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Level: The Tomb near the Lost Valley back home search
Author(s): Leandro Dubost
total rating:7.97 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
Blue43 6 7 7 8
CC 7 8 8 7
Dempsey 8 9 7 10
Dimpfelmoser 6 8 8 7
Doug E 8 8 9 8
Engelchen Lara 8 7 8 7
eRIC 9 9 9 8
eTux 7 8 8 7
Freeman Porter 7 7 8 7
Gerty 6 8 8 7
Jose 7 7 8 7
Kristina 9 10 10 9
MichaelP 7 9 7 7
Momster 9 10 9 8
Monika 8 9 8 9
Navi 9 8 9 9
Orbit Dream 6 7 8 8
Phil 8 8 8 9
RaiderGirl 8 10 9 10
Sash 4 6 5 5
Sheevah 6 8 8 7
Tombaholic 7 9 9 9
Torry 9 10 10 10
Treeble 8 9 9 9
Whistle 8 7 8 8
Xxenofex 8 8 9 8
category averages
(26 reviews)		 7.42 8.23 8.23 8.00

Reviewer's comments

"No bad this remake with some new rooms and some new tasks, traps and enemies, but most of the game is the same as in TR1 though. I still can't figure out what's the hint in the room with high pillars and fire emitters to know what switch you must pull (if there's really a hint). Musics, cameras and lights are good, but texturing is not very worked. The only secret you can found is not very hidden. Big spiders are really hard to kill, but ammo is enough if you don't waste it. Not a level to replay, with no much interest, but it's playable if you're a nostalgic from TR1." - Jose (11-Aug-2010)

"A short and rather easy level with Lost Valley and Tomb of Qualopec textures from TR1. It is almost a remake but with a few new twists. There are no Raptors but small and big spiders and interesting looking human enemies. This level also contains a few new rooms and challenges like timed burners and a torch. The textures and lighting look pretty good. There are a few sounds missing which doesn't help in the general atmosphere rating. It was fun to play, but very short. I would recommend to anyone who wants a simple relaxing level for in between the bigger ones." - Blue43 (25-Jun-2010)

"It was a pretty easy level. Although I got scared from the big spiders. The spider web textures in the secret cave and the tomb were quite amazing. It's a great level." - Dempsey (22-May-2010)

"It may only be 'just another remake',but Leandro has changed and/or re-arranged enough elements from the original to produce a surprisingly entertaining re-telling;in fact,the rather clever subversion of what was expected was something I found surprisingly effective.You begin near the waterfall in the cave (a memory which should be very clear for all those who have played TR1),but you need to solve a torch puzzle in order to be able to gain access to Qualopec's tomb,and then you'll not only experience some interesting twists (and occasional radical changes) to the familiar environment,but also encounter veritable swarms of different types of nasty spiders;together with a well-placed secret,some unusual human opponents,a fire challenge and a rolling boulder gauntlet Finale.In short,plenty to get your teeth into;all crammed into a succinct but highly entertaining 30 minutes." - Orbit Dream (22-Nov-2009)

“I played this one (10/04) mainly for the purpose of writing the walkthrough. It's fairly short and linear which explains why I was able to complete it without help. As advertised it's a remake of one of the TR1 levels but it was still a fun romp of a little less than an hour. One secret to be found according to the readme file and I found it. The unique baddies in the Scion room near the end were a very innovative touch. Otherwise the level would be a good one to recommend to a beginning raider to hone his or her playing skills.” – Phil (18-Oct-2004)

