| Reviewer's comments |
"Due to the TR1 Goldcat textures it doesn’t look like it, but this essentially a Settomb level. As in its predecessor, almost all the traps are booby traps, and they’re coming thick and fast in this one. Nearly every non-essential pickup is bobby-trapped with invisible rollingballs dropping in through solid ceilings from the fifth dimension, and those that aren’t are booby-trapped by rollingballs that you can see (I recall only one rollingball that wasn’t a booby trap). The level sports one of those interminable crawlspaces, which this time around did not prompt me to use the flycheat, because I enjoyed feeling reasonably safe from invisible rollingballs in there. There are also Seth Blades, though these have to be negotiated by trail and error, because the triggers for them were placed at random.
As for essential pickups, they turn out to be not actually essential after all. From your ostensible prize pickup (an Amulet of Horus) down to the Timeless Sands and the Guardian Key, none of these items is required to finish the game. I learn from José’s review that even the Cartouche, which I thought was necessary for progression when playing the game, isn’t. Using the Torch only grants you access to a small room in which you will be trapped forever. I’m not sure if it is possible to backtrack to the start of the level in order to place the Timeless Sands, but I sure as hell am not going back to find out. As a general rule, forget about puzzles and pickups, simply go from room to room, occasionally performing a ropeswing across a lava pool or somesuch; enemies are negligible. Since actual tasks are afterthoughts and outnumbered by acts of trolling, these latter get old fast and are not as effective as the builder presumably hoped.
The novelty aspect is rather subdued this time around. The location (‘Alaska’, file name; no readme) is indistinguishable from generic Egypt, albeit bookended by the first 30 seconds, in which the beginning of TR1 Peru is being rehashed, and the slide to the finish trigger, which is located in a roombox featuring part of a crashed plane, a guide and a motorbike. However, there’s only one shadowbombed patch early in the level. Progress! Textures look better than in the previous level as well, but since the stretching and the wallpapering continues, this may simply be the effect of the rooms being somewhat less humongous. This may be the builder’s highest-scoring level, but it's still only aspiring to mediocrity." - Mulf (01-Oct-2024) |
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| "Having a level set in an Egyptian temple
based in Alaska is no bad thing, and
indeed this could pass off quite
convincingly as one. But the storyline is
about all you're going to get from this
one, as it seemed to go out the window
afterwards. The gameplay isn't bad, but
it's quite underwhelming and the
continuous retracing of steps and going
through long corridors spoilt things a
bit. There were also quite a few
irritations: spiteful instant death
boulder traps when attempting to pick up
items, doors that only lead to dead ends
or death traps, and there were a couple
locked doors left as I ended the level,
making me think that I hadn't explored
everything. The lighting was colourful in
places, but too dark in others and the
textures are quite spottily applied. Not a
terrible experience (and the music choices
were admittedly nice), but there are more
exciting options out there." - Ryan (05-Jun-2018) |
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| "Snow and egyptian objects; an odd combination. This is
about searching a few artifacts to use and progress, but I
didn't use the timeless sands, maybe it was for a secret. I
hated all those times when you picked up an item and a
boulder smashed you. Be careful with that and always look
up for any boulders. There are some tracks used from
previous TR games and I liked them. Textures are not always
well applied, sometimes they're stretched. In the end Lara
finds a destroyed plane but that doesn't bother her because
there's a bike parked just beside it." - alan (03-Mar-2018) |
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| "While a noticeable improvement from the builder's earlier releases, this one still didn't really draw me in unfortunately.
And despite some of the ambiance choices being appropriate for the setting(alongside some decent attempts at lighting and fitting yet incredibly token enemy choices), the problems with the general game design are just far too prevalent and persistent here, for this to be wholeheartedly worth recommending(including a large number of irritating 'Gotcha!' trap moments in the most inexplicable places, schizophrenic texture choices from a variety of sources and unnecessarily drawn-out empty corridors among other things.)
