THE BORE

General => Video Game Bored => Topic started by: demi on October 28, 2008, 06:00:47 AM

Title: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 06:00:47 AM
SURPRISE OF THE DAY

1.3 GB
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 28, 2008, 06:32:49 AM
Y helo thar ms croft

i think it is time to leave work early
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 06:40:56 AM
This game is sick... Uncharted obliterated...
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 07:06:44 AM
I beat it. Pretty short demo considering the filesize.

Game looks GREAT environmentally

Lara herself is extremely iffy. The Uzis on her back are just sad. But she's extremely flexible, especially when you jump around while shooting. Love the motion blur. Couldnt figure out how to trigger headshots or adrenaline mode.

They also seemed to remove the "quick shimmy" that you could do by tapping the A button.

Also, huge hardon for the story because it involves NATLA

NATLA!

(the atlantis chick from Anniversary / TR1)

It also seems to be the sequel to Legend because it involves her talking about Amanda (the chick from Legend) and Avalon

I'm stoked, do want very much.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 28, 2008, 07:34:40 AM
we have downloady!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: bork on October 28, 2008, 07:36:12 AM
89%, can't wait!  Loved Legend and this is looking better.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Powerslave on October 28, 2008, 08:05:07 AM
Tomb Raider just wasn't the same anymore after part 1 :(
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 28, 2008, 08:15:09 AM
I'm downloading, but I'm going to save it for tomorrow night.

Can't wait to see the new environments - they look jaw-droppingly good in everything I've seen thus far.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 28, 2008, 08:38:51 AM
I'll download when I come back home.  If it's good, then this is another thing to add to my list of things to go broke on.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 28, 2008, 08:49:25 AM
How is the framerate?  The 360 version of Legend ran like shit in 720p (constant slowdown).  TRA was also pretty awful, from what I've heard.  Does this new installment actually maintain a solid framerate?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Cormacaroni on October 28, 2008, 09:06:03 AM
How is the framerate?  The 360 version of Legend ran like shit in 720p (constant slowdown).  TRA was also pretty awful, from what I've heard.  Does this new installment actually maintain a solid framerate?

you're WELL into self-parody now dude
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 28, 2008, 10:08:22 AM
HOLY FUCK THIS LOOKS AWESOME
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 28, 2008, 10:21:57 AM
(http://i35.tinypic.com/2q9gscy.jpg)
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: MCD on October 28, 2008, 10:25:32 AM
her back looks weird.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 28, 2008, 10:32:00 AM
OK the controls are not good. There are problems here:

-- Overall fiddly control
-- Fully manual camera, so no "hinting" at where you're supposed to jump, you kinda have to hunt
-- The chimney jump sucks
-- Not enough "fudging" with jumps, you really have to be dead on

But...

++ Fuckmazing graphics
++ Amazing selective motion blur
++ Assassin's Creed style climbing
++ Lots of animation blending (Lara pushing trees out of the way etc)

Needs a lot of work but looks VERY promising

edit: Oh shit it's coming out in November, I don't think they're gonna fix this
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 28, 2008, 12:40:19 PM
How is the framerate?  The 360 version of Legend ran like shit in 720p (constant slowdown).  TRA was also pretty awful, from what I've heard.  Does this new installment actually maintain a solid framerate?

you're WELL into self-parody now dude
Indeed I am.  Doesn't mean I'm not serious, though.  :D

TRL ran like shit on 360.  You can't deny it.

Quote
OK the controls are not good. There are problems here:
Have you played the previous two Crystal Dynamics titles?  How does it compare?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Darunia on October 28, 2008, 12:58:48 PM
the controls feel slippery and the camera is terrible. Mortal sins in a platform heavy game
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: fistfulofmetal on October 28, 2008, 01:00:54 PM
hopefully its on psn this thursday


my 360  :gloomy
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: archie4208 on October 28, 2008, 01:06:51 PM
hopefully its on psn this thursday


my 360  :gloomy

Demo is 360 exclusive, lol.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Hitler Stole My Potato on October 28, 2008, 03:39:41 PM
I loved Legend and this shit rocks even harder.  Absolutely gorgeous looking.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: ManaByte on October 28, 2008, 05:03:39 PM
hopefully its on psn this thursday


my 360  :gloomy

Demo is 360 exclusive, lol.

It can't handle the wowsomeness of Uncharted rawr!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 28, 2008, 05:33:47 PM
I loved Legend and this shit rocks even harder.  Absolutely gorgeous looking.

:rock Gonna try this tonight.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 28, 2008, 06:00:01 PM
+Looks nice
+Character-only motion blur is sex
+Big environments
+New platforming mechanics add more depth to the platforming

-Camera is fucking terrible.  Worse than Legends or TRA.  Real jerky and in small areas it closes up on you and there were several times I COULDN'T SEE THE PLATFORM I WANTED TO JUMP TO.  I know I'm going to have a lot of deaths due to this camera.
-Framerate is stable when platforming, unstable when shooting
-New jump kickoff move is a little spotty, could cause a lot of deaths.  Might need to just get used to it though.
-Doing 45 degree jumps on a STRAIGHT beam is wrong.

Will still probably pick it up but enthusiasm has been dampened because of the camera.  Maybe it's just me, but my experience with the demo was the worst fighting the camera I've had in a game since Ninja Gaiden.  And when you're making precise jumps where one wrong angled jump means redoing an entire portion, shit camera is shitty.

