Tomb Raider 2 Group Play

[AmberNamber]

Hey Raiders!

I have been out of town for a few days (went to warped tour ). So I haven't touched my playstation in a while unfortunately. I'm now in the foothills, gah I'm so slowww. I think I shall pull an all nighter to catch up considering some people have already finished. I shall raid as fast as I can!

:]

[CaityFM]

hey errbuddy! I'm back. I got some vacation in. haha! I'm planning on going to college in florida. definetly. I'm gonna start playing again tomorrow, hope I'm not too far behind.

[rosinna]

Hello everyone!! So it's been a little while since I've posted. I've finished 40 Fathoms (stats: http://twitpic.com/29k0y6 ) and The Wreck of Maria Doria (stats: http://twitpic.com/2a573x ) and I'm like half way through the Living Quarters. So far it's been a level a day lately! =D

So The Wreck of Maria Doria I thought was a fun level. I liked the all the furniture. I was wondering why the tables were still stuck to the floor/ceiling yet the chairs fell down. Gravity should've pulled the tables with it also but whatever. I also think it was a lot harder to get the silver secret then it needed to. Oh well.

I came across some luck near the end of the level. When you half to swim under the boat and into that hole. I didn't half to deal with the scuba diver because he got himself stuck in a rock!! See: http://twitpic.com/2a4hcw He's that little yellow dot in the rock that Lara's by. Idiot. It helped me out though! It took me like 20 minutes to find the hole but I finally finished. I don't like those eels that come out of the wall.

That's pretty much it from Maria Doria. The rest went pretty quickly.

In the Living Quarters I have a couple things. First of all I was using the riffle a lot in this level to kill most of the men, and I realized that I really don't like much. You can't jump and shoot with it. You have to be stationary for her to use it. Also that eel that's right near the one switch after you fill the room up with water is in a very evil place. And it's kinda creepy. To get the secret at the beginning of the passenger area I walked to the edge, jumped back and then did a stand jump instead of going all the way around and dropping in from the hole.

I think that when you kill guys and they land like this http://twitpic.com/2agzzi you should be able to use them like a spring board instead of just going right through them when you jump.

I stopped right before I was about to put the key into the key hole in the next room. Off to play now! =D

Edited August 5, 2010 by rosinna

[Mute2Conversations]

@Shrensh--springyboard...ouch! And that Parrot Boss--I swear, is everything in TR2 on steroids?

@CaityFM--where do you think you are going to college in Florida? I was favoring FIU, but mostly because it is close. Of course, I didn't wind up going. Everytime I go to college, I remember why I stopped going. I may eventually further my medical coding degree--but I'm an online course kind of gal.

@Rosinna--you're talking about the M-16, right? Yeah, that requires standing still and aiming, so you can only use it when you are someplace high where enemies can't fire at you. Generally, it is useless because that doesn't happen very often. However, it did do very well for some of the guys on snowmobiles in the later part of the level I completed today.

First, I am psyched, guys! I finished TR1 last night--and I wasn't able to finish the game the first time I played it! The timed run at the end of Atlantis, which I used a cheat save to get past the first time--I got it on my second try! And while I died seven times, I finally killed that huge mutant boss. Escaping the pyramid was harder, and I thought that the fight between Natla and Lara was very anti-climatic. Anniversary definitely did that better. But my skills have definitely improved!

So today I did Tibetan Foothills. It was fun to watch the cut scene again--I didn't save yesterday so I could watch it again. I noticed some things I didn't before. Like that engine smoking. When Lara was pulling out of there so fast, I was saying, "Hey, I don't think that engine is very healthy! You need to baby it." Eidos better not make Lara a mother like they had considered. She is not very motherly! And Stella is right, the look on her face when she sees that jacket--it is worth a million words!

So, here we are yet again in a snowy place--and Lara is wearing shorts. I know that sometimes your top is cold and your bottom isn't--but it is snow, for goodness sakes! Has anyone else noticed Lara's odd fashion sense? She wears shorts on snowy mountains and full leather jacket and pants in an Amazon jungle. I remember when Lara had skimpy bikinis for TR8, and everybody said that wasn't practical wear--when has her wardrobe ever been practical? She looks good, yes--my favorite is that little motorcycle ensemble in TR7. But practical?

