Reviewer's comments |
"Well this mansion level took me by surprise i must say, what a great idea of playing as
one of laras foe's to break into laras home at night to steal an artifact and this story
plays perfectly into the gamplay of having to find a way to break into the house via the
roof and avoid security systems cameras being set off by your presence otherwise your
mauled to death by a pack of security dogs each time lol! so okay its another copy of
the TR3 mansion in terms of layout and textures etc but this time it really is a fresh
experience, i loved trying to work out how to progress through rooms to find objects and
keys in a new stealthy way in order to escape alarm being raised, for example the
traversing and monkey climbing in the cellar and the unusual new way to enter the
library to get that much needed key, theres also a pool to drain and death traps to
avoid in the office. i was having a lot of fun with this mansion but i was gutted when
it ended too quickly, i wanted more to do and explore! and why wasnt the hedge maze
used? anyway it was a very short but very sweet level that id probably replay again at
some point" - John (09-Jun-2021) |
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"Being able to assume the role of a villain
for a change is a nice touch, as is trying
to infiltrate Lara's Mansion without
alerting anyone, but it doesn't pack in
too much excitement and the short duration
(18 minutes) means you don't have a chance
to get too involved. It's easy enough to
avoid the security cameras, but it got a
bit tedious after a while in combination
with the slightly laboured backtracking
after you picked up a key. The safe tile
puzzle was neat, but do watch out as one
of the instructions is a bit misleading.
Praise to the builder for a perfectly
decent idea, but I can't actually say I
found it entertaining." - Ryan (27-Jan-2019) |
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"This is a definitely different take on the usual mansion level, which involves breaking in without being spotted by the security cameras. If you do get spotted, you get a pack of dogs and without weapons that proves problematic. It's a good idea, but I have to say I found it a bit tedious trying not to set off the alarms. It's short, which is possibly a blessing but at least the author is to be commended for trying to inject a bit of change into the tired old mansion level theme (as it pretty much was even in 2002)" - Jay (21-Jan-2018) |
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"Not a bad idea the cameras watching the house, but each time you alert the dogs you'll have to reload or you'll not be able to finish the level. Except for this, I only enjoyed the note puzzle to safety cross the office, but there's an error with one of the coordinates and I needed to find a safe way by myself. The remaining tasks are reduced to press buttons (wrong animation) or find keys to open doors. The best feature are the numerous camera shots showing where to go when using the buttons. Not a bad level but not entertaining for me." - Jose (16-Jun-2016) |
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"It's not often that I have occasion to say this, but this level may even be a bit overrated. To begin with, it's a house level, and a short one at that (a little over 20 minutes). What's more, young Lara must play without weapons, and to do so efficiently she must avoid triggering security cameras that are scattered about inside and outside. I failed to do so at one point and had dogs following me around for the rest of the level, making it impossible to navigate the safe path in the office toward the final pickups without using the flycheat. Play it when you have a little time to kill." - Phil (10-May-2016) |
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"There's a bit of a rivalry going on between Lara and Jill, and apparently breaking and entering isn't off the table for securing artifacts. We play as (totally-not-Lara) Jill, who smashes into an already broken window in Lara's mansion, avoids her guard dogs, and claims back her Clock of the Ages. I'm pretty sure I've seen this type of level before, but it's done well here. Most of Lara's mansion is explored as Jill searches for her artifact. The stealth mechanic adds an interesting element to a Home level. Unfortunately, it is just a Home level, with little other creativity thrown into the mix. There are also ways to skip most of the level, or even get completely stuck. The author tried to address these oversights, but they are still there. Regardless, it's hard to analyze this level for its creativity, architecture, etc. because it's just a basic Home level. If you wanted one of those with a basic plot, then here's just what you're looking for." - Xela (18-Aug-2014) |
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"An interesting experiment: A thief called Jill breaks into Laras house to steal an artefact called Clock of Ages. The problem is, that Jill has no weapons and that the house inside and parts of the outside arrangement are supervised by video cameras. If Jill is discovered, the alarm goes on and the watchdogs are there immediately. Jill must go unseen along the supervision cameras and must find various keys for the rooms, as well as open other doors by button pressure. The room, in which the artefact lies, is differently protected a little bit, but Jill finds suitable instructions. Then she can escape through the garden. A few cameras more for a little higher degree of difficulty would have maybe quite felt well. Moreover, one could have formed the lighting better. But all together one can look at the experiment absolutely as successful. Result: If you want play like a thief without any weapons, than is here your level." - Scottie (16-Apr-2009) |
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"In this lull of"no new levels" it is nice to play some of the older ones I missed the first time around. So raiding Lara's home or rather Jills home was on the list. Be prepared to reload quite a lot as one should play this in stealth mode or else get eaten by some hungry dogs. There is however a flaw as I found out the hard way but it is in the walkthrough, but the note you'll find with the answer of the puzzle is wrong. You can finish the level way too early but maybe reading the walkthrough will let you play the level as it was intended. It is fun and old fashioned raiding." - Gerty (21-Mar-2009) |
