Level reviews

"My bias definitely has an impact here, but even still this was a beautiful and neatly crafted Peruvian styled. I love the mix and match from different games (the Legend Pink outfit, the Underworld healing items, the TR2013 sound motifs), it all works nicely together. Gameplay is fairy simple and straightforward (says I, who've been playing mostly guided runs for a good few years now) but never boring as it hits the length sweetspot without outstaying its welcome. 35 minutes, 3 secrets. 04/25" - Treeble

"This is very much a "middle of the road" level, and by that I mean that there may not be many breathtaking moments but there are hardly any flaws either, making for a straightfoward raid that is pleasant to play. Lara searches for two snake stones to reach a mask. She will take a brief Kayak ride, push a few blocks around, dodge some flames and walk some tightropes. The search takes her through a series of relatively simple square stone chambers with pretty good lighting. 52 minutes." - JesseG

"South American level not too long , giving satisfaction at the end. The gameplay is varied and on the easy side, the most difficult action is a short timed switch to turn off some fire. Good objects (the black raptors are cool) , animations , and sounds. Some of the ferns are floating in the air , static objects are a bit too bright , and the background audio is very relaxing while some of the other audios are too loud. Faultless texturing and excellent lighting. User friendly level and very beautiful." - eRIC

"A nice, relaxing start into the Skribblerz Stonez 5 series and one that I thoroughly enjoyed despite its relative ease of gameplay. Pleasantly crafted surroundings, well timed enemy attacks (perhaps a little too much ammo was provided; I was positively weighed down with weaponry by the time I finished this level) and a few brisk challenges including swinging spiked bags, tightrope walks and timed runs. Dramatic music was possibly overused, but this is a well done effort, regardless." - Ryan

"Jesus Christ, the volume balance! As a Mahler fan I like wide dynamic range but this time the ambience is barely hearable while the raptor jumpscare made me almost deaf, three times in a row because every ambush is the same. This is of course Lakota so the level is technically perfect, however half an hour passes until something strong happens - without spoiling I'll just say it involves slot interaction so the world we're lost in gains its own affairs totally independent from Lara - good to sometimes feel like a witness not a constant target... Nonetheless by the time I picked up the shovel I was so bored by endless similar corridors the vision of exploring more of them made me take a break. Why to put efforts into discoveriless design, why to avoid the main point of raiding. The second half is much better, the game gets some text line thoughts and hints but you should boost them with Greenkey's voice since she would fit here perfectly. Tasking gets better as well - freeing the pushblock feels classic yet with a nice new touch exactly as I like, and the passage pattern finally gets interrupted with a totally organic river cave. I noticed the camera stays buggy after kayaking but I explore all possible ways so after rowing downstream I just reloaded and searched the banks on foot - and hey, it's the strongest moment so something more should be up there instead of the temple door opening on approach. This nice build-up unfortunately leads to another set of foggy corridors - guys, constant defaults become tiring so NG-switch the weather, rufierto did just that in the past edition and it worked. Even the trophy room is a corridor but a dead end, so I guess Lara had to retrace all steps to get out with the highly underpraised Skribblerz Stone - and remember we're speaking about the most powerful artifacts ever existing in the multiverse timeline so these things deserve at least a separate shrine for whatever purpose they serve or whatever activities they do... I would give them a TV set with a 24/7 ski-jumping transmission to watch and burn Lara if she tries to switch it off. SUMMARY: Game design is so much more than map or even level design but here we get a series of tasks in fine environment. Only in few keyframe spots we can feel tension handling or mission calling. I wish I could put my hands on that guy who said story isn't important, because too many of our builders believed it, and while it's not their fault, results are results..." - DJ Full

"Another good level from this author. Very good design with an excellent architecture and texturization, lineal gameplay with no hard tasks, nice and convincent environments full of details... A level to enjoy. On the other hand, I missed some more puzzles to think a bit, some more flybies and some more kind of enemies here and there... I think a lot of objects are too brilliant (not properly tinted according with the main lighting of the rooms) and perhaps too many pickups for this type of gameplay. Anyway the level is very pleasant and nice to play. Thank you Lakota for this new release. Good work! Recommended for everybody." - Jose

"This is indeed a level for raiders of all kinds, because it is very linear and obvious in its progression without ever being tedious or boring and it has great looks, well selected audio and very decent lighting and texturing. Only a few rather tame challenges here with the occasinal trap and raptor battles. One brief timed run and another one that you can actually completely miss, as you do not have to switch off those burners to get across. Also three fairly easy secrets to find along the way. The choice and use of objects is excellent and the digging scene really nicely done. Spent a little over 45 minutes in this relaxing adventure." - MichaelP

"A very beautiful and atmospheric start into the fifth part of the series. Nearly everything concerning the visuals is great - the detailed objects, the very eye-candy looks and very well used sounds. Some rooms tend to feel a bit alike with the greenish lighting, yet the room with the kayak is definately a welcome change. Gameplaywise I felt a little want at the end, given that there's almost no challenge at all to conquer the various rooms, just some easy climbing and a few mildly challenging traps. Getting the kayak through the fires was an entirely new task though, and the whole quest with the block that dominates the last half or so of the level is quite interesting, as well as a few timed tasks. I only had a small bug with the pole as after a reload it went up again so that I couldn't get up anymore. Overall this was a fluent yet somewhat undemanding 30 minute level; I found all three very easy secrets." - manarch2