When I saw the eagles, I said to Lara, "Aren't these extinct?" She said, "They are now." Why is a leopard easier to kill than an eagle? Things were a little easier to kill in this level, particularly the cats. Of course, they looked pregnant--and I think Lara just ruined the chances of bringing an endangered species back.

I briefly panicked when I slid after dropping down, but I caught the edge. When I was going for the medipack, I got confused because I saw a bird frozen at the upper right. I thought that was the one that was supposed to attack me--but it wasn't.

I swear the game learns. I had to reload because I died. This time, the birds attacked me before I even made it out of the cave. One got stuck in the wall. Then I loaded instead of saved and had to redo it. Thank god it hadn't been a difficult boss fight or timed run. This time, one bird came at me in the cave and the other attacked outside of it. Personally, I think Lara really enjoyed jumping through that ice wall. That is very Bruce Willis-ish. I was able to do the shortcut, though--which I had miss the first time.

I was wondering if Lara was getting cold. Man, I thought I could feel that water and the wind! I had such a hard time getting that medipack--and then I lost most of my health when I did and had to use it. Seemed a bit of a waste , but then I realized that is how I got up to the hut. At one point while climbing the wall, Lara kept bouncing and couldn't raise up onto the block.

The first baddies, I had a hard time finding their clips because they were hidden.

The snowmobile music was great! And running over people with the snowmobile kicks! It wasn't like riding a bicycle, though. I had to review the controls again because I had forgotten. I'm glad I printed them out.

I definitely recommend using the snowmobile! It is difficult to control at times, but it is so much fun! I did kill Lara a lot, but I didn't mind because it was fun! I'm not usually into TR snuff, but this was fun! And I don't think Lara minded--she enjoyed it too! The benefits of being a video game character is that life has a reset button! You see, this is what the critics of video games don't understand. They say why don't you do these things in real life? It is true--you can do these things in real life. You could go on a snowmobile and ride off a cliff--but the point is, do you really want to? Lara has a reset button and is fine. You don't have a reset button, and if you don't die--you will incur a lot of medical expenses and break your neck! Maybe spend the rest of your life being a quadriplegic. So who can't distinguish reality now--the gamer or the idiot who says you should do this in real life? I ask you incompetent Blockbuster manager guy who says he isn't ordering Star Wars: Force Unleashed 2 because it is too violent--and the kids should instead rent a nice movie like Saw!

So, in the ramp area, I blew Lara up several times just for fun. That is what is nice about TR2 and being able to save when I want. In TR1, I had to wait either to complete the level or wait for a save crystal (playing on a PS2)--and so I didn't like to kill Lara on purpose.

@Stella--in Through Caves and Over Narrow Bridge, the two pairs of grenades were actually opposite the ladder (in PS2). I don't know if that is what you meant when you said they were near it, but I usually assume that near it means it is by it.

Do you guys ever notice how long it takes the game to reload after Lara dies--and you are sitting there looking at her corpse? Do you think they do this so we feel guilty? Now, look what you did to poor Lara! Don't you feel ashamed of yourself? No, not really.

The three leopards in the gap below Secret #2 really were groggy. I don't know if they were too cold, or they were too pregnant. That was some stud--all the leopards were knocked up. Of course, I'm afraid he has no legacy to show for it--all thanks to Lara.

The big boom at the drawbridge was very satisfying. I sometimes wish we could see it as well as hear it.

The baddies were definitely not easier to kill. Not only are they overdoing steroids, but they had all that padding--because they know how to dress in cold weather unlike some people!

I couldn't take one of the baddies snowmobiles because it always wound up on a slope.

After taking out the two snowmobile riders, I got worried because the music sounded like timed run music...but it wasn't.

The movable block near the end of the level--that little trick about hopping to the left to not set off the baddies--BEWARE! It will not work if you go back to pull it because you want to get the snowmobile. If you want to go over the edge with the snowmobile, you are going to have to fight the baddies. Going back to pull the block activates the baddies.

So, Barkhang Monastery is next. While this was a fun level with the snowmobiles, I still think The Deck is my favorite so far. But this was an enjoyable level too--my second favorite so far.

[CaityFM]

@Mute2Conversations I'm not sure...maybe USF.

Hopefully finishing the underwater levels TODAY.

