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Level: Return to Rome 1 back home search
Author(s): Ice Man Kewl
total rating:1.53 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
CC 1 0 0 1
Daffy 4 1 1 3
Daniel 3 3 1 2
Dimpfelmoser 0 0 0 1
DJ Full 2 2 2 5
eTux 2 1 0 3
Gerty 1 1 1 1
Kristina 3 3 3 3
Leandro 1 0 0 1
Magnus 0 0 0 1
MichaelP 4 5 1 4
Orbit Dream 2 0 0 1
RaiderGirl 3 4 1 4
Sakusha 1 0 0 1
Sash 3 2 1 4
Tombaholic 3 3 1 5
Torry 0 0 0 0
Treeble 1 1 0 2
trplayer 1 0 0 1
category averages
(19 reviews)		 1.84 1.37 0.63 2.26

Reviewer's comments

"You all gonna kill me for this review... but I always write what I think. And I think I quite liked this level. Good lighting mixed with average textures made me feel like in a real city. I also appreciate the author's idea of not to kill the dogs, even if he didn't foresee they can block Lara several times with their chaotic running. So one point for the idea of not harming the animals, and another one for the objects - even if the items were useless, the architecture was rather fine. Gameplay wasn't that bad, but I'm gonna rate it "average" (2 points) only , because of the final series of slides which some players may find boring. Puzzles can't be finished, so no points here, as well as for the cameras. Secrets aren't hidden at all. Sounds... sounds... Naaah, forget it. SUMMARY: If not so buggy, this level would be quite fine. So I recommend it for any person who likes city levels and doesn't mind bugs." - DJ Full (04-Oct-2010)

"It is a not very well constructed and very short level, a lot of defects of stretched textures, some bugs also goes for a walk there. This constructor in some more progress to be made but nothing is impossible, it was one beginning." - Daffy (05-Aug-2009)

Hmm... I just don't get it. The biggest problem with this level is its sound... or lack there of. The only sound it has is the sound of the dogs, and they make an annoying sliding sound. The textures need to be fixed so that they aren't stretched - I only gave a one because the textures actually existed. The dogs need to not exist at all... that's enough dogs to fill a level twice that size. There were an ok number of some simple tricks and what not. I think that if these things had been put into a slightly bit better level, they would've added to it greatly. Except here, they only add to the agonizing wait of wanting the level to finish so you can go and write your first review. However, I really would have loved to use that key... which reminds me... why are there so many things that I don't have to pick up... clock, binoculars, roses... all of which are called ‘load’. I mean, why even bother putting in the different scripts. If you like a laugh at a bad level... go for it... if you want to preserve your sanity, pick a level rated slightly higher... say a 1.6 or something. - trplayer (07-Jul-2005)

“The author forgot to send a few files. So I had no choice but to copy only the Tom file and the scripts since I had trouble converting the level when I copied all the files in the folder sent by the author. Aside from a few pickups and vases all the objects are replaced by butts. Even the doors are butts which she pushes in a strange way. You get to hear footsteps every now and then for some reason the textures are stretched and half a pool of water is animated and the other half isn't. I gave one for gameplay because of the sliding slope sequence.” – Sakusha (03-Aug-2004)

“What a load of . . . . I had a go at this before I read the other reviews and sorry I am I didn't. If the author can't be bothered to at least try then why should anyone else? Elements here are finding a key that won't work in the keyhole two golden roses a disc thingy and a big ornate coin thingy bucketloads of ammo friendly dogs shooting windows. Lara shoots and her head becomes a long streak. A couple of good jumping rooms. And the last door gave a view of the old Roman door that needs those discs but one step into the room the level ends. I'm not even going to bother with the updated butt version.” – CC (08-Aug-2003)

“I was chatting with Ian and I asked him if he knew any levels that were quick to play and he said to try Ice Man Kewl’s levels. Well he is right they are quick to play but jeeez what bugs. By blasting Lara’s trusted guns it sounded more like using a cannon and the screen what happened there??? In my game the dogs just plainly refused to die. They just got major in the way. There were other noises Lara made and if you would like to have fun just imagine she farts. At least that is what I did and that was the only fun I had. 09-01-2003” – Gerty (11-Jan-2003)

“This is an 8 minute adventure and be happy for that! Even if there are a couple of fun jump sequences the level doesn't show much more promise since Lara's head turns into some sort of triangles reaching out in the level (this could've been fixed if the author had added a proper Lara_Scream object to the wad!) the horrible sounds in the level the dobermans that are not working properly and Lara ends the level with items she hasn't used yet. Don't know if you should really bother to play this level...” – eTux (27-Dec-2002)

“A very weird level with dogs that don't bite it is explained in the readme from the author why is that and textures badly placed in the whole level. The rooms or streets more like it are empty no objects. I picked up three golden roses if I counted right and two symbols like the ones from TR5. Lara's outfit is nice though a catsuit. Fifteen minutes of not much game play or anything interesting to look at.” – Kristina (23-Dec-2002)

