What are the 'Floating Islands'?

SrDanielPonces · 18-08-14, 23:24

Core never said what Floating Islands are (as far as I know)...

Anyone here knows what it is or have at least a possible think about what it is?

Dustie · 18-08-14, 23:50

This was discussed infinite amount of times before

Theories are that this is a different dimension Lara find herself in after walking into the portal following Bartoli and his men... or that they got past the whole Islands area somehow (flying?) and she has to get to the castle using the traditional way.

Camera Obscura · 19-08-14, 00:08

The Floating Islands is a peculiar location because it makes absolutely no sense in that, an entire world of floating jade islands exists inside a Temple built inside the Great Wall. Core Design obviously took some creative liberties and ambition to build this otherworldly level. It really paid off though because it's certainly one of my top levels in the game.

Anyways, my theory on the Floating Islands is that the level takes place in a mysterious realm (void) that transcends time and space. Inside this void is a castle made of jade, and inside this jade castle is the Dragon's Lair, where the spirit of the dragon resides. The Dagger of Xian is a medium that connects the spirit of the dragon with the body of the wielder. In order to buy time to fully bond with the host (Marco Bartoli), and to prevent Lara from impeding his resurrection, the dragon distorted his realm to delay her. He allowed Bartoli's body and henchmen to travel across the jade bridge to the Dragon's Lair and afterwards broke the bridge and scattered the remnants throughout the realm so Lara couldn't get across.

However, this is Lara Croft we're talking about. She managed to successfully navigate the "floating islands," defeat the dragon's army, and then snuck inside the lair through a back door. In the next level, when she killed the dragon, she also killed the source of the realm's power, thus the entire realm collapsed on itself and Lara was thrown out of it and back into the human realm.

Quebsenuef · 19-08-14, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camera Obscura

The Floating Islands is a peculiar location because it makes absolutely no sense in that, an entire world of floating jade islands exists inside a Temple built inside the Great Wall. Core Design obviously took some creative liberties and ambition to build this otherworldly level. It really paid off though because it's certainly one of my top levels in the game.

Anyways, my theory on the Floating Islands is that the level takes place in a mysterious realm (void) that transcends time and space. Inside this void is a castle made of jade, and inside this jade castle is the Dragon's Lair, where the spirit of the dragon resides. The Dagger of Xian is a medium that connects the spirit of the dragon with the body of the wielder. In order to buy time to fully bond with the host (Marco Bartoli), and to prevent Lara from impeding his resurrection, the dragon distorted his realm to delay her. He allowed Bartoli's body and henchmen to travel across the jade bridge to the Dragon's Lair and afterwards broke the bridge and scattered the remnants throughout the realm so Lara couldn't get across.

However, this is Lara Croft we're talking about. She managed to successfully navigate the "floating islands," defeat the dragon's army, and then snuck inside the lair through a back door. In the next level, when she killed the dragon, she also killed the source of the realm's power, thus the entire realm collapsed on itself and Lara was thrown out of it and back into the human realm.

This is probably the best explanation really..

Also, I think the level designers or whoever came up with the idea for Floating Islands might have done it to really psyche the player out.
It's the only place in the game where everyone at first has a "Where the hell am I?" moment.

If you were Lara, you'd be pretty startled.. No ground.. flying warriors.. Jade rocks floating.. random fire/lava walls.. It's all perfect for an Otherworldly vibe and to really get in the players mind to scare them.

veratinum · 19-08-14, 01:24

A similar place can be seen in Indiana Jones an the Emperor's Tomb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS9NyUiPAuA
There, it's called "The Netherworld". Description of the game in Wikipedia mentions the place and redirects to "Diyu", which is considered as

Quote:

realm of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology.

scottconny · 19-08-14, 10:54

I never really thought about it because I was about 6 or 7 when I played it first. I just pictured some islands floating in the sky. Something supernatural I guess, like alot of areas in the TR series. Atlantis for example

sackboy123 · 19-08-14, 11:01

But Atlantis isn't really supernatural like the Floating Islands

peeves · 19-08-14, 11:17

I always thought floating islands were in some random spot in the sky.

