as they rightfully should be.
78
Xbox360Achievements
Lara undoubtedly is growing stronger with each incarnation on the 360 and we hope she can continue this trend and relive former glories. Crystal Dynamics have without a shadow of a doubt rescued the series but the game still has too many bugs and issues to be declared a must buy.
77
GameFocus
After seeing what Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune brought to the table and the way Tomb Raider Legend was introduced to the next-gen world back in 2006, I was expecting Crystal Dynamics to deliver one heck of a Tomb Raider. Unfortunately, even if the game offers some novelties, Underworld doesn’t make any huge splashes and won’t wow most of the gamers as the same frustrating gameplay elements from past iterations are putting a dark cloud over it.
76
Extreme Gamer
Tomb Raider: Underworld continues in the vein of the last three Tomb Raider games giving you more of the same with a few minor improvements.
76
GameTrailers
Tomb Raider Underworld feels like a stopgap platforming adventure. It’s much better than the bile released under her name last generation, but it still manages to feel a few years behind.
75
GamingExcellence
Then again, perhaps the short play-time is a blessing in disguise: it helps spare you from a really long adventure where you have to suffer with that camera.
75
InsideGamer.nl
Long time Tomb Raider players will definitely enjoy Underworld, but it has both its minor and major flaws. The frustrating camera, the sometimes outdated gameplay, and the short main storyline make for a less-then-perfect experience. Thus, Underworld doesn’t live up to its expectations, but is absolutely worth a try.
75
PTGamers
Tomb Raider: Underworld is ambiguous, offering the best and the worst elements of the series. The camera is awful and there are quite a few bugs. It lacks polish, but still manages to be a good Lara Croft adventure…. And she's as beautiful and agile as ever.
75
IGN
Only the upcoming downloadable content and achievement points make the 360 version stand out just ahead of the PS3 copy.
75
1UP
Underworld is an incredibly abrupt experience, so much so that it makes me question whether content was removed from the complete game to be made available later as the previously announced downloadable content. Six levels in (seven if you count the prologue), the game just...ends. Sure, the last level is a cool showpiece, but it lacks any sense of built-up narrative and even a final boss -- simply a closing cut-scene that wraps up most of the loose ends all too handily.
74
HellBored
I think there is still life left in the Tomb Raider franchise, but rather than working on the unimportant storyline, Eidos would do well to work on the controls and camera angles if this series is going to survive. In a day when everything is about co-operative and multiplayer gaming, you can't just rehash out the same old game over and over and hope the fanbase won't dwindle.
73
ActionTrip
The developers haven't straightened out the bad camera after all these years and that's a major problem throughout the main campaign. Well, with the best intentions we just cannot let this one slide. We expected more from the combat and we sure as hell expected the whole game to be more polished.
73
Gamer 2.0
Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy what Underground brings to the table, and if newcomers can look past the fast-moving story and clunky fighting and enjoy the adventure elements for what they are, then they surely will have a good time as well.
73
Team Xbox
For every moment that Tomb Raider: Underworld shined, there were two or three where I was extremely disappointed. The fact that it feels at spots like a big movie broken up by interactive segments, rather than a deep game with cutscenes to give you a brief respite from the action, was one of the biggest offenses.
71
XboxAddict
It plays very similar as the previous Tomb Raider games and it feels like it’s time for a new take on Lara’s adventures.
71
Jolt Online Gaming UK
A game that falls short of expectations. You can see from the early levels and even a few of the later rooms that a lot of really creative ambition and skill was employed in its making, but for whatever reason it’s as though that particular tap of talent was turned to a trickle towards the end. Combined with some control issues that weren’t in the previous two games, Tomb Raider Underworld represents a bit of a downturn for the series.
70
Kombo
Tomb Raider Underworld gives us our beloved Lara Croft in her best outing in recent years.
70
Gamestyle
Tomb Raider Underworld is an enjoyable romp.
70
Gamervision
The most upsetting thing is the fact that it feels like there really is a good game in Underworld—it’s just masked by all of the game’s technical difficulties.
