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Level: Legend of the Crystal Skull - Lara's Home back home search
Author(s): Pwhirl
total rating:6.51 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
Android 9 8 10 10
CC 5 3 9 9
Dimpfelmoser 5 2 7 7
Gerty 6 4 5 5
John 7 7 7 7
Kristina 7 7 7 8
Leandro 6 7 8 8
Magnus 7 5 7 8
MichaelP 4 4 8 8
Orbit Dream 6 6 9 9
RaiderGirl 6 7 8 9
Sage of Time 9 8 9 10
Sash 4 1 4 5
Scottie 6 6 7 6
Sheevah 6 4 8 6
Torry 4 2 3 4
Treeble 5 8 9 8
category averages
(17 reviews)		 6.00 5.24 7.35 7.47

Reviewer's comments

"I have no idea why I didn’t play this level, so today was the day. As in the revised one this one was also very dark. Cheating to add more flares was a must. Even then I was running around to find the shooting gallery, let alone finding the way to drive that bike. Although it was sort of clever to add an extra house in the maze area, the darkness spoiled it." - Gerty (10-Feb-2012)

"This is a good made Home level with a few additional scenes. Beside the real house there is one more summer house which must be also explored. Moreover, there is a motorcycle distance and a diving action. If one has explored everything, one can open the external gate of the property and is after approx. 45 minutes at the level end. However, one can also let out everything and open immediately the gate. Then the play lasts one minute. This would also be no problem, because there is to find, apart from Flares and revolver, nothing. The Flares are also used, because it is a night level. The lighting suits and has well succeeded. The motorcycle distance also leads under the earth and has a few nice jump ramps. There are none opponent. Result: If you are a fan of Home-Level and drive sometimes with pleasure by the motorcycle, than is this your level." - Scottie (16-Apr-2009)

"It's only Lara's Home,but I liked it...to an extent. I actually felt that this was better than than the revised version,as you have a goodly amount of exploring to do (if you so desire; you can also reach the finish trigger moments after starting!),all of which takes place in a beautifully realised and atmospheric nocturnal environment.What's missing from this (and most other levels of its ilk)is the feeling of actually achieving anything. You explore,discover various rooms and passageways,ride a bike,solve a moving block puzzle,do a timed sprint,a spot of swimming,some target shooting..in fact,keep yourself enjoyably occupied for 50 minutes or so; but what's it all for? There are no enemies to confront and no valuable prizes to discover.All you can do is relax amidst a well constructed environment,appreciative of the fact that this wasn't built around a pre-existing prj,but was instead faithfully built from scratch with some expertise.Mathew was one of the original 'promising level builders',but he sadly never got around to constructing the epic series that would have presumably carried on from this level.He has instead,it seems ,moved on to other things. I reccommend this level as a place in which to relax,explore at your leisure and have a smile at the musical accompaniment to a fun jump sequence." - Orbit Dream (19-Nov-2007)

“A very dark mansion level beautifully built. Too dark for my taste with not many flares and as you can imagine the usual tasks to complete. One thing I was happy about was not having the maze garden outside but instead there is another building with jumps and a target practice. There are buttons around and a timed run that’s not very easy to master; a tip when you are close to the door pres roll Lara will enter the room facing the door. The bike ride was nice but having played the second version before this one there is nothing I haven’t seen. Do play it if you are a fan of mansion levels but do it at night.” – Kristina (29-Aug-2003)

“OK we know it's THE mansion but it's a great version of it. It's the most accurate copy of the house almost like Core gave the prj+tga to Matthew including the animations. Outside though has changes. Very well built and complete down to the old cheat-route to the top of the roof. What a surprise when running to the maze only to find a cute mini version of the mansion that is another gym and shooting range (I got onto the roof of this one too and it was lovely to see through the windows of the main mansion as I stood there). A different version of the racetrack this time with the bike. It must be twilight at least and I loved the way the floodlights lit up the grounds and biketrack. There's not very much gameplay wise but this was intended to be the first part of a series her next jaunt being in London. It's a great shame that the other levels never got built. There is an updated version of this level but I kinda was too disappointed about the cancelled later levels to bother with it. BTW the nitrous oxide canister and lasersight need to be found and when you find the canister move that block again to open the grate over water beside the little house. Actually speaking of water that's the only thing I could moan about. I mean it was that white specks affair from TRI. I'd only recommend the level to people who want to see how a mansion level should be made certainly not it they're looking for adventure. For absolute beginners.” – CC (05-Aug-2003)