"Very nice level to start this Skribblerz stone 5. Lara is certainly in South America or Mexico or maybe in a imaginary country where Dinosaurs exist. I have very enjoying the design of the level with the various news amazing objects. Not to many enemies too. The game is not really hard and I have really enjoying use the kayac to cross the river. Lighting and textures are also very well use for the various aeras of the game. Very recommended and congratulation to the author :)." - Bigfoot

"After playing only one BtB level I happened to get started on this series. Frankly, based on what I've seen so far, BtB will just have to wait. This is an elaborate, well thought out and entertaining level that took me almost exactly an hour to complete. I used Dutchy's walkthrough, so I didn't encounter any of the issues mentioned in the early reviews that gained this level a notoriety I'm sure the builder would just have soon not have had. The action is well paced, with enemies appearing at the right time and in the right numbers. You're warned at the beginning to shoot the small green dinosaurs before they get close enough to bite, but you're provided with plenty of firepower and ammunition. The raptors are particularly well crafted and look almost real. There's a nice kayak riding segment in a beautiful river setting. I particularly liked the concept of placing a teleporter nearby after a given task had been completed, taking the player back to a hub area and thus eliminating the need for extended backtracking. Hopefully the idea will catch on. If this builder can learn to accept constructive criticism in its intended spirit (and I certainly have none of my own to offer regarding this level), he will quickly earn a well-deserved reputation as being one of the best builders out there. High recommendations." - Phil

"It seems a BTB08 game but in NG generation. This game is quite linear but enjoyable. First the building has no mistake (lighting and textures). And the dino seemms perfect. The block which has been unlocked is also a good idea. And we don't know if indie passed away at the end of this game." - Glouglouton

"A relaxed linear stroll through a dinosaur infested Peruvian area. The graphics were well done and nice to see the Kayak in there too. Gameplay and secrets were on the easy side and surprisingly a lot of ways you could inadvertently bypass the author's intended pathway (the gap for the roll down bridge can be jumped via the blocks with burners, swinging spiked logs trigger is easily avoided by jumping right instead of straight ahead, timed burners don't need to be turned off by underwater lever, and much of the path to the exit door in the room with the 2nd snake stone can be avoided with a direct jump to the exit doorway) which I though beta testers would have picked up on. However none led me to dead ends or required backtracking, so all is well. Liked the infinte flares, didn't care for the dying sound every time Lara bumped into an object. Overall a pretty pleasant level." - Adrian

"An interesting game in Peruvian style, an absolutely convincing atmosphere is created by very well built rooms and Environment combined with absolute suitable sound and always appropriate cameras.There are reminiscences to an Indiana-Jones-movie from the very beginning - obviously intended by the author as we can find Indie's hat on our way. The missing story-line, very easy puzzles (except one timed run), not really demanding tasks and a route through the level that can't be missed by anyone prevent this game from being a real movielike adventure. Just a relaxing walk for Indy and Lara. (And the whole family)" - Christian

"After Braveheart's Sword another great work by the talented author...I have enjoyed an excellent game with a fluid and rich gameplay. The atmosphere is perfect for this kind of levels, good choice of textures and lighting...the gameplay in general is not difficult and perhaps rather linear but enjoyable up to the last moment, great job Lakota!" - McRaider

"Woohoo, unlimited flares. Thank you, thank you, oh thank you. That put me in such a good mood I was determined to like the level, but actually I would have in any case as it's most entertaining. Given the name of the level, you won't be surprised to encounter dinos, compys and snakes, all of whom have health bars so you can easily see how fast Lara is overcoming them. The gameplay is nicely rounded, with some timed elements and puzzles and even a short kayak ride towards the end. It's well built and attractive, with a medium difficulty level that should be readily achieved by most players. Just over an hour of good fun." - Jay

"Let's get my grumbles out of the way quickly.There were a couple of fundamental problems that I encountered with the gameplay:one was an area I easily but inadvertently revisited which was impossible to escape from;the other was a deadly water pool I could never cross and which caused me to retrace my steps to elsewhere in the level,only to complete it anyway;leaving me wondering what on earth that former sequence had all been about.It was quite possibly an intentional dead end,but a builder should never leave a player with the uncomfortable feeling that they had missed much along the way.Everything else was swift (very linear for the most part)and generally undemanding.In all technical respects,this was superbly put together.The atmosphere was dark and mysterious;the enemies were placed well (although too much ammo made them easy to kill);textures and lighting were expertly applied;and there were several nifty moments (although the sequence of Lara digging didn't trigger for me the first time;and do we really need irrelevent power-up graphics for pole swings?).It will be interesting to read the Walkthrough in due course,and find out what should actually have taken place within parts of this adventure;and how much of it I never got to see!It will be no hardship to replay it;indeed,I will look forward to it." - Orbit Dream

"Personally I appreciate the level that does not hurt my head, the Lakota comes quite in this category. The gameplay is fun and not frustrating, we search a little but never hours. The decor and the atmosphere of the game are very successful making it very enjoyable to play level. The architecture is simple but effective. The enemy may be a bit too standard but hey, it works. In short, I recommend this level for those looking for a bit of relaxation without too many complications. Congratulations Lakota." - Daffy