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Tomb Raider: Underworld | 
| From: Eidos
Category: Video Games
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $24.99
You Save: $15.00 (38%)
Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 667
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows Vista
Genre: adventure_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: CD-ROM
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows ME
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7
MPN: STOM8PUS00
Model: 1000044589
UPC: 400009415674
EAN: 0788687100816
ASIN: B0012N5EQE
Release Date: November 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Tomb Raider: Underworld for Nintendo PC by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off and introduces a new, interactive playing environment | | • | Lara Croft explores a wide array places, such as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea | | • | Environment is much more realistic and interactive -- footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away | | • | Melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers | | • | Improved AI allows enemies and animals to make decisions based on surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics, and even retreat if deemed necessary |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Tomb Raider: Underworld for PC by Eidos resumes where Tomb Raider: Legend left off. This installment introduces a new, interactive playing environment that gives players a chance to immerse themselves more fully into the game. Players once again take the role of Lara Croft as she explores such wide-ranging places as the Arctic, Mexico, and beneath the Mediterranean Sea. 
Lara's environment is now much more realistic and interactive. View larger. | 
And now she can hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other. View larger. | Interactive Worlds Introduces Realistic gameplay
Unlike the previous games in the series, Lara's environment is now much more realistic and interactive. Footprints will be left in mud, for example, but only until it rains and then they will wash away. Lara's shirt will also get wet, and she's more likely to lose her grip if she is standing on a slippery, rain-soaked ledge. When the sun comes out, her shirt will dry and the slippery surfaces regain their friction. In Underworld, Lara also has a lot more flexibility in how she makes her way through a level, as there is often more than one way to get from here to there. She can now climb walls with texture and rocky outcroppings to reach areas she previously wouldn't have been able to access. All of these additions have been made to give the game a non-linear, open feel. Players can interactive with the environment by doing things they find to be intuitive, and the game will respond in an appropriate way. When Lara interacts with trees, for example, she will push aside leaves using either one or two hands depending on whether or not she's holding something. These details give a lifelike, immersive sensation to the game. New Melee Combat System
Underworld introduces a new melee combat system that requires players to strategically strike with offensive, defensive, and evasive maneuvers. Lara can now attack enemies with different punches, kicks, knees, and other acrobatic onslaughts. Items lying on the ground, such as poles that were previously walked on, can be picked up and swung at enemies. Players can also perform a greater variety of actions with weapons; for example, Lara can now hold onto a ledge with one hand and fire a gun with the other. Realistic Enemy and Animal AI
The AI in Tomb Raider: Underworld has also taken a big step forward--both enemies and animals now make independent decisions based on their surroundings, employ ambush and squad tactics when fighting, and will retreat if deemed necessary. With updated graphics and a more immersive and realistic gameplay, Tomb Raider: Underworld will have both fans and newcomers excited about the newest installment in this popular video game-pinup franchise.
  
Tomb Raider: Underworld is loaded with a new melee combat system, various weapons, and smarter AI for both enemies and animals.
| System Requirements | | | Minimum | Recommended | | Operating System | PC: Microsoft Windows XP (admin rights required)/Microsoft Windows Vista (admin rights required) | | CPU | Intel Pentium 4 3+GHz or AMD Athlon 2. 5+GHz | Intel Core 2 Duo 2. 2 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 4400+ | | Graphics Hardware | NVIDIA GeForce 6 series 6800GT (or better) / ATI 1800XT (or better) | NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX or ATI HD4800 | | Sound | Direct X 9. 0c compatible sound card and drivers | Direct X 9. 0c compatible sound card and drivers | | Memory | 1GB (Windows XP) / 2GB (Windows Vista) system memory | 2 GB system memory | | Hard Drive Space | 8 GB Free Space | | Other Requirements | DVD-ROM drive. Keyboard and mouse required for controls; Microsoft Xbox 360 controller recommended for controls. |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 Fun, and Very Engaging January 5, 2009
Tim Adams (Virginia USA)
Of the three current Tomb Raider titles, Underworld is the most engaging to play. The puzzles are complex, but not impossible. Lara's new model is outstanding! Her facial expressions are great, and the fact that Eidos worked with a gymnast to capture body motion to make Lara's movements more realistic is very cool. Lara's new abilities are a lot of fun. I do miss the banter with Zip & Allister from TR Legend. That added an aspect of fun to the game. However with the events taking place in this game Lara would be cut off from them halfway through the game. The critters (spiders... yuck) jumping at her gave me chills when I didn't notice them approaching. All in all I'd have to rate this as the best Tomb Raider game. Oh yeah, with out spoiling anything, we do get to see Lara find her mother. Was it a happy reunion? Play the game and see. I can't wait to see the next one.
Outstanding January 2, 2009
Robert S. Weikel III (Owensboro, Kentucky USA)
I love PC games! Tomb Raider Underworld is giving me all kinds of well remembered days playing other really great PC games (Deus Ex comes to mind). The challenge in Underworld is figuring out how to best accomplish each trick. Lara the humanitarian or Lara the death machine. Graphics are wonderful especially at 1680x1050 (nuts but fantastic "Oh please produce Tomb Raider future games in HD") Its a shame that Crysis and other games don't play this well. Only con which didn't reduce my opinion is were I am stuck trying the Mexico run its really tough even using a Logitech G5. If you like a great story, very nice graphics and panoramic settings you will love this game.
