| Reviewer's comments |
"Oversized rooms with stretched textures all over the place which, in turn, made parts of this rather dark as flares don't really work properly in such rooms. Geometry is also a bit weird, especially outdoors, but I guess that's what you get when going for this scale. Gameplaywise it's about finding a series of stars and secrets (which are often in your main path) to proceed as you retrieve all five pieces of Horus's armor, and I think every new room had an audio tune, which got somewhat annoying rather fast. Much better offerings out there, sorry. 50 minutes, 6 secrets. 07/20" - Treeble (14-Jul-2020) |
 |
| "Debbie’s earlier levels obviously hadn’t evolved to the standards of her later works and yet there’s something appealing about them all the same. The premise of the adventure is to collect the armour pieces and the action involves a lot of running around huge rooms, often battling tinmen and, at one point, an actual horseman, which was quite exciting in a comparatively confined space. Not bad, but hardly classic Debbie either." - Jay (13-Aug-2019) |
|
| "Well, I'm not so sure about this one. It's
probably not as bad as my ratings
otherwise indicate, but Debbie's later
efforts are so much more advanced,
enjoyable and better constructed that the
flaws in this one only stick out all the
more. I can imagine that the huge rooms
must have taken players by storm back when
this was released, but nowadays they only
serve as an unnecessary distraction as
there's not a whole lot to actually do in
them short of collecting a couple of items
or pulling a switch or two. There were
also a few ladders and hallways that just
seemed to go on and on and on and there's
virtually nothing exciting that happens
except a couple of horsemen battles. I for
one didn't mind the abundance of pickups
as it meant I could dispose of them with
no hassle. The textures and lighting are
somewhat mixed in their applications: some
areas are quite attractive, but others are
dark, murky and the end of the world is
easily visible at most points. This level
just didn't enthrall me, but I'll vent no
further as Debbie greatly improved with
subsequent levels (her Sand Castle levels
are among my favourites of hers)." - Ryan (04-Apr-2018) |
|
| "Again very surprised with all the high ratings for this level from another players. Of course, I'm grateful with the authot for this effort, but it doesn't mean that it's a very good level as another players said; well, at least for me. The worst: as usual, the author lets you avance even if you hadn't done all the tasks you need and got all the items you need. Evenmore, the level has countless "defects": missing textures, players can reach the end of the world, very huge and empty rooms with nothing to do except look for pickups or secrets, angulous architecture, very bad placed or elongated textures, black rooms where you can see nothing even with torch in hand or flares, many paper walls, very long ladders to climb, a pillar with the same texture in both sides but you can climb only one, the horsemen very difficult to kill in narrow stairs, umarked climblable walls in the last lava room... There is a good use of the CD tracks here and there, and even some cameras, but that's all. The author talked in the readme file about "puzzles", but the only "puzzle" I found was move a glove onto a marked tile. Of course, not recommended in any way. Sorry. Recommended only to that players who like pick up a lot of items." - Jose (06-Aug-2016) |
|
| "In some ways I was impressed by this level, and in other ways I felt like it needed some improvement. The large areas were remarkable in terms of size and splendor (notably the rugged terrain at the beginning, and any large room that had a ziggurat ceiling), but they also led to technical bugs such as stretched textures and seeing the horizon along a passageway. It was also astonishing to see the stark contrasts between the sunny outdoor areas and the dark cavernous areas (thankfully there are enough flares to light a room for 30 seconds, and a torch helps cut down on flare consumption). While it was nice to get ammo and medipacks here and there, for the most part, I wondered where the challenging enemies were located in this level. It turned out I really needed the ammo and the medipacks for the tin horsemen (some of them required more than one weapon to beat!), and the medipacks were especially helpful when using a golden star while simultaneously being pursued by a horseman and two fire wraiths, and running (in flames) towards a cooling fountain. I can deal with long climbs just fine, but there is one hidden ladder that required a leap of faith in a lava room. It was one of those instances where I told myself that I didn't see anything else around besides an opening, so I had to find a way to climb there. The ending did feel pretty fulfilling with the pickup items along the final passageway." - Sakusha (07-Jan-2015) |
|
| "This is a typically good level from Debbie Overstreet. Lots of variety not too hard not too easy a nice diversion that takes a little more than an hour to complete. Dutchy has provided a nice walkthrough to lead the gamer through some of the rougher spots. This one seemed to have the "wide-open spaces" look that characterizes Debbie's earlier levels and there were a couple of long climbs either up or down but this didn't detract from the gameplay. Recommended." - Phil (26-Aug-2003) |
