Tomb Raider: Underworld

 Wii
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Nintendo Gamer
    85
    A brilliant, beautiful adventure that takes everything good about Tomb Raider and polishes it. One of the Wii gmaes of the year. [Jan 2009, p.54]
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  2. Games Master UK
    85
    It's not a port, it's not by Nintendo, there isn't a minigame in sight and it's absolutely superb. [Jan 2009, p.75]
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  3. n-Revolution Magazine UK
    80
    Overall, Tomb Raider on the Wii works well. The ideas and level design present from Crystal Dynamics' time at conception shine through, even on the less powerful console. That alone makes it well worth anyone's time. [Issue#29, p.38]
  5. Nintendo Power
    70
    The Wii-specific puzzles are insultingly simple, flaccid sound effects really dampen the mood, and sloppy collision detection frequently sends Lara to her death through no fault of your own. [Holiday 2008, p.88]
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  6. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    70
    Occasional glimpses of Lara magic but her good work is undermined by sloppy development.
  7. GameZone
    70
    Underworld shows Tomb Raider still has something relevant and fun to offer gamers, but a lack of polish has diminished its enjoyability.
  8. Universo Nintendo
    70
    As a game for Wii, it's a good title for those tired of casual games or who feel a lack of Action-Adventure games. As a port of a title for other platforms graphically more powerful than the Wii, it's not perfect, but it plays its role well.
  9. IGN
    65
    Tomb Raider: Underworld on the Wii is not a bad game, but it's disappointing for fans of the series. The whole things has been oversimplified and dumbed down. The Wii puzzles are a joke, the combat is almost nonexistent, and the game is pretty short.
  10. GameSpot
    65
    Tomb Raider Underworld can be an enjoyable adventure, but it’s marred by bugs, camera issues, and ill-conceived Wii extras.
  11. GameSpy
    60
    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.
  12. MEGamers
    60
    The cover is a bit misleading; instead Lara should be holding a radio and a grappling hook.
  13. Armchair Empire
    55
    Jumping from cliff to cliff overtop of a deep ravine in South America can be a lot of fun, but it gets lost in all the times you died retrying a leap not knowing that there was a hidden ledge far off to your right.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best Wii Game of 2008
85
#85 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2008
81
#81 Most Shared Wii Game of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 6 out of 22
  1. notoco42
    Feb 22, 2016
    4
    At first I was like, is this a joke? Somebody pinch me. Takes some time getting used to how bUZZ mONKEY mutilated the game. They should burnAt first I was like, is this a joke? Somebody pinch me. Takes some time getting used to how bUZZ mONKEY mutilated the game. They should burn in hell for releasing this abomination. If that's their best then they should consider changing their profession, while this game should have never seen the light of day. I'm writing it with a heavy heart, as I was being very enthusiastic about it after the superb Anniversary. Nothing wrong with dumbed down graphics if the gameplay is retained. But no, it's too much to ask, so it seems. To the chase, though, let me present a list of what is missing and what is wrong with this game:
    - no melee combat, personally I wouldn't mind so much if gunfight were decent, guess what - it's not
    - smaller and simplified levels
    - fewer, and I mean FEWER enemies, as easy to beat as ABC, no rats nor bats to shoot
    - all the powerful guns available from the start, you no longer have to search for them which takes away the challenge
    - if it wasn't enough that killing NPCs with plain pistols takes a few seconds, ammo is infinite
    - self-regenerating health, meaning no first-aid kits and caution as to where you jump, how you fight
    - inconveniently scattered save points, sometimes before long empty corridors which you have to run through before any action takes place, on top of that Lara can't sprint, imagine how boring it must be
    - game breaking bugs such as the game hard crashing sometimes when you die, which means you have to reset your console and pick up where you left off, provided you remembered to save your game, if not, then tough sh^t
    - simplified puzzles, no timed puzzles where you, for instance, have to quickly run from a lever to a temporarily opened door
    - no beating levels against the clock
    no relics, hidden carvings etc. to collect, instead you've got these gold bars which replace unique relics and carvings from Anniversary
    - WII exclusive features and puzzles are even simpler and less varied than in Anniversary
    - terrible framerate, all too frequently
    - broken camera angles
    - NO CROFT MANSION LEVEL (is it still Tomb Raider?)

    On the plus side... who gives a damn about positive aspects if there are so many negative ones that outweigh any bright sides the game might have offered, which anyhow are few and far in between. There's no awe, no sense of accomplishment when you complete a puzzle, no adrenaline, no eyecandy landscapes to behold. You're better off brushing up on the first classic Tomb Raider games on some Playstation 1.

    And bUZZ mONKEY - f*ck you for treating WII owners like idiots. This game didn't sell well and it is a testament to your ineptness as game devs.    … Full Review »
  2. StanleyW
    Dec 30, 2008
    4
    I've played a couple Tomb Raiders before on the 360, but I this new TR on the Wii was utterly terrible.
    1) Graphics are dumbed down    I've played a couple Tomb Raiders before on the 360, but I this new TR on the Wii was utterly terrible.
    1) Graphics are dumbed down ridiculously.
    2) Puzzles don't make any sense. Especially the first one where you shoot the chain for the kraken?
    3) Camera angle changes are terrible. They have sudden changes from afar to 3rd person, and it makes you either leap off a cliff on accident or miss a jump.

    I've seen walkthroughs for the other systems like the 360 and PS3. The puzzles and graphics on those systems are so much better.

    I think I'm going to try my luck with Anniversary. Underworld was a mess of a game and they took out a whole lot of features the other Tomb Raiders' had. I wouldn't recommend this game unless you like getting irritated.    … Full Review »
  3. DarthMario
    Dec 4, 2008
    3
    This game could be summed up as less than a quarter the game Legend was on the Gamecube, and less than half the game Anniversary was on theThis game could be summed up as less than a quarter the game Legend was on the Gamecube, and less than half the game Anniversary was on the Wii.
    Unlike the previous games, Underworld is plagued with uninspired simple environments, weak puzzles, and virtually no game enemies. Add to that sloppy controls, and removed character moves from the previous games. Less is defiantly not more here.
    There is nothing here that hasn    … Full Review »
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