What Makes TR 2 so Special to anyone? - Page 2

Kapu · 07-12-19, 17:25

Of course it boils down to a matter of opinion, but I think the majority of players loved this game for the reasons that michaeldt listed.

I wrote up a mini review back in 2013 when I beat the game. Pulling a few lines from there -

Quote:

The Living Quarters was thrilling to explore in a very haunting way. [...] These levels tell a story of their own, y'know? And without the aid of a single cutscene. I was in such awe. [...] As much as I enjoyed [TR2013], none of the island had the same sense of thrill and wonder as the Maria Doria.

I typically hate underwater levels in TR, but the Maria Doria section of TR2 proves to me that it's just a matter of design. There's a unique feeling that comes from exploration in TR, right? It's part excitement, part frustration, part awe, and part terror. The Maria Doria levels, for me, encapsulate that experience perfectly. I love the whole game, but that section alone really made such an impression on me. It's not something that I've really felt while playing any other game. For me, that's a big part of what makes TR2 so special.

NoahCrofRaider · 09-12-19, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverin

Most people tend to love it due to nostalgia.

It used to be very high on my list as well, but after replaying it a few times it lost it's wow-factor. The introduction is amazingly fun. Traps everywhere! Then the Venice levels introduce a warm and soothing environment despite having to kill human enemies everywhere. After that.. it changes completely. Things get darker starting at the opera house, which is quite an 'ehh' level to me. While most praise it as iconic.

Offshore rig is fun again but as soon as the underwater levels begin, so does the drag. The music is like brainwashing your ears, the mood is dark and unpleasant. I know that this is the point and that they tried to create it that way to make it atmospheric, but it's just too long. There are too many forced health losses, too many block puzzles, boring secrets, backtracking, enemies and all around weird level design. The biggest problem is that it's so long. The Snowy levels are fun again because you're finally in the open again but then they lure you again into a darker environment. Which worked miles better here than it did earlier. The monastery is arguably the best level in the game, along with temple of Xian. The ending is amazing. Everything China was executed in an almost perfect manner. But the midgame is just... I don't know. There is definitely something wrong with it.

I agree with a lot of this. Even for me, I used to love TR2 and have it near or at the top of my list... but, it was more nostalgia than anything else. Beyond that, I’m not the biggest fan of the Maria Doria section and (though this has been said numerous times) there’s too much combat.

laracroftswest · 09-12-19, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaeldt

Excellence

Everything about this post sums up why I love TR2 so much. People say the middle section (Offshore Rig - The Deck) drudges on, but I find this section exceptional. Maria Doria is one of my favorite levels

The only level I truly dislike is Opera House.

dcw123 · 10-12-19, 11:13

For me TR2 just had the whole package..

Music was awesome, locations were varied and exciting to visit (except maybe Rig)
TR3 was a close 2nd in that regard...

4 and 5 sadly cut down on the globe trotting, and I suppose for good reason - Lara was quickly running out of locations to visit hehe

Hazelphoenix · 10-12-19, 12:32

I’ll be honest, it mostly comes down to nostalgia and the memories linked to it (being my very first TR game and whatnot). The other classics, except for chronicles, are so much better replaying them now. TR2 has some highlights that I consider to be among the best this saga has to offer though, like The Deck, Barkhang Monastery, Temple of Xian and Opera House.

It’s a solid game, but plenty of people usually rank it very high on their list of favourite TR games due to nostalgia (at least from what I’ve seen over the years).

The Great Chi · 10-12-19, 12:54

TR2 is still my favourite TR game and I will tell you why.

When TR1 was launched it was groundbreaking, with third person shooter perspective, ie, instead of just a pair of hands and guns being shown which we were used to, suddenly we had a character in front of us, ie, Lara Croft. It was brilliant, though the visuals were rather low pixel quality, the best that could be achieved at that time.