|
| "Classic Debbie! Huge areas this time a castle atop a brilliant steep mountain vast areas to cover underground in water up ladders and just crossing rooms not a great deal of what we would call puzzles but instead pick ups to find and place or even take with you such as the five pieces of armour and plenty of secrets. All this wrapped up in an hour long adventure that is maybe a little dark at times but always intriguing as we have all come to expect. Just an observation what is it with Debbie that we all seem to have taken her to our bosom although we don't really know her. To me for whatever reason she just feels like a really close friend that I haven't seen for ages and from the way others speak about her in their reviews with warmth and sincerity it seems I'm not the only one that feels this way. Odd!" - Sash (19-Jul-2003) |
|
| "This starts in a lake and you have to get up high on the mountain to find a castle. After exploring the courtyard you have to drop down in a deep pit there's water so you won't die. Then you're off to explore very dark caves (even flares won't help much) with beautiful spiders on the walls but luckily they don't move. Later there are beautiful rooms some puzzles long climbs and underwater passages. You have to fight some tin men (one on a horse in a rather dark stairway) and there are some fire wraiths but there's always water nearby so that's not a problem. The long slide down is not the end of the level that was a nice surprise you still have to go on for a bit to find another piece of armor. Except for the darkness it is a very nice level so try it." - Josi (03-May-2003) |
|
| "Well as they say it's a matter of taste. There is something rather appealing about Debbie's style but after a while of running through those huge empty rooms the shortcomings of the gameplay become apparent. Mind you my screen froze after 54 minutes so I wasn't able to complete it but according to the other reviewers I've seen most of it. I liked the way this started; finding a way out of the water and hopping up the beach to the entrance of the castle but later on the endless climbs and swims get a bit tedious not to mention the maze the climbable wall that is not textured as such and the many dark hallways. And what was that torch for? I like that fact that Debbie seems to polarize people and that she obviously doesn't care about some of the unwritten rules of level editing. Still in places it all seems a bit too megalomanic and you wonder why everything has to be so big." - Dimpfelmoser (11-Nov-2002) |
|
| "I really love the way the Level Editor can be used as a virtual canvass with the various clinical functions of its interface allowing the creative designer to produce not just a TR level but a TR level with an individual stamp. Debbie is such a designer. You can detect one of her levels from a mile off and love them or hate them they are uniquely hers. This has the trademarks we have come to expect. Huge great rooms predominantly empty. Lots of running and endless climbs. Massive outdoor areas. Everything (in short) on a grand scale. And strangely enough with this level it all seems entirely appropriate and pulls together very well. The Castle is absolutely immense and rather fantastic; designed with no thought as to architectural logic. Huge rooms (often with stretched textures) alternate with immense climbs and vertical upward swims. Very long dark (almost pitch black) tunnels open out into vast sun-lit empty courtyards. Cobwebby passages emerge into big lava-filled rooms. It's all rather sparsely populated although once in a while you'll encounter an occasional sprite or the metallic mumbling man. I found I could cheat in the attractive Planet room (although my PC crashed a little later so let that be a lesson) and there was one annoyingly unmarked climbable wall but otherwise this was a pretty straightforward large journey with plenty of variety and activity. I enjoyed it (now that I've become accustomed to Debbie's Level Editing personality). Don't expect subtlety (and sufferers of agoraphobia would be advised to stay away) but it's all good fun." - Orbit Dream (01-Nov-2002) |
|
| "I don't know that many people have heard of this custom level but I thought it was worth a review. Although it is a bit unpolished with some mistakes and camera problems Treasure turned out to be an unexpected pleasure for me. The setting is a tomb or temple-like structure set in a desert and Lara goes a-searching for the armor of Horus and a whole bunch of golden stars. A good quest: I love searching for gold shiny things. The first thing you will notice about the level is the odd lack of enemies. The author provides the player with a TON of ammo and weapons but very little to use them on! Outside of a couple of golden horsemen there isn't much combat. Don't get me wrong; I love getting tons of ammo but I thought the author was preparing me for a major battle. The other interesting thing about this level is the author makes good use of huge ascents and descents in