New Tomb Raider: Underworld footage is Thai-tastic

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 23rd 2008 at 7:30PM }

We're so jealous of Lara Croft. Not for her frequent adventures, or her physical fitness, or her swanky pad, or even her loyal manservant -- with the lifestyle and wages of a professional video game blogger, all of those things become readily available. There's one aspect of her life we still manage to covet, however -- her international travels. Sure, we occasionally get to head to the west coast, or Germany, but in her latest title, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Ms. Croft manages to hit up Mexico, the Arctic Sea, and in the above video, the lush jungles of Thailand.

The sneak preview features some excellent shots of the second level of Underworld, not to mention a fantastic look at Lara's beautiful ... platforming animation. Considering the unlikelihood of the Thailand Video Game Expo ever existing, we regret to admit that it's probably the closest we'll ever come to The Land of Smiles.

Tags: crystal-dynamics, eidos, lara-croft, thailand, tomb-raider-underworld, trailer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Giroro @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:37PM

Laura is animated very well IMO.

Zach S @ Aug 23rd 2008 10:40PM

Yeah, it looks like they made the animations and the transitions between animations much, much smoother- hopefully this is an indication that Underworld will be an improvement on the already solid Legend!

Fahad @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:45PM

Looks just like the old ones...

Nightvortez @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:48PM

Watching this video I couldn't help but constantly think of Uncharted, funny how a perspective can change.

The_Punisher @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:55PM

Sad how much truth there is to this. I don't even want this cuz i know Uncharted is much better.

Eh @ Aug 24th 2008 4:06AM

When playing Uncharted I couldnt help but think of TR Legend.

Sharp @ Aug 24th 2008 8:26PM

haha excatly as I played thru Uncharted the whole time I was thinking Tomb Raider rip. Good to see this game looking better than Uncharted and taking back what was borrowed. Lara >>> Drake any day of the week.

HHH @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:51PM

Except it looks nothing like Thailand. More like a South American jungle with ruins from Cambodia.

Psaakyrn @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:38PM

You do realize that Cambodia is right beside Thailand, hence proving that the geographical region is entirely accurate?

Daniel @ Aug 25th 2008 2:58AM

Yeah, I've been to Thailand twice, and no one ever goes in the jungles... Unless you WANT malaria. Seriously, Thailand is more about the beaches and the city life.

Obie @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:01PM

I always wondered why Lara always starts at the bottom of some hill or cliff, and climbs her way to some kind of temple. You'd think she'd wise up and buy a friggin' helicopter. ;)

Draken Stark @ Aug 24th 2008 2:36AM

But where's the fun in that?

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Aug 24th 2008 8:45AM

i don't know, flying a heli can be alot of fun. see GTA4.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Aug 26th 2008 3:20AM

If she isn't climbing up, where would we place all of the booty shots?

Adam @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:03PM

Looks incredible, hope my PC is up to the challenge

Is that a touch of object motion blur when Lara's limb move quickly? That was one of the stand out graphical features of Crysis, and I really want to see it in games more

Metal_Gear @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:31PM

I cant wait for this game, started playing Legend and Anniversary again today too in anticipation ^_^

Funny how people are not even giving it a chance because Uncharted "is much better". Why have people just jumped on the Tomb Raider hate train all of a sudden? Then again, FF13 changed from 'an awesome game' to 'another milking of a once awesome franchise' fairly quick. A lot of people only seem interested in exclusive games in this day and age and its getting pretty pathetic.

Or is it because it doesn't focus on being a shooter? Because we really need more of those ¬_¬

And before the no lifer fanboys turn up to flame me, I only own a PS3 and my favourite game ever is the exclusive MGS4.

George @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:42PM

MetalGear, the only reason why people are saying such things about Uncharted being better is because if they keep making games the old way and or porting them through 360 then we will never see improvements. PS3 needs to have devs rebuild there tools from the ground up, just like the devs for Uncharted did. So when we see all the systems having the game you know they spread themselves thin.

If its all about improving from year to year the change has to come sometime. They just can't keep using the same tools, from the original xbox, year after year, and expect games to magically get better. devs are getting lazy and don't want to spend the money but we wind up with the same overhyped crap.

Metal_Gear @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:48PM

George, its a good job they didn't build an entirely new engine for Underworld or you would look like you havent got a clue what you are talking about.

/sarcasm

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 24th 2008 12:05PM

Metal_Gear:
A new engine doesn't mean they're suddenly going to reverse course and make a good game. Recent Tomb Raiders have been rather poor, and Uncharted in fact greatly outclasses them.

I'm not going to say I won't even consider this, but I don't have high expectations.

georgeq @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:36PM

I bet because Uncharted was made for specifically for PS3 the new Tomb Raider will not come close to matching the graphics.

george @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:40PM

metalgear, it's not all about the engines. It's about pushing the limits and it's not happening these days much. Very few titles are doing it.

I'm glad you like Metal gear, great game; but graphically not what it could have been. Why, cause we settle for it. I love the game but speaking from a mere critical view, easy from my pc when these guys are actually building the games, it could have been graphically way better.

So you can take that with your fanboy open mouth, thinking what "he doesn't know what he's talking about" and put something in it!

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 24th 2008 12:12PM

Well, so far Tomb Raider seems to be behind on graphics. But they could improve it. And I don't think being cross platform means they can't do a good job of utilizing the PS3. Look at Burnout: Paradise.