Quebsenuef · 19-08-14, 22:20

I'd love to know if this has some really strong influences from Chinese Mythology... wish I knew more about it to answer!
Hopefully someone around here does!!

aquaflute · 20-08-14, 04:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quebsenuef

I'd love to know if this has some really strong influences from Chinese Mythology... wish I knew more about it to answer!
Hopefully someone around here does!!

In some ways yes, the Jade Emperor, one of our major deity lives in "Sky Palace" and the place is guarded by "sky warriors". I actually think they did a good job to create a very creepy version of those concepts in TR2. I know most Chinese players have the similar impression because that's how it is referred as in some of the Chinese walkthroughs.

And the level before, Temple of Xian is suppose to resembles legends that describe the tomb of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang, from what I can tell. Mostly because the terra cotta warriors were suppose to "guard" his tomb. But the texture in that level is actually all over the place, I think I can see references to Qin, Tang, Han, Ming dynasties (which are very dispersed in history) in that one single level.

18-08-14, 23:24	#1
SrDanielPonces Tomb Raider Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Insanity Posts: 10,182	What are the 'Floating Islands'? Core never said what Floating Islands are (as far as I know)... Anyone here knows what it is or have at least a possible think about what it is?

19-08-14, 00:08	#3
Camera Obscura Relic Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Lone Star State Gender: Male Posts: 7,629	The Floating Islands is a peculiar location because it makes absolutely no sense in that, an entire world of floating jade islands exists inside a Temple built inside the Great Wall. Core Design obviously took some creative liberties and ambition to build this otherworldly level. It really paid off though because it's certainly one of my top levels in the game. Anyways, my theory on the Floating Islands is that the level takes place in a mysterious realm (void) that transcends time and space. Inside this void is a castle made of jade, and inside this jade castle is the Dragon's Lair, where the spirit of the dragon resides. The Dagger of Xian is a medium that connects the spirit of the dragon with the body of the wielder. In order to buy time to fully bond with the host (Marco Bartoli), and to prevent Lara from impeding his resurrection, the dragon distorted his realm to delay her. He allowed Bartoli's body and henchmen to travel across the jade bridge to the Dragon's Lair and afterwards broke the bridge and scattered the remnants throughout the realm so Lara couldn't get across. However, this is Lara Croft we're talking about. She managed to successfully navigate the "floating islands," defeat the dragon's army, and then snuck inside the lair through a back door. In the next level, when she killed the dragon, she also killed the source of the realm's power, thus the entire realm collapsed on itself and Lara was thrown out of it and back into the human realm. Last edited by Camera Obscura; 19-08-14 at 00:10.

19-08-14, 10:54	#6
scottconny Explorer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ireland Co Westmeath Posts: 973	I never really thought about it because I was about 6 or 7 when I played it first. I just pictured some islands floating in the sky. Something supernatural I guess, like alot of areas in the TR series. Atlantis for example __________________ 七転び八起き

19-08-14, 11:01	#7
sackboy123 Tomb Raider Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The Entity's Realm Posts: 16,882	But Atlantis isn't really supernatural like the Floating Islands __________________ Outstanding Dead by Daylight Player

19-08-14, 11:17	#8
peeves Sage Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In a place with all the TR games except Chronicles Posts: 65,567	I always thought floating islands were in some random spot in the sky. __________________ TR1 - TR8 + TRAR NLNMAS completed and TR2, 5, and 6R, 7ORC NMAS

18-08-14, 23:50	#2
Dustie Relic Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 9,208	This was discussed infinite amount of times before Theories are that this is a different dimension Lara find herself in after walking into the portal following Bartoli and his men... or that they got past the whole Islands area somehow (flying?) and she has to get to the castle using the traditional way.

19-08-14, 22:20	#9
Quebsenuef Tomb Raider Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In Ryan Gosling’s Arms\|Gender: Pyramid Head\|Superpower: Dirty Tricks Mode\|Color: I'm Freakin' Gray Posts: 16,175	I'd love to know if this has some really strong influences from Chinese Mythology... wish I knew more about it to answer! Hopefully someone around here does!! __________________ Face and defeat your Guilt