Forklift?

[Cochrane]

Legend featured the most unusual crate-moving-puzzle ever: It requires you to use a forklift. What do you think about this? Should a forklift, or something that works similarly (e.g. a crane) appear again in TR8?

Here my opinion:

The forklift truck is a new, interesting way to interact with the environment. It can (if the level design allows it) give you access to areas that you would not have been able to reach in any previous TR, and besides, I think it is a lot of fun to use.

It hardly fits in any tomb, but except for TR1 all Tomb Raiders had levels where a forklift would not look out of place at all.

On the other hand, there are some problems with the forklift: It offers an unusual high level of protection for Lara, which makes most traps completely useless. It's ability to just destroy something where Lara wants to go through also makes some riddles far less interesting.

In the end, I would say that a forklift as a way to enable new puzzles (like when you use it to get the silver reward in the office in England) is a welcome addition, but when it is used to simplify puzzles (like when you drive through the traps later), it is bad.

[Jabe]

Here's an idea, make it where you need to go through the traps before you get to the forklift, then you can use the fork lift to destroy the traps on the way back.

[Michiel]

If using the forklift means the puzzles will be just like England, I would say no. I liked the forklift, but they should use new ideas for tr8 and not start using the same traps, puzzles and vehicles all over again in every TR.

If they want a puzzle where you have to move boxes and crates again, maybe they could make a giant crane again like the one in AOD Strahov. With the difference that we can control it ourself and not watching a cutscene where it moves all by itself (since lara is not visible during the cutscene).

[fondantcookie]

Here's an idea, make it where you need to go through the traps before you get to the forklift, then you can use the fork lift to destroy the traps on the way back.

I really like this idea ^^^^ And it will work perfectly if Crystal have listened to the fans and make non-linear levels in TR8...

First time through, its a challenge...dodging traps etc. Then, if one needs to do any back-tracking, they can destroy the traps to prevent frustration the next time they pass said corridor/area...

And the forklift was a welcome addition if you ask me. It was good to see a level with a vehicle in it (very 'classic' TR)....instead of those pathetically linear bland repetitive motorbike sequences (that require as much skill as bending over)...

I think Crystal should build on what they did in Legend. Incorporate a forklift (or equivalent)....but make it more integral to the level design... If possible make its use a puzzle in itself?

[Anubis_AF]

I see the forklift as a desperate way to bring new vehicles into the game. Lara could've climbed on top of the crates, threw a grenade to make a hole in the wall, and figured out a pattern to pass the spikes (of course if they wouldn't move that fast).
So again, forklift wasn't necessary in the game, but I didn't mind it and I wouldn't mind it in the next TR.

[Peyn_OTHfan]

It was fun and it would be good to appear at least once in TR8.

[shaahinkaaveh]

It was fun, but I was disappointed when after trying so hard to put some crates on each other and reaching that obvious openning the only thing I found was a reward. I expexted it to be more useful in the game.

They can make some really nice puzzles using such a vehicle. First you've got to make it work (it is broken or a piece is missed). Then when you run it, you must figure out what to do, and rearrange some crates. Rearranging crates could be both challanging and ingenuis. Maybe you are supposed to form stairs to reach somewhere... .

[Samsdad]

I agree with Shaahin. The key to creative puzzles is just that. You have to come up with creative solutions. TR has to move away from the old trial and error (find the key and then remember where the door was or pull the level to open something located in totally different location) that did not require you to think and challenge you to be creative.

[da tomb raider!]

I didn't mind the forklift in Legend at all, but if they're going to bring some vehicles into the game, let's have some decent ones, rather than a forklift, which can magically disarm traps which have been sitting there happily for millions of years... After all, Lara's not some kind of a low-waged worker now, is she?

[belter_21]

I didn't mind the forklift in Legend at all, but if they're going to bring some vehicles into the game, let's have some decent ones, rather than a forklift, which can magically disarm traps which have been sitting there happily for millions of years... After all, Lara's not some kind of a low-waged worker now, is she?
Quite. Plus it had already been done in GTA series and far Cry. Legend needed proper veicles like jeeps and maybe a hang glider lol but fork lift? Na.

TR8 would be great if it included jeep/BUGGY levels like in TR3. In fact the return of the buggy would be great :)

[Greenkey2]

It was an interesting idea that (apart from steering the bleeding thing :hea:) worked pretty well IMO.