Megadanxzero @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:42PM

Thai-tastic? More like... THIGH-tastic! HA!

Sorry, I just had to... Anyway yeah the animation on her looks... Really good actually. I loved the way she pushed the leaves out the way and the little stumble when she landed after falling from high up.

Obie @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:39PM

Agreed, that looked pretty good.

george @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:43PM

the animation does look good, I just when we get up close and play the game it still looks as good.

I just got finished playing Forces Unleashed Demo and I have to say its fun but something is just off, it's sad to know how long they've worked on this title to finally look at the product and go "meh"

Megadanxzero @ Aug 24th 2008 7:51AM

Yeah, I think the problem with the Force Unleashed demo is the movement. It just feels really slippery and cheap. Same as in Too Human. I really thought we were past that in everything other than rubbish movie tie-in games, but apparently not. Both games are still fun though, it just feels a bit... Weird

Haggard @ Aug 23rd 2008 9:48PM

The game needs more bloom, my eyes are still working after watching the video.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 23rd 2008 10:09PM

Ha, that video brings back memories. I'd lock the butler in the fridge then swan dive off the balcony in the lobby. I was finally able to kill off all those who had anything to do with Croft.

Deviation @ Aug 24th 2008 12:04AM

Giving this series back to Crystal Dynamics is one of the best decisions that the suits at Eidos have ever made. Tomb Raider Legend was a great game and I'm really looking forward to Underworld.

Dalrint @ Aug 24th 2008 1:05AM

One thing I'm not sure about...is Underworld the sequel to Legends, or just another Tomb Raider game?

I mean, do we know anything about the story? Is it picking up from the end of legends? I actually liked the story in that game, odd as that sounds...

Snowblind @ Aug 24th 2008 6:14AM

It's a direct sequel to Legends, and it also ties into Anniversary/the first Tomb Raider.

Orionsaint @ Aug 24th 2008 2:20AM

There's a better clip on youtube that actually shows the game running. , no sound, but none of this cenematic crap that advertisers think we love. No true gamers just wanna see gameplay!, and this looks beautiful. I love the foliage. It's not flat like in Legend. The jungle here seems alive.

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMPivNxGDUg&fmt=18

Deadpool @ Aug 24th 2008 3:33AM

Nice video! Now that shows the difference between Drake from Uncharted and Laura. Now Drake is athletic but not flexable and an elite acrobatic gymnast like Laura. Drake couldn't do the mutiple wall jumps or a front flip to the other platform. He can't shoot 2 guns at the same time either. Drake is like a action hero like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, good but not perfect, but that's also part of the characters charm. Laura's got everthing under control and can handle situations less clumsy.

It would be fun to see them in a game together.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 24th 2008 12:09PM

I didn't think it possible, but that looks even MORE like Uncharted. Except when she's doing the Metroid jumps.

Cesaria (listen to my podcast at cesariatic.wordpress.com) @ Aug 24th 2008 2:33AM

Please let this be good!

ZippyDSMlee @ Aug 24th 2008 6:34AM

It dose look just like the old ones, since the game changes lil albeit the graphics are more pretty while the gameplay gets revamped...what?...every 5 games?

If it dose not play better its pointless eyecandy.

Snowblind @ Aug 24th 2008 10:48AM

As has been said, this is a totally new engine, the actually gameplay, particularly the climbing mechanics look a LOT better this time.

And considering Crystal Dynamics took over from the original team with TR: Legend, comparing this to any of the games before that, is pointless. They don't even count in the official timeline anymore.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Aug 24th 2008 8:50AM

i just hope this one is, what's the word, LARGER than TR:L. i felt that the previous one was pretty small scale and focused more on climbing around than actual puzzle solving. if you go back and play earlier TR games, you'll see what i mean. i'll still play it though, either way ;)

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 24th 2008 2:52PM

Meh, I prefer Lora Craft :)

Sharp @ Aug 24th 2008 8:34PM

Sorry but I own Uncharted and Underworld is already looking better than it. Hopefully it doesn't suffer from the horrible screen tearing and pop-in that affected Uncharted.

Yes, I see what you mean that once you take a game coded on the PC/360 and then put it thru the PS3 dev meatgrinder all the platforms suffer. Look at Burnout Paradise.

Sharp @ Aug 24th 2008 8:42PM

Ugh, that was meant to be a reply to why not the and george.

Pointz @ Aug 25th 2008 8:25AM

ps3 was lead platform for burnout, same with mirrors edge IIRC

Mr. Crab @ Aug 24th 2008 9:17PM

I was never a big fan of the TR Series, but this looks impressive

Benchwarmer @ Aug 25th 2008 3:03AM

Best part of this post: The "manservant" youtube link. When I was younger I loved to lock that old fuck in the fridge! Got a nice 3am laugh out of that one... Cheers!

cxm @ Aug 25th 2008 1:21PM

I swear, these TR - Uncharted comparisons really need to stop...they were old months ago, and hasn't gotten any less banal since. They're two completely different games that only share superficial similarities. They both take place in a jungle and they both involve treasure hunting of some sort in the third person...that's it. Uncharted was a shooter first, and a second rate exploration puzzler second...TR is and exploration puzzler with second rate shooting added on.

It's like trying to compare Portal with Half-Life. They both take place in the same general locale in a dystopian future and they're both first person games, but that's where the similarities end.