| Reviewer's comments |
"Good bits – great City atmosphere and some quality motorbike riding, quite interesting gameplay and I really liked the baddies’ maniacal laugh. Bad bits – the occasionally almost intolerable fixed camera angles. On balance, I rather enjoyed myself, even though it is a shooter, but it could have been better with those ‘artistic’ camera angles." - Jay (20-Aug-2019) |
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| "Now, I feel I might have completely cheated here (but for the record, I actually cheated as well, as I explain below) as most of the time I felt as though as I was sequence-breaking and ultimately I reached the helicopter without ever riding the bike. Matter of fact: I never even found the keycard which would open the bike gates, and as I was looking for it (suspecting the guy on the rooftop dropped it), a simple jump got me to the end of the world, from which I just followed the built path, assuming it was built for a reason, to the other end of the slope. The city bit after that segment was a bit of a maze in itself, but unlike my fellow reviewers, I didn't mind the fixed cameras. I did, however, find the lack of medikit pickups rather aggravating compared to the ammount of shooting here, so as I found myself running out of medikits the second time, I used the unlimited medikits cheat to proceed. There was plenty of weaponry, but the old school raider in me insists in only using pistols until it's too late. I could tell places where the bike was supposed to be used to cross gaps and chasms, but much to my surprise it was always possible to run around on foot or simply jump across from a different spot, so I'm not entirely sure the way I did things here was entirely illegal. 30 minutes. 03/18" - Treeble (01-Apr-2018) |
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| "This is quite an atmospheric little city
adventure, but for me it was marred by far
too many damned fixed camera angles. Used
sparingly, these can add something
positive to a players experience, but for
the majority of the time, especially in
this case, they serve only to make
gameplay unnecessarily harder. This is
mostly a shooter, which is a genre I've
never been particularly fond of, but the
setting is nicely done and I did enjoy
getting to unload my bazooka on a few of
those pesky guards. The bike rides also
spiced things up to an extent, but I was
left feeling rather disappointed with this
one. Without the fixed cameras, this would
have been a far more enjoyable level to
complete." - Ryan (01-Apr-2018) |
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| "Good design for this solid level full of dangers. There are, in my opinion, excessive enemies to shoot, but also enough guns and ammo, but no so enough medipacks, so don't waste them. Not very interesting, many switches to pull and no puzzles to solve, the only fun I found was the short rides with the bike, usually dangerous. There is also an abuse of the fixed cameras, making the gameplay even harder; good use of the musics and good work with the texturization too. Recommended for shooters." - Jose (08-Aug-2016) |
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| "I've been playing these older levels that received higher scores, and for the most part I've found them highly enjoyable. The first installment in the Sintech Heist series was an entertaining raid, and this one started off well. However, about halfway through I started encountering these annoying - no, infuriating - fixed camera angles, which took all the fun out of the gaming experience. Since the flycheat wasn't disabled, I made up for my lack of visibility by flying wherever I needed to go. When an SAS shot at me behind a protective balcony, I simply soared up to where he was and blew him away. I hate games like this, and in my golden years I refuse to tolerate them. Play it if you like, but my advice is to stay away." - Phil (17-Apr-2012) |
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| "After the opening flyby of the helicopter landing on the building beside guards standing there like nothing has happened first thing I noticed was the lucozade bottle in place of the small medpack. The next was the use of fixed cameras the first being that one hiding the blue crowbar door behind the line of clothes. Ok so Devoid has a devious streak and fixed cameras hide things I've got it now! So instead of being an annoying experience I paid attention to these cameras and if I couldn't see anything ordinarily I used the binoculars. One fixed camera hid a nasty trap at the end of a slope jumping exercise. So unlike others I thought the cameras added to the level. In other words this wasn't going to be the 20 minute dash that some levels are. BTW if anyone is interested in getting that lucozade bottle where those slopes are try this: jump down and get the bottle obviously jump to the wall where the wire is shimmy right as near the fire without catching fire pull up and immediately backflip to the slope behind and jump forward into the opening again. I had a laugh when I heard the black clothed thugs laughing and if I shot them quickly it was funny to hear the laugh then the gag. That bike was brilliant lovely blue colour with the king and queen seats and paniers. Loved the jumping from roof to roof and from up here can be seen the great job Devoid has done building this city. The zipline was a good way to get 'over the wall'. But the highlight for me was the bike run over the roofs. Now what was Lara doing here anyway? That is the only moan - no actual reason. I thought this level was excellent well built one of the best city levels I've played. I haven't played the first Sintech level I will now." - CC (10-Oct-2003) |