[Mute2Conversations]

Finished Level 12: Barkhang Monastery

Lara and I had more conversation in this level than we normally do--at least not since Legends. Actually, we argued more. The main problem was that whenever there was a scuffle, Lara wanted to be a part of it. However, I don't trust Lara to show restraint--and I didn't want to complicate the level by shooting at the monks. Besides, it is hard to just aim for the bad guys when the monks are fighting them. But Lara isn't really discriminating, I don't think.

The level was more stunning visually, and I liked the music. When people were first were commenting on the soundtrack, I had to admit I wasn't that impressed. The best TR soundtrack is Underworld's, though I also liked TR1 and Legends soundtrack.

Lara was getting ticked off with the monks, though they did prove to be helpful. However, they were bad about bumping into Lara--and she took it as an act of aggression and wanted to teach them some manners (shoot them). And I was like, "No, you can't shoot them--you'll make things more difficult for us." Even though she said, "Ow!" when they bumped into her, it didn't seem to affect her health. You can't shoot people just because they annoy you, Lara.

It is always interesting how the game varies between reloads. The first time I played the very beginning of the level, the monks were killed and one of the baddies lived--and Lara had to finish him. The second time (I died falling off the ladder when the bird attacked) I reloaded, the monks won the fight.

It is always fun to shoot out windows, but I was wondering if it would upset the monks. Probably these windows are very old--put in during the reign of some ancient emperor or something.

It was very hard every time we heard a scuffle to keep Lara on task. She was like kids in a school yard. Oh, a fight! A fight! A fight! Let the monks take care of the bad guys, Lara. You need to climb the ladder. I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to shoot people later in the game.

I had to admit that I was surprised that the monks didn't stop Lara and ask her who she was, what she was doing there, etc. I mean, here they were being attacked by outsiders. How did they not know Lara was with Bartoli's men--and besides, here is some broad walking around in a sacred place where men are only supposed to be. I guess being monks, they've had to rid themselves of feelings of sexism and stranger danger.

I did get confused a lot in this level on where to go. I couldn't always picture what Stella wrote in her walkthrough, though I was able to figure it out and didn't have to stop to go to YouTube.

I'll tell you, though...these temples in foreign countries! It makes one feel fortunate to be an American. The only thing we have to worry about is pedophiles. In foreign countries, temples have boulder traps and rolling blades.

I'll continue this later, folks--my breakfast is ready (pizza).

[Helion555]

@Mute2Conversations- I quite enjoyed Barkhang Monastery also. It was probably one of my favorite levels in the game, but also my least favorite. Tell me, just how many flares did you exhaust during the level? Well, mine were pretty much shot in Tibetan Foothills, and I ended up using my pistols to light the way (which doesn't even help when you are climbing a ladder and trying to find where to get off). In the end, I wound up using an unlimited flare cheat which made me upset...but I wanted to enjoy the level! And I hated how even if you shot ONE MONK BY ACCIDENT, they'd all go Jackie Chan on you and you'd have to reload. That was annoying even though I liked playing with NPC's in the area.

[Mute2Conversations]

@Helion555--Thanks to your warning, I have been more careful with my flares...and now that I'm not playing TR1, I'm not getting as confused and accidentally lighting a flare. The last time I checked, I had forty flares. I don't think I used any in Tibetan Foothills, and I only used one or two in Barkhang Monastery. Usually I can make my way around if there is a little bit of light up ahead--and no traps. I tried to do the three metal doors without the flare, but that wasn't possible.

So, to continue my narration....Lara liked shooting blindly into room--which I got on her about. We didn't know who she was shooting at. By now, Lara was pouting. I only am presented with the view of her butt--but like most parents, I can sense the pout even if I can't see it.

I used to think baddies were perverts because of their heavy breathing--and it was more suggestive when they were breathing in a darkened room, and you heard the monks going, "Ar-oooh! Ar-ooh!" However, I'm beginning to think they are suffering from congestive heart failure, probably due to their steroid abuse. Of course, I guess they could be working out...though that wouldn't explain why the lights were off.

When I first crossed the main hall, the three thugs didn't appear. I waited for a few moments, and then I went to get the first prayer wheel. When I returned, I reread the walkthrough and decided to cross the hall again. I'm not into kills, but I wanted the goodies they carried. The baddies aren't triggered until I am near the statue.

