Level reviews

"This is a nice re-imagining of the Vilcabamba level from TR1. While I love what this author has come up with, I decided not to rate this level as highly as his later release of all the Peru levels. This may seem strange, since I loved everything about those Peru levels. But what the Peru release implies is that this author is working on re-working the entire game like this, and therefore it is a massive undertaking and exciting prospect to look forward to. So, as part of a larger whole, the Peru Re-Imagining simply had a bigger impact on me. This level however, at the end of the day, is just another Vilcabamba level – short, sweet, simple, nothing to write home about. Yes, it is crafted well and the re-working of old ideas are great, but it simply doesn't have the impact as all the levels combined do. Also, out of all re-imagined levels, the Vilcabamba level actually plays like the least original, and seems more like a carbon copy of the original, even with the added changes. The little secret of figuring out how to change Lara's clothes to a Santa outfit was a cute little touch." - Sethian

"Faithful rendition of the second level of TR1 with sufficient twists to keep it interesting and fresh. Hated the save crystals though. Many keys were disabled so you could not do TR4 maneuvers in essentially a TR1 game, such as the crawl key. Lara sported the pointy bosom just as she was portrayed in the original game." - Torry

"This level is intended as an homage to the PlayStation version of TR1 and for that it works well, buy I didn't really enjoy some aspects of it. Particularly those dreaded Save Crystals. Yes, I get that they're meant to emulate the PS1 version, but I've raised on the PC for as long as I can remember, so that put me off slightly. A very nice idea though. But, sorry to say, it didn't click with me." - Ryan

"This level is one of the best TR1-like projects done in TR4 engine, it felt like true TR1 experience. The gameplay wasn't really exciting, but what to expect as most of the players are used to the TR4 mechanics which were much more versatile. It could be a little more complex though, when it comes to the room design, layout and length. Saving crystals were a nice addition, true to the originals and it was a bit different because I'm really used to pressing F5 button every few seconds, haha. Enemies worked fine, with no issues. The goal is to achieve TR1 atmosphere, and the builder really 'nailed' it when it comes to lighting and texturing, but the geometry could be a bit more complex, yes I know TR1 didn't have triangles in geometry, but much more can be done with blocks as well. I'm looking forward to he final version, it is really similar to TR1, but at the same time, quite different." - Raider99

"Oh great... another remake I hear many of you mutter in unison to yourselves, prior to playing this demo. But to be fair on the builder, this is probably the most authentic TR1 recreation within the TR4 engine that I've experienced yet(Yes, even more authentic than Daoine Sidhe's critically acclaimed Tomb Raider 1 Revised). And whilst the Vilcabamba level included isn't exactly the same as the original game unlike the Croft Manor map, it feels familiar enough to the point that you'll never feel lost(even if rooms have been added, replaced or moved around from their original placements). Texturing, atmosphere, enemies, objects etc are all pretty spot-on to how they were in TR1, with even Lara's moveset and available tools being relegated back to how they were in 1996(So that means no flares, sprinting or crouching capabilities but with the added benefits of TR4's more solid and less loose-styled control scheme to compensate). Are there any downsides to this re-imagining however? Well, if you're not a fan of the PS1-styled save system, I can see how that may put off a lot of potential players. But considering my first proper experience with TR1 was actually through the original PlayStation version, it never really bothered me much(although I still tended to press the disabled move keys out of habit, from time to time.) And if you're not a fan of game remakes to begin with, this isn't gonna be one that'll knock your socks off so to speak. But in conclusion though, this seems like a promising start for a re-imagining project. And it'll be interesting to see what changes AoDFan can bring to the table, come the full release eventually. Worth at least a playthrough, especially with the secret Xmas-themed outfit that can be unlocked through typing a code which is pretty easy to spot, if you have a good eye." - Ceamonks890

"In general, I really enjoyed playing this level, but It's better to talk about it in topics: -> Gameplay & Puzzles: In general, AodFan's version of City of Vilcabamba is a good preview of what we're expecting on the full version. The gameplay is easy, which is appropriate for a second level of a game. The hardest thing was probably the idol, but that's nothing compared to difficulty seen in another levels. I'm giving an 8 because you managed to keep TR1's gameplay, but I didn't find the puzzles that difficult. -> Enemies, Objects & Secrets: The enemies are very well placed. The hardest one of the level were the bears, but I really would like all of them (but the bats) to have some more hp. I like some challenges, hehe. The objects are very well placed - they really make the atmosphere look nicer. About the pickups, I think they look amazing. I loved how they are not in the middle of the tile (like it is in TR4-5 and most of the custom levels), which actually helps hiding some of the items - it makes the exploration more hardcore! I only found 2/3 secrets, but the two ones that I found were really easy, honestly. In my opinion, I think they could be a little bit harder. I'm giving an 9. -> Atmosphere, Sound & Cameras: The Atmosphere was probably the best thing of this custom level. It was I-D-E-N-T-I-C-A-L to the original game, even though I though the areas were smaller than in original TR1. If you disable "Bilinear Filtering", the textures will become pixelated, which gives a better touch. The Sounds were good: well-pitched, no bugs. There were very few cameras in there. I only remember seeing one. But that's because the door that opens is in the same room, and you can hear the sound. Of course, there were some cases in which you could have put some more cameras, like where there's that trapdoor where it leads to the cave when you get the idol - I almost missed it, even though I heard the sound of the trapdoor opening. I just think you should put some cameras. I'm giving a 8. -> Lighting & Textures: The lighting is OK. There's nothing much to say. TR1 lighting is not the best, which is something the author manages to do. Most of the textures are very well placed, but there were a few ones that I noticed that were misplaced. You probably know how to corretly put them, but everyone makes a mistake, right? ahah I'm giving another 9. I'm really looking foward to see the final version of this game. A good thing about the demos is that not only we get a preview of what's coming, but the author gets to know the player's opinions, and fixes the flaws in the final version. I see lots of people tend to make low reviews just because they don't like remake levels - don't play, then! It kinda makes me frustrated, judge me if you want. It's a must-play for people who love old-school levels." - SrDanielPonces

