Retail: Tomb Raider Underworld DLC coming Jan. 21

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 12th 2009 at 2:29PM }

Finally, some Tomb Raider news that's about, you know, tombs. Specifically, the downloadable kind meant to extend Lara Croft's latest -- and commercially disappointing -- adventure, Tomb Raider Underworld. Eidos had promised two Xbox 360-exclusive episodes, with the first initially scheduled to arrive by Christmas. Sadly, the only things to be released by developer Crystal Dynamics thus far are thirty employees.

Though an official post-delay date has yet to be confirmed by Eidos, retailer GameStop currently lists a Tomb Raider Underworld "Expansion Token Pack," which is said to contain two Xbox Live Marketplace Token cards. According to the product page, the pack will cost $19.99 and ship on Wednesday, January 21st. If we were prone to bouts of speculation, we'd say that the presence of two cards indicates that both DLC packs ("Beneath the Ashes" and "Lara's Shadow") will be released simultaneously on Xbox Live at a combined cost of 1600

.

If we were prone to such silly things -- we'll let you know what Eidos has to say as soon as possible.

Tags: Beneath-the-Ashes, Crystal-Dynamics, DLC, Eidos, JS-Twitter, Lara-Croft, Laras-Shadow, Tomb-Raider, Tomb-Raider-Underworld, Xbox-Live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

baby sea tuna @ Jan 12th 2009 2:43PM

I've got to say, this DLC coming so soon after the game released, is bringing out the cynic in me.

It doesn't help that I've heard that the disc-based game ends sort of abruptly and that this should have been on the disc.

ymmv @ Jan 12th 2009 2:48PM

The creative director of the game said that the first DLC was a part of the game they weren't able to finish in time for a November release. If Eidos had any decency they'd postpone the game. That would have been a best of both worlds: game sales wouldn't be crushed by christmas heavy hitters and gamers would have enjoyed the FULL game with extra polish and none of the camera bugs.

ryan @ Jan 12th 2009 2:49PM

It was supposed to:
http://kotaku.com/5129215/tomb-raider-underword-dlc-was-meant-to-be-in-original-game-and-other-nasty-secrets

baby sea tuna @ Jan 12th 2009 2:50PM

Then if they didn't release a full game, they shouldn't be peeved that it didn't sell as well as they'd anticipated.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 12th 2009 2:51PM

"If Eidos had any decency"

I think that was the problem in the first place.

dantebk @ Jan 12th 2009 2:55PM

As someone who has played it, I'll say I don't think it ends abruptly. The ending level was fairly epic, and the story wrapped up completely. If they cut any levels that are now becoming DLC they must have been from the middle.

Snowblind @ Jan 12th 2009 4:22PM

It's also worth pointing out that the director who pointed out that this content was never intended to be part of the actual game and is made up of almost completely new assests, is actually one of the guys who was recently fired.

So he has no reason to be covering for them. The game definitely needed more work, but it was a reasonable length, and it did finish in a rather dramatic and satisfying way, it's not like half the game is missing or anything.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 12th 2009 4:26PM

Ok...but is it worth $80?

Vcize @ Jan 12th 2009 4:49PM

Jeez, the DLC comes out fairly quickly and everyone pisses and moans that it came out too fast and should have been on the disc. The DLC doesn't come out fairly quickly and everyone pisses and moans that they've moved on and they should have released it sooner.

Make up your minds, people.

WiNG LifeInAGame.com @ Jan 12th 2009 2:44PM

Yay for paying $80 for the almost-complete-as-designed game!

ymmv @ Jan 12th 2009 2:44PM

The folks at Eidos must have been kicking themselves for releasing exclusive DLC for the 360 when they got the sales figures and found out the PS3 version outsold the 360 version.

ryan @ Jan 12th 2009 2:51PM

Lol

Jcarpio @ Jan 12th 2009 3:33PM

a link for that tidbit sir?

ymmv @ Jan 12th 2009 3:51PM

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/32458/PS3-takes-51-of-all-Tomb-Raider-Anniversary-sales

PS3 takes 51% of all Tomb Raider: Underworld sales

Xbox 360 takes a third of sales on new Eidos title

Fifty-one per cent of all sales of Eidos' Tomb Raider: Anniversary were on PlayStation 3, GFK-ChartTrack has confirmed.

The title entered this week's GFK-ChartTrack/ELSPA All Formats Top 40 at No.9, outselling the launch of last year’s original Tomb Raider remake (Tomb Raider: Anniversary) by 6,700 units. The new Tomb Raider recorded 34 per cent of all sales on Xbox 360, with the remainder on Wii, PC and DS.

ymmv @ Jan 12th 2009 4:00PM

Another interesting fact is that the PS3 version is running at a higher res with better self shadowing fx thant the 360 version. PS3 version is real 720p, 360 576p. See http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1250842&postcount=227

The reason behind the discrepancy is that the PS3 version was ported by a team of Dutch developers instead of Crystal Dynamics.

J @ Jan 12th 2009 6:18PM

Wow. How come the ps3 version looks SO much better? Usually both look the same or 360 slightly better. Furthermore, the ps3 is a PORTED version. Usually ports are a lot worse, if not identical in quality.

Interesting. :)

Hey, gundam!!!! You should check this out!