elevation. I wasn't aware the editor could even deal with such large drops or climbs in elevation. Also the rooms in this level are GIGANTIC. So big in fact that I think the author overdid it a little and could have sized down a bit. Large rooms are good at inspiring one with awe but the puzzle elements of the game didn't really lend themselves to largeness if you know what I mean. I got the feeling these large rooms were kind of wasted. But aside from that there is also a series of rooms and corridors that are the darkest I've ever seen in a custom level so you go from wide open spaces to feeling claustrophobic. I actually liked the darkness; it really added to the tomb-like feel of the game. You are provided with a torch so it's not really that bad but the dark areas of this level may turn some people off. There are some things that need the author's attention like how some levers extend through the wall and can be seen from the other side. This could be remedied with the use of thicker walls. Many of the walls in this level are only surface thick; that is they are not composed of actual blocks but only surface texture so anything attached to them like a lever goes right through to the other side. This problem also led to the 'edge of the world' effect in a few points in the level. Come on we shouldn't be allowing Lara to see that her world isn't real by enabling her to stare into the black void of nothingness. Also there is one room where the author tries to be clever with the camera but it doesn't work. Nothing of real importance happens in this room anyway so a conventional camera would have been fine. But these slight problems aside I enjoyed this level and would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different and slightly on the quirky side." - Ludwig (25-Oct-2002) |
|
| "This is a visually beautiful level although I wasn't too thrilled by the thin walls in the first part of it. Once you get up into the castle though it's very pleasing. Like Debbie's previous works there are a lot of long climbs and long swims but I kind of prefer that to the prospect of being attacked by hords of enemies all at once. I loved the way she handled the way everything looked. The tinman on the horse was fun and hard to shoot. The level wasn't really hard to get through even for utter beginners. That one part in the castle where the only thing left is to take a 'leap of faith' was fun. I always download levels from this author as soon as she posts them. This one is indeed an improvement over her past efforts." - Pitec (15-Oct-2002) |
|
| "A huge level with an interesting atmosphere. Too dark in parts for my taste. Some secrets were oddly placed - right in the line of play. Puzzles were not difficult and few enemies. It was nice that she actually left the play with a bag of goodies because after all isn't that her goal in life? I did get stuck once but the forum put me back on track. All in all it was fun to play in a picturesque level." - Sherry (03-Oct-2002) |
|
| "I always enjoy Debbie's levels - they're large and have a lot of places to explore and it's fun to search for all the pickups and secrets. 'Treasure' offers a wide mix of differently styled areas - the beach you climb up at the beginning with the large castle looming overhead the dark spooky caves filled with cobwebs and spiders the large bright library style rooms - and they all blend together nicely. Some memorable moments were: being chased by a fire elemental with only a deep pit for escape the beautiful globe room that looks like it will be difficult till you really take a look at it fighting a horseman in a dark narrow stairway the swinging chains and the long slide at the end. I completely missed a scroll in the water and had to go all the way back for it so look around carefully for that and the golden stars and pieces of armour and make sure to shoot all the vases. The caves were too dark for me so I was glad to get past that area but everything else was a lot of fun." - RaiderGirl (24-Sep-2002) |
|
| "Well what a great level From the opening gambit with a fall to the water ala Tomb Raider 2 Gold and the long climb to the castle to the final exit where you pick up a heap of goodies (what's going on there Debbie?) I had a great 70 minutes of fun. Fighting the horsemen and those bloody fire wraiths lol. The level involved long slides and even longer ladders in your search for five stars two scrolls a horseman's gem and the five pieces of armour. My only complaint was that in places it was way too dark and even the flares did not help all that much. So I took off a couple of points for that. Otherwise this was classic raiding." - Torry (22-Sep-2002) |
|