"I'm not a fan of absolute precision required for the classic savegame system emulation to work, but the game also simulates old difficulty and can be played without saving once - even the bats got old HP and can be killed with one shot, not taking a bit of Lara's health, what is extremely satisfying. Secrets are generous in pickups though shells won't be useful yet. Their locations are nice extra rooms always harder to find than main stuff, with exception of the gold idol - I know forcing a backtrack in case of skipping it is just like the original game had, but in there the item was almost impossible to miss, while here it's rather easy to do (still, going through an "empty" room should ring a bell - hello, HELLO, check again!). This game also has "improvements" I absolutely don't agree with: the pushable block has been swapped with three pushable blocks and a whole new cavern maze was implemented (why exactly, asking about both). Thankfully this is a demo so I hope things done right will stay or even get better in the full version while whatever went wrong will be removed, fixed, corrected, blown, wiped out, eradicated, clarified, purified, exterminated, annihilated, apocalyptized, armageddonized etc. what is particularly important in case of the original game remake not only custom level players expect something decent from but also the original development team might end up concerned with. So far it goes rather good and the whole thing is enjoyable in bulk - it's always nice to have a nostalgic stroll to the times where discovery was primary goal, defense was a piece of cake and the first longest jump occured after 4/5 of the game, making sure the player is prepared for it. I hope the author understands what really differed TR1 from the majority of custom levels, and he will keep it in the full release, maybe even improving it, but keep in mind doing the latter would require genious design. This demo also features Lara's Home repictured with extreme accuracy and even containing audio triggers in places where they originally were. SUMMARY: A remake, but a good remake." - DJ Full

"Well, I will give the builder credit for being able to capture the nostalgia rather well and seeing some of the reviews there seem to be players out there who enjoy seeing these Remakes. But indeed, as somebody else said, if I want to play the old games, I can just as well go and play the old games - I do not need anyone to go build yet another version of it. Still, people should go do what their üassion tells them to do, I personally however cannot get very excited about this Brief offering here." - MichaelP

"I am aware this is just a demo of a very pretentious project, but I was pretty impressed with what I saw here. We've seen several types of remakes of original levels, but this is a lot more than that: it builds a new level but aims to preserve the experience itself, so what you get here is something that feels fresh and yet familiar. Even the camera feels different here, I can't quite describe, but it felt spot on with the 1996 game we all know and love. As an added bonus, you get a 1:1 remake of the TR1 Croft Manor, too. If you're longing for a dose of nostalgia, this will definitely do the trick. 20 minutes, 3 secrets. 12/15" - Treeble

"This short (22 minute) game has the looks and animation of TR1, but it's not a remake by any means. The gameplay is fairly straightforward and should be manageable by any beginner. The save crystal feature was a bit annoying but nothing more than that (god mode, remember). Three of them are provided at fairly strategic points, so there's no need to try and play it all in one go. The enemies are easily killed, too, with just one or two bullets. Shotgun ammo is provided, but I didn't find a shotgun. Play this one to pad your review count." - Phil

"A somewhat simplified version of the original Vilka level, although with great attention to detail. The controls, the sounds and the way the presentation was spot on, feeling like a well preserved and more refined version of the original, with seemingly neater designed rooms. The central "hub" feels slightly smaller than the original, and easier to navigate. I loved playing in the Santa outfit, which gave the level a small festive twist. The only slight downside was the length, and perhaps the enemies could have been a bit more challenging. There were a lot of pickups, but a lot of them weren't necessary. Though, I did quite like the save system. A touch of the PS era." - Cosmos

