Sheepman's Underworld Review - Page 2

lord gaga · 28-04-12, 11:36

OH MY GOSH! Finally sheepy finally!

tomekkobialka · 28-04-12, 13:48

Ah, it's arrived!

Am really looking forward to reading this review - it's a long time since I've played this and it will be nice to read about the levels and your opinions on them.

The high point for me in the prologue was the final scene when Zip starts shooting at Lara...it really shocks you and leaves you thinking: "WTF just happened?! O.o"

Plus the dramatic (but unoriginal) music playing during the title sequence, and then the way it morphs to "a few days earlier" and the calm Mediterranean sea. I think it's that massive contrast which really makes the Prologue stand out.

(and also the fact that the Prologue is a smart reference to the game trailer...it starts the player off in familiar territory

)

Btw, sheepy, we don't know for certain at first that the Prologue is foreshadowing the game...only when the Meditarrenean sea appears, with the "few days earlier" caption, do we know that. It's solely to catch the player's attention, and to introduce him/her to the controls.

sheepman23 · 28-04-12, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomee

Hmm I'm not sure about the doppelganger part. We saw her blowing up the manor (We thought it was Lara though)), so if we saw a silhouette of her that would've spoilt the revelation of this level.
Unless that silhouette is shown on it's own, not with Lara on the picture. It would've worked then.

That's pretty much what I was looking for. I just don't feel that anything happens here that's worth getting too excited over. It's good that we know that this happens, but there's nothing too "foreshadowing" about the entire Prologue. Lara's house burns down, but unless we get a little clue as to why it happened (which Zip shooting at Lara doesn't really justify), then it doesn't do too much for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinkula

Sheepy beeby... I was going to review this game also in sometime .___.' Y U read my mind.
(i know i haven't even finished my TR2 but I lost my passion for Core TR's xD)

Sorry Mr. Vinkula...

You could do Legend or Anniversary, I'd love to see that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomekkobialka

The high point for me in the prologue was the final scene when Zip starts shooting at Lara...it really shocks you and leaves you thinking: "WTF just happened?! O.o"

Plus the dramatic (but unoriginal) music playing during the title sequence, and then the way it morphs to "a few days earlier" and the calm Mediterranean sea. I think it's that massive contrast which really makes the Prologue stand out.

(and also the fact that the Prologue is a smart reference to the game trailer...it starts the player off in familiar territory

)

I agree with most of your points, the Prologue IS really exciting in the heat of the moment.

I guess I'm just not too hot on what it chooses to reveal and not reveal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomekkobialka

Btw, sheepy, we don't know for certain at first that the Prologue is foreshadowing the game...only when the Meditarrenean sea appears, with the "few days earlier" caption, do we know that. It's solely to catch the player's attention, and to introduce him/her to the controls.

Oh, I don't deny that it was meant to introduce us to the controls at all, but it felt like the designers also had a hidden agenda of trying to get us hyped up about later events in the game. I don't think it really ended up working; while the burning manor is certainly perplexing, the lack of other clues regarding this sudden event don't do enough to raise my excitement towards the scene.

Seth94 · 28-04-12, 17:55

Excellent first review, although I'm surprised you bothered reviewing the Prologue tbh.

But, if it means and extra review, I don't mind.

sheepman23 · 29-04-12, 04:29

^ Yeah, the Prologue isn't really that important, but I figured I'd throw it in anyway.

I'm going to try to keep the entire thread on a 3-day basis; i.e., 2 days between every review. Which means the first Med. Sea analysis will be up on Monday.

Mytly · 29-04-12, 15:20

Hey, a new Sheepman review.

Hmm, I'll start off disagreeing with you. I don't exactly love the Prologue (I probably don't even like it, but that applies to the whole game

), but I don't think it's a bad way to start the game. An 'in medias res' opening is usually a good hook to get the player sucked in, and a house on fire is as good as any other thrilling event. I do dislike that we have to play through exactly the same sequence later, but that's more a criticism of the Manor level than the Prologue.

sheepman23 · 29-04-12, 15:56

And you certainly have every right to.

I do really like the Prologue in a sense that it starts the game off at a quick pace - I just don't think that it was totally necessary.

tomekkobialka · 29-04-12, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepman23

I do really like the Prologue in a sense that it starts the game off at a quick pace - I just don't think that it was totally necessary.