“Leandro has borrowed heavily from TR1's jungle levels and Qualopec's tomb you remember the one with the red raptors and the three gates to raise in a corridor. Even so Leandro has stamped his own mark on the level the raptors being replaced by giant and small spiders far more appropriate in a buried tomb/cave to my way of thinking. If you played the original then you'll know exactly what to do where the pushable blocks are and the route around the rooms with the levers tall columns and spikes. But there are new puzzles as well as traps the boulders one was excellent. Excellent hidden switch behind the statue I was stuck for a while there. The odd textures where the spiders are were a bit off-putting but when I thought about it I think that's what the inside of a spiders web probably would look like. The hilarious part for me were the two baseball capped teenagers cavorting about in Qualopec's throneroom obviously with their mental age written on their teeshirt - 1. A run down a ramp and headlong into a cowboy or perhaps the father. Well you've just killed his sons so rather than wasting time explaining yourself as a boulder is rumbling behind you and this guy is shooting at you keep your weapons ready as you run down and then get out of the way of the boulder. That was great fun. Actually forget all about people telling you they've seen this before and go have a look yourself.” – CC (19-Nov-2003)

“Playing this a year after the release and I didn't play Treeble’s Qualopec level I can only say that this was fun. The new textures were so completely out of place as were the skating dudes. That torch had me baffled for a while till I just accidentally used the Ctrl key and there it was LOL. Those big spiders scared the hell out off me wasn't prepared at all. The flare bug was present at the end but luckily it wasn't as dark from that point on. Found one small medipack floating in the river I couldn't pick up and one secret. 14-07-2003” – Gerty (20-Jul-2003)

“If you liked TR1 this is a recommended level for you. Puzzles are easy and Lara mainly has to deal with levers. There is a small torch puzzle at the start. Enemies are mostly spiders and a few wolves. Textures were great the only ones that disturbed me were the black and white ones which did not fit the environment. If you look closely you will find the Uzi as a secret. Near the end Lara grabs the precious artifact (the scion) before she has to avoid a few more traps. All in all a good level.” – Engelchen Lara (14-Mar-2003)

“This level reminds me a lot of TR1 where Lara’s journey started. Very nicely designed. If you know TR1 the puzzles are easy but well done. I liked the spiders. Lara finds an Uzi and a shotgun and one secret. Sound was quite good. All in all a nice and not too difficult level.” – Navi (23-Jan-2003)

“As everyone knows I don’t rate remakes high unoriginality and all that so as you can tell by the other reviews which level it’s based on I’ll just leave it at that. Oh alright I liked the spiders.” – Sash (13-Dec-2002)

“Starts in a cavern area find the torch and off you go back to the top and through this level. Good range off puzzles of the find your way and finding items and their use. Enemies are dogs small spiders (like scorpions) and a particularly evil large spider (Good creation Leandro). Lots of rooms to visit and traps to avoid as well as a fire staircase to some switches (beware). Textures and lighting both fit the mood of the area you are in and the very dark bits are only short and I had no problems with flares etc. Definitely a level to play even though it was not particularly long.” – Whistle (03-Dec-2002)

“As a TR1 fan I was very curious about this level. But in the end it is nothing more than a nice remake - even less than that as a whole part from the original is missing. Setting a stone platform on fire was not that logical. The other puzzles were well known and not hard to solve. I hate spiders in real life but these ones were great haven't seen them so far in a custom level. But the human opponents were not well textured. Apart from the one or other dark corner the lighting was okay.” – Sheevah (21-Aug-2002)

“I think it's a bit hard to rate this level because it was made over my version of Tomb Of Qualopec equal and different at the same time. Major differences are the enemies. No raptors but brand new enemies (except the wolf). I just didn't give a 10 to the enemy criterion because of their sounds and the skater baddy is simply ugly without a lot of polygons. I am not sure if there's a fix for this but there were a lot of enemies to choose from why to get one with missing polygons? The small spiders were simply perfect I loved them. The level brings new puzzles instead of only the three puzzles in the original level. The torch one took me sometime to discover but it was well done. And another remarkable change is the lighting. Way superior way better. The new texture was cool but maybe it could be a little better applied. In my remake I had to keep the stretched textures because they were there in TR1 but this is not a remake so at least in the areas the new texture would appear Leandro could have fixed that. Anyway this is an excellent level for lovers and non-lovers of TR1. Maybe the author will give us an original sequel? Also what about the medipack floating on the river?? :)” – Treeble (21-Jul-2002)

