"Angkor Wat/Race for the Iris" analysis

Scottlee · 10-10-05, 13:29

It's Cambodia in 1984. A world famous archaeologist, who is also an expert traveller, adventurer, and explorer, infiltrates an abandoned underground temple in search of hidden booty. Oh, and a guy called Werner is going along with her, but that's another matter. For now let us rejoice that Tomb Raider has returned once more to give us sleepless nights and unequalled thrills aplenty. Yay!

Lara is 16 in the opening two levels, both of which serve the purpose of introducing you to the controls. You also get an early glimpse here of Werner Von Croy, the archaeologist entrusted with the task of showing Lara the ropes (except he doesn't actually show her the 'rope'. He just lets her figure it out herself).

Now old Werner might be a world famous this, that, and the other, but it is hard to escape the fact he looks like the man from Del Monte in that silly all-white Panama suit. For those of you who do not remember the man from Del Monte, he was a guy who fronted UK commercials for orange juice back in the 1980's (only he did not make sixteen year old girls grow all the oranges for him whilst he put his feet up and watched television). The man from Del Monte never had an actual name, if you're wondering. He was just simply...The man from Del Monte. His career eventually died when The woman from Del Monte accidentally put colours in with the whites one afternoon and turned the poor guy's suit pink. Well, that’s show-business!

The first training level zips along at a reasonable pace. There is not much that is difficult, lest you attempt to translate Von Croy's gibberish during the FMV interludes. That's right, Captain Courageous opens his pie-hole every now and then to tell us something really interesting, like how to run, jump, or brush our teeth. I tried in vain before writing this analysis to shimmy around the game's matrix area in an attempt to dodge those cut-scenes. You cannot do it, though. The man from Berlin gets you every time.

Still, he is a good friend and mentor to Lara at least, if not to us. He will only let his protégée do the easy things like running over spikes and swimming through dark caverns. Whenever something risky and brave is called for, like pressing a switch or killing an unarmed piglet, Von Croy steps up and takes scout leader responsibility. If Von Croy was a pirate, he would surely be the first of his crew to hop over to the enemy ship waving his cutlass and shouting "Ar-haa maties!" (albeit looking silly in his white Panama suit). He really is that brave!

During the Cambodia levels, he even takes time out from his swashbuckling bravery to crack the odd quip. "Ah yes, the superman?" he remarks, before going on to have a little chuckle to himself. He says something about afternoon tea as well, but by this point I'm usually re-checking the game manual to see if there is a way of getting the mansion section back. Maybe we could compromise?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"1984, Croft Manor"

(Von Croy and Lara enter the mansion)

Von Croy : Be weary of these rooms, Lara. Many traps and pitfalls await the unwary.

Lara : I know. I put them all there.

Von Croy : Ah, an enemy! Here, take my knife, Lara! A chance for you to earn your keep!

Lara : Eh? It’s only Winston.

Winston : Wow! You did not inform me we would be joined by such a distinguished guest today, my lady!

Von Croy : (grins) Thanks for ze compliment. So you recognise me then? Hehe.

Winston : Of course! We watch your orange commercial all the time!

Von Croy : Grrrrrrrr. I am sick of zis comparison!

Lara and Winston : Heheheheh

(Werner eventually gets his leg caught on the Croft Manor assault course and hangs upside down, but we'll skip that bit)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If the first training level is all about familiarizing yourself with the moves, the second ("Race for the iris") gives you a chance to mix and match those moves on a sort of Kryton-Factor assault course, the prize being a weird looking thing called the Iris. Von Croy comes out of his coma at this point and runs off like a man possessed (and give him time with that, btw

). Lara must chase him down to win the prize for herself! Go girl!

Take a good hard look at the above picture. The thing the arrow is pointing at is an Egyptian lever, and you will find this popping up all over Egypt during your adventure. Everything mechanical in Egypt is operated by an Egyptian lever. Everything! Doors to temples, doors to caves, gates, grills, trapdoors – EVERYTHING. So take this into account if you're thinking of going on holiday there anytime soon.

Want to open the door to the airport hotel? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to get a soda from the vending machine in the corridor? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to turn the bathroom light on? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to cook a lasagne? Well, for quick and easy results, pull an Egyptian lever. Impotency? Pull an Egyptian lever. In fact, whenever you're in any sort of pickle, just pull the nearest Egyptian lever. It should sort your problem out.

It wouldn't be so bad if said system of operating things was done via a small switch or a button. Egyptian levers though are big cumbersome things that look like they take sheer mountains of energy just to yank them. I'm sure this is fine if you're built like Imhotep the mummy or any of the other local pyramid hoodlums. For the rest of us though it means risking incurring a spinal injury every time we want to open the curtains in the morning.

The mansion section from TR1-3 was better, I've decided. There was no Von Croy and we were not force-fed having to try out moves most of us already learnt years ago. Let us finish this thread with more about the man from Berlin. Let's have a quick giggle together at how he gets himself trapped inside a giant Terry's chocolate orange right at the end of the second training level, or at least half trapped. All together now – HAHA! 4/10 and 3/10

Best bit
- Laughing at Von Croy showing Lara the art of hand to hand combat. Boy, he sure shows those nasty piggy-wiggies a thing or two!