Probably will be better than Legend.  Doubt it'll be better than TRA.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 28, 2008, 06:25:55 PM
Oh god, the self shadowing :(

Yeah the cutscene at the beginning with the jaggy mess shadows on her is pretty bad looking.  It doesn't seem noticable in the gameplay though.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 06:29:06 PM
I dont think the Underworld model is as good as either Anniversary or Legend's - probably to compensate for her being more flexible and all the motion blurring?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: CurseoftheGods on October 28, 2008, 07:35:07 PM
hopefully its on psn this thursday


my 360  :gloomy

The game is 360 exclusive. There's not even a PC version in the works.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 28, 2008, 08:15:23 PM
The demo was good, but the way Laura moves seems so twitchy and fast.  Camera is also really bad and the combat is still boring. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 28, 2008, 08:23:12 PM
Laura?! >:(

I'm sorry swaggaz, hand in your nerd badge.  You're no longer worthy.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 28, 2008, 08:25:48 PM
whatever

I hated the games until Legend anyway, and by that time I never had to read her name once.  Still, Anniversary and Legend are both awesome. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 28, 2008, 08:27:37 PM
I didn't like TR until those two games as well.  I think they picked up a boatload of fans with them.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 08:34:33 PM
Dummies, TR2 was the pinnacle
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Tabasco on October 28, 2008, 08:41:32 PM
As I was playing I kept thinking I must have been in a bad mood or something, because I wasn't enjoying the game.  Which was perplexing, because I loved Legend, and this game is seemingly similar.  But the camera is just awful, and the controls felt janky all around.  I'll rent this sometime next year during a drought.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 28, 2008, 08:46:29 PM
Imo TR1 is still the highpoint of the series, and I guess that makes Anniversary the best too, although I never played that. Legends was cool too.

TR2 /demi  :lol :lol

Anniversary is Tomb Raider 1 with good controls and a grappling hook.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 28, 2008, 09:08:42 PM
You cant honestly think TR2 is not better than 1. TR1 was the foundation, but TR2 just went over and beyond. TR3 is when they started adding all the gimmicky moves, and the levels werent as good.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: CurseoftheGods on October 28, 2008, 09:11:45 PM
I liked TR2 too back in the day.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 28, 2008, 09:12:16 PM
Dummies, TR2 was the pinnacle

This is true.  I played TR1/2 back in the day when they came out and both were amazing.  Played a little of 3 but never finished it and didn't play the ones after until Legend.

Legend was good except for the bike levels.  Anniversary was awesome.  Underworld is underwhelming from the demo.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Greatness Gone on October 28, 2008, 09:29:35 PM
This is a rent. Still pretty good though. I like how they copied Assassin's Creed's animation stuff. More games need to have Ass Creed's animation.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Darunia on October 28, 2008, 10:47:14 PM
2 was clearly the best TR game, come on people. Obviously unplayable now, but back in the day I was amazed at how it expanded on 1.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 28, 2008, 10:49:33 PM
downloading now
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Powerslave on October 28, 2008, 10:53:59 PM
Laura?! >:(

I'm sorry swaggaz, hand in your nerd badge.  You're no longer worthy.

Seriously, you can't make that mistake, ever. It just goes against the rules.

2 was clearly the best TR game, come on people. Obviously unplayable now, but back in the day I was amazed at how it expanded on 1.

TR 2 has a couple of good levels but there is just too much contact with people and civilization. Tomb Raider should be about tombs, isolation and tension. None of the TR games had this on a consistent basis like TR1 had. It still is one of the most intense and scary games I have ever played.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 28, 2008, 11:47:20 PM
wow, lack of y-axis invert and slightly tetchy stick controls aside, this shoots its creamy hot nignog in my gaming mouth and anus. day fucking one. the graphics -- artistically and technically -- and animation shit on uncharted from a great height, and the ambient music just slays me with its conjure one-esque awesomeness. fucking hell. the combat motion blur effects are perfect. please tell me they don't shit this up with motorcycle or gun-heavy sequences/chapters.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 28, 2008, 11:50:20 PM
wow, lack of y-axis invert and slightly tetchy stick controls aside, this shoots its creamy hot nignog in my gaming mouth and anus. day fucking one. the graphics -- artistically and technically -- and animation shit on uncharted from a great height, and the ambient music just slays me with its conjure one-esque awesomeness. fucking hell. the combat motion blur effects are perfect. please tell me they don't shit this up with motorcycle or gun-heavy sequences/chapters.

 ::) I know you hate Uncharted, but really this game has nothing on Uncharted visually.  Maybe larger environments, but the animation, textures, framerate, and character models in Uncharted are leagues above this.  Not to mention Uncharted has a GREAT chase camera that makes the game playable and TRU has a terrible player camera that makes the game a hassle.

TRA > Uncharted...sure.  Legends probably not, and this demo no fucking way.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 28, 2008, 11:57:16 PM
they're both 30 fps, dude, but underworld doesn't tear like a mofo. underworld has nice, gradiated shader-produced character and detail shadows instead of nasty stencil shit. the animation, modeling and special effects are leagues above uncharted's ghoulish hyperencephalic look, hideous special effects, and horrible cariacatured hand animation. textures look roughly equal, although uncharted abused normal mapping in a sort of icky dx8-esque over-the-top way.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 12:06:55 AM
well, okay, i just went through an indoor bit that lacked any real lighting model and had some kinda janky rail-to-rail jumping where it didn't seem to matter what direction you pushed, and that was kinda gay

edit: but then it opens up into a killer outdoor area with crazy lighting and detail
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 12:16:34 AM
They're not both 30fps.

I was happy TRU was 30fps unlike Legend until I shot at some bats and it dropped to like 15fps.  Going by the demo the framerate seems to drop when you get into fights because of the added effects.