Damn, if the game had started off at Meditarrenean Sea...I would've chucked the game away before I died of boredom.

(but that's up to you to decide)

sheepman23 · 29-04-12, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomekkobialka

Damn, if the game had started off at Meditarrenean Sea...I would've chucked the game away before I died of boredom.

(but that's up to you to decide)

Oh believe me, I would've too. You don't yet know my opinion of the Med. Sea.

Crap, I'm not supposed to be giving stuff away...

Let me put it this way: it's exciting and a great way to kick off the game, but plot-wise it doesn't do much for me. We already saw Lara's house blowing up in the trailer, so other than the weird Zip thing there's not much to be had here.

charliesewell · 29-04-12, 17:40

YES YES YES!

Sorry for not noticing this before - I rarely visit the Underworld section, but I saw your signature!

Your first (mini) review was excellent, and you raised many great points. I really liked the excitement and adrenaline of running through Lara's burning manor, and it has always been very memorable for me. I also think it reflected back to TR1-3 nicely, in the way that they gave us a small Manor level to train us up with.

Your way of writing is compelling and very satisfying to read. I cannot wait for the next reviews.

28-04-12, 11:36	#11
lord gaga Relic Hunter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hyrule Fields Posts: 6,362	OH MY GOSH! Finally sheepy finally! __________________ Nothing is true, everything is permitted.

28-04-12, 13:48	#12
tomekkobialka Professor Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 3,299	Ah, it's arrived! Am really looking forward to reading this review - it's a long time since I've played this and it will be nice to read about the levels and your opinions on them. The high point for me in the prologue was the final scene when Zip starts shooting at Lara...it really shocks you and leaves you thinking: "WTF just happened?! O.o" Plus the dramatic (but unoriginal) music playing during the title sequence, and then the way it morphs to "a few days earlier" and the calm Mediterranean sea. I think it's that massive contrast which really makes the Prologue stand out. (and also the fact that the Prologue is a smart reference to the game trailer...it starts the player off in familiar territory ) Btw, sheepy, we don't know for certain at first that the Prologue is foreshadowing the game...only when the Meditarrenean sea appears, with the "few days earlier" caption, do we know that. It's solely to catch the player's attention, and to introduce him/her to the controls. __________________ "NO, it is NOT evolving!" Last edited by tomekkobialka; 28-04-12 at 13:53.

29-04-12, 17:40	#20
charliesewell Archaeologist Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Essex, England Gender: ♂ Posts: 1,330	YES YES YES! Sorry for not noticing this before - I rarely visit the Underworld section, but I saw your signature! Your first (mini) review was excellent, and you raised many great points. I really liked the excitement and adrenaline of running through Lara's burning manor, and it has always been very memorable for me. I also think it reflected back to TR1-3 nicely, in the way that they gave us a small Manor level to train us up with. Your way of writing is compelling and very satisfying to read. I cannot wait for the next reviews. __________________ Reality Tomb Raider: Series 5 \| TR3 \| Coming Summer 2013...

28-04-12, 17:55	#14
Seth94 Relic Hunter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England Posts: 7,666	Excellent first review, although I'm surprised you bothered reviewing the Prologue tbh. But, if it means and extra review, I don't mind.

29-04-12, 04:29	#15
sheepman23 Relic Hunter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Iowa, the U.S. Posts: 7,588	^ Yeah, the Prologue isn't really that important, but I figured I'd throw it in anyway. I'm going to try to keep the entire thread on a 3-day basis; i.e., 2 days between every review. Which means the first Med. Sea analysis will be up on Monday.

29-04-12, 15:20	#16
Mytly Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: In the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy Posts: 13,312	Hey, a new Sheepman review. Hmm, I'll start off disagreeing with you. I don't exactly love the Prologue (I probably don't even like it, but that applies to the whole game ), but I don't think it's a bad way to start the game. An 'in medias res' opening is usually a good hook to get the player sucked in, and a house on fire is as good as any other thrilling event. I do dislike that we have to play through exactly the same sequence later, but that's more a criticism of the Manor level than the Prologue.

29-04-12, 15:56	#17
sheepman23 Relic Hunter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Iowa, the U.S. Posts: 7,588	And you certainly have every right to. I do really like the Prologue in a sense that it starts the game off at a quick pace - I just don't think that it was totally necessary.