"Colosseum" analysis

Scottlee · 03-11-02, 18:50

A super idea for a level this one. It makes you wonder how interesting it would have been to see Lara placed in a more modern sports stadium. Maybe she could have waltzed around Wembley as part of the London section of TR3, or visited an American football stadium somewhere in Nevada during the same game? Who knows? You certainly have to at least raise a smile at the thought of firing a desert eagle at an evil eight foot high quarterback on the 22 yard line. We can dream.

Ancient gladiator combat argubly is not a sport, though. And whether it is or it isn't, there are not any vicious Russell Crowe types here. It is all tigers, crocodiles, and buffoons. (I include Pierre with the latter). I mention the animals high at the top of this thread because that is where much of the Colosseum challenge comes from. I can think of at least three occasions where a tiger wounds you before it's even physically possible to get a shot off at the damn thing. Thankfully however, most of the non-humans on the level can be killed from the safety of the stands. Hell it's almost like a duck-hunt at times, but still great fun. Shame we don't have the laser sight by this stage in the series. That would have made for some enjoyable long range bedlam. Hell yes.

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Sidenote - With all the animal killings and everything, I personally might have been tempted to call this level "Lara on Safari", or "Lara goes ape-**** at the colosseum". Submit your own ideas on a stamp-addressed envelope.

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Pierre's appearance is quite effective this time around. It's helped largely by the distant black graphics phenomenon I first spoke about in the Lost Valley. Creating an accidental effect that makes you wonder if there is a ceiling present or not is just one thing. Being able to spot a human assassin sneak out from the blackness around the far corner of the stand is something else. Of course having said that, any competent assassin would surely have had the sense to shoot Lara from a distance. Pierre from the TR games though insists on getting within two yards before he makes his shot and it is just never gonna work. His tiger-repelling deodrant on the other hand works only too well, and for the second level running we get the king of the jungle attacking the human female present but not the male. Oh well. At least Pierre doesn't shout "abracadabra" and vanish on this level like he did in the presence of Mr Francis. Every plus point helps.

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts in the Colosseum. I look back on it fondly without actually being able to list many instances in the proceedings as being that good. The boulder thing had become boring even by this stage in the game, and I sigh in annoyance whenever I get hit by a bat attack. Redeemable moments on the other hand include a cleverly hidden exit door, a stomach-churning crocodile pit, and a timed run through two gates that would probably make even the T1000 from Terminator 2 gasp for breath.

Changing topics slightly, I have to point out that I am more than a little perturbed by how uncomfortable the stone seats in the stands look. Would you really want to have parked your arse on there for an hour or two? Personally I would have had to either stand or bring a deckchair. And if the tigers on display had ignored the gladiators like they did Pierre then I would have demanded my money back. That or my pebbles back, or whatever the hell the currency was back then.

Colosseum is a classic level that by rights should have become a series martyr since that inferior TRC rehash came onto the market. (Pierre's warts and all included). The level design is a treat, and the action is fun. The big question remains though - What behavioural herb did our favourite slimy Frenchman slip into that tiger's ready brek the morning Lara went to Greece? 8/10

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Secrets - 2/3 good ones. I nearly went for a maximum score this time around, but the one above the crocodile pit is a little similar in design to the waterfall one from the Lost Valley.

Monsters - The idea of letting the crocodiles roam around on land as well as underwater is a good one. I tend to find them extra creepy on land because of their grunting, and that pit area near the beginning of the level is TR-quality personified. Now for a bullet point lowdown on all the other animals from this level.....

Bats - Encountering these creatures on TR is more annoying than dating a women in RL whose favourite film genre is a chick-flick.

Tigers - Sacredy cats. They don't appear to have the balls to attack men. Seriously though, they do provide a good challenge on TR

Gorillas - Even better that the tigers because of their unpredictability.

Best part - Crocodile pit

Worst part - "Zip can you hear me? There's another one of those pesky boulders rolling towards me again. Do you think if I blow it up with a rocket launcher it won't come back in the next level?"

[ 17. October 2005, 16:35: Message edited by: Scottlee ]

TeeJay · 04-11-02, 22:07

ScottLee, I'm grinning from ear to ear after lol while reading your review on Colloseum. You are right about the spelling.

Your reviews are getting funnier, and funnier. I especially liked the comparison about the bats and dating women in RL. The bats are too common, too easy and too boring.

As always, it has been a pleasure reading your review. Thanks for sharing.

TeeJay · 04-11-02, 22:09

Oops, I think I'm dyxlexic. I still spelled Colosseum wrong, again!!!

Croft Security · 06-11-02, 02:39

The only thing I'll stand up and shout here is that I like killing bats. They give me some practice in moving Lara around with the keyboard, because the bats often come down right on top of her, so you have to do some fancy moving. Fancy careful moving if you're on a ledge.