Best yet, me thinks. December 15, 2008
J. Hester (D/FW, TX USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
... just when I was ready to give this game the highest compliment ever, I ran into a frustrating rerun of the most astounding cinematics I have seen in TR yet, but only to have it repeated so many times that it became frustrating as I could not beat the timing being on the bike and just had to watch over and over until I made the bike run successful. Must have taken 50 tries. Had to stop and continue the next day. Other than that, I found it very comfortable and not many other challenges too steep to keep me from continuing through to the end. I just figure that a computer game should be more relaxing and entertaining, and this seemed to fill that need best yet in the TR series ..... my perspective anyway. Finally no required "head shots" with inadequate controlling aspects, no seemingly impossible feats, and kindly little time challenges that seem to run over again 'til you want to puke. I am playing this over again a second time, right away. Really liked how she could bounce up between walls sometimes with quick grabs, even though it seemed as nothing was there to hold on to, but she found a grip often, but not always. When you absolutely are lost, with seemingly no idea of how you can possibly continue the game I used to have no course but to refer to some kind of "walkthrough" literary help book, where now you can just "Tab-key" into an area now where you can get a vague hint of what to do next, or even a further specific hint, should you want to inquire into her thoughts further ...... I really liked this and found myself doing it often. Then I would feel a bit stupid, but at least was able to flow on with the game and not wander aimlessly for long frustrating hours, Yaaaaa! Something very close to great fun for a change. My question is why did it take so long to arrive at something that is actually fun for a change and not just a challenge! The graphics of the surroundings hug you like a well earned vacation and sometimes seems as if you are actually on vacation. Virtually serene often. The puzzles of course are great, well thought out, and have to admire how it was all put together. You will love this one! For the most part, it should be the template for most games I think! If you can put it down long enough because you need some rest, you are able to do that. You won't be so frustrated that you are unable to get that needed sleep. Just what a game should be ....... healthy for the soul for a change.
 Solid, fun, great graphics, but... December 11, 2008
Me
I just finished the game last night and after having a day to think about it I have the following impressions.
The good:
* It's pretty. Very pretty. The levels are spectacular in detail.
* I found the game controls really good. I don't get uptight over new actions, or missing abilities.
* No constantly crumbling ledges, falling rocks, and breaking icicles to navigate perfectly or fall to your death because you did not execute 10 perfect moves in a row in a short period of time. I HATE those kind of puzzles as I don't find them fun. I just find I want to slap a level designer. I didn't feel the need to slap any level designers in Underworld.
* They did *NOT* make it into a 'kill the big, mean boss at the end of each level' type of game - this was a great decision in my mind.
* The motorcycle use was clever.
* The cut scenes were good, but I thought the story was lacking too much detail.
* No crashes, no blue screens of death, nothing like that. It even recovered nicely when it ran out of video ram once...and I was able to continue on without problems (only 256 meg of ram in my card).
The bad (or less good) in my opinion:
* I thought the game itself was short and the story fairly unimaginative.
* I have a pretty good machine, 2.4 dual core Dell XPS with an NVIDIA GeForce 7900...all the latest drivers, no viruses, etc. I had to turn off all video options to make it run reasonably.
* The scale of two of the levels are so big, it just takes that 'Tomb Raider' feeling away and replaces it with a 'Only ancient deities could create this'. Their scale seems out of place to me.
Wish list:
* Better Intro.
* More Story and better cut scenes.
* Shorter wait time for the next Tomb Raider.
Overall a very good game and I'm glad I got it. Reasonable price for that many hours of entertainment.
Tomb Raider Underworld- First Impressions December 8, 2008
J. Schwarz (Brooklyn)
I remember playing all the old Tomb Raider games and I really enjoyed them. However I haven't played some of the later games because they just weren't as good as the beginning ones. Now I can say that Lara is truly back and the game is terrific. The graphics are much improved and Lara is quite the hot chick. Controls are easy to use on the PC and you can turn on aids that help you use the right ones. The puzzles make you think but are not too difficult. If you've played the old TR games then they shouldn't be too hard to figure out. However if you've never played any of her games then they might seem difficult. The treasures that Lara finds are so far not hidden and are out in the open, unless of course there are some I haven't found. This is one of the complaints I had about the game that the treasures are all the same and the game doesn't tell you what you found. The AI could be tweaked some more because the enemies don't really come at you aggressively. If you lay back they leave you alone and there are some areas where they won't follow you. Also, so far using a Windows Vista Quad Chip and a Nvidia 8500gt, the game did crash twice which surprised me since the game had been up to then very stable and easy to use. The puzzles could have been a little harder to solve but you do have to think about ways to do things. There are no issues with DRM and the game automatically resumes to the last game saved. All in all a very good game that relates to the Lara of the past. A definite buy.
After playing the game for a few days now I have to say that it is better than I thought it would be. There are some obstacles I had trouble figuring out and had to go to a website for help. I noticed that there were quite a few people who were stumped. Also there are some controls that you have to learn how to master. So it's not that easy which makes the game even better and more challenging. I'm really enjoying it.
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