“I enjoyed this a great deal and apart from the human enemies and some grey psychedelic structures everything fits together quite nicely. For the 35 minutes it took me to reach the end I encountered too many levers for my liking but then that's probably how it was in the original game and Leandro is not to blame. I only remembered the overall setting and a secret behind a statue so I relied on the other reviews to tell me to what extend this level is a remake. Gameplay is much more entertaining than my rating suggests but since only parts of it are the author’s own ideas he can't take the whole credit for it. The spiders (especially the small ones) are very cute indeed and definitely worth this trip down memory lane.” – Dimpfelmoser (21-Jul-2002)

“Ah shades of TR1 and absolutely as enjoyable. I spent 50 minutes reminiscing and reminding myself to get my brother-in-law to send back my TR1 and TR2 (done Torry). Flavors of the old mixed in with new tidbits made this a diversified and fast-paced adventure. I’d say the only thing I didn’t care for was the texture in the big spider cave. Some well-hidden switches and areas for an experience out of the normal. Nicely done.” – Momster (16-Jul-2002)

“This level builds on Treeble's remake of the TR1 Qualopec level (so in essence it is the remake of a remake J) and you are basically starting at the end and make your way backwards with a few surprises added. I liked the added cobwebs and waterfall the torch puzzle at the beginning the new enemies (small and giant spiders and skater dudes and a cowboy) but I did not like the new texture he used in a few places (also in the room with the Uzi secret) the fire puzzle with the three try and error levers and the many dark corners especially as the flare bug occurred. Nevertheless for the nostalgics among us a nice 30 minutes trip back to 1996 and the spiders alone are worth seeing.” – Michael (12-Jul-2002)

“Back to 1996: This level is an homage on Tomb Raider 1 nicely designed but for my taste too dark. At the end also the flare bug was occurring and in this darkness it’s hard to find the way. Enemies were some dogs some newly designed baddies small spiders and giant spiders but the hardest enemy for me was the darkness. The puzzles were easy but interesting and nicely built in. After 35 minutes the game was over it is a nice level for TR 1 fans.” – Freeman Porter (10-Jul-2002)

“This was a great interpretation of a classic Tomb Raider 1 level and I absolutely loved it. It is different yet similar and the spiders were great absolutely shit myself when the first one pounced on me LOL. The hidden levers had me going for a while. What impressed me the most was how the feel of the original level from that old classic was maintained was ever so subtly altering the gameplay to make it a new experience. This score is well deserved due to the imagination and adeptness used by the author.” – Torry (21-Jun-2002)

“Here again another ‘re-make’ level. This time though it's a bit different from the original as far as a couple of the puzzles go. But a lot is the same - some enemies placed exactly like the original some puzzles the same and even a secret in the same location. But there are differences so I can give it more credit than the last ‘re-make’ level I reviewed. The texturing was very well done and the lighting was absolutely superb - better than the original if the demos I've played are any indication. The music included in the download made for a dramatic entrance into the tomb. I loved the spiders and the ‘skateboard dude’ and Leandro deserves credit for bringing these back to life. The bottom line for me though (and not to take anything away from the effort that goes into recreating these levels) is that it's unfair to rate them as highly as completely original levels. It devalues the work of authors that go to the trouble of creating completely original game maps scenarios and puzzles. Fortunately Leandro threw enough surprises into this one to make it worth a try even if you've played the original.” – Tombaholic (21-Jun-2002)

“Leandro's newest is very similar to The Tomb of Qualopec but with the new additions it's definitely something everyone should play. I hate to give away all its secrets because there are some things here I've never seen in a custom level before and it was a great surprise to see them. I will say that the majority of them are new baddies but you'll just have to see them for yourself. The setting is pretty much what you'll expect with the addition of a great new texture that fits perfectly with one of the new baddies and the lighting in the level compliments it as well - slightly dark and incredibly spooky. I can tell a lot of time and effort has been put into building and texturing the rooms and they look absolutely perfect. There's also a new puzzle where you expect to find only a secret and some new traps that definitely weren't in the original version. Great fun to play and a level I highly recommend!” – RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002)