Though the monks did very well, Lara still had her doubts about their abilities to defend her. After all, they had kung fu and spears--and baddies had machine guns. Normally, this wouldn't be a fair fight, and I understood Lara's skepticism. However, the monks did very well--they must be able to transcend bullets, since they weren't fazed by machine gun fire. Lara probably only had to kill less than five baddies the entire level. Still, Lara doesn't like relying on other people to defend her--no damsel in distress is she.

I also wondered if the monks would object to Lara stealing their gemstones and prayer wheels, even though she argued it was for a good cause. Besides, she said, she never steals. She just borrows things without any intention on returning them.

After picking up the harpoons, I could not jump over that trapdoor in the hallway. I tried several times and several types of jumps. Finally, I climbed down and climbed up the other side.

That hallway of burners, swinging spikes, and rolling blades was difficult--I was glad that we didn't have to return that way. What was nice is that Lara was so distracted that she stopped her b**ching about not being able to shoot monks.

She did incur the wrath of one monk near the end of the level. I have to admit I don't know how. She was firing at two birds (this was near the wooden bridge). I didn't see her fire at the monk, but I suppose she must have. She was like, "I didn't touch him! Did you see me fire at him? What is his problem? Those birds reincarnations of some of his dead relatives or something?"

So we had to reload to get the monk off her butt.

So I'll do Catacombs of the Talion next.

[CaityFM]

@mute2conversations hahaha!! I haven't gotten to the monk levels yet but I can't wait to let them kill lara multiple times yeah me and lara argue all the time..I'm suprised she don't come out of my TV at night and shoot me.

[rosinna]

Hiya! I'm back! And I have somewhat exciting news. If you read my other posts you know that I filmed my dad and I playing and couldn't get it to upload to any site. Well I FINALLY got it up! Not the whole thing yet (because it's only going up in like 2-3 minute chunks) but I'll get those up later. I know it's long due since we're starting the Opera House in the vids but blame YouTube for the delay. Grrr!!! So here's the links:

Part 1: http://www.twitvid.com/9V4UF

Part 2: http://www.twitvid.com/QVR4O

Part 3: http://www.twitvid.com/Z8VIN

I know it's gonna seem like a lot but it would all be in one or two parts if it wouldn't fail if I tried to upload a video loner then like 3 minutes! Again, Grr!!!!! On to present day playing though.

@Mute2Conversations Yes I was talking about the M16. And I half to say that I love your posts. They're all really funny. =)

So anyways. While in the theater I noticed something. How unrealistic the theater seats are! Look! : http://twitpic.com/2asftz First of all they're very big and second of all they are very 2D. I mean they're completely flat! Haha.

So I did everything in there without any trouble. And then went back and finished the Living Quarters. Here's the stats: http://twitpic.com/2asi2x Yay, I got all the secrets! *does cute victory dance* Did anyone else realize that hardly any of the baddies left items in this level? There were like 3 people I got something from. I was like "What the heck! You don't have anything either! Well fine then! Screw you with your gravel driveway looking arms, freak!"

That's where I stopped for that day. Then yesterday I got started on the deck. I used the little corner trick to get the emerald secret. Thanks EldinSuper for that tip! =D And I have my grenade launcher now!!!!! Yay!!! I was really excited. I wanted to blow some people up.

Once I got through swimming and made it to land and blew that first sucker up! It was very fulfilling watching his body chunks flying every which way. Wow that's really morbid...... Anyways. I killed the second guy with my M16 and guess how he landed. http://twitpic.com/2b22sj Yep. OFF THE EDGE! What's with these weirdos? Almost everyone has been landing like this so far.

It took me a little while to figure out the block puzzle thing but I finally got it. I did record a video of the new dance sweeping the nation! The Tomb Raider Slide!!!

Enjoy! I just found that little bug and thought it was fun.

The rest went pretty smooth. I stopped at the top deck. Killed her a couple times for fun. I'll be back later! =D

[CaityFM]

Alright! I'm back on track.

LIVING QUARTERS OBS:

1: since I was not playing for about 5 days, I had forgotten that I needed to save often.

2: The level was extremely boring.

3: when I flooded the burner room, the dead guys were gone. darn, I was hoping to see them.

4: that eel scared the LIVING *CRAP* OUT OF ME. it ate me..twice...

5: I argue with lara, me and lara argue with the thugs. there's tons of arguing going on in my basement.

6: does anyone notice the noise lara makes when thugs are hitting her with wrenches and clubs? yeah, me too.

7: the passenger area was creepy..