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"Although this provides a twist on the Mansion theme,it's not a wholly original one (who got there first? Treeble or Leandro?)and there are a few too many places where you can get completely stuck if you go to the wrong place in a manner unforseen by the builder.At the core of the level,though,is a sound and enjoyable idea which has been very neatly developed. The 'trigger the burgler-alarms and you get killed' scenario is a fun one and leads to a degree of strategy on the part of the player;while the pleasing recreation of Lara's Home is well achieved and suitably atmospheric.I ended the level without having performed all the required actions but enjoyed it all the same.There's nothing too 'showy' here,just a solid and unpretentious raid." - Orbit Dream (09-Mar-2009) |
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"Here's a level where you play with a character other than Lara. In this you play Joana Platz or 'Jill' who is breaking into Lara's home to steal the artefact 'the clock of ages' which she believes was her discovery not Lara's dad's (weird as she would have been a child when he was raiding...). This is a stealth mission and is based on young Lara so no weapons of any kind. The level has security cameras about that alerts quite a few guard dogs if you step into it. Not too difficult as there are red circles on the floor of the cameras gaze some cameras don't have any lights however. Not too hard only one part was the room with the clock the floor is covered with invisible lasers (not v nice to wake up and see a frazzled body in the morning lol) there is a map in the inventory to help but it is impossible to decipher so it's a question of jump save etc and hope for the best. An original level not bad either nice to play a home level which actually has a storyline. Definitely for fans of the home level." - Aims (04-Jun-2004) |
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"Well this definitely was better than the 'Invasion' level and Lara has learned from her mistakes and installed some security devices to keep the intruders at bay. Doesn't work for this one - if you try hard. The security cameras and the guard dogs are a nice addition to spice up your game time and the basement isn't burning anymore too at least - even if there's a tedious monkey-swing sequence I avoided by simply running with the dogs to my destination points. The burning office didn't make any sense either and I only found the hint after already getting the clock of ages (scion?) - a minor bug if you consider that you can finish this in less than 5 minutes if you get on the roof (legally with the help of the ladder) - then on the wall and run along till the level ends. I actually found this route faster than the broken kitchen window but I presumed that wouldn't be quite enough for a review. Well it is quite fun if you do things the right way but you can easily miss out the pool and Lara's bedroom if you miss out a button or forget to play those bits. Play it if you're not tired of Lara's home levels yet." - eTux (19-Aug-2003) |
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"I read Leandro's profile of 'Jill' or Joana Platz. Rich kid that thinks she can get what she wants and she claims the Clock of Ages is her discovery not Lara's or Lara's father. So now she's at Lara's house to steal it. Jill has brought no weapons with her silly girl considering she must know Lara is a walking gun store. It took me forever to find a way into the house without setting the camera alarms off and triggering at least 12 Alsatian dogs. But that sorted the rest was just find a key pull a switch and open a door. I found the Clock but I never got into Lara's bedroom or the indoor pool room. So I don't know if the author intended you to get in there or not. The house is the same as Lara's Home Invasion in both levels you can climb onto the roof legally. The idea here is a good one though. Again I've tried to ignore the fact that this is yet another House level when scoring." - CC (16-Apr-2003) |
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"Jill since we are not playing as Lara here has no weapons flares or binoculars. According to the author we are supposed to infiltrate the house since Jill is a thief. I liked the idea with the cameras you're not supposed to alert because dogs are released then and the house although I've seen it many times looked nice. The problem was that apart from climbing to the roof and jump into the maze which has a button to open a door inside the house somewhere but unfortunately you can't escape the maze I found nothing else to do or get into the house. I was able to jump onto a semi white structure and from there jump to the wall surrounding the areas therefore I stumbled onto the finishing trigger and the level ended. I also found a key hole but the author said he forgot to put the key in the map so don't go search for it it doesn't exist. I will be glad to update my review if there is another way to play this level and I have actually missed something." - Kristina (11-Mar-2003) |
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"A home level with a difference. At first I enjoyed the concept but for me it all went downhill in the basement room with the deadly floor. Was there any logic to it? And how can a carpet be so deadly? Some security cameras were obvious but at other times I didn't understand why the dogs were set loose which resulted in a lot of tedious reloading. As it is I'm not a big fan of house levels anyway and although this here has at least a proper storyline you still don't do much apart from running from room to room making slow progress with the help of keys and buttons. The setting is solidly done it's just that .... well it's still the mansion. And was I the only one who had problems reading that scrap of paper?" - Dimpfelmoser (26-Nov-2002) |
