Level reviews

"And here I thought that Ice Man Kewl was the only one who used the messed up sounds in their levels, and the ones in this level are very similar. Apart from that, the level looks overall kinda nice, reminding me of classic areas from TR3 like Antarctica and RX-Tech Mines. However, what ruined the gameplay for me weren't the sounds but the bugs you can find in this level. There are lots of rooms where if you go into in the wrong order, or just happen to fall and survive, you'll possibly get softlocked and will have to reload. The keys in the first level are pretty much useless, since you'll end up having to cheat in order to play the second level. The gold key only spawned a rope you don't need, and sadly, I don't think you ever get to use that snowmobile behind that door (not that it seems of much use, anyway). In the second level you explore some caves and then the unexplored areas from the first level. It was okay, but it would've been much better without all those bugs, and also if there were more cameras because most of the time I had no idea what the keys/switches did. Found 3 secrets." - alan

"It's a shame to see so much potential go to waste as in the case of this double level. The Arctic settings are well constructed and the atmosphere nicely done, but the numerous flaws really detract from the overall experience. The mismatched sounds are really distracting (and I hated the fact that Lara kept screaming while swimming, and the dull thud and sound of broken glass whenever she died was sickening) and the fact that you need to cheat to continue with the second part is a definite downer and should never have been present. I also never used the snowmobile as I could do it all on foot and one of the ropes was completely useless. A great shame, really." - Ryan

"This should have been so much better than it actually is. The setting is incredibly atmospheric and pretty well made, but the peculiar sounds going on are a big distraction, and that's leaving aside the faffing about you'll need to do to access the second level. It's a shame really as there are some good moments. The room with the rolling blades, jump switches and medipacks is good fun and avoiding the wall drills brings nostalgic memories flooding back, but, sadly, the flaws detract so much that it's hard to recommend." - Jay

"First of all, I don't know the reason for all those strange and wrong sounds (when Lara jumps, swim, climb, etc.); are they intended??? It's a pain that the levels are not properly linked, but even so both are worth to play. In the first one you'll find an entertaining ride with the quad, stopping once in a while to do some tasks and get the two keys you need; the second one is very short, but entertaing anyway with more enemies to shoot and more gymnastics. What I didn't like: in the first level there are some places you can drop but never go out so you must reload an old savegame. The architecture is quite good, and the texturization too. There is certain backtracking, and you even can play all the first level on foot, without the quad, but never boring. Not a jewel of the custom levels but well playable." - Jose

"Here's another early release from a dozen years ago. The problems mentioned in the first reviews have never been addressed. Although it's a two-parter, it plays as one continuous level of about forty minutes' duration. In fact, the second level picks up right where the first one left off, but you have to use the level jump cheat documented in Harry Laudie's walkthrough to access it. All of that being said, it's actually a pretty fun raid perfectly suited for the Advent season. Marginally recommended." - Phil

"I've played this level back when I first got my hands on it, and dropped it because I couldn't stand the problems with the sound. I download it again today, good six years after it's original release and the sound issues still remain, so I might as well review what we've got. Two short levels, the first with a non-working finish trigger, that revolve around the search for some keys to progress. Atmosphere is totally killed by the wrong SFX even if the texture work is convincing. You even get the invisible door bug, something you'd never expect from a Tijay level. Not his best, definitely. And a pity, really, because it had a nice look to it. 25 minutes, 3 secrets. 08/07" - Treeble

"This level has a lot of bugs and problems. At least that is how it was for me. Sounds are mixed up, even the save and load make odd sounds. Lara screaming while swimming might be excused as the water was freezing, but there's only so much screaming you can take in a short space of time. There are numerous places that the player can get totally stuck forever. These were when I decided to go exploring off the beaten track, down below, or high above. The player is lured into these death traps by inviting looking crawlspaces, cracks, and open areas. And then there are the illegal slopes that you can't get out of with any form of jump. Switches that give few clues to what has just happened. I reached a gate with slopes down into another mine, jumps to avoid spikes, and landed at the end - a dead end. Later I realised this was supposed to be the trigger into the second level. Having ventured through mine shafts, falling into lots of spike pits, and finally finding two keys, I almost had enough. On the mac I had to choose this second level separately, so I was able to continue to the end. And I'm glad I did. Because apart from it's problems this is really a beautiful level and is intersting in it's own unique way. Great atmosphere, textures and lighting. And we come across a very familiar looking dark snowy cave settup we've seen before in the original game. There's not much in the puzzle department, mostly looking for keys. The rolling blades were no treat if you walked around the edge of the room. And we do get a reasonable quadbike ride. Considering it's age, it's quite remarkable. So pay no attention to me and enjoy this lovely antarctic base/mines level." - CC