| "Very dark and boring. For the life of me I can't understand what kind of 'genius' puts green textures in dark-black rooms. Even if you lit a hundred flares there is no way you can see well not without hurting your eyes. The torch was helpful at two occasions but lets face it that kind of level is no fun. The puzzles weren't even good except from collecting a few stars and place them pull many switches and kill a horseman and some tin men nothing else to do. In the room with the planets I was hoping to see something different but what a surprise push one of them and you can go on. That easy. The only trouble the player will get is with the dark atmosphere and perhaps the fire spirits water is always very near though. Climb light a flare pull a switch all over again until you reach the end which is an endless slide down pick up a few items and the crossbow that had me laughing although I had it what would you do with it at the end of the level. There are also the pieces of the armor to collect but apparently you can finish without them as I only found four of them I was missing a leg so no problem at all. Really frustrating if you ask me. The textures were badly placed thin walls missing pieces everywhere you could see beyond the rooms almost every time you looked further in the outside area you could see the blackness in the horizon. Well I didn't like this one at all but if you do like levels like that I can only say try it after all I did warn you." - Kristina (22-Sep-2002) |
|
| "A level of missed chances. First the good news: great spider motive the author uses and she creates some great rooms with actually very little (the room with four horses / the room with the globes --> see-through grates on the floor through which you see the treasure room below very nice indeed). I usually hate dark levels but this one passes with grade A because of the atmospheric touches (on the walls and one you can hold yourself) and again the spider motive. But Jeeeeeeesus what she could have done with cameras: what a missed opportunity. Also missing textures (where you start once out of the water) messy camera in the second blue electricity room and also very extremely linear gameplay: you go through it in a whistle. Secrets are a bit weird (once heard the chime but in a place you HAVE to pass through so no real secret). Oh yes and the Beach Boys are back: many long sliding-down places: S-U-R-F-I-N-G U-S-A indeed. And maybe too many knights (they should say Ni! instead of Ah-ah-ah). To conclude: a must play for the looks but other than that mediocre. Maybe a sequel? (what else are all the goodies for at the end of the level?)." - bERT (22-Sep-2002) |
|
| "Debbie has improved vastly in this level. Interesting gameplay and atmosphere quite a refinement over her previous levels but I still think she needs some work on water areas and overall dark areas. I found the cavern segments just far too dark even the torch was of little help much less the flares. Enemies are some tinmen and the one on the horse took me forever to dispose of and some fire wraiths. Nice touch with the spider textures creepy. I did get stuck in one spot and Michael had to bail me out (thanks) but overall quite simple and linear collecting stars a blue gem and 2 music scrolls to advance deeper into the castle and finally make your escape with a spectacular long slide down." - Momster (21-Sep-2002) |
|
| "By now you know what to expect when you play a level by Debbie - huge rooms and a vast area to cover. Same here - several easy secrets to find along the way as well as five stars the five pieces of armor two scrolls and a gem. Make sure you do take the stars with you otherwise you will be stuck later. I found some of the swims runs and climbs too tedious in this adventure that will keep you busy for more than an hour but it definitely has its moments. Enemies are fire wraiths and tinmen (one on a horse) and I mostly liked the slope that you had to climb at the start and the great castle view at the top the spider textures and of course the planets room. Still quite a few standard bugs here like the disappearing horizon doors placed the wrong way round thin walls and the 'end of the world' but they do not interfere much with the flow. If you liked Debbie's previous levels this one will be fun for you as well." - Michael (16-Sep-2002) |
|
| "The minute this was up for download I had to play it. Another architectural feat by Debbie. Be prepared to do long climbs and long swims as this level is huge. This level starts by falling into a lake. There are goodies to find there so start swimming. Then you need to get onto dry land and climb up till you see a ladder and suddenly you see an enormous courtyard and it is huge. So go and find a way down without breaking Lara's neck. Once down the first thing you see is a jump lever and from that point on it is dark really dark as one travels underground swimming and walking wise. Nice tiling by the way although those golden spiders did gave me the creeps. There are also vast rooms with very good lightning and a great huge slide and even then the level is not over yet. The swinging chains - very well done Debbie. Gameplay is straightforward you can't miss it. You'll find loads of ammo and all the weapons you want but hardly need as the only enemies I encountered are wraiths and tinmen and one even on a horse. Found 5 stars 2 blue gems and 2 scrolls (I think) and even 6 secrets. There is a globe pulling puzzle but that was dead easy. There is more finding an object and placing it in a receptacle than really puzzles. Also got away with some parts of the armor. Beware as there is one lever cleverly disguised so look carefully. I loved the vastness and the overall feeling this level gave me. 15-09-2002" - Gerty (16-Sep-2002) |
|