Worst bit
- Von Croy survives Cambodia. Just.

Secrets
There's 8 of them but they're all easy. Not good. Not good.

This level is most like
Being back at school with that teacher you secretly despised.

.
.
.
.

(When Von Croy caught his leg on the trap, Hugo the horse was thoroughly amused)

Thanks to Nicky for the lever pic

[ 10. October 2005, 14:32: Message edited by: Scottlee ]

Tomb Raider Master · 10-10-05, 13:54

Great analysis as always Scottlee!

Quote:

A world famous archaeologist, who is also an expert traveller, adventurer, and explorer, infiltrates an abandoned underground temple in search of hidden booty. Oh, and a guy called Werner is going along with her, but that's another matter.

Quote:

"1984, Croft Manor"

(Von Croy and Lara enter the mansion)

Von Croy : Be weary of these rooms, Lara. Many traps and pitfalls await the unwary.

Lara : I know. I put them all there.

Von Croy : Ah, an enemy! Here, take my knife, Lara! A chance for you to earn your keep!

Lara : Eh? It’s only Winston.

Winston : Wow! You did not inform me we would be joined by such a distinguished guest today, my lady!

Von Croy : (grins) Thanks for ze compliment. So you recognise me then? Hehe.

Winston : Of course! We watch your orange commercial all the time!

Von Croy : Grrrrrrrr. I am sick of zis comparison!

Lara and Winston : Heheheheh

(Werner eventually gets his leg caught on the Croft Manor assault course and hangs upside down, but we'll skip that bit)

Quote:

This level is most like
Being back at school with that teacher you secretly despised.

!!! LOL !!!

Nicky · 10-10-05, 14:47

Obviously those training levels are your favorite bits of the game, Scott

Quote:

He will only let his protégée do the easy things like running over spikes and swimming through dark caverns. Whenever something risky and brave is called for, like pressing a switch or killing an unarmed piglet, Von Croy steps up and takes scout leader responsibility.

Big-LOL @ Egyptian Levers bit

I love your writing style

ELEN · 10-10-05, 15:37

OMG!!! Scott started his TR4 analysis

I laughed so much with this!!! And you know what was my best part

I wish I could pull a lever and have lasagne ready in my plate

LOOLLLOOOLLL!!!!!!

xMiSsCrOfTx · 10-10-05, 15:57

LOL

Great writing, Scott!

Anubis_AF · 10-10-05, 16:35

LOL Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by Scottlee:
In fact, whenever you're in any sort of pickle, just pull the nearest Egyptian lever. It should sort your problem out.

LOL!!

Laras Backpack · 10-10-05, 16:43

Quote:

Let's have a quick giggle together at how he gets himself trapped inside a giant Terry's chocolate orange right at the end of the second training level, or at least half trapped. All together now – HAHA!

Excellent scotlee!
p.s. Did anyone notice the smarmy, creapy way Werner told Lara that she would "catch her death in those clothes my dear" after she had been in the water? Made my skin crawl!

spikesavenger · 10-10-05, 20:31

ROFL!!

thesmallprint · 10-10-05, 21:23

LOL! Excellent Scott

Angel666 · 10-10-05, 23:13

Awesome work Scottlee! The Egyptian levers bit was hilarious.

Werner creeped me too when he told her she'd catch her death in her clothes. *shudders*

10-10-05, 20:31	#8
spikesavenger Explorer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hell. Posts: 687	ROFL!! __________________ Vae Victis.