TR2 though was a massive step forward, with fantastic visuals, a fantastic story, and not just about tombs but instead the story travelled the World, and had entirely different levels to explore. It was totally immersive and atmospheric with the looks, the music, just everything was right about it

My favourite level of my favourite game is the Floating Islands, just due to the surreal layout of a mystical realm and that background music atmosphere and those flying baddies. It just gave me goose bumps on my arms the first time i played, and just love playing it.

Yep, TR2 is for me, though I can see why others have their own favourite TR game

noonbob · 10-12-19, 14:09

It was my first TR game but that's not the reason it's my fav TR game.

Like others have said, it has everything. I always loved it and preferred to replay it over the other games (though I replayed them too).

My most to least loved classic TR games are:

- TR2
- TR3
- TR1
- TR4&5

Yeauxleaux · 11-12-19, 13:15

I think it had just the right amount of complexity in level design. While Chronicles (and anything post-Core) were a little too easy in terms of working out what you had to do, and TR3 and 4 were a little too convoluted and confusing, TR2 (and TR1) hit the sweet spot in between.

I also love the choice of locations. I like the dive into Chinese mythology, but I also love Venice and Tibet. The Maria Doria is just as good to me, even though other people say they hate it. I do feel like Core were very much thinking "ok 1997, we're gonna do a Titanic-inspired level because everyone is aniticipating that movie". I guess if you were playing the game back then it was kind of transparent that's what they were doing, and might have felt a bit contrived. However you can play it at any time and without that context it's a tragic, dark and intensely eerie location in its own right, and I love the atmosphere. What I also like about the globetrotting in TR2 is the organic irregularity of it. It's not 4 formulaic levels in country A, then off to country B for another 4 formulaic levels, then another country for the same again. TR1 and 3 felt a bit too "forced" like that. We start in China for one small level, then have 3 in Venice, 6 somewhere in The Mediterranean, and so on.

The literal only criticism I have of TR2 is that it's too combat-heavy, that I do agree with. If the game were theoretically remade, I'd hope they do significantly scale back the number of human enemies we encounter. This would be especially important for the Maria Doria levels, where I'd want almost all human enemies removed and maybe replaced with something a little more supernatural and creepy.

Feder · 12-12-19, 00:40

Many people have complained about the number of enemies to fight

still, that was the best part for some of us. That was the real challenge, that's why you get such a vast arsenal and find ammo and medipacks everywhere. TR1 was similar in that regard, enemies were mostly animals/mutants, but plenty as well. TR3 cut back on the combat, as you never have to face more than 2 enemies at the time. Plus it has a very unbalanced arsenal, the MP5 and desert eagle are the most powerful weapons, leaving the rest of the equipment almost unnecesary once you got them.

Now that I think of it, if it weren't for the combat, there is not much else that challenges you on TR2. Puzzles are almost absent in this entry, everything is mostly hunt for keys and switches (in amazing scenarios). Oh but I do love the TR2 traps.

I remmember how I got killed in so many parts when I was a young TR player, I was even scared to come out to a new room, because I thought thugs could be just standing there waiting for me to come in

ThatSassyKid · 12-12-19, 15:43

Some people just enjoy overhyped games, other people have games killed for them due to high expectations from too much hype.

10-12-19, 12:54	#16
The Great Chi The Inscrutable One Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beyond the Floating Islands Posts: 9,513	TR2 is still my favourite TR game and I will tell you why. When TR1 was launched it was groundbreaking, with third person shooter perspective, ie, instead of just a pair of hands and guns being shown which we were used to, suddenly we had a character in front of us, ie, Lara Croft. It was brilliant, though the visuals were rather low pixel quality, the best that could be achieved at that time. TR2 though was a massive step forward, with fantastic visuals, a fantastic story, and not just about tombs but instead the story travelled the World, and had entirely different levels to explore. It was totally immersive and atmospheric with the looks, the music, just everything was right about it My favourite level of my favourite game is the Floating Islands, just due to the surreal layout of a mystical realm and that background music atmosphere and those flying baddies. It just gave me goose bumps on my arms the first time i played, and just love playing it. Yep, TR2 is for me, though I can see why others have their own favourite TR game __________________ Humble words by The Great Chi Last edited by The Great Chi; 10-12-19 at 12:59.