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| "This is a brilliant little sequel to the first Sintech. The first thing you need to do in this 40 minute level is to go in search of the crowbar which will eventually give you access to the bike after this you must go around the small city opening gates to make a path for the bike to get through finally and the best thing of all you get to take that bike to the roofs of the buildings and perform two consecutive jumps from building to building to building from here you have two ways of finishing the first and not so interesting way is to go by foot through a vent but if you want the kick ass move then stay on the bike and ride through the vent until you emerge smashing through a grate flying through the air. Sadly a camera takes over from here panning onto the awaiting chopper as SAS shoot at you then instantly it ends. This level alone is worth the price of admission just for that dramatic final jump actually for all the jumps what this level could have done with though is maybe some secrets and maybe a little puzzling but a city level is a city level and this one did it perfectly." - Sash (05-Aug-2003) |
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| "Let that be a lesson to you Devoid! The atmosphere of a rather dirty seedy city at night was perfectly captured in a vivid and quite convincing virtual urban environment; so why only 6 points? You know perfectly well why! Because of the damned cameras! I mean that estimable level builder Marksdad included some dynamic camera angles in some of his levels (especially The Hand of Sirius) but they hopefully enhanced the gameplay rather than subtracted from it. Here we have important doors and objects which are completely concealed because of the static camera-angles chosen. This goes beyond sneaky and into the realms of dirty and bloody unfair. Other than that this is really wonderful entertainment. The city must first be explored on foot (every little nook and cranny of it - beware concealed jump switches) which is great fun and completely absorbing due to the aforementioned convincing environment; and then you ride the bike in a hugely fun finale where at last the dynamic camera's actually enhance the gameplay. If you can overlook the flaws just mentioned then this is an absolutely splendid level. One of the finest!" - Orbit Dream (24-Jun-2003) |
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| "I liked the second part of Sintech Heist much better. The camera at the beginning shows the helicopter and a few guards waiting for Lara. She needs to find a CD and two key and the gameplay is mainly about getting rid of lots of shooting guards. In between you pull a few levers. The crowbar is important as it leads to the grenade gun which is very helpful ;-) You can also find the Mp-5. Lara also needs to ride a bike cross obstacles and don't miss the key that you need later. Textures were solidly applied. Atmosphere worked out well. Sound was good too. Enemies perfectly placed ;-) At the end Lara reaches the helicopter." - Engelchen Lara (18-Feb-2003) |
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| "There were 9 players before me and 8 of them complained more or less about the fixed camera angles. That should tell the builder something shouldn't it? I hated them and I have the headache to prove it. If it weren't for them the game would score much higher in gameplay and in the camera section. I liked the textures and jumping everywhere I could was great fun. All little details like the box hanging on a big hook the goon typing away on a computer clothes hanging outside plants in the office and even those suits of armour standing in the corridor add a certain something to this level. The beginning was very promising with that chopper landing. Finding cards and code keys will give you access and there are some jump levers to pull. The crazy laughter of the goons is chilling and the ride on the bike you have to experience. Found no secrets but did find enough ammo and weapons. 30-12-2002" - Gerty (05-Jan-2003) |