I don't like defending Uncharted as the game is a solid 8/10 run n' gun overblown to hell by Sony kids, but I booted it up the other day to install the trophy patch and graphically it still looks pretty darn good.  Probably still better than anything else on the PS3 so far.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 12:17:37 AM
haven't seen that at all. i fought some tigers and it was 30 fps with some really slick looking motion blur. no reason simple frame buffer effects would kill the frame rate.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 29, 2008, 12:29:03 AM
In that level later on you fight Naga women  :o
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 12:29:55 AM
it didn't get that far for me in the demo, i pulled the pins on the "elevator" cables and then DEMO OVER

man, camera really needs some work
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 29, 2008, 12:32:07 AM
No it doesnt happen in the demo, but I read it on wiki

Quote
According to an August 2008 preview by IGN, the second level will be located in Thailand where Lara encounters spiders, bats, tigers, and a race of lizardmen known as "Naga".[18]

Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drew on October 29, 2008, 12:33:03 AM
naga please
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 12:34:00 AM
it didn't get that far for me in the demo, i pulled the pins on the "elevator" cables and then DEMO OVER

man, camera really needs some work

Yeah, don't get me wrong.  TRU looks pretty nice.  Better than Legend and I thought Legend looked pretty sweet, especially that climbing level at night in Shanghai or wherever.  

It's just the camera in the demo was really janky and not only did I fall a bunch of times from it but I can totally tell from those falls that I will have countless deaths in the full game and waste a bunch of time redoing stuff all because the camera either doesn't show me the area around me (real great when you are against a wall and can't look more than a few degrees left/right/up/down  ::) ) or because one second the direction I'm holding jumps in the direction I want and the next second when the camera has moved I jump and go in a different direction then I wanted.

Will still get the game as I'm enjoying these CD Tomb Raiders, but maybe not at full price now.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: MrAngryFace on October 29, 2008, 12:34:08 AM
Prole: You want an unruly camera, play some Operation Darkness lol
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 12:36:12 AM
Prole: You want an unruly camera, play some Operation Darkness lol

Yeah, but it's hard to mess up a turn-based game with a bad camera.  Just takes a little more patience in scoping out the area ;)  I mean the camera was horrible in OD but it didn't kill the game for me (though I know it did for some other people).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 29, 2008, 12:37:19 AM
Thats cause they're STUPID and I 1000'd it cause i rock
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 12:59:27 AM
Thats cause they're STUPID and I 1000'd it cause i rock

What killed the game for me was XBL deleting all my save games including my OD save 18 hours in.  :'(

Too bad because I actually liked the game but I doubt I'll ever stick it in and do all that over again.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 29, 2008, 02:52:01 AM
The basic character animation in Uncharted is much better than this.  The animation in this game looks a bit janky when you aren't climbing things, and even the climbing parts look like a rough Assassin's Creed. TRU is still a really good game, especially with the subtle blurring as LARA does her kicks and flips and shit, but when just moving casually on ground it looks so weird.

My problem is that while I do want this game, Prince of Persia comes out a week later and basically will have the same style of platforming and it's a series I do like more.  It helps that the new Prince of Persia looks incredible.  Well, maybe if there are some urban levels in this game I would get it at launch.  The brief urban areas in Legend were amazing.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 29, 2008, 04:36:19 AM
underworld has nice, gradiated shader-produced character and detail shadows instead of nasty stencil shit.

 :wtf  Uncharted has some of the cleanest fucking shadows seen in a console game.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 29, 2008, 04:49:27 AM
That is a clear bonus. The lack of wildlife hurt Uncharted a lot. What's the point of having a jungle without killer jungle animals, or a stream without electric eels and piranhas?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 29, 2008, 07:23:57 AM
Holy crap, this really is like Legend/Anniversary jacked up to the hilt.  Damn it looks brilliant.

The platforming is really awesome - her Altair-style of climbing looks fantastic.  Taking that style of climbing and combining it with typical TR puzzle platforming is great.  I also love how they've managed to make the handholds and stuff not stand out so much and look so 'videogamey', yet they're all there if you look.  I've always wanted this stuff to be a little more 'realistic' and not staring you right in the face.

The camera seems much the same as Legend/Anniversary which is fine - I always liked it.  And she still controls the same, but a lot of the old moves seem to have a little more weight to them, like swinging on the grapple.  Plus the new moves rock.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: tiesto on October 29, 2008, 10:21:40 AM
Haven't played a TR game since 3 on PS1... I'll have to download this demo and give it a shot, game sounds pretty fun. Hopefully it has a lot of puzzle-platforming!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Don Flamenco on October 29, 2008, 10:40:54 AM
Waiting for the PC demo...
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 10:44:19 AM
Quote
TRL ran like shit on 360.  You can't deny it.

wtf - it ran like shit?!

i don't remember TRL running like shit at all.

define "ran like shit" for a start...


It wasn't 30fps IIRC.  More like 20ish.  A lot of people back in the day simply played the game in 480p (which gave a locked 30fps) than 720p because of the 720p framerate.

TRL is the only game I've ever heard of where people were intentionally playing it in 480p on X360.

OTOH I played it in 720p and I thought it was perfectly playable even if it wasn't 30fps.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 29, 2008, 11:13:42 AM
no tiger kicking though, damn shame.  TR, however, lets you fucking jump kick tigers.  right in their tiger faces.

This is why Condemned 2 sucked -- because you could not punch the bear
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 29, 2008, 11:27:35 AM
no tiger kicking though, damn shame.  TR, however, lets you fucking jump kick tigers.  right in their tiger faces.

This is why Condemned 2 sucked -- because you could not punch the bear

And why Yakuza 2 rocked -- because you could punch not one, but two tigers in the face.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 11:30:36 AM
underworld has nice, gradiated shader-produced character and detail shadows instead of nasty stencil shit.