03-11-02, 18:50	#1
Scottlee Relic Hunter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 7,507	A super idea for a level this one. It makes you wonder how interesting it would have been to see Lara placed in a more modern sports stadium. Maybe she could have waltzed around Wembley as part of the London section of TR3, or visited an American football stadium somewhere in Nevada during the same game? Who knows? You certainly have to at least raise a smile at the thought of firing a desert eagle at an evil eight foot high quarterback on the 22 yard line. We can dream. Ancient gladiator combat argubly is not a sport, though. And whether it is or it isn't, there are not any vicious Russell Crowe types here. It is all tigers, crocodiles, and buffoons. (I include Pierre with the latter). I mention the animals high at the top of this thread because that is where much of the Colosseum challenge comes from. I can think of at least three occasions where a tiger wounds you before it's even physically possible to get a shot off at the damn thing. Thankfully however, most of the non-humans on the level can be killed from the safety of the stands. Hell it's almost like a duck-hunt at times, but still great fun. Shame we don't have the laser sight by this stage in the series. That would have made for some enjoyable long range bedlam. Hell yes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sidenote - With all the animal killings and everything, I personally might have been tempted to call this level "Lara on Safari", or "Lara goes ape-**** at the colosseum". Submit your own ideas on a stamp-addressed envelope. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pierre's appearance is quite effective this time around. It's helped largely by the distant black graphics phenomenon I first spoke about in the Lost Valley. Creating an accidental effect that makes you wonder if there is a ceiling present or not is just one thing. Being able to spot a human assassin sneak out from the blackness around the far corner of the stand is something else. Of course having said that, any competent assassin would surely have had the sense to shoot Lara from a distance. Pierre from the TR games though insists on getting within two yards before he makes his shot and it is just never gonna work. His tiger-repelling deodrant on the other hand works only too well, and for the second level running we get the king of the jungle attacking the human female present but not the male. Oh well. At least Pierre doesn't shout "abracadabra" and vanish on this level like he did in the presence of Mr Francis. Every plus point helps. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts in the Colosseum. I look back on it fondly without actually being able to list many instances in the proceedings as being that good. The boulder thing had become boring even by this stage in the game, and I sigh in annoyance whenever I get hit by a bat attack. Redeemable moments on the other hand include a cleverly hidden exit door, a stomach-churning crocodile pit, and a timed run through two gates that would probably make even the T1000 from Terminator 2 gasp for breath. Changing topics slightly, I have to point out that I am more than a little perturbed by how uncomfortable the stone seats in the stands look. Would you really want to have parked your arse on there for an hour or two? Personally I would have had to either stand or bring a deckchair. And if the tigers on display had ignored the gladiators like they did Pierre then I would have demanded my money back. That or my pebbles back, or whatever the hell the currency was back then. Colosseum is a classic level that by rights should have become a series martyr since that inferior TRC rehash came onto the market. (Pierre's warts and all included). The level design is a treat, and the action is fun. The big question remains though - What behavioural herb did our favourite slimy Frenchman slip into that tiger's ready brek the morning Lara went to Greece? 8/10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Secrets - 2/3 good ones. I nearly went for a maximum score this time around, but the one above the crocodile pit is a little similar in design to the waterfall one from the Lost Valley. Monsters - The idea of letting the crocodiles roam around on land as well as underwater is a good one. I tend to find them extra creepy on land because of their grunting, and that pit area near the beginning of the level is TR-quality personified. Now for a bullet point lowdown on all the other animals from this level..... Bats - Encountering these creatures on TR is more annoying than dating a women in RL whose favourite film genre is a chick-flick. Tigers - Sacredy cats. They don't appear to have the balls to attack men. Seriously though, they do provide a good challenge on TR Gorillas - Even better that the tigers because of their unpredictability. Best part - Crocodile pit Worst part - "Zip can you hear me? There's another one of those pesky boulders rolling towards me again. Do you think if I blow it up with a rocket launcher it won't come back in the next level?" [ 17. October 2005, 16:35: Message edited by: Scottlee ]

04-11-02, 22:07	#2
TeeJay Hobbyist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fremont, NE Posts: 31	ScottLee, I'm grinning from ear to ear after lol while reading your review on Colloseum. You are right about the spelling. Your reviews are getting funnier, and funnier. I especially liked the comparison about the bats and dating women in RL. The bats are too common, too easy and too boring. As always, it has been a pleasure reading your review. Thanks for sharing.

04-11-02, 22:09	#3
TeeJay Hobbyist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fremont, NE Posts: 31	Oops, I think I'm dyxlexic. I still spelled Colosseum wrong, again!!!

06-11-02, 02:39	#4
Croft Security Archaeologist Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Wherever nothing is happening Posts: 1,026	The only thing I'll stand up and shout here is that I like killing bats. They give me some practice in moving Lara around with the keyboard, because the bats often come down right on top of her, so you have to do some fancy moving. Fancy careful moving if you're on a ledge.