However, it did simplify the traps which seemed to defeat the object of having traps in the first place....surely the hardened TR players felt a little patronised by having it available to get round the traps? I did.

All in all, I would far rather have been able to drive the Jeep, or have the bike levels harken back to TR4's Valley of The Kings/KV5 - where you could get off and explore/pick-up secrets etc - rather than just drive and shoot randomly at people chasing you. IMO the bike levels felt totally out of place in a tomb raider game - even though in the story's context they were needed.

[NightWish]

The forklift thing was a BIG Total Overdose rip off :D

And back on topic - no I don't want sth like that. maybe some boat like in tr 2 and thats it. If u want cars and so on U've got GTA :D

[thevman]

I preferred the way we used the bike in the past games, being able to get off and check around, etc. I also liked the snowmobiles, the 4x4, the boats. Didn't like the way legend used the bike, keeping us on a track, just to shoot merc... :rolleyes: As far as the forklift, interesting idea with the box stacking, but busting thru walls and beating traps kind of keeps lara too safe, takes away danger. Let us bust down breakable walls with grenades, and dive/roll thru traps. I too wish there were some map or control room or something that we find after stacking the boxes to get in the office. Kind of odd the office didn't have stairs and a regular door. Did the owner of the place have to stack boxes to get in it??? :ton:

[Samsdad]

Kind of odd the office didn't have stairs and a regular door. Did the owner of the place have to stack boxes to get in it??? :ton:

Vman you two-faced Janus! How can you question the logic of something in Legend and be a traditionalist! I knew I could turn you to the logical side. Pretty soon you will be asking yourself why you had to start WWIII just to get to the top of a missle silo.

[belter_21]

I preferred the way we used the bike in the past games, being able to get off and check around, etc. I also liked the snowmobiles, the 4x4, the boats. Didn't like the way legend used the bike, keeping us on a track, just to shoot merc... :rolleyes: As far as the forklift, interesting idea with the box stacking, but busting thru walls and beating traps kind of keeps lara too safe, takes away danger. Let us bust down breakable walls with grenades, and dive/roll thru traps. I too wish there were some map or control room or something that we find after stacking the boxes to get in the office. Kind of odd the office didn't have stairs and a regular door. Did the owner of the place have to stack boxes to get in it??? :ton:
OMG I forgot about the snowmobiles :yik: and they looked great every time I screwed up my jump in one :D BOOM as you landed on the ground below...plus you could run mercs over ;)

TR8 should dump the interactive vehicle pap and introduce some challenge, like Lara driving a torpedo :whi: or a helicopter, Mini Cooper car (hey it's still kind of british) or a horse while duelling with pistols :D

[xMiSsCrOfTx]

Well, I for one thought that seeing Lara use a forklift really gave TR a more modern feeling of comprimise. A real tomb raider or adventurer like Lara would need to adapt to her surroundings, find things she could make use of. The forklift proved that, IMO! It was really annoying trying to steer the damn thing, but I thought it was an interesting little kick to the England level. :)

[thepetemaster]

The forklift was okay, but let's face it - snowmobiles, jeeps and bikes were more fun. I never heard about Evil Kenevil(sp?) trying to jump over any huge chasm in a forklift!! ;)

I wouldn't like to see it return again now it has been used. Maybe next time we will get a pallet-jack or a steamroller.
*envisions merc death a la Austin Powers* :p

At least the player could get in/out of it at will, which was a good thing.

[belter_21]

The fork lift was used to lift a gate. In oldern times, of TR yore, there would have been a ledge to climb to pull a switch or a set of cogs to be found before some mystical mechanical mechanism opened the ancient gate ;)..it felt like Lara was in Asda (Walmart to the yanks)...

[fomatk]

I liked the forklift idea. I it or some other device similar, like a crane, would be a nice addition to the game, but should only be used once. Personally, I made a lovely little puzzle on paper that involves a crane, and it actually can take place in a factory/tech place, or an untouched tomb! I don't have a scanner so I can't show you the pages, but if I get my hands on one, I would be glad to show you.

The crane in my puzzle has set lengths, so if you pull the up lever it will go up a set distance, and vice versa, so it is less controllable than something like a forklift. But since my crane and the forklift are in fact quite different, I would have no objection to both being in a Future Tomb Raider game.