Tomb Raider: Underworld

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tomb Raider Underworld will satisfy fans of Lara's previous adventures, but it does little to address previous games' problems.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tomb Raider Underworld gives us our beloved Lara Croft in her best outing in recent years.

Tomb Raider Underworld is an enjoyable romp.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.