 :wtf  Uncharted has some of the cleanest fucking shadows seen in a console game.


ungradiated, no soft edges, single alpha value -- yeah, dx8 stencils

Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 29, 2008, 11:35:23 AM
Mmmm stencil shadows

Dreamcast says sup
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 11:36:42 AM
mmmm, dreamcast :drool
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Mrbob on October 29, 2008, 11:54:21 AM
I have on odd complaint...does the game speed feel too fast?

I feel I'm controlling Lara in some sort of turbo mode.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: T234 on October 29, 2008, 12:40:13 PM
I dunno shit about shit but the shadows in the intro on Lara look god awful.

And I didn't care for the game itself.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 29, 2008, 12:51:09 PM
no tiger kicking though, damn shame.  TR, however, lets you fucking jump kick tigers.  right in their tiger faces.

You need to build up your adrenaline meter (I don't actually know where it is on the screen) and you can kick a tiger in the face and do a back flip off of one before killing it in one shot.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 29, 2008, 01:13:43 PM
TRU looks absolutely incredible, if you ask me.  Perfect image quality, incredible motion blur, and beautiful scene designs.  I loved the previous two CD games and I'm thrilled to see how this one has turned out.  I was concerned with performance as a result of the VERY poor running TRL, but they've completely solved those issues and the game runs very smoothly most of the time.  Can't wait to play the final!

The camera isn't all that bad in that you DO have full control, but I will admit that it never seems to point where you'd expect it to.  I think it should be fine for the most part, though.  I think the combat has improved since TRA, but it's still obviously not the focus.  The fact that the enemies are actually dangerous is a great improvement too.  The platforming and climbing is pretty much on par with the previous CD efforts, though I appreciate the new animations and some of the new abilities (wall jumping, for instance).  Hopefully the length of the game rivals TRA (a very long game) rather than Legend (which was VERY short).

ungradiated, no soft edges, single alpha value -- yeah, dx8 stencils
That's one area where I thought TRU was a bit weak.  The shadow resolution seems very low.  The self-shadows you see on Lara, for instance, were so low resolution that they were reduced to a few giant blocks.  I can see that you hate Uncharted (though I'm not entirely sure why), but honestly, I don't see how you can discredit the game so quickly.  The shadows, regardless of how they were achieved, looked very good overall.

Personally, I would actually PREFER hard stencil shadows (ala Doom 3) over the kind of shit you see in many other games with ultra low-resolution shadows.  Stencil shadows aren't exactly cheap when used on a large scale either.

It seems to me that Uncharted has become some sort of love/hate game as a result of the "console war".  That is, some people seem to hold it up on a pedestal, praising it to the heavens as a gift to gamers everywhere while others, who dislike these fans, seem to damn the game at every opportunity.  I'm wondering, if this odd pro/anti-PS3 line of thought could subside, would people enjoy it for what it is?  It's a fun 3rd person shooter with a solid presentation.  It was also Naughty Dog's first current generation title.  Tomb Raider Underworld is the second outing for Crystal Dynamics (TRA doesn't count as it was basically created as a PS2 game).  Their FIRST game was FILLED with serious performance issues on both XBOX360 and the PC.  Their second effort is a massive improvement in every area and one of the best looking games on the horizon.  Who's to say Naughty Dog's next title won't see similar improvements made?  Uncharted had some tearing and slowdown, but TR Legends framerate CONSTANTLY dipped into the teens unless you resorted to using 480p.  The fact that an nVidia GTX260 still runs into bits of slowdown in Legend is even more telling.

It's just a shame to see so many people shitting on different games for their own agendas.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 01:31:10 PM
tr legends was a quickie up-port from the ps2/pc versions. it wasn't a legitimate effort at a 360 title, but rather a directx-to-360 call mapping, without addressing the underlying single-threaded performance. it runs on one core, unoptimized, and uses a really dated version of the graphics api. it's no more a full-on 360 title than other port-ups from that period were.

i shit on uncharted because i don't think it's a very good-looking game once the google eyes at the high geometry and occasional mega-textures wear off. the horrible character modeling, facial animation, and exaggerated body animation are icky! the wacky unsourced pyroclastic cartoon explosions for barrels and the GIANT BITMAP O DOOM big explosions offend my need for proper pyrotechnics in my next-gen games. there are quite a few things the engine does well, like normal mapping and the global lighting model in the outdoor areas, but the rest of the game is kinda icky looking. it's an artistic nightmare, to be sure, and the by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay doesn't work well for me (it didn't with gears of war, either).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: T234 on October 29, 2008, 01:38:44 PM
tr legends was a quickie up-port from the ps2/pc versions. it wasn't a legitimate effort at a 360 title, but rather a directx-to-360 call mapping, without addressing the underlying single-threaded performance. it runs on one core, unoptimized, and uses a really dated version of the graphics api. it's no more a full-on 360 title than other port-ups from that period were.

i shit on uncharted because i don't think it's a very good-looking game once the google eyes at the high geometry and occasional mega-textures wear off. the horrible character modeling, facial animation, and exaggerated body animation are icky! the wacky unsourced pyroclastic cartoon explosions for barrels and the GIANT BITMAP O DOOM big explosions offend my need for proper pyrotechnics in my next-gen games. there are quite a few things the engine does well, like normal mapping and the global lighting model in the outdoor areas, but the rest of the game is kinda icky looking. it's an artistic nightmare, to be sure, and the by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay doesn't work well for me (it didn't with gears of war, either).
When you say by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay, what would you consider not by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay? Quake, UT, or something else?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 29, 2008, 01:54:47 PM
You don't have full control of the camera.  There was one part when I was hanging on a ledge trying to look behind me to know where to jump, but it wouldn't let me turn it 360.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 01:56:41 PM
any game that doesn't have you move from setpiece "arena" battle to setpiece battle, make you figure out the cover situation, and then shoot the flood of enemies that inevitably arrives until the spawns stop. not saying that's bad -- in fact, uncharted is pretty comparable to gears in terms of its design in this fashion -- but i find it a really tedious waste of the jungle/ruins/adventure setting. leave that shit to superior titles in the genre like r6 vegas!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: cool breeze on October 29, 2008, 02:13:27 PM
Well, yeah, Uncharted gun combat is pretty much a copy of Gears.  I like Uncharted combat more to Gears because I'm not the biggest fan of having to completely fill enemies with bullets until they die (although this was a problem later in Uncharted) and I liked that you felt more agile and all, but they are pretty much the same in terms of combat.  Almost all cover based games are the same thing.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 29, 2008, 02:33:58 PM
Who's to say Naughty Dog's next title won't see similar improvements made?  Uncharted had some tearing and slowdown, but TR Legends framerate CONSTANTLY dipped into the teens unless you resorted to using 480p.  The fact that an nVidia GTX260 still runs into bits of slowdown in Legend is even more telling.