10-10-05, 13:29	#1
Scottlee Relic Hunter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 7,507	It's Cambodia in 1984. A world famous archaeologist, who is also an expert traveller, adventurer, and explorer, infiltrates an abandoned underground temple in search of hidden booty. Oh, and a guy called Werner is going along with her, but that's another matter. For now let us rejoice that Tomb Raider has returned once more to give us sleepless nights and unequalled thrills aplenty. Yay! Lara is 16 in the opening two levels, both of which serve the purpose of introducing you to the controls. You also get an early glimpse here of Werner Von Croy, the archaeologist entrusted with the task of showing Lara the ropes (except he doesn't actually show her the 'rope'. He just lets her figure it out herself). Now old Werner might be a world famous this, that, and the other, but it is hard to escape the fact he looks like the man from Del Monte in that silly all-white Panama suit. For those of you who do not remember the man from Del Monte, he was a guy who fronted UK commercials for orange juice back in the 1980's (only he did not make sixteen year old girls grow all the oranges for him whilst he put his feet up and watched television). The man from Del Monte never had an actual name, if you're wondering. He was just simply...The man from Del Monte. His career eventually died when The woman from Del Monte accidentally put colours in with the whites one afternoon and turned the poor guy's suit pink. Well, that’s show-business! The first training level zips along at a reasonable pace. There is not much that is difficult, lest you attempt to translate Von Croy's gibberish during the FMV interludes. That's right, Captain Courageous opens his pie-hole every now and then to tell us something really interesting, like how to run, jump, or brush our teeth. I tried in vain before writing this analysis to shimmy around the game's matrix area in an attempt to dodge those cut-scenes. You cannot do it, though. The man from Berlin gets you every time. Still, he is a good friend and mentor to Lara at least, if not to us. He will only let his protégée do the easy things like running over spikes and swimming through dark caverns. Whenever something risky and brave is called for, like pressing a switch or killing an unarmed piglet, Von Croy steps up and takes scout leader responsibility. If Von Croy was a pirate, he would surely be the first of his crew to hop over to the enemy ship waving his cutlass and shouting "Ar-haa maties!" (albeit looking silly in his white Panama suit). He really is that brave! During the Cambodia levels, he even takes time out from his swashbuckling bravery to crack the odd quip. "Ah yes, the superman?" he remarks, before going on to have a little chuckle to himself. He says something about afternoon tea as well, but by this point I'm usually re-checking the game manual to see if there is a way of getting the mansion section back. Maybe we could compromise? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "1984, Croft Manor" (Von Croy and Lara enter the mansion) Von Croy : Be weary of these rooms, Lara. Many traps and pitfalls await the unwary. Lara : I know. I put them all there. Von Croy : Ah, an enemy! Here, take my knife, Lara! A chance for you to earn your keep! Lara : Eh? It’s only Winston. Winston : Wow! You did not inform me we would be joined by such a distinguished guest today, my lady! Von Croy : (grins) Thanks for ze compliment. So you recognise me then? Hehe. Winston : Of course! We watch your orange commercial all the time! Von Croy : Grrrrrrrr. I am sick of zis comparison! Lara and Winston : Heheheheh (Werner eventually gets his leg caught on the Croft Manor assault course and hangs upside down, but we'll skip that bit) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If the first training level is all about familiarizing yourself with the moves, the second ("Race for the iris") gives you a chance to mix and match those moves on a sort of Kryton-Factor assault course, the prize being a weird looking thing called the Iris. Von Croy comes out of his coma at this point and runs off like a man possessed (and give him time with that, btw ). Lara must chase him down to win the prize for herself! Go girl! Take a good hard look at the above picture. The thing the arrow is pointing at is an Egyptian lever, and you will find this popping up all over Egypt during your adventure. Everything mechanical in Egypt is operated by an Egyptian lever. Everything! Doors to temples, doors to caves, gates, grills, trapdoors – EVERYTHING. So take this into account if you're thinking of going on holiday there anytime soon. Want to open the door to the airport hotel? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to get a soda from the vending machine in the corridor? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to turn the bathroom light on? Pull an Egyptian lever. Want to cook a lasagne? Well, for quick and easy results, pull an Egyptian lever. Impotency? Pull an Egyptian lever. In fact, whenever you're in any sort of pickle, just pull the nearest Egyptian lever. It should sort your problem out. It wouldn't be so bad if said system of operating things was done via a small switch or a button. Egyptian levers though are big cumbersome things that look like they take sheer mountains of energy just to yank them. I'm sure this is fine if you're built like Imhotep the mummy or any of the other local pyramid hoodlums. For the rest of us though it means risking incurring a spinal injury every time we want to open the curtains in the morning. The mansion section from TR1-3 was better, I've decided. There was no Von Croy and we were not force-fed having to try out moves most of us already learnt years ago. Let us finish this thread with more about the man from Berlin. Let's have a quick giggle together at how he gets himself trapped inside a giant Terry's chocolate orange right at the end of the second training level, or at least half trapped. All together now – HAHA! 4/10 and 3/10 Best bit - Laughing at Von Croy showing Lara the art of hand to hand combat. Boy, he sure shows those nasty piggy-wiggies a thing or two! Worst bit - Von Croy survives Cambodia. Just. Secrets There's 8 of them but they're all easy. Not good. Not good. This level is most like Being back at school with that teacher you secretly despised. . . . . (When Von Croy caught his leg on the trap, Hugo the horse was thoroughly amused) Thanks to Nicky for the lever pic [ 10. October 2005, 14:32: Message edited by: Scottlee ]

10-10-05, 15:37	#4
ELEN Most Honourable Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 28,578	OMG!!! Scott started his TR4 analysis I laughed so much with this!!! And you know what was my best part I wish I could pull a lever and have lasagne ready in my plate LOOLLLOOOLLL!!!!!!

10-10-05, 15:57	#5
xMiSsCrOfTx Tomb Raider Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 22,451	LOL Great writing, Scott!

10-10-05, 21:23	#9
thesmallprint Professor Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,952	LOL! Excellent Scott

10-10-05, 23:13	#10
Angel666 Professor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Carolina, USA aka Hell Posts: 3,667	Awesome work Scottlee! The Egyptian levers bit was hilarious. Werner creeped me too when he told her she'd catch her death in her clothes. shudders