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"I'm really impressed at the originality of this level I mean there are no great puzzles to figure out or enemies to send to the coroner's office but instead Leandro has given us a level that uses stealth as the central theme where you must avoid being detected by well placed cameras throughout the house and grounds otherwise you unleash the wraith of a pack of dogs that have either been starved for quite a while have a terrible case of rabies or have just got plain bad attitudes. You also get to play as a totally new character Jill another explorer who rightly or wrongly believes the 'Clock of Ages' is hers and will take it by any means. If you've played Leandro's previous level you will see that this is the exact same mansion but the rooms have been re-used so that the once booby trapped garage is now brimming with dogs the office is now a fiery death trap and the outside land mine is now a safe well slightly safe area that comes in handy very late in this really nicely produced 30 minute level. I just wonder who next will want to get their grubby little hands on this Clock!" - Sash (21-Jun-2002) |
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"Alright I really had enough mansion levels by now but at least this is one with a twist. Firstly Leandro introduces a new character (Jill aka Joana) then you get to climb up to the roof (which actually causes some problems as you can drop down into the maze only to never get out of it again and you even find some flares there which you can't use). The most important feature element here are the security cameras which you need to avoid otherwise some dogs will have you for supper. I found the long monkey swing rather tedious and the switch/door/key puzzles are getting a bit old but the explorable cupboards and the hint how to survive the office room is a nice touch. Spent 40 minutes in this one and was glad when I escaped over the wall with the artifact. " - Michael (21-Jun-2002) |
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"Another fine effort by the Dynamic Duo. This level isn't a ReconLabs 3 or a Doomsday Castle but for sheer originality of thought deserves to be played. Here you must emulate Catwoman and sneek into Lara's Mansion and steal the Clock of Ages. The object here is stealth. Avoid the security cameras at all costs (you have no weapons) or you will release the hounds of hell on your pretty little butt and trust me once they are around it's "game over man". You will have a few tricky areas to circumnavigate like the roof the garage and a fire tile puzzle and once you have the clock get out of their by scaling the perimeter wall. Which one I ain't saying but have fun looking for it LOL." - Torry (21-Jun-2002) |
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"After the problem with the thieves in "Lara's Home Invasion" Lara decided to reinforce the security with a lot of cameras. But that wasn't enough. Jill a rival raider raids her house in order to steal the Clock Of The Ages. The puzzles of this level were the best part and as Jill doesn't use weapons it was very ingenious. If a camera spots you it will be harder to survive and escape alive! The level has a nice object placement with cupboards and shelves and the texturization and lighting is perfect for the environment. It worth a download for all the mansion fans." - Treeble (21-Jun-2002) |
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"A fun alternative 'Lara's home' level. You run around as Jill Lara's raider colleague. Jill wants to steal an artifact from Lara which she thinks belongs to her. So you have to sneak around Lara's home and avoid the security cameras or else you will be attacked by heaps of dogs (and you have no weapons)! Not a top level but play it just for the fun!" - G.Croft (21-Jun-2002) |
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"I thought this was a great idea for a level and a lot of fun! You get to play a new character Jill who claims it was she and not Lord Croft that actually discovered the Clock of The Ages. Since no one will listen to her she decides to break into the Croft estate and take what she believes should be hers. You start out having just climbed over the front wall of the estate and your first objective is to find your way into the house. And no you can't go in through the front door you're playing a thief here remember? Whatever you do don't set off the security cameras or you might as well reload. Once inside you'll need to start searching for some keys because almost every door is locked including the bedroom. Remember to search all the cabinets and shelves too. Once you've collected all the keys and opened every door it's time to scale the outside wall and make your escape with your loot. Lot's of fun and constantly evading the security cameras and dogs makes it even more intense. You have to find and read a secret map in order to get to the Clock and also get past a pack of guard dogs to pick up a much needed key. I ran into a problem with the monkey swinging so just held my breath and ran as quickly as I could through the dogs. I loved sneaking through Lara's house I felt just like a real cat burglar! I think Leandro deserves credit not only for coming up with a new character but with an original idea." - RaiderGirl (21-Jun-2002) |
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"Jill looks like both Lara and Sophia Leigh at the same time. She has Sophia's head (although she's not blond) and Lara's body. Jill has to find her way inside the mansion and steal the 'Clock of the Ages' and after that escape. She also has to avoid a lot of security-cameras giving the level a 'sneaky' feeling. In the beginning when you climb up on the roof you can actually jump down to the last part of the level and finish it. That's just a minor bug however." - Magnus (21-Jun-2002) |
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"Oh dear. Find a key open a door push a button open a door. Most of the level was very boring but I did like the basement where if you wait just before the monkey swing the dogs slowly wake up one by one. Not all animations worked properly but this was mentioned in the read me file. All textures looked intact. I think Lara's mansion levels have been thrashed to many times it would take something very special to make an impact on the Mansion type levels." - Jason (21-Jun-2002) |
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