“Wow this is for sure the best remake of a Lara's Home I've seen so far. Not exactly a remake but the base is still the same. Instead of the standard quadbike racing course you get first a training house with a famous song which I don't know its name but it was fun to jump and monkey swing while listening to it then you can go to the attic to get the revolver and train your shooting abilities. Then you get to the racecourse with a nice black motorbike. Getting through it which is very easy you eventually are back to the secret underground aquarium then you get into the house again and that's it. You've done everything! I recommend this level to the mansion hard-core fans (and I know there are many!) and to the beginners. I won't deny it's dark but hey it's night set ;) One interesting thing I found with my ‘builder’ eye is that all animations are correctly timed ie the book rotates as Lara's hand is over it not four seconds later.” – Treeble (09-Jan-2003)

“As far as House Levels go I rather liked this as there was something of a storyline I think. Unfortunately the gameplay came to a grinding halt when I crashed with the motorbike through the wall and then couldn't make the next jump over the water. I assume you need the power petrol and I searched the whole place for ages but now as I read the reviews apparently no one else was able to make the jump. However there is a grate over water near the portiers lodge that I never got to open. I liked the atmosphere as it was definitely a notch above your common mansion level but again I wondered why there weren't any enemies. And boy was I glad that Matthew had done away with the old garden maze. However when I finally reached the little crawl maze I longed for the one underground. The crawl maze leads you to another room where you have to solve a rather clever pushing block puzzle only to be rewarded with a few flares and a small medi pack. It was there and then that this mission struck me as pointless as most other home levels.” – Dimpfelmoser (22-Nov-2002)

“A Lara's house level with a difference. It is set at night so you cannot see a bloody thing which is a pity because Lara sports a new halter top and she has built a guest house on the old quad bike track. The guest house sports some acrobatic equipment and an indoor firing range (good girl) but the target range sequence was as simple as....it should have been timed. There is a stereo in there as well and switching it on offers some inspirational tumbling music ‘Y'all ready for this?’ Once you have shot the targets tumbled and danced a bit it's off to the bike for a nighttime jaunt but I like Raider Girl could not make the jump over the water pit past the breakable wall no matter how hard I tried. Still it was pointless as the exit to the level is simply straight out the front gates.” – Torry (21-Oct-2002)

“This is the first level in a series of I think four and yet again it is a mansion level....need I go on? Alright I will just a little. Save yourself the boredom of the house and go directly out the front door where you will find instead of a maze a guest house where after completing a few things will lead you to a bike track where after completing a few jumps will lead you to a swim around the glass room of the cellar where once inside the cellar will eventually lead you back into the house and then it’s just a matter of exiting the whole level through the front gates.” – Sash (21-Jun-2002)

“This is a good level if you want to admire the accuracy of the rebuild of the mansion and see how it would look at night. Very well done very authentic and I also liked Lara's outfit. You can end the level quickly by leaving through the front gates. If you take a bit more time exploring while listening to the sound of the crickets outside you will find the extra house with an extra jump sequence the little target shooting practice (revolver is in the attic) the bike ride through the dark track but as usual with these mansion levels you wonder what it was all for other than being a showcase of nice architecture. Not my cup of tea in terms of play - but brilliant to look at.” – Michael (21-Jun-2002)

“Another mansion level? It's starting to become boring... I like mansion levels but 90% of then use the same map of TR3! But this one is a little different... well the interior is the same with only a few modifications. But the exterior is different! The assault course and the garden didn't change but instead of the quadbike track we have a motorbike track and a smaller house. In that house we have a jump puzzle (a kind of puzzle that I hate...) and a shooting training. All the other puzzles of this level are the same from TR3. So nothing new here. I also hated the lighting: it's very good indeed but the level is too dark inside and outside the house and I didn't find much flares so you'll get lost many times in the motorbike track and other areas.” – Leandro (21-Jun-2002)

“With the changes that have been made this is another house level that is worth a look. Although the level overall is bit too dark I enjoyed the fact that it was set at night and it has been done very realistically with floodlights crickets chirping peacefully and a beautiful full moon. The house hasn't been changed much but a few things have been added to the grounds. Where the dirt bike trail would be there is now another smaller house with a shooting puzzles and a slide jump puzzle you can use to get up onto a balcony. Plus you can listen to the stereo while you're exercising. Finishing the shooting puzzle gives you access to the motorcycle obstacle course which includes a jump through a breakable wall and over a pool of water. I'm assuming that completing this jump gives you access to the secret room under the stairs but I could never finish the jump. I always ran into the wall no matter how many times I tried - maybe I need the nitrous oxide. I did find a passage over the water that lead to a secret room with another balcony a pushable block puzzle and some pickups.” – RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002)