So in conclusion, not a terrible experience. But at the same time, I don't really see myself tackling this again in the foreseeable future." - Ceamonks890 (27-Jun-2015) |
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| "First of all, be sure that you pick up all that you need before proceed further in the level, 'cause sometimes you can't go back to get the items an you'll stuck forever. Many strange things I found: I didn't need to use the sand clock, I found a torch, but only to open a door where you'll be trapped forever and have to reload, didn't find the cartouche to open a door near the end... Anyway I was able to find the crash site and finish the level. The rooms are big and empty, and many times the textures are not well applied; I didn't find puzzles, except in the blades room with the sands hourglass, some enemies to shoot and a lot of spiked ball traps when you pick up items. Playable, but not very enjoyable." - Jose (22-Jun-2015) |
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| "A rather curious level.I thought the 'egyptian Temple in Alaska' idea was perfectly sound and atmospheric,but nothing much was done with the concept after the first 30 seconds. The lighting was occasionaly beautiful and creative,but this was often negated by the stretched and somewhat lack-lustre texturing.The Gameplay was generally straightforward,but always I had the nagging feeling that I had gone too far too soon and would ultimately come unstuck. I never did,although several of the pick-ups were unecessary as you could complete the level quite easily without them. Boulders were used sadistically as instant-death devices (ALWAYS give the player a chance to escape a boulder! You're abusing a really good Gameplay element if you don't).Animals had an annoying tendancy to go into an attack just as a fly-by was starting.
On almost every occasion when you begin to get involved in this adventure,something occurs which puts you off.A shame,as it had an awful lot of potential and is by no means a poor offering. It's completely playable and occasionally striking.Why not give it a try?" - Orbit Dream (01-Feb-2007) |
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| "No doubt the author's best work. The textures were nicely put making an enjoyable environment you can see clearly thoroughly so I will not make a point that there are no flares to be picked up. There are loads of dogs here and the occasional bats. But I did downrate gameplay and objects because in my opinion sudden dropping balls are not funny. Before picking anything up be sure you save. You just never know when something is about to fall on your head and believe me there are lots of things just waiting for your wrong move. This is as Phillip Campbell well said in the manual not satisfactory. Not for the player and I doubt it is for the builder. 40 minutes." - Treeble (20-Sep-2004) |
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| "I must say this level surprised me I thought I going to play usual Egypt like Tut1 (speaks for itself) LOL...Well it is similar to old TR1 Egypt game not so hard even simple but still keeps on vitality after three years. Nice textures and good atmosphere - pleasant sound for me anyway. The Eye of Ramses cartouche guardian key and Ankh of Anubis to find not hidden well. A few spikes boulders traps and dogs bats attack Lara enjoyable." - Yoav (24-May-2004) |
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| "A novel idea: The Tomb of Ramses is actually located in Alaska? While I enjoyed seeing the TR1 Egypt textures and a few nicely made rooms the author's penchant for dropping spike balls on Lara's head nearly every time she tries to get a pick-up became irritating very quickly. Gameplay was fast-paced and easy but the level never really drew me in." - Tombaholic (20-Jan-2004) |
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| "We have a typical Egyptian level with no excitement. The textures are stretched all over the place and the rooms are huge and empty. The items you need are a guardian key a cartouche and the Timeless Sands. I never found the second cartouche to place at the drained area. Bats and dogs are the only enemies and to use all the items you have to back track but the level has a serious flaw there as you can finish without using most of them. I found those traps with the spike balls annoying; I couldn't get any pick up except one or two. It's a level below average and very dark." - Kristina (27-Aug-2003) |
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| "Starting and also ending in snow this tomb Lara has to raid had me puzzled. I finished with still the timeless sands in Lara's backpack and also the Ankh. There was still a door in the first with water and later dry passage that needed a cartouche. But I never found that one. There are some boulder traps the ones you cannot escape from and some you can. Finding a cartouche and a guardian key. There are also some rope swinging and pole climbing to do. Enemies are mainly dogs and some lost bats and of course scorpions. Sound was well done. 14-10-2002" - Gerty (19-Oct-2002) |