I've had no problems running TRL at 60fps w/max settings at 1920x200. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 02:41:25 PM
we're talkin' 360, dude.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Mrbob on October 29, 2008, 03:03:42 PM
Fucking Gears 2...I almost feel like I'm buying the game out of some sort of necessity to have the sequel than wanting it.  I agree with you Genghis, I tried to play Gears again and its damn boring now. I have a feeling once I finish the Gears 2 campaign I won't touch it again.  Game better deliver, as Resistance 2 (I liked Gears better than Resistance) looks like a more ambitious effort and better game from everything I've seen. 

Anyway, I'm not too big on this demo.  I really don't know how to pinpoint it, but the entire experience feels off.  I don't like how Lara controls, and the enviroments in the game feel too fluid and static.  I might take this off the rental queue. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 29, 2008, 03:58:25 PM
I've had no problems running TRL at 60fps w/max settings at 1920x200. 
Have you played through the entire game, though?  It was 60 fps even on my 8800GT for most of the game, but there were still spots later on that would drop.  It just feels unoptimized (and seemingly is).  I'm using a GTX260 now and, even then, there were minor drops in the one area I tested (the waterfall area following the skyscraper level).

Quote
and the by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay doesn't work well for me (it didn't with gears of war, either).
Fair enough.  I quite enjoyed both games.  I don't really think there is anything 'by the numbers' about them (especially Gears).  What exactly do you think Gears of War duplicated?  Uncharted pretty much just copies Gears, adds in better characters (I found it reasonably enjoyable anyways) and scenery, and mixes it with some very light auto-platforming.  I don't think it's a AAA game or anything, but I had a good time with it and don't feel it deserves the kind of shit it constantly receives.  Why not focus all of the hate on something that actually sucks (like the Wii).  :P  "Play" a round of Wii Music with the cheerleader "instrument" if really need something to despise.

I suppose you may be right about the 360 version of TRL (though the visuals were SIGNIFICANTLY altered on 360), but I'm surprised that the 360 port of TRA was so terrible as well.  I mean, I've seen TRA run on an X700 Mobile + Centrino laptop and hold 60 fps.  I'm sure the "main" team wasn't at fault for the awful port, but still, it reflects bad on their track record when both 360 released TR games suffer from serious framerate issues.  I'm extremely pleased by what I've seen of this new one, however.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 29, 2008, 04:15:48 PM
the horrible character modeling

Right. Take a break and resharpen those troll-tools. Or stick to ripping on things that make sense to rip on, like the explosions.

Seriously, people are hesitant of giving Uncharted props because Sony fanboys have elevated the game to a level that even Naughty Dog probably would not. But now the opposite side makes it tempting to source some of the barrelton screen festa. I can't think of any other game that inspires so much royal dumbassity from every camp.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 29, 2008, 04:21:19 PM
I've had no problems running TRL at 60fps w/max settings at 1920x200. 
Have you played through the entire game, though?  It was 60 fps even on my 8800GT for most of the game, but there were still spots later on that would drop.  It just feels unoptimized (and seemingly is).  I'm using a GTX260 now and, even then, there were minor drops in the one area I tested (the waterfall area following the skyscraper level).


I haven't beaten it but I've gone through the parts you mentioned and I haven't noticed any problems. 

Maybe you need a faster hard drive?  I've noticed that a Raid setup with speedy HDs really make a difference in reducing gaming lag. 


the horrible character modeling

Right. Take a break and resharpen those troll-tools. Or stick to ripping on things that make sense to rip on, like the explosions.

I dunno.  Everyone was kinda ugly in Uncharted except, surprisingly, the old dude (who also happened to be the best character in the game). 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 29, 2008, 04:25:40 PM
I dunno.  Everyone was kinda ugly in Uncharted except, surprisingly, the old dude (who also happened to be the best character in the game). 

So what mythical standard are we going by now? There's a mythical standard in place for seemingly every game in every genre, so what's the shining standard here that allows for character modeling in this game to be ripped on?

(http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/287/932984_20071015_screen001.jpg)
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 29, 2008, 04:44:25 PM
Quote
Maybe you need a faster hard drive?  I've noticed that a Raid setup with speedy HDs really make a difference in reducing gaming lag. 
Nah, my HDDs are quite fast and I'm using 4gb of ram.  That wouldn't cause the framerate to drop either, not like this (it's not even hitting the disk).  Anyways, it doesn't matter as I've finished the game several times.  I just hope this new installment is well optimized this time around.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Oblivion on October 29, 2008, 04:56:38 PM
lol, sorry dukman, but I don't think that particular pic is helping your argument.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 29, 2008, 05:00:12 PM
Alright, then find me samples of the golden standard that we're going by here. If that is an example of awful character modeling, then find me something that isn't. I've clearly been missing out, since I considered Uncharted to have some of the most detailed, well animated and most suitably designed characters in a game yet.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 29, 2008, 05:54:35 PM
This is a bit off topic, but Lara's new moves including the B button tumbing with that awesome subtle blur, and vaulting over little obstacles are downright awesome.  And water kicks ass for not being a flat plane even when it's just a creek.  The ocean looks really good.