“This is a very nice level which took me about 1 hour to play. The bits in the cave preceding the main room were very well done. I liked the novel idea of hiding switches and rooms behind unmovable statues. I think a bit of poetic licence was used to build the two enemies in the room with the last pick up. A number on their shirt - very nice touch! I was unfortunate to get the flare bug near the end but that did not stop my enjoyment of this level. Well worth a look at.” – Doug E (21-Jun-2002)

“Again a ‘remake’ of a TR I level. This one was really fun to play. There was enough new in it to keep me wondering while playing. There were the wolves but new are the spiders (little beauties) and giant spiders (don’t like them). The soldiers or whatever they are were dressed very different. Two looked to me like skaters and one wore a Ranchers hat. Almost near the end Lara was standing in front of a closed door. It took me some time till I found a switch hidden behind a statue. In the end Lara could leave with the Scion in her knapsack. I found one secret.” – Monika (21-Jun-2002)

“A very good level. Very well structured with different textures than usual and new enemies. I laughed with the guy wearing a hat it looked like a farmer and the guys that looked like football players with the number one in their blouses I guess the builder is influenced by the World Cup irrelevant. Getting back to the level walking through the blue rocks you meet dogs and little spiders as well as a big one later on. The first puzzle to solve is with the torch in hand and then some swimming follows to finally emerge in an area with cross paths. I loved the simplicity of the puzzles but somehow nothing was boring or ordinary so the game play was getting better in every step. The statues and a well hidden switch were beautiful and the big blocks that were changing positions to allow the player to move on was fun. Finally the scion and a small earthquake followed by a flyby to show you the way out. Passing the boulders you reach the exit leaving you asking for more. Definitely one of Leandro's best work.” – Kristina (21-Jun-2002)

“When one starts into this level one thinks instinctively of the lost valley. This is also intended. But one notices very quickly that it is not completely the same. The puzzles seem known to you but they are new however one can solve them. A beautiful atmosphere which is comparable to the original awaits Lara in this level. Sound is standard but the light is extremely well set. The opponents are well made particularly the spiders are wonderfully set up. A level that will please all nostalgic players among us.” - Xxenofex (21-Jun-2002)

“The author (with the help of Lucas Metz) has made a good work based upon an ancient level. Actually you have the beginning of the Lost valley and The tomb of Qualopec in this level. The setting is almost the same as in TR1 some puzzles are the same but you have also new and good puzzles with the torch and a fire-trap puzzle a boulder trap and others. 10/10 for the wolves and the spiders the little spiders are nice but the two giant are venomous and well placed. The 3 baddies though seem a bit cartoonesque. The atmosphere sounds and lighting are very good in spite of the flare bug it is not annoying because it is not a dark level. It was really good to raid again in those places and to see the changes!” – eRIC (21-Jun-2002)

“An interesting variation of ‘The tomb of Qualopec’ with a few more puzzles than in the original a lot of spiders and wolves few skater kids and a cowboy. The big spiders were a nightmare and no I'm not arachnophobic but if you'll find the spiders lair near the end you'll see how difficult it is to fight a spider with it's baby spiders (even if the big spider liked to kill these more than I did LOL) in such a small room. I got stuck because of a well-hidden switch behind a statue for a few minutes but otherwise there was nothing impossible to master. I'd even rate the gameplay higher but I think it'd be very unfair to more original levels like this so a 7 must be enough. The spider’s lair secret was great and just for the enemies the 'objects' category could've been rated higher but I don't like that there are too much enemies in a secret and most of the enemies had no sound so I can't rate it higher. Audio's and cameras were used nicely and so were the textures but some of them were stretched and the TR1 textures already so are not the best looking ones and also the flare bug occurs later in the level too. People who like Tomb Raider 1 based levels or remakes will enjoy this level too and I also like the atmosphere of Peru levels but one of these days I think I'll get one TR1 level too much.” – eTux (21-Jun-2002)
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