"An enjoyably authentic experience. I know that this level might split opinion but for me I rather enjoyed it, not least because of the attention to detail. It's easy to forget for instance that the later TR 4 engine uses a completely different camera position to the earlier TR games pulling the camera much further out when your guns are drawn. Personally I've always preferred the earlier camera position so I welcome it's inclusion here. Sounds are spot on and Lara's move set has been appropriate restricted back to what you had in the original games. Finally we have the 'horror' of the save crystals. As someone who is probably an abuser of the F5 button, playing this and being restricted to the save crystals (all of which worked fine for me btw) was a bit of a challenge. But then, I guess that adds to the suspense a little bit :) Texturing & lighting is equally authentic. TR1 has it's fair share of squished & stretched textures so I dont mind seeing a few here. I'm also grateful that this wasn't just some carbon copy of the original level. There's plenty of recognizable elements but thankfully there's more than enough new stuff here to keep you occupied. All in all I netted just over 22 minutes from Tomb Raider Reimagined (most of it looking for the Gold Idol which I totally missed on the first play). Look forward to seeing what this demo develops into. PS, love the 'Type Santa' trick Stiggy :)" - TheStig

"g&p: A tr1 like level, the gameplay is quite easy, except for the idol to be find. Nothing really genious but that was not the target of the builder. E,O&S: I did like the way secrets were placed, the enemies are easy to kill. There are a lot of useless medipacks, I did not use any one. I don't really TR1 objects, they are quite too much oldschool. A,S&C: Atmosphere is really like TR1, but there is a serious lack of musics. I enjoyed the Croft Manor with Lara's voice to "guide" you. There are not cameras, this is like TR1. L&T: Lighting was TR1 like, and texture too, I'm affraid. There are some non-triangle places were textures are compressed, and/or distorded. To sumup the level is quite nice to play, this is really close to TR1, the builder made his own map, this is nice. The work behind the level shall be huge, I enjoyed to see save cristals and that Lara can't sprint/jump roll etc. A nice level to play for having some fun and nostalgia :)" - Lara_Fox_Croft

"Even after learning how to save in this level (it really is a bit strange IMO) and even if the three save points are actually enough and strategically well placed, I didn't become a fan of it. Basically this is a level in which gameplay and atmosphere are not total remakes, but heavily inspired from the original TR 1 level and if you played that level there is really not much in this level that will enhance your experience. Remakes have been, are and will always be pointless, players can just play the real games instead of the x-th remade level if they want a bit of nostalgia? I'll never get that. Apart of a few traps that are not so hard to negotiate (if you use the save crystal at the swinging blades ;)) the gameplay is all about finding some a bit hidden levers; there are also three decent secrets to find (different to the original), enemies to fight (pretty close to the original), a cute outfit changing mode and a slightly different level structure that still suffers from bland lighting, monotonous texturing and relatively simple geometry. So all in all perhaps not really a level that everyone's been searching for (the builder has proven to do much better!), but it provides eight minutes of halfway pleasant raiding." - manarch2

"I can't understand the reason why a builder doesn't let players save the game when they want. This time the save crystals never worked for me (colision) and I had to play the game in one go. Fortunately it's easy to play and there are not difficult tasks. Not really a remake, but many rebuilded areas, enemies easy to kill, I found three secrets. There are some helping cameras, but I missed some more musics and flybys. The best, the texturization. Recommended for all those TR1 lovers." - Jose

"Not too sure what this level is doing on the Advent Calendar, but ... This thirty minute demo made me feel somewhat ambivalent. I'm really not a fan of games that disable the ability to save and usually refuse to play them. On the plus side, this is well done and really does recreate the TR1 feel - not a slavish copy of the original, but with enough familiar scenes to provide a big nostalgia rush. In the name of authenticity, the builder has restricted Lara's moves to those she had in TR1, so no sprinting or crawling etc. I have no problem with that and feel it works well. It's just the wretched save crystals I could have done without, especially since my earliest raiding was done on PC so there's no nostalgia factor involved with them for me. If you don't mind that aspect however, this is well worth a look at." - Jay

"This TRLE was the a really cool Tribute to tomb raider I. Another cool feature is being able to type "SANTA" to change laras clothes into a Santa outfit." - JoeTheCrazyGamer

"As a re-imagining of a well-known old chestnut,this works rather well.It's enjoyable to wander around familiar areas,only to find new layouts and different tasks - none of which are too difficult (although you'll need to keep your eyes peeled in order to locate the necessary Key pickups). Enemies are rather sparse,which is something of a blessing as the author (in a commendable attempt to emulate the old PS1 gameplay style) has disabled the Save system and reinstated the dreaded Crystals,of which I only discovered three throughout the thirty minute adventure - which inevitably means that you tend to get a little nervous every time you venture into a room,just in case your health may be at risk. Texturing and lighting generally recaptures the feel of the original,although things tend to be on the bright-ish side;and the three secrets are enjoyable to find. What any of this has to do with the christmas season,I have no idea - but it's an enjoyable and easy enough trip into an alternative past,and worth a go for those who don't mind not being able to save very often." - Orbit Dream

"Really enjoyed this demo and really can't wait for the full game when I first played this a saw I sign that said type Santa and I did and it made Lara have a Santa Claus outfit wich was really nice the level wasnt to difficult and it wasn't to easy I would say this was medium difficulty luckily on first playthrough I managed to collect all 3 secrets which werent to easy to find nor to difficult and this also had a lot of things that the classic tr had which is always a nice thing I would definetly reccomend this demo to anyone" - lokky99101