:bow r6:vegas :bow2

Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 06:15:30 PM
the horrible character modeling

Right. Take a break and resharpen those troll-tools. Or stick to ripping on things that make sense to rip on, like the explosions.

Seriously, people are hesitant of giving Uncharted props because Sony fanboys have elevated the game to a level that even Naughty Dog probably would not. But now the opposite side makes it tempting to source some of the barrelton screen festa. I can't think of any other game that inspires so much royal dumbassity from every camp.

the heads are huge and the limbs disproportionate. there's no cogent art style to the faces, and the facial animation is ridiculously exaggerated. the hair is eastern european game art grade grotesque. the character models are ugly and have no discernable style -- about the best you can say is that they aren't as bad as oblivion's.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 06:19:39 PM
(http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/uncharted_elena.jpg)

"hey guys, duckman thinks i'm a superior example of modeling! screw you, square-enix!"

(http://forums.filefront.com/attachments/elder-scrolls-general-discussion/48360d1143493961-oblivion-screenshots-thread-possible-spoilers-my-character-3.jpg)

"maybe...maybe i have a chance with him, too!"

(http://www.gamewars.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tomb-raider-underworld-new-video-game.jpg)

"alas, i will never know the singular satisfaction of his caress :'("
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on October 29, 2008, 06:24:27 PM
(http://www.forensicmaps.com/images/28.jpg)

Objection! I am an example of superior modeling too!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 06:26:22 PM
People are confusing "ugly" for "realistic"

or "high-poly" for "good design," a common mistake made by folks pushing inferior platforms
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 29, 2008, 06:29:43 PM
I've had no problems running TRL at 60fps w/max settings at 1920x200. 
Have you played through the entire game, though?  It was 60 fps even on my 8800GT for most of the game, but there were still spots later on that would drop.  It just feels unoptimized (and seemingly is).  I'm using a GTX260 now and, even then, there were minor drops in the one area I tested (the waterfall area following the skyscraper level).

Quote
and the by-the-numbers arena shooter gameplay doesn't work well for me (it didn't with gears of war, either).
Fair enough.  I quite enjoyed both games.  I don't really think there is anything 'by the numbers' about them (especially Gears).  What exactly do you think Gears of War duplicated?  Uncharted pretty much just copies Gears, adds in better characters (I found it reasonably enjoyable anyways) and scenery, and mixes it with some very light auto-platforming.  I don't think it's a AAA game or anything, but I had a good time with it and don't feel it deserves the kind of shit it constantly receives.  Why not focus all of the hate on something that actually sucks (like the Wii).  :P  "Play" a round of Wii Music with the cheerleader "instrument" if really need something to despise.

I suppose you may be right about the 360 version of TRL (though the visuals were SIGNIFICANTLY altered on 360), but I'm surprised that the 360 port of TRA was so terrible as well.  I mean, I've seen TRA run on an X700 Mobile + Centrino laptop and hold 60 fps.  I'm sure the "main" team wasn't at fault for the awful port, but still, it reflects bad on their track record when both 360 released TR games suffer from serious framerate issues.  I'm extremely pleased by what I've seen of this new one, however.

tra is another quickie port-up. one of the problems with the 360 platform, at least from a videogame nerdlinger perspective, *is* that crappy but tenable pc ports can be done for cents on the dollar when the pc original uses directx, and dx9c in particular. good for companies with reasonably popular ip; bad for folks who want to see their shiny next-gen hardware get properly exercised. it's pretty hard to do that with the ps3.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drew on October 29, 2008, 07:46:10 PM
"hey guys, duckman thinks i'm a superior example of modeling! screw you, square-enix!"

(http://forums.filefront.com/attachments/elder-scrolls-general-discussion/48360d1143493961-oblivion-screenshots-thread-possible-spoilers-my-character-3.jpg)

this looks eerily similar to my Oblivion character

my guy has a better nose, is hotter :-*, and doesn't have the cigarillo colored hair tho
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Sho Nuff on October 29, 2008, 08:27:11 PM
(http://images.gamedev.net/features/reviews/Poser7/figure2.jpg)

Turns out there's an actual program that lets anyone produce superior modeling
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drew on October 29, 2008, 08:38:33 PM
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/Drewsy_photobucket/Picture46-1.png)

i just made this in Cinema 4D in like, 5 seconds.  I'm awesome.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Cormacaroni on October 29, 2008, 08:58:50 PM
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/Drewsy_photobucket/Picture46-1.png)

i just made this in Cinema 4D in like, 5 seconds.  I'm awesome.

Make a giraffe!
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drew on October 29, 2008, 09:04:10 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drew on October 29, 2008, 09:10:19 PM
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/Drewsy_photobucket/Picture48.png)

i think I'll call this one, "swimming at night"

spoiler (click to show/hide)
do i look like a clown motherfucker?
[close]
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: MCD on October 30, 2008, 12:30:56 AM
wow, this game is pretty.

but i dunno if my 360 is dying or what but the shadows over lara's chest at the intro cutscene were pretty weird.

in any case, this might be the first TR game that i will buy.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 30, 2008, 12:43:22 AM
i don't remember any weird self-shadowing artifacts

i'll boot it up and check again
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 30, 2008, 12:59:27 AM
i don't remember any weird self-shadowing artifacts

i'll boot it up and check again

Did you watch the first 60 seconds the game shows you?
The game opens up with shadows going horribly glitchy crazy all over her body in the opening cutscene.