“Lara’s home. Again. It seems like there’s tons of these levels out there already but here’s another. So what makes this ‘house’ different? Well I think it’s the most perfect replica I’ve seen this far. At least in some places since this house has a couple of changes. There’s no racetrack for the quadbike for example. Instead Lara’s got a new small building where she can train jumps and target shooting. There is a racetrack too but this one’s for a motorcycle. Getting to that racetrack is pretty much what this level is all about because other than that all you can do is the regular things. This is the first level of several (at least that’s how I’ve understood it) and it makes an excellent training-level.” – Magnus (21-Jun-2002)

“Going into this level I was expecting just another house level boy was I wrong. Sure the inside was nearly the same but the house was set in the night like the TR2 Home Sweet Home level but with TR4 having colored lights it was extraordinary it actually felt like night time. The spotlights gave a great look around the house and the horizon was spectacular. After exploring the house you instinctively go to the maze/quad track it looks the same going in but bang it hits you like a ton of bricks there is a small home. Venturing inside I found it to be a gym with some nifty little training exercises. I did find the stereo and the song fit in perfect to Lara's training. The target range which was blocked by a door was something new brought to something old but after realizing I had got a laser sight and couldn't hit them all with the pistols I went on a mad search for it. I won't tell you where they are located because that would spoil the fun. But after shooting all the targets the bike track becomes available there are some hidden areas which are new and great and have some new puzzles. The final thing I liked is although the link says the file is 18.9MB the download page has two separate files for us dial up people which I always like to see. Well before I give the whole thing away I shall conclude this review. In conclusion don't go into this level expecting to be bored like I was after reading the reviews it is full of stuff to do and building a Home to this degree must have taken a lot of patience. Try it you'll definitely like it.” – Android (21-Jun-2002)

“This level is exactly like the TR3 house level but with a few extra changes the level is set at night with some spotlights around the house which perfectly captures the mood of the level. There is a new little building where the quad circuit was with a jump and slide puzzle and a target range which was fun there is also a motorbike course to complete as well. All in all a nice little level with a few original idea's put in as well. Well done! :D” – John (21-Jun-2002)

“Another house level and very dark indeed. The author mentions the darkness in his readme.txt but unfortunately he didn't give some more flares to the level ;o). Besides the darkness there is nothing that spectacular to this level. Ah well the racetrack is nice and you have to stop the bike twice to find new areas to explore. The one is a room where you have to shoot some targets and that's not so easy having only the pistols with you. In another room there where some blocks to push/pull. It took me about 20 minutes to find out how to place them but for what? When I pulled the last one off its place I only found some flares and a medipack. What a disappointment! - So now I'm waiting this series to be continued. Maybe the next level will be a bit more challenging?” – Sheevah (21-Jun-2002)

“Normally I don’t write reviews for levels but personally I think this deserves one. Now then the start of the level is where you might expect.. Lara’s Bedroom. However you’ll notice right away it’s night time And even hear the crickets outside! The background music fits this level very well; it almost gives off a feeling of real night time. At first look you may think to yourself ‘This looks like TR3’s Mansion’ and well you’d be right. Pwhirl made certain the main aspect of the level was the same as the original. I’ve seen Mansion levels come and go.. But this is probably the only one I’ve seen so accurate! Anyway Look around and you’ll notice the little extras.. Like Light Fixtures on the ceilings! This was a very welcome change from the near empty House levels you normally see. If the inside wasn’t enough to take your breath away however.. You’ll die when you go outside! A custom horizon was created that continues to fit the atmosphere even more. Also outside you’ll see right away that this level isn’t just a simple copy of the TR3 Mansion. The Quad Bike Track is replaced with a little training house just for Lara! A comical twist is the ‘classical’ music that you can play once you enter the Training House. On top of that this area is actually rather fun I can never see enough Jump Puzzles I tell ya! This level is littered with little quirks here and there... Each mix the classic and modern TR feel! It’s definitely worth taking time out and looking for everything! Can you find the Laser sight? ;) Well my final say in this level is that it’s a must play! Though you may wanna wait for the rest. I only say that because it’s the first level in a series that is being made. Can you wait for the next?” – Sage of Time (21-Jun-2002)
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