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| "This level which puts the Tomb of Ramses in Alaska of all places took me about 40 minutes to play. There is nothing terribly difficult although I was getting very irritated at the placement of the spiked boulders. This would probably keep me from playing another level by this author. Gameplay is just mediocre with a lot of moving from room to room getting squished by a boulder re-loading and moving differently to pull a lever or climb up or go through a door. Enemies are mostly dogs with a few scorpions and bats thrown in. A half-way decent rope swing but still no big challenge and a bunch of pole climbs. The biggest plus of the level is the sounds. Keyed in good places and good choices." - Momster (13-Aug-2002) |
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| "What really caught my attention about this level is the beautifully vivid texturing that turned this into an entirely different style of Egyptian level though it's set oddly in Alaska and stands it apart from all the others. The game play though had me a little worried as I felt like I was progressing while sometimes leaving things unfinished such as unopened gates but in the end it all came together though you can end the level without using 2 pick ups one that isn't really necessary as it opens a gate that you can get around a longer way and the other leads you to an Amulet high in the ceiling that I assume is the reason for the adventure. This is another one of those levels that gets more interesting the further you go and then ends quite quickly in this case after 30 minutes just when there could have been a chance for a great snowy bike ride." - Sash (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "Yet another Egyptian style level even though the location is supposed to be Alaska but this one is a little special because of the use of a special dress for Lara some custom textures and also custom sound files which while adding to the size of the download file do their part in making this level an enjoyable experience. It has taken me a little more than 30 minutes net game time and it progressed quite well and very sequential without major puzzles to solve. A bit confusing is the fact that I ended the level with a Guardian Key and Amun Ra's Sand and did not find anything to do with these. But maybe they are for a level to come..." - Michael (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "This is not a hard level but it can be confusing because at times you have to go back the way you came and it's easy to miss things. There are a few objects to use and quite a few doors to open and it can take a second to figure out what to do. The enemies are pretty tame and include dogs and bats mostly but make sure to keep an eye out for spiked boulders. Before you pick up anything look up. The entire level takes place in an Egyptian tomb so there are some dark corners and some snow of course and the music included in the download really added a lot to the atmosphere. Like Michael I got to the end after thirty minutes but I still had the guardian key so I spent another thirty minutes back tracking to find where to place it - in the small room with two poles and a sliding door." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "A real tomb. The tomb of ramses. But in alaska? Oh doesn't matter the thing that matters is the game itself. Nice layout of rooms no big difficulty to proceed in certain areas. Textures and good lighting is ok some dark corners and rooms the seth blades were very sharp when I was trying to walk the stairs. What Michael couldn't find I did. The Time sand key is used in the very start area. So when I found this key I had to walk all the way back to the statue that opens a dark room that gains access to the sacroph room (the sacroph were nicely done). The small pyramid key was used for a gate when climbing a pole. In that room you have a small key hole in the wall the gate opens and gives access to the Ankh. Minor points were some stretched textures didn't harm too much. What I really got annoyed was; whenever I picked up a goodie a ball crushed poor Lara. I found a lasersight that I couldn't get cause a ball keeps killing me I don't know if this is fun... this way I had lack of pickups - some enemies appearing from nowhere. I think the author has done good and this is an enjoyable level." - Yasin (21-Jun-2002) |
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| "It starts and ends in the snow but in between you get the common tomb atmosphere and a very basic one at that. As you rush through those empty and plain rooms you'll meet some animals but the boulder traps are by far more deadly. There are some areas that have a nice feel to it but most of the textures seem to be applied in a rather lackluster fashion. No puzzles no tricky jump combinations and a linear gameplay that won't have you stop once trying to figure out what to do. Meaning this is a bit too easy for the experienced raider. One of those adventures where I find rating and reviewing increasingly difficult as there are so many levels in the same vein and you're just writing the same over and over again. I try to remember something remarkable or unique about the Tomb of Ramses but my mind is blank. It's not bad but you won't lose any sleep over this one." - Dimpfelmoser (21-Jun-2002) |
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