I get the same thing on the guy's back occasionally in Dead Space when shadows are cast over him.

Also noticed a little of it in Banjo demo but it was less noticeable.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 30, 2008, 01:04:51 AM
didn't see it, and i'm pretty sensitive to that shit. playing dead space now, and not seeing anything of the sort.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 30, 2008, 01:23:33 AM
It was definitely in the first little bit Prole. 


We played it today with TOMB RAIDER UNDERWORLD DEVELOPERS :-*

Did you get to see the PC version?
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 30, 2008, 02:15:30 AM
In Dead Space the shadows aren't super-fine so I too notice a little jagginess when they are being cast from the little tiny bits on Isaac's back.  But the thing in the first scene of Tomb Raider looks more like glitching than just blocky shadows if I remember right.

In other cutscenes the shadows are good so it seems to just be the first scene.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 30, 2008, 08:48:16 AM
Quote
didn't see it, and i'm pretty sensitive to that shit. playing dead space now, and not seeing anything of the sort.
Dead Space has great shadows throughout on all platforms.  Tomb Raider Underworld is a mixed bag (though you seem to have conveniently missed the awful low resolution self-shadows in TRU).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 30, 2008, 12:40:05 PM
Quote
didn't see it, and i'm pretty sensitive to that shit. playing dead space now, and not seeing anything of the sort.
Dead Space has great shadows throughout on all platforms.  Tomb Raider Underworld is a mixed bag (though you seem to have conveniently missed the awful low resolution self-shadows in TRU).

I must have a busted copy of DS or something since so far I've been the only one to encounter pixelated low-res shadows.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/bebpo/oct18_2008028.jpg
When they get on his back like that in motion it's a bunch of pixel blocks flickering all over his back.

Only happened maybe 5 times in the game so it wasn't a big deal, but either those were glitches or the game's shadows are low-res.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 30, 2008, 12:45:59 PM
I suppose if you look closely, there are certainly moments when the shadows in Dead Space show their limitations, but I thought the overall effect while playing the game was very good. 

Clean shadows are fairly rare which is why I found it odd that people are complaining about those in Uncharted which, regardless of how they were rendered, look extremely clean during gameplay.  If their method of rendering shadows is low-end, well, I'd prefer that developers stick with it as it beats the hell out of low-res, pixelated shadows commonly seen in most games (including TRU).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: MCD on October 30, 2008, 01:49:08 PM
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1233803&postcount=1450

resolution talk for who cares (he works for crystal dynamic/eidos if i am not mistaken).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 30, 2008, 02:26:20 PM
I suppose if you look closely, there are certainly moments when the shadows in Dead Space show their limitations, but I thought the overall effect while playing the game was very good. 

Clean shadows are fairly rare which is why I found it odd that people are complaining about those in Uncharted which, regardless of how they were rendered, look extremely clean during gameplay.  If their method of rendering shadows is low-end, well, I'd prefer that developers stick with it as it beats the hell out of low-res, pixelated shadows commonly seen in most games (including TRU).

No way.  Real time DX 9.0C effects > faked and baked DX8 efects
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 30, 2008, 03:17:45 PM
I suppose if you look closely, there are certainly moments when the shadows in Dead Space show their limitations, but I thought the overall effect while playing the game was very good. 

Clean shadows are fairly rare which is why I found it odd that people are complaining about those in Uncharted which, regardless of how they were rendered, look extremely clean during gameplay.  If their method of rendering shadows is low-end, well, I'd prefer that developers stick with it as it beats the hell out of low-res, pixelated shadows commonly seen in most games (including TRU).

No way.  Real time DX 9.0C effects > faked and baked DX8 efects
The shadows in Uncharted were not faked and baked, though (which was basically the argument).
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drohne on October 30, 2008, 03:23:39 PM
are we seriously offering this game's cracked out pornstar lara as an example of good character modeling and proper cranial proportions. a cautionary example of the dangers of excessive plastic surgery, maybe

also lolz at the xfags' uncharted killer weighing in at 1024x576

Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: drohne on October 30, 2008, 03:27:07 PM
and i've just realized that my avatar can pass for a drake avatar when necessary

:punch UNCHARTED BARRELTON AWESOMESAUCE SFAGGOTRY GO :punch
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 30, 2008, 04:03:07 PM

also lolz at the xfags' uncharted killer weighing in at 1024x576

What, TRU is 1024x576?  Not a bad thing when the resulting image quality is so nice.  The game has a very soft appearance that works well with the game and allows everything to blend together.

I'm very interested in seeing the PC demo now.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 30, 2008, 04:04:25 PM
I still haven't checked out TRU but Lara's model has nothing to do with the fact that the Uncharted chick looks butt ugly.  
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: tiesto on October 30, 2008, 08:08:06 PM
Didn't really play too much, so I can't tell  you about the fighting, but I am impressed... Haven't played a TR since 3, and I wasn't into the older ones. But, the controls are tight, it seems to have that puzzle platforming I love, and OMG the graphics. Fucking incredible. Only thing that looked bad was the shadowing on Lara up close right at the beginning. But still, everything else looks jaw-dropping.

This demo has made me interested in purchasing the full game, Uncharted's demo totally turned me off from the game. This is what I was expecting Uncharted to be.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bildi on October 30, 2008, 08:43:22 PM
I like Lara's model compared to the Legend/Anniversary one, although when standing still her face looks a tiny bit distinguished mentally-challenged.  I must admit, the bit between her breasts is nicely done.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 30, 2008, 09:47:23 PM
I suppose if you look closely, there are certainly moments when the shadows in Dead Space show their limitations, but I thought the overall effect while playing the game was very good. 