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| "Devoid's heavily fortified Sintech is a good level marred somewhat by the excessive and confusing use of fixed cameras. In one area in particular the frequent switching of camera angles is quite disorienting and does nothing for the level. Which is a shame really because otherwise this is an enjoyable romp of a level. Progression is generally nice and fluid so little chance of frustrating hours spent searching for a distant switch or lever to access the next area although one particular switch did elude me for quite some time. Menacingly laughing SAS guards represent the largest hazard to Lara's health and as they tend to be cunningly placed I found it difficult to progress without regular use of the amusingly re-textured small health-pack. A few dobermans and some irritating crows make up the rest of the enemies again well placed and difficult to encounter without some loss of health. (Or maybe I'm just loosing my touch.) Visually I rather liked the level having a rather 'London' feel to it. Just enough light to avoid being irritating just dark enough to be atmospheric. Lara even gets to ride a cool blue motorbike which is great fun. If there were any secrets I didn't find them and on only one occasion did I feel I'd made a pickup worthy of 'secret' status but this doesn't really seem to be a level that needs secrets so I was quite happy to play without them. I don't like 'expert' levels so this one suited me just fine and I'd be scoring it much higher if it wasn't for those damn fixed cameras..." - Tune Razor (07-Dec-2002) |
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| "After stealing the five pieces of armour in the first Sintech Heist the sequel has you stealing a motorcycle and escaping - though apparently not with the armour. This was as fun to play as the first level and has many cool things to check out. The new baddies that have tattoos and laugh this evil laugh before they start shooting at you the new health packs that look like bottles of lucozade the flyby that shows a baddie typing on a computer the attacking birds the new motorcycle and the great new outfit. I personally did not like the fixed cameras used throughout the level - I like the option of hitting the look button and having the view go back to normal. Otherwise it's another great level from Devoid and worth playing for just the great bike jumps alone." - RaiderGirl (07-Nov-2002) |
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| "The beginning of this level has a really nice cut scene with the guards and helicopter leading onto a warren of streets and rooms that you have to traverse with the help of several key cards a few switches and a custom-made motorbike. I think the enemies are really well done (a few crows dobermans sas-style guards and mafioso) as well as the custom objects I found this pretty innovative and I think the motorbike was great (Rob Base's motorbike by any chance?) Loved the outfit too. This level was fun to play an ideal level for beginner to intermediate Raiders. The reason for the lower rating in the atmosphere sound and cameras section was the cameras..... the odd angles spoiled what could have been a great level in my opinion and did irritate me quite a bit at times in all honesty. I wish I could have just had a lower rating for the cameras though because I have to mention that I think the atmosphere and sounds were really good! Also the gameplay and puzzles could have been a bit more challenging as well as few more varied textures..... apart from this I did get quite fond of this level a nice gentle raid as opposed to the South America adventures lol." - Litepulsar (17-Oct-2002) |
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| "Lara lands with the helicopter in a city whereby the sequence with the helicopter was very well done. The outfit of Lara pleased me well. Lara must find different key cards in order to come back to the helicopter. On the way she must solve different mysteries. Whereby she finds also the crowbar and in such a way gets to the rocket launcher which simplifies the play much. Also the Magnum is to be had. She drives also with the motorcycle (this time without sidecar) which was also well designed. Opponents were SAS and dogs. The SAS at the PC pleased me very well. Sound had been good. Also the noises of the SAS. The camera angles were partially disturbing but I found nevertheless the way with Lara. Textures were well applied and varied. Matter of taste but for me it is recommendable. Praise to the designer." - Navi (13-Oct-2002) |
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| "This level has many many great things: The helicopter at start and end a rather intricate course for the (rather cool blue) bike the custom outfit lots of weapons if you bother to look for them (MP-5 Magnum Bazoka and four times the Uzi) baddies that laugh at you before they shoot a few crows a zip line and the Lakozade for your health. However it is also a rather linear quest of 50 minutes with levers to pull a disc two cards and a key to find and two movable blocks and while some of the camera angles are neat many of the top down views are rather disorienting and rather annoying. Still the city and warehouse style setting is nicely done and quite realistic and it was fun to make the escape." - Michael (07-Oct-2002) |