8: the angled floor in the passenger area made me dizzy

9: those ugly puke-colored chairs match the opera house carpet! plus they're HUGE. AGAIN.

10: almost no thugs had anything..poor saps.

11: I was messing around on the deck and jumped off the railing thinking I'd land in the water... "WTF THERE'S NO SEA ON THE SEAFLOOR!!!!" ...wha-? did spongebob suck it all up with a straw?

my stats!

he needed a nap

@mute2conversations lara has a permanent pout, I think!

I wanted to share my favorite vacation picture

Edited August 3, 2010 by CaityFM

[susanholland]

In the ice level---I forget the name but there are snowmobiles----I discovered something new! If I ride the bad guy's bike, I get new music!

[Shrensh]

Done with the Temple of Xian! This was quite a long level; I thought it might never end. I missed one secret. I know exactly where it is, but I forgot about it when I went past the area.

My stats:

Wheeee!

Wheeee!

Whoops, I misjudged that slightly.

Go away you stupid horrible stinky yellow fish! Why do you always want to chew on me?!

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Pouncing tiger...

Oh good, swinging spiky bags. My favourite.

Well look at this. Two switches to choose from. I suppose if I press them in the wrong order, I'll be sent plunging to my death in a few seconds.

Yep, I was right...

Wheee!

Oh crumbs, that water was a lot shallower than it looked...

Go away you stupid stinky yellow fish! Stop chewing on me when I'm trying to pull a switch!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh good, a creepy cave full of spider webs...

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH GIANT SPIDERS!!! KILLTHEMKILLTHEMKILLTHEM!!!

Another giant room to climb to the top of... Doesn't this level ever end...

My, what big teeth you have.

[Mute2Conversations]

@Rosinna--thanks! I enjoy reading everyone else's too! I've actually thought, when I have the time, of writing about me and Lara's adventures. I did that with Legends and it was fun--and pretty good, I thought. I had to alter the story a bit to include myself, but I pretty much stayed true to the game. I embellished--there are some spicy scenes that would be inappropriate to post.

So I completed the Catacombs of Talion.

What was with that dramatic music when you get Secret #1? It scared me! I guess it was announcing the yeti down below. I think Yeti and Winston have the same diet or are the same age--they both have flatulence when they walk. I think the yeti was howling angrily because he never got over being passed over for an English porter to play the part of Chewbacca in Star Wars. George Lucas has p***ed off so many people in the past.

Lara got bored waiting to kill the Yeti from a safe distance, so she jumped down despite my protests. I have to admit, it does seem that the animals are starting to figure out that trick and are not cooperating. Even trying to entice them by safely dropping over the side doesn't seem to tempt them. Poor sports--not letting us kill them safely!

I had a hard time finding that switch with the first yeti. It is by the bars on the right when you are facing them.

The leopard wouldn't let us kill him from safety either. So Lara went down to the ledge. Here kitty, kitty--come here so I can kill you for the inheritance of your coat. The big cat seemed rather affectionate more than menacing--but Lara wasn't moved.

I didn't see the thugs you first encountered. I didn't realize they come in from behind you. I hate it when they disappear into the floor and you can't get their goodies! And inevitably, they have a goody that you really need--like a medipack!

@Stella--the leopards with Room with Pool and Cage didn't charge me from behind. They came from the front even before I reached the door. My back was to the stairs.

This level made me totally okay with leopards going extinct. Ditto yeti--if they exist.

That was a powerfully scary moment when I entered that dark room and I heard all those Yeti howling--and the flares didn't cast a lot of light--and I was running around looking for where I had to go. Lara tried to shoot the Yeti in the cages, but it didn't work. However, it did seem like shooting fish in a barrel--they were dispatched so easily! She shot them before they even got to her. I was holding my nose when we went into the cages. I imagine yetis must smell bad. I was telling Lara she better look at the bottom of her shoe.

I don't know if I was getting hungry, but I wanted to cook those fish that were nipping at me. They looked like good eatin'!

This level didn't quite interest me as much. Next I'm off to the Ice Palace.

It may be a slow week. I do intend to take a break and play, of course...but this is going to be a rough week for me. I'm taking an e-blended class. Our online web site that has all our tests is being taken off for an entire week so they can once again upgrade us to another server (they've done this every term--and it always is inconvenient...but never like this!). So I'm trying to do as many