Clean shadows are fairly rare which is why I found it odd that people are complaining about those in Uncharted which, regardless of how they were rendered, look extremely clean during gameplay.  If their method of rendering shadows is low-end, well, I'd prefer that developers stick with it as it beats the hell out of low-res, pixelated shadows commonly seen in most games (including TRU).

No way.  Real time DX 9.0C effects > faked and baked DX8 efects
The shadows in Uncharted were not faked and baked, though (which was basically the argument).

there's some pretty heavy lightmap abuse in the interior areas, and probably most obvious when you detonate one of those wacky barrels
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 31, 2008, 08:25:32 AM
I suppose if you look closely, there are certainly moments when the shadows in Dead Space show their limitations, but I thought the overall effect while playing the game was very good. 

Clean shadows are fairly rare which is why I found it odd that people are complaining about those in Uncharted which, regardless of how they were rendered, look extremely clean during gameplay.  If their method of rendering shadows is low-end, well, I'd prefer that developers stick with it as it beats the hell out of low-res, pixelated shadows commonly seen in most games (including TRU).

No way.  Real time DX 9.0C effects > faked and baked DX8 efects
The shadows in Uncharted were not faked and baked, though (which was basically the argument).

there's some pretty heavy lightmap abuse in the interior areas, and probably most obvious when you detonate one of those wacky barrels
For shits sake, that's insanely common in just about every game these days.  100% projected shadows aren't THAT common.  It generally doesn't even make sense to do so unless you have aggressive time of day changes.  The methods used in Uncharted were perfectly fine.  Dynamic shadows were present when you'd expect them to be.

I'm not even a huge fan of the game but you guys seem to hate it SO much that I almost feel compelled to defend it.  :P
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 31, 2008, 11:41:04 AM
Dynamic shadows were present when you'd expect them to be.


...like when barrels exploded, or during gunfire in dark rooms? wait, no they weren't!

ps3 fail, rsx budget gpu :gloomy
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 31, 2008, 12:18:21 PM
:bow :bow heed the words of the xfag emperor :bow2 :bow2
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Hitler Stole My Potato on October 31, 2008, 12:19:38 PM
TRU doesn't look as good as Uncharted but it does look damn nice even if it's missing some of the effects that were present in Legend, like Lara appearing wet when she gets out of water, etc.  The biggest problem with the game though, or at least the demo, isn't the graphics  but the fucking camera being out of position 50% of the time when you have to make a jump. Too many blind spots.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: dark1x on October 31, 2008, 06:00:45 PM
Quote
I'm not even a huge fan of the game but you guys seem to hate it SO much that I almost feel compelled to defend it.


aren't you the most obvious closet sfag, like, that has ever taken oxygen into their lungs?

just saying! each to their own - i think you just need to embrace it !

Look, it's all silly message board discussion anyways, but let's be honest here; I've never hidden the fact that I have a slight pro-Sony bias.  That does not mean, however, that I feel the need to troll any other non-Wii platforms.  I give them all a fair shake and, in fact, spend more time gaming on my 360 and PC than I do the PS3.  Over the past six months, the only two multiplatform games I've purchased on the PS3 were Dead Space and Silent Hill and that was only due to the later PC release dates. 

That's really the difference between us, I think.  You go out of your way, day after day, to troll the shit out of Sony and all things related.  That's fine, I suppose, but it seems as if you lash out with personal attacks everytime someone go against that opinion.

With that said, I also understand the whole "internet persona" thing as I myself take part in that regularly (I'm picky, but not to the same degree that my message board posting would suggest).  That could very well be the case here.  I suppose that, for me, once I've met someone in person, I have a different view of how they post on a public forum.  I mean, I've never talked to Prole or Smooth Groove nor do I even know what they look like.  I view them differently as a result. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 31, 2008, 06:50:20 PM
Your internet persona is different?  I can't tell 'cause you always sound so serious. 
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Bebpo on October 31, 2008, 08:59:11 PM
Your internet persona is different?  I can't tell 'cause you always sound so serious. 

My internet persona casts agi

 :hyper
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 31, 2008, 10:00:29 PM
ain't much difference between my internet persona and my real one

'cept i say even MORE offensive things in person
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: duckman2000 on October 31, 2008, 10:43:57 PM
ain't much difference between my internet persona and my real one

'cept i say even MORE offensive things in person

:bow Post editing abilities  :bow2
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Van Cruncheon on October 31, 2008, 11:12:50 PM
indeed :'(
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: AdmiralViscen on October 31, 2008, 11:17:41 PM
dark10x has never struck me as a fanboy at all.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Don Flamenco on November 02, 2008, 07:08:48 PM
what the fuck do I do with the second pole?   (besides that)

I wanna love this demo, but it seems like the contrast is way too high (that could be my settings), I keep getting stuck, and dying due to wonky jump aiming.  The graphics are fine though.  Pretty much on par with Uncharted...but I don't hold that game's graphics on a pedestal.
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: demi on November 03, 2008, 12:16:31 AM
If you're talking about the part where you climb down and kill the tigers and it seems like theres nowhere to go... remember you can do the chimney jump
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: chronovore on November 03, 2008, 09:06:40 AM
The climbing animations are neat, but it's weird how she can scale stuff that looks so non-climbable, but to show you where to go to start climbing, the designers had to fashion the most out-of-place looking platform possible. "GO HERE" it screams; I was thinking, OK, even if I go there, there's no way up, so I'll look for an underwater tunnel...
Title: Re: Tomb Raider Underworld demo!
Post by: Don Flamenco on November 03, 2008, 09:40:36 AM
If you're talking about the part where you climb down and kill the tigers and it seems like theres nowhere to go... remember you can do the chimney jump

It's the part where you learn about the poles you remove/put into walls.  I found the first one, climbed up, and came to a place with the second one...but couldn't figure out what to do from there.