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| "It is all about finding switches to open doors so Lara can take her motorbike and ride out of Sintech City towards a helicopter. There are (laughing) guys and SAS that have to be shot; there are dogs around and a few big black birds (crows?). Lara gets enough weapons but the supply of health is rather scarce. Instead of a small medi-pack she can take a bottle of lakozade for a change. One was placed so that you lost more health getting it rather than just leaving it there. I liked the ride on the zip-line. When all went well and the doors are open then Lara can use her beautiful motorbike. She has to drive through buildings and jump over gaps. For me that was the best part of the level. What I didn't like at all was the way at times the camera was sort of fixed. E.g. one door I just found by grabbing around in a corner without any sight. Playing time about 1:20 (statistic) for me." - Monika (07-Oct-2002) |
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| "Fantastic motorbike. Cool weapons. And a very interesting version of the small medpak. The gameplay is fun and fast-paced and the motorbike is put to good use. The laughing goons were a change of pace but their AI was not too great as they usually just stand there while Lara shoots away. I also liked the winding alleyways and architecture of the level though seeing the twin towers on the horizon felt a little strange. However unlike Matthias I never developed an appreciation for the camera angles used in the level. They nearly spoil an otherwise very fine effort by Devoid and account for the rating in that category." - Tombaholic (27-Sep-2002) |
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| "Entertaining I would say. A lot of enemies to shoot mostly goons and SAS guards dogs as well. The condors were quite nice. Although it didn't have the usual puzzle items actually it had many switches it wasn't boring. It is based more on action rather that puzzles. The crowbar is your friend here and the motorcycle but not to worry the first is not hard to find. The textures aren't anything new but they are well placed. After fire traps some swimming the zip line and cards to open the gates you are free to perform a few jumps with the bike and finish the level. If you do like that kind of action try it." - Kristina (26-Sep-2002) |
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| "The motorbike is dead cool I liked the raven and the small medipacks are priceless so this gets ten points in the second category. The city is beautifully textured has a gripping atmosphere and it's always nice to see the Twin Towers again. However I'm not so sure about the camerawork which at times is downright annoying and disorientating. Shall I give you a short lecture here. NO! I hear you scream but your pleas fall on deaf ears. Here goes: There is a rather severe cinematographic blunder that is called 'Achsensprung' in the seedy world of film and television. This roughly translates as 'Jumping the Axis'. Meaning when shooting a film in any given room you have an axis that divides the room. Now as long as the camera is staying on one side of this imaginary line all is fine and the view can change as often and radical as the director wishes. Yet when the camera crosses this line the viewer gets confused and actually assumes that the action has moved into a completely different room. If you want to cross this line there are several ways to emphasize the fact that you haven't actually left the room like switching to a personal view or putting in a bit of action so that the attention of the viewer is focused on what is happening and not how it is depicted; and there is another golden rule: Never never ever cut two long shots back to back. In Sintech City the camera angles switch from overhead to overhead in the most arbitrary fashion jumping the axis like Lara jumps in Devil's Lair and I missed the odd switch because of that. Nevertheless when I reached the end I had to admit that the unique camerawork added to the atmosphere and made this gloomy city level rather special. When Lara mastered the last two spectacular jumps with the motorbike all the frustration of searching for progress was forgotten and I really dug the whole concept here. So you get one hour of great entertainment that starts with many switches and a couple of crawls but then opens up magnificently. Strolling through the alleys and climbing around the rooftops (even if there is nothing to do) is great fun here. The setting is done with an eye for detail the motorbike is put to good use and you get to slide down the increasingly popular zip line. Can you ask for more? And I haven't even mentioned the fancy weapons." - Dimpfelmoser (23-Sep-2002) |
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