”Despite all those bugs this level has, it is interesting. The author probably released this level only so he could show the people that extracting objects from TRC was possible at that time, but it wasn't worth it - it's 200% buggy! Look at the dogs, when they die, they run into walls. Look at Lara! When she shoots her head explodes! Look at everything! It's all so buggy! The sounds are the worst part, and I would recommend you to not swim when children are near! Well, I would like the author to revise this level, as it had something interesting in it, but the way it is now, it's simply a waste of time (10 minutes) playing it.” – Treeble (22-Sep-2002)

“Well this is the buggiest level I've ever played. Weird sound dogs can't be killed do no harm either and run into the walls most of the time when shooting Lara’s head sends strange spectric beams all over the place and the screen freezes from time to time. I'm usually not that prissy but this game should never have been released in this form. It's just no fun at all. Well thankfully it's only very short but even those few minutes are a waste of time. There is just nothing there. I have to say I enjoyed Lara in a Box more than this here.” – Dimpfelmoser (11-Aug-2002)

“Where do I start with this one! Firstly I assume that this was done on purpose but no sound matched what it went with so if Lara burst into flames it would sound like a splash and when she is monkey swinging or swimming it sounds like she is having sex also there are a pack of big dogs that are unkillable which may sound dangerous but in return they can’t hurt Lara all they can do is push her and this gets unbelievably irritating when you are trying to pick up one of the many pick ups or trying to open a door and finally there just is no point to the level the game play consists of collecting a lot of gold items keys roses and round ornate figures shooting a few windows and making it through a few sliding block jump rooms which will take you around 20 minutes. Oh I nearly forgot to mention that when shooting a gun most times Lara’s head will disappear into a long thin strand of colour but there isn’t much to shoot so it’s just a bizarre bug to have some fun with.” - Sash (21-Jun-2002)

“While I would like to credit the author for venturing into new ground with the TRC outfit for Lara including headset and a number of not yet seen objects it was simply too early for a release of the level. There is one serious bug after the next (Lara’s head going funny when shooting sounds all messed up although I assume this can be fixed when using the TRC sounds but this is not explained in any readme shootable windows looking a bit strange etc etc). The only enemy (dogs) also behaves strangely. From a gameplay perspective there is also quite a bit of unused potential as it all centers around a few fun jumping and sliding sequences usually in combination with deadly burning floors. And what were the 4 roses for? And why do I find 2 keys and it does not fit into the one existing lock? This looks more like a 10 minute beta version of a once-to-be-great level.” – Michael (21-Jun-2002)

“I am sorry but these two levels should never have been released. First off if you convert them with the accompanying files the sounds are all misaligned. When Lara swims she makes gunshot sounds etc etc. This can be rectified by replacing all but the .tom and the .wad files with the original files from the level editor and then converting to a .tr4 file. However Lara is still not working as every time she fires her head disappears and rays of coloured light emanate from where her head used to be. The galling thing is that the author knows this and advises of the bug in his readme file but as far as I am concerned he should fix it before releasing it for public consumption. I have deleted both and eagerly await the corrected versions.” – Torry (21-Jun-2002)

“This is a novelty level so I'll assign some novelty ratings. Lots of TR5 stuff here - objects dobermans and even a TR5 Lara (from the VCI levels complete with headset and sunglasses). "Action" consists of lots of pickups while playful pooches frolic around Lara pushing her this way and that. Bizarre sounds and effects round out the level. If you feel like a little laugh give it a try.” - Tombaholic (21-Jun-2002)

“This level is one of the most horrible levels I've ever played! I don't need to talk about the bugs (and there are a lot of them) I think. But I have to talk of how ridiculous that level is! Stupid puzzles and the traps didn't make any sense! But the worst of all are the textures and the location of some objects.” – Leandro (21-Jun-2002)

“This isn't really a level rather it's one long (15 minute) freak show. There are some dogs running around that Lara can't kill but they push her around and really make it hard to pick up things and open doors. Also when she does fire the pistols her head turns into a long stream of light. The sounds are all messed up too so that everything you do even saving etc. uses the wrong sound. When you light a flare it sounds like an elemental etc. One thing I did like was the jump/slide puzzles cause the boxes were different sizes and heights which made it more interesting. I found quite a few objects and pickups but never used any of them.” – RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002)

“What can I say that isn’t mentioned in at least one other review? Uh nothing I suppose. Anyway a level with lots and lots of bugs. Fortunately it ends quite sudden after less that ten minutes with many things left undone (but who cares?).” – Magnus (21-Jun-2002)

“This level could be much better I presume. The puzzles and traps are simple but the lighting is good. Unfortunately the textures are terrible. And I liked the new objects (like the VCI outfit) but there are a lot of bugs that made the gameplay terrible. And sound is... well simply horrible: too many bugs that forced me to turn off the sound of my PC.” – Daniel (21-Jun-2002)

“Without doubt the worst level I have ever played. It's so bad it's positively hilarious! I really can't begin to do it injustice but I have to say that (somewhere deep inside the game) there is a quite decent little level trying to get out. This absolutely demanded a major de-bug/overhaul before being released to a public which simply didn't deserve such punishment; although those who want to hear Lara breaking wind repeatedly under water will find it THE level for them!” – Orbit Dream (21-Jun-2002)
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