70
Level7.nu
Underworld is yet another solid title from Crystal Dynamics featuring the adventurous dame Lara Croft. Levels are as grand as they are beautiful and they certainly feed the urge to go o an adventure. The puzzles are well designed, and Miss Croft gets around well thanks to well implemented controls. There are some issues though, the game is a bit on the easy side, something badly balanced by less than stellar camera angles that will put you in a pickle from time to time. Despite this, Underworld is still a fantastic adventure.
70
Gamer.nl
Despite a stubborn camera and repeating battles this is still a Tomb Raider in top shape. The game is far from perfect, but it still offers something better than Tomb Raider: Legend or Anniversary. Too bad that Crystal Dynamics, even after all those years, still hasn't found a solution for the same
old flaws. But, in all fairness, Tomb Raider: Underworld is an epic Lara Croft adventure where you can puzzle, discover and look at a well shaped Lara.
70
Official Xbox Magazine
You’ll want it because, despite your having to turn its sometimes musty gameplay pages, or begrudgingly burn rubber in inessential motorcycle sequences (they’re back!), or do the usual hokey-jump-slide-swing-pokey with wellworn mechanics, Tomb Raider continues to feel like an old, comfy pair of jeans. Maybe they’re not as high-fashion as they used to be — and sure, they might not fit like they used to — but damn if slippin’ into them doesn’t feel like coming home.
70
Eurogamer
At its worst, Tomb Raider: Underworld is everything that's wrong with videogames - clichéd, predictable, frustrating, inconsistent, repetitive and derivative. Legend was supposed to be the game that marked the series' return to form, and it achieved that. Underworld is better than Legend; meatier, more challenging, more atmospheric and with less silly nonsense like quick-time events. But Underworld was supposed to be the first real next-gen Tomb Raider game, and it isn't...At its best, however, Tomb Raider: Underworld is everything that's great about videogames. It's beautiful, exciting, challenging, rewarding and absorbing. Many of the locations are stunning, and so's Lara.
70
GamePro
Overall, Underworld is a decent enough effort. It has slick controls, interesting puzzles and a story that's actually pretty interesting. However, it never fully compensates for a lack of compelling action and overall polish.
70
Official Xbox Magazine UK
We really enjoyed our time with Miss Croft, but it is more of the same and 'dependable' isn't exciting enough. When you take a look at the gaming world around her, you wonder if it isn't time for another re-invention, not of the character, but her universe.
70
GameSpot
Tomb Raider Underworld will satisfy fans of Lara's previous adventures, but it does little to address previous games' problems.
60
GameSpy
While it's likely worth it for fans to get closure from Underworld, expect to trudge through a large amount of frustrating gameplay to get it. Suffering from a distinct lack of polish, Tomb Raider Underworld seems like it could have benefited greatly from a little more attention. If it didn't have so many technical issues, Underworld could have been a brilliant conclusion to Lara's latest trilogy.
60
G4 TV
To move away from the pack, Underworld takes a very interesting stance by focusing on tackling cliffs rather than tackling tigers. It’s the right idea with wrong camera and gunplay to pull it off.
60
DarkZero
I still don’t understand how Lara can use her guns underwater or why she insists on kicking priceless vase’s, but niggles aside Tomb Raider Underworld is actually pretty fun in places. It’s just a shame that this so called update was is so horrendously out of date in comparison to something like Uncharted which trounces Underworld at every turn.
60
GameCritics
The experience is a give and take: you'll certainly take some enjoyment out of Lara's latest adventure, but the game will give you unnecessary grief almost every step of the way.
50
Destructoid
It's a mediocre game and a disappointing follow-up to the quite impressive "Legend." It does very little to further the series and offers much frustration in exchange.
50
Game Revolution
Both Lara and her series are well past their prime, and both try in vain to look half their age. Though she might be worth a few hours of your time, Lara’s best days are far behind her.
David D. gave it a9: Elise P gave it a9: Sam H gave it a9: Andrew P gave it a5: the dude gave it an8: Gary W. gave it a3: G gave it a5: |
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