Of course, when the ps3 version is finally (significantly) superior, gametrailers doesn't bother with a comparison video, aside from mercenaries which was also a slightly superior.

Haggard @ Jan 12th 2009 6:23PM

Is that really true? 576p is the absolute lowest a game has run this generation, even beating Haze.

DangerMouse @ Jan 12th 2009 2:46PM

LOL @ $20 for DLC. You'd think they'd space the two downloads out at least a month or something

Nineteen88 @ Jan 12th 2009 2:47PM

As a PS3 gamer, I think this game was "commercially disappointing" because "Uncharted" arrived first this gen & offered more.. alot more.

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Jan 12th 2009 2:50PM

More shooting? Yes. More puzzles? No.

Deeznuts420 @ Jan 12th 2009 2:52PM

well to be completely fair, ive faced harder puzzles playing with my kids leapfrog toys than i had in underworld.

"that says more about you than the game"

yeah i know :(

Maurice M @ Jan 12th 2009 2:52PM

I loved Uncharted, but the platforming and puzzles are not as much of a focus as they are in the TR series.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 12th 2009 2:57PM

I agree, unfortunately I got laid into last year when I said that Uncharted was more of an "Action" game than an "Adventure" game.

Zertoss @ Jan 12th 2009 2:54PM

"Unfortunately, the only thing to be released by developer Crystal Dynamics thus far are thirty employees."

I feel a little bad for laughing at this.

Viridium @ Jan 12th 2009 2:55PM

I'd rather if I could get it at retail ON DISC, like you could with Oblivion's Shivering Isles.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 12th 2009 2:59PM

I'm hoping for a $30 "Platinum" edition with the DLC included somewhere down the road.

Viridium @ Jan 12th 2009 3:01PM

Good call, Mr. Tuna. I think I would hit that.

Shagittarius @ Jan 12th 2009 3:34PM

So this is not for the PC?

JoeTheBlow @ Jan 12th 2009 4:20PM

Lets ask the magical Microsoft Money Hat.

..."No".

ScottG13 @ Jan 12th 2009 3:52PM

For some reason, the last TR felt like it played much better. I can't quite put my finger on it without going back, but this one seemed just stale. Uncharted is the far superior title and I would be cash for more Uncharted levels.

KobeBryunt @ Jan 12th 2009 4:11PM

This game was pretty shitty. I mean the puzzles are pretty good but it's a glitchy mess. The story sucked too and now they have the nerve to charge twenty dollars for dlc, ha.

CaptainProtonX @ Jan 12th 2009 4:21PM

Wait...$20?

So, adding up the mess, TMU will run the average player close to $90?

Are you kidding me?

A blowjob should be included from the most recent Lara model at that premium.

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Jan 12th 2009 4:32PM

You're going to have a heart attack when you add up the cost of Rock Band like that. ;)

Premature ejaculation man @ Jan 12th 2009 8:07PM

Or the woman that he demands compensation from
D:

Sith Draven @ Jan 12th 2009 4:42PM

I played Underworld when it came out and just finished Uncharted for the first time last week. I felt TR was a much better experience despite the camera issues. The levels were epic, the puzzles were interesting and they downplayed the gunplay. The ending was satisfying enough. Uncharted was the polar opposite, mostly small areas with trees blocking your path where you just blast away until the last guy falls and proceed to the next room. I think there were maybe 3 puzzles in the whole game. None of which were the slightest bit challenging. That's not a slight on Uncharted because it was a spectacular game. They are just totally different games despite their familiar settings and plots.

As for DLC, it's very cool they are selling them in retail outlets. There's always a chance for a sale or clearance. :)

kobebryunt @ Jan 12th 2009 4:50PM

I think it's unfair to compare Uncharted and Tomb Raider. TombRaider is a bit better than uncharted :)

J @ Jan 12th 2009 6:08PM

You suck, kobe. :]

If you can't compare, then none is better. Apples and oranges. But one can be more fun than the other depending on the person preferences.

The first sentence I agree with.

Uncharted has cover mechanics, and you can EASILY die staying out in the open. There's no cover mechanic in TR, and you're supposed to do acrobatics to dodge bullets.

Uncharted is more third person shooter, cause it uses aim assist like other FPS/TPS, but doesn't aim FOR you. TR aims for you and locks on to targets so you can focus more on dodging with acrobatic stunts.

Uncharted practically has no puzzles, and for the most part, platforming is very easy, and just meant as eye candy while you watch Drake flex his sexy muscles as he jumps and holds on to ledges. TR puzzles can be pretty challenging (IMO) and you're not assisted at all when you're platforming so timing and direction matters a lot more.

I prefer TR, cause I'm more attracted to Lara and stare at her ass through out the entire game. Unfortunately, I can only play TR a few minutes per gaming session cause I end up feeling exhausted.

KobeBryunt @ Jan 12th 2009 6:33PM

Uncharted is more shooter heavy than Tomb Raider. That's why I prefer Tomb Raider more, more exploration and puzzles

Jacksons @ Jan 12th 2009 6:32PM

Anyone who releases a game followed by substantial DLC within a couple months will never sell another game to me again. I know my one sale doesn't mean crap, but it's the principle.

Because really, if this style of greed-- er... I mean "business" becomes normal, where does it end?