Does anyone else think AOD is overly praised?

[AdrielRaider]

Of course, i love to write texts telling the contrary of what i really think. How did you find out my secret? . Ok, subject closed to me haha

[Jorje Croft]

secret TRAOD lovers everywhere

[GabrielCroft]

secret TR Legend lovers everywhere

[LateRaider]

Originally Posted by kietasvyras

I have no idea what people who do not like TRAOD are doing in TRAOD forum, particularly while forums like Tomb Raider: Legend forum are almost empty. Why to care, check the forum and write long posts over 15 years after the game as released if you do not like it? That is a complete mystery to me. Maybe after all they are secret TRAOD lovers who just do not want to acknowledge it and they write something like that just to keep the discussion hot and TRAOD popular.

I understand where you're coming from for sure. I'm the same way with A Certain Few Users in the TR reboot forums. But I think this is a little different; this is a postmortem on a game that's been out for a long time by people who used to absolutely love it.

I'm one of those people. I used to love the hell out of AoD--even got myself a GameShark PS2 disc so I could cheat in dual pistols. But honestly, AoD and Kurtis fans have ruined it for me.

Things I liked:
- Art direction and graphical design (Not graphical fidelity; the graphics aren't so hot for 2003)
- Music! AoD's soundtrack is amazing, and it's probably why I will never truly hate it
- Crime noir vibe
- Story, though the "Karel?" bit came out of nowhere
- Attempt at stealth
- Swimming
- Writing (The conversations with Janice and Luddick used to give me chills)
- Cutscene direction (No TR has had anything quite like it)
- Lara's Camo Pants and Camo Shorts outfits

Things I disliked:
- Physics (Lara is way too heavy)
- Some of Jonell's grunts
- Excess of controls (Strictly speaking of the PS2 version... No need for Roll, Walk, or Look anymore; no need for stance turning; walk to run delay is unnecessary; run speed is erroneously slower than necessary)
- Super long animations, especially in Kurtis' case (There's a reason why the series has had almost unrealistically fast animations ever since TR: Legend)
- Excess of weapons (Lara really only needed 1 or 2 pistols, the shotgun, and the taser in Paris)
- Strange control mapping decisions (Again, strictly speaking of AoD PS2, O for Jump and Triangle for Crouch? WTF?)
- Strength upgrade system (Constantly reassessing jumps is horrid)

[xdesperado_]

Was it Peter Connelly who produced the Le Serpent Rouge club theme? I wonder which mastermind was behind it.

[kietasvyras]

Originally Posted by xdesperado_

Was it Peter Connelly who produced the Le Serpent Rouge club theme? I wonder which mastermind was behind it.

2tV8mQaOXBI

This (these) were written by Peter Connelly and Martin Iveson. 2 tracks, mixed together... the first half is Peter Connelly's and the second half (from 3:04) is Martin Iveson's.

Actually, there was a rumour that the track that is played in The Serpent Rouge level was even created by DJ Tiesto, which turned out to be not true.

[xdesperado_]

Originally Posted by kietasvyras

This (these) were written by Peter Connelly and Martin Iveson. 2 tracks, mixed together... the first half is Peter Connelly's and the second half (from 3:04) is Martin Iveson's.

Actually, there was a rumour that the track that is played in The Serpent Rouge level was even created by DJ Tiesto, which turned out to be not true.

Wow that's interesting. It sure does have a Tiesto/David Guetta vibe.

I love it