11-12-19, 13:15	#18
Yeauxleaux Relic Hunter Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: PSN: Lelixandre Posts: 9,534	I think it had just the right amount of complexity in level design. While Chronicles (and anything post-Core) were a little too easy in terms of working out what you had to do, and TR3 and 4 were a little too convoluted and confusing, TR2 (and TR1) hit the sweet spot in between. I also love the choice of locations. I like the dive into Chinese mythology, but I also love Venice and Tibet. The Maria Doria is just as good to me, even though other people say they hate it. I do feel like Core were very much thinking "ok 1997, we're gonna do a Titanic-inspired level because everyone is aniticipating that movie". I guess if you were playing the game back then it was kind of transparent that's what they were doing, and might have felt a bit contrived. However you can play it at any time and without that context it's a tragic, dark and intensely eerie location in its own right, and I love the atmosphere. What I also like about the globetrotting in TR2 is the organic irregularity of it. It's not 4 formulaic levels in country A, then off to country B for another 4 formulaic levels, then another country for the same again. TR1 and 3 felt a bit too "forced" like that. We start in China for one small level, then have 3 in Venice, 6 somewhere in The Mediterranean, and so on. The literal only criticism I have of TR2 is that it's too combat-heavy, that I do agree with. If the game were theoretically remade, I'd hope they do significantly scale back the number of human enemies we encounter. This would be especially important for the Maria Doria levels, where I'd want almost all human enemies removed and maybe replaced with something a little more supernatural and creepy. Last edited by Yeauxleaux; 11-12-19 at 13:20.

12-12-19, 15:43	#20
ThatSassyKid Relic Hunter Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 8,448	Some people just enjoy overhyped games, other people have games killed for them due to high expectations from too much hype. __________________ Mald more

10-12-19, 11:13	#14
dcw123 Relic Hunter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: England, UK Gender:Male Posts: 7,416	For me TR2 just had the whole package.. Music was awesome, locations were varied and exciting to visit (except maybe Rig) TR3 was a close 2nd in that regard... 4 and 5 sadly cut down on the globe trotting, and I suppose for good reason - Lara was quickly running out of locations to visit hehe

10-12-19, 12:32	#15
Hazelphoenix Professor Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Italy Posts: 2,709	I’ll be honest, it mostly comes down to nostalgia and the memories linked to it (being my very first TR game and whatnot). The other classics, except for chronicles, are so much better replaying them now. TR2 has some highlights that I consider to be among the best this saga has to offer though, like The Deck, Barkhang Monastery, Temple of Xian and Opera House. It’s a solid game, but plenty of people usually rank it very high on their list of favourite TR games due to nostalgia (at least from what I’ve seen over the years).

10-12-19, 14:09	#17
noonbob Professor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nowhere. Posts: 3,398	It was my first TR game but that's not the reason it's my fav TR game. Like others have said, it has everything. I always loved it and preferred to replay it over the other games (though I replayed them too). My most to least loved classic TR games are: - TR2 - TR3 - TR1 - TR4&5

12-12-19, 00:40	#19
Feder Historian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 285	Many people have complained about the number of enemies to fight still, that was the best part for some of us. That was the real challenge, that's why you get such a vast arsenal and find ammo and medipacks everywhere. TR1 was similar in that regard, enemies were mostly animals/mutants, but plenty as well. TR3 cut back on the combat, as you never have to face more than 2 enemies at the time. Plus it has a very unbalanced arsenal, the MP5 and desert eagle are the most powerful weapons, leaving the rest of the equipment almost unnecesary once you got them. Now that I think of it, if it weren't for the combat, there is not much else that challenges you on TR2. Puzzles are almost absent in this entry, everything is mostly hunt for keys and switches (in amazing scenarios). Oh but I do love the TR2 traps. I remmember how I got killed in so many parts when I was a young TR player, I was even scared to come out to a new room, because I thought thugs could be just standing there waiting for me to come in