"Although this is a level with snow setting that I like very much and the environment is quite nice there is lack of puzzles. A few keys are required to proceed and you get a snowmobile but you don't really need it which might confuse you rather than help you. After avoiding some deadly wheels and push a few buttons I came across a maze but not the traditional one just some paths and a door that opened by itself. Then after using a key I got stuck after three slides with spike pits. I don't know if I was supposed to enter the second level and there is a bug but since I found nothing else to do I used the 'level jumping' cheat to continue. The second one was very short with two golden roses a key and a moving block. The sounds were messed up and I was hearing Lara scream when she was swimming and other weird noises. I am not sure about this level; I still don't understand what al the fuss was about. The snowy lake with the crane and the underground icy caves though are something you must see so load this up." - Kristina

"Sorry to say so this level wasn't the one for me. It started off with all very strange sounds and the one thing I did miss were the gunshots. And the weird screams Lara let out what was that all about? This is also "stuck city" and more red herrings than I like to come across. Also didn't like the last jump that I couldn't make to get into level 2 and no save game. Renaming the wintertime again.tr4 into wintertime.tr4 I could go on into the second level. This one is dark thanks for the flares at the beginning but even then.... Hardly any camera work so mostly I just wandered around must have been almost everywhere twice (if not a third and a fourth time). Loved the drill bits and the jumping in between the spiked balls. For the rest it held not that much logic. I still don't understand the 10 points it got from Torry FG and Gregor for sound and camera although the atmosphere was good I'll give you that. 30-04-2003" - Gerty

"Having played Tijay's later levels already I was a little disappointed in this one - only because his last few are so good I suppose. I was impressed at first with the very realistic Arctic environment where the sound of the icy cold wind actually made me feel cold. By the end however a few things had got on my nerves - the dead ends and traps that had me reloading a lot the fact that the old key wouldn't work in the first level but did work in the same lock in the second level the slide that should have taken me to the second level but only got me to a dead end so I had to play the second level by itself and the sounds were all wrong which grew really annoying after awhile. Secrets found: 3" - RaiderGirl

"By now I played all of Tijay's levels and although they show great potential and are always built very well there is usually something that lets you down and ruins the fun (at least for me). Here there are quite a number of things that could have been avoided with proper beta testing I reckon. The first thing you notice is that the sound is all wrong; not only has Lara multiple orgasms while riding the quadbike but you'll hear the mermaids scream when you venture into the water. It was so annoying I had to turn the sound off. Also there are just so many places where you can get stuck thus turning exploring into a noisome ordeal and finally I wasn't able to play both parts in a row (maybe due to that impossible jump) so I had to load them separately. The setting is quite good and in the second part you get an area that seems to be copied from the TR3 mine level except that you die when you dive into the crystal clear water. This illustrates to me the weakness of the gameplay. Tijay could have done something with the pool as well as with the water area outside; instead you just die without a warning reload and make a fast exit. And yes the quadbike course is very frustrating as you die a lot and get stuck at every corner. As for the useless rope I assume it's for Lara to hang herself after she found out she couldn't do the jump. Poor gal." - Dimpfelmoser

"Set in an arctic environment this double leveled game takes you underground twice once on a great snow buggy ride in search of a couple of keys although one isn't necessary and then again in the second level to search for another key that will let you access a gated off above ground area and then to the end. I really enjoyed this level a lot even though I found myself very stuck at one point until some other wonderful reviewers helped me out ashamedly it was just an oversight of a button as the look was beautifully put together and the game play was quite fluidly paced with a couple of nice trap puzzles made up of large rolling bladed and spiked swinging objects. The enemies dogs and SAS are quite incidental to the game and only pop up here and there in little groups but what I found a little confusing were the golden rose secrets in the second level I found 2 and both were placed one with a key and the other with a button that were integral to progression and the second rose did not register as a secret which if going by the rest of the level obviously was. All up this level took me around 50 minutes to play 30 minutes for the first and 20 minutes for the second and if you don't mind the huge download then I'm sure you'll also have some fun with it." - Sash

"A rather controversial review for me to write. On the one hand this level is great: the freezing ambience sound Lara's outfit the modified gun sounds the barbed wire a nice puzzle with those revolving 'roller blades' and really a nice atmosphere while you explore the mine like complex - and of course the quad-buggy. On the other hand I only ran into two dogs and two SAS in the first level the gameplay is overall not very exciting on my PC I had some serious sound troubles (Lara screaming when swimming) and there are simply too many places where you can get stuck without dying. And then of course the infamous very difficult jump which I believe I mastered (if it was the one over the second spike pit) but only to end up in a dead end slide and as the savegame is no longer available on the net I could not play the second part. I hear/read it is another 20 minutes and 'more of the same' so I just have to go with the assumption that it would not change my overall opinion about the level." - Michael

"Well Tijay the master has done it again. What a rip snorter of a level. The textures were brilliant reminding me of the Antartica levels in Tomb Raider 3. I particularly like the red herrings he threw in to utterly confuse you LOL. However (isn't there always an however?) there is one jump that Tijay swears is possible but after 315 (count 'em) trys I gave up and started to question his parenthood. At the German Eidos forum I noticed I was not alone as there were many complaints lodged about this impossible jump. Now I daresay it CAN be done but the timing must be perfect. At any rate Tijay relented and posted a save game immediately after the jump and I recommend you use it. This then leads you into level 2 which has it's own difficulties the least of which was how do I get out of that chamber? Cast your mind back to TR3 as there was a similar scenario. 'Nuff said! Secrets? I found 4; two in each level. Don't know if there was more. Great level and I look forward to more of Tijay's brilliance." - Torry

"It's a beautiful double level that reminds me of TR3 (Antarctica). Lara begins the adventure in a hut in the mountains in winter and she has to find 3 keys to end the level among tunnels with traps in a cavern jumps on slants a buggy to drive and dogs and guards to kill. The difficulty is above medium I have ended the level in about 1 hour and I have found 3 secrets and some little bugs but nothing serious. A level absolutely to download." - Boris

"Tijay did it again and moved the scale of how to measure a custom level up a bit. He managed to create a winterly fairy tale for Lara that constantly challenges the player. Towards the end of part one however after the exploring of the underworld via Quadbike (or by foot) there is a jump which leaves the player one of two options: give up or try another 50 times. There is a third option which is use a savegame by the creator. Progression in part two is quite fluid and the end lets us hope for a sequel. A few smaller texturing bugs do not interfere with gameplay and after about 80 minutes and with 4 (?) secrets in your backpack you can say you have completed an entertaining level - with a slightly freezing Lara." - Qwendo

"Well first of all the sound did not work as it was supposed to. I downloaded the level twice and Lara still screamed when she was swimming (that may sound like fun but it gets very annoying after a while). Second of all it wasn't possible to get to the second level without a savegame because when you had made a couple of jumps over some spiked pits you came to a dead-end. That's where I stopped so I may have missed something very good on the second part but I doubt it. On the upside the texturing is very good and so is the lighting. But that doesn't make up for all the bugs." - Magnus

"This was a beautifully designed level and well worth playing. A fantastic quad bike ride around the first level but you must get off occasionally to get the secret and the keys. However the first level left some unanswered questions. Perhaps Tijay can supply the answers. Why go to all that trouble getting a golden key when all it does is drop a rope which is not needed? Why did the old key fit the lock across the water and not open the gate? Did I miss something vital on the way round? Now here's a strange thing. When I did the final jump (several times it is possible I have the savegame to prove it) and landed the cupboard was bare nowhere to go. The savegame into level 2 started here but now there was an exit (and a crowbar and laser sight). So on to some precise jumps to lumps of ice and on back briefly into level 1 where this time the key worked and off we went again ending prematurely after an electrifying dash to a door." - Fairy Godfather

"This is in my opinion a vastly over-rated level. Yes it's physically well crafted but there are many errors of construction/judgement. Why does one key apparently not work? What is the point of the rope? Why are the tunnels designed in such a way that it's practically impossible to drive the Quad-bike through them? Why does pulling a whole sequence of levers result in one of two fire tiles being de-activated yet the other tile is deactivated simply by picking up a medi-pack? Indeed why is there no visual indication that this is the solution to the fire-tile puzzle? And most importantly why is it essential to have a save-game from the Author downloaded in order to be able to complete the level? Why not simply construct the level fully before posting it?" - Orbit Dream

"I have just finished this famous level from Tijay. Unbelieveable - I got the old feeling from TR 3. I have played about 100 Custom Levels and these are definitely the best! The gameplay was fluidly the difficulty under hard. Only one jump directly after the second level starts makes me a lot of trouble. I needed more than 150! tries to finish this jump successfully. The main room in the second part reminds me totally to the same one in TR 3. I found 3 secrets (golden roses) and 3 Keys. But the best was the trip with the Quadbike. A bit tricky to handle but amazing. The Game was more in classical style not too much baddies. The textures are amazing the lightings brilliant. Also very good the sounds (sometimes I shot without any enemy only for the sound). It took me 70 minutes to finish both parts. Some small bugs nothing serious. The author seems to be perfect in details he could be a professional. The best custom level ever played. Download it! Couldn't await more from this author." - Gregor