Level reviews

"Mine (Bergwerk) is a short but yet amazing level with up to 20-25 ish minutes of gameplay where Lara decides to hop on a minecart and rides in the mine area but she has to avoid various traps such as Boulders, fire emitters, waterfall, etc. It is my favorite level with the minecart, why? Because Dark Death is the only person who was able to create a minecart in the TR4 engine and it's my favorite vehicle in the entire Tomb Raider series. The areas are well-textured, and the lighting is amazing. There are no enemies, and the gameplay is just avoiding traps and reach to exit so no further points. Hopefully, we will see more minecart levels soon, but I doubt it." - Kubsy

"Really a very original level with a lot of work behind even when it's "short" if you do all the tasks properly. In my case it was not so short, 'cause I had to get familiar with the controls and I had to reload and reload a lot of times to finally reach the final trigger, thanks to DJ's walkthrough. Example: how to avoid the rolling ball after the first chechpoint. As usual, I'm not agree with the checkpoints system to save the game; I think players don't play this level with a console. The best, the architecture, texturization, objects and properly background music." - Jose

"I'm really unsure about how to rate this one. In fact, I'm not even sure it CAN be rated by normal standards. I'm full of admiration for it all, particularly the overall setting and the FMVs. But I did get slightly frustrated due to the precise timing that was required for some manoeuvres, and it's also very, very short. Worth a look for its entirely different premise, though." - Ryan

"Well, nearly half of all reviewers until now said something like "This level is so hard to rate" or so. Well, I think they are right, as this level is a very short (five minutes) one, but it would certainly get in the Hall of Fame in innovation. There are so many bugs in it (cart gets out of track, textures in cutscenes are missing, the same objects can be deadly or not) but I pretty liked the level. Many trap sequences to solve here and not many places where you could save, due to the "checkpoint saving". The custom anims were pretty good, a bit reminding on RX Tech mines, but built completely uniquely. I can't say anything against the building of this level, it's perfect in my opinion, with all the different textures and objects, the atmosphere was very good and the cutscenes, despite of the little lack of some textures in the last one, were highly professional and beautiful. Another unusual masterpiece from Dark Death, just like Silent Hill." - manarch2

"Gameplay is very challenging. Not genious, but very, very good. But the puzzles are based on choosing the correct road only. Great texturing and lighting, mixed with well placed objects, wonderfully applied sounds and the background music keeping you constantly vigilant... all these elements joined together create stunning atmosphere. It really feels like being in the mine. It doesn't matter there is no opponents, as a player's distraction is enough threat itself. And it doesn't matter no classic secrets are included - if you replay the game, choosing a different route will allow you to get to places you didn't see during the previous play. So the whole level can count as one huge secret to discover, I think. SUMMARY: Play this level even if you are not a fan of mining karts." - DJ Full

"This is truly unique. Nice idea that you have to get through the level with a minecart, but unfortunately it's so buggy that it barely works. The level is very short, and the builder tried to increase the gameplay time with restricting the saving to checkpoints. The enviroment also provides "some" frustration with rollingballs, fire emitters, and with falling ceiling. I'm so sad that this level doesn't work properly, because it's an original idea. Everything else is superb in this level, looks nice, the final FMV is stunning. But if you like challenges and frustrating levels, that one is definitely for you." - rtrger

"It's really hard to rate a level like this. On the one hand, it's experimental and innovative, and incorporates several features rarely found in custom levels, including a fully functional mine cart, FMVs and a checkpoint saving system. On the other hand, it's also very buggy and extremely short (less than 5 minutes of gameplay). The fun quotient is quite high, since the entire level consists of a mine cart ride, but the frustration factor is even higher, because of the bugs and the checkpoint saving system. Probably it's best to think of it as a short experiment rather than a full-fledged game, and rate it accordingly. Going by that criterion, the experiment is not a very successful one. While the mine cart is functional, it is very buggy, and can easily be driven off the tracks and sometimes even backwards! Admittedly, this was occasionally fun, since it's also the only way to"explore" the level, as you can't get out of the mine cart at all. The cart also has an annoying tendency to get embedded into the walls. And it keeps moving for several seconds even if Lara is dead, which means that it's possible to complete the level even if Lara gets killed just after the last checkpoint, as the cart continues on its own and crosses the finish trigger! The end FMV is lovely, and it's the only reason the"cameras" category got a decent score from me, since otherwise the game suffers from an overdose of dramatic camera angles. As for the checkpoint system - I really cannot fathom why any builder would choose to inflict that on the players. Oh well, all said and done, this level is worth checking out if you're in the mood for something different, and have a high frustration threshold." - Mytly

"I'm not even sure how to rate this level. It's a literal on rail experience, but it's quite challenging since you don't get to save anywhere you want. The minecart works pretty much like it did in the Antarctica levels of TR3, but this time around you'll also make it jump over a few obstacles. There are checkpoints just before crucial moments, but you'll find yourself repeating some sections a few times before getting the timing just right. Yet, there's such a novelty factor to it, plus the obvious attention to detail on crafting the different environments and let's not forget the cool FMVs that make this level a landmark. I really enjoyed the ride and hope to see something similar included inbetween normal levels in the future. 5 minutes. 01/09" - Treeble

"For a start, the technical ability to make this level must have been huge, so hats off to the author in that respect. In fact, hats off to the author in pretty much every other respect as well, for creating a fun, visually impressive level with possibly the most addictive custom level music I've ever heard. Sure, it got a little annoying at times spawning back at the Save Points every time that I (often) died, but it was quite fun figuring out how to pass each obstacle as they came. The choice of two different routes through the level also offered some replayability. Recommended, for something a little different from the usual raid." - Spike

"This level has two things I've newer seen in a custom level and they are FMVs and fully working mine cart vehicle like in TR3. As some other reviewers have already pointed out this level would be better as a part in a larger series but it's anyway very impressive work which most of the level builders probably wouldn't be able to create. Even if the mine cart acts a bit strangely sometimes it was pleasure to use and I really recommend this short level for everybody because it contains a lot of features any other level doesn't have." - Samu

"Bravo Dark Death! Brilliant work not only to make a minecart that works in a similar way to TR3, but also to create a couple of very impressive FMVs. This showcase level may only take you 4:20 net to complete, but you'll get a good half hour or more of play learning your way through the obstacle course, negotiating a path through the mines and railyards. The traps set are well done. The atmosphere, lighting and texturing are very good. All done in a very much traditional mine style setting. Audio and sound effects really add to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, handling of the cart through the level can be rather buggy at times which somewhat spoils the illusion and affects the gameplay score, but you have to admire the concept which is otherwise really well-designed and delivered. The final FMV wouldn't load for me, but happily I could view it with Rad player. Basically being able to play the minecart in this manner is one big WOW moment and you've got to be impressed by the achievement. The level could have benefitted if it had been a transit part of a larger levelset and makes it a bit hard to rate because it doesn't conform to the normal expectations of a traditional level, but it is still impressive as a stand-alone showcase of some very clever stuff. Despite the absence of enemies and secrets, you just have to marvel at the techical innovations shown here. What are you waiting for? - go enjoy your ride." - EssGee

"Alex yet again shows off his technological skill that seems to be way ahead of most other builders out there. The idea, the setting overall, the way it has been set in scene is just brilliant (including the little training course and the movie like cutscenes) and I cannot even begin to imagine how much time and effort must have gone into it. It is all about riding in a mine cart and pressing the right button at the right time to make it through alive and when you do you will find just over 4 minutes on the clock, yet you will likely have spent about an hour or so with plenty of reloading until you figured it all out. This tedious element of repetition and the fact that pressing the wrong button at the wrong time gets you stuck often in strange situations is what lowers the gameplay score for me. I can say I am VERY impressed by this work, but not sure I had a lot of fun playing it in the end." - MichaelP

"Well, it's short, inventive and fun while it lasts, plus uses the original ideas it presents the best it can. The looks are excellent, which is a plus, considering that this essentially is a glorified race level (not to undermine the efforts that went into its creation, mind you!) the camera work is great, though sometimes an angle or two make it harder to execute some of the level-specific actions like hitting the switches with the wench, but hardly an issue, since you can always skip them anyway. The gameplay basically uses the nifty features the specific format offers, and tries to incorporate different ways to do certain things, but I probably would've appreciated them more, had they been less trial and error in nature, and if the wrong choices wouldn't have killed Lara, but on the whole it's a minor gripe that can be overlooked as the author uses the original idea well, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Overall, I think this would've been better suited as part of a larger game, but then again, I'm not sure if the specific setup this level requires would've put some limitations in that aspect, and there's nothing inherently wrong with this being a small showcase level, so give this a go - it's definitely worth a try!" - eTux

"This is certainly original but hard to rate. The graphics and the atmosphere are definitely top notch and it even has a rather well designed short FMV! The gameplay is also great even though it's all about riding a cart along a mine that's full of traps and detours. But there are no puzzles, no enemies and no secrets to rate. Well, I think you should really try this one for the originality and the great looks of the whole level." - Jorge22

"Hard to rate this one. It's VERY short (not counting countless reloads due to death), but it's so original and fun. The mine cart is fairly buggy, many times it just wandered off by itself or got stuck behind objects but when it did work it was a pleasure to figure out the traps and way forward. It would be a perfect addition to a longer level series, a nice break between levels, or even more than one of these tracks in one level (like the Mines level in TR3). The background track is perfect and the cameras are just superb. It's worth it all even more for the ending FMV, which is a real FMV not just a cutscene. I can't fault it to be honest apart from the bugs. I wouldn't want it to be any longer either. I don't know how it was done or whether it's possible for Lara to be able to climb in and out, but as I already said, it would be perfect in a larger level." - TrueRaider

"Oh for an 'Imagination' review category! IF you overlook the (probably unavoidable) bugs (the Minecar gets stuck against scenery if you press the wrong keys at the wrong time),and IF you disregard the fact that this would have been even more enjoyable had it appeared in the middle of a larger adventure,then this is a fantastic little rollercoaster ride,chock full of "ooh,wow!" moments. It's all about repetition (press the 'duck' key at THIS moment,press the 'brake' key at THAT moment)until you get the hang of all the various traps and maneuvres and eventually trundle to a halt (after around 4 net minutes). It's exhilerating,it's brilliantly made and it looks terrific(it even has its own FMV's).I can't even begin to work out how it was done and am full of admiration....but it nevertheless remains no more than a fun diversion and is subsequently very hard to accurately rate.Still a 'must-see',though." - Orbit Dream

"A lovely change from 'Amanda Lepore' and other small levels that I have played recently. Of course this is an absolutely tiny level but in those five minutes of gameplay the author has created a very fun and very well textured level. This time, as the title suggests, lara explores a mine in a little cart while having to duck, jump and avoid obsticles. The home level is tiny and you go around a small circuit that ends after the first time round. The controls are difficult to master but you get used to it. The idea of having various routes and only having to hit some of the route changers is good and was very enjoyable. Some points however did become annoying, like the part when you go on the path with no track and have to jump over a barrier which consequently makes you fall into a pit and die. It is almost impossible to foresee all the obsticles that await you and you will have to die plenty of times to know how you can get past them, but that adds to the fun of the level. The level was beautifully built and the way cameras were used to add on to the atmosphere was great. The level managed to clock 4 mins of gameplay but I enjoyed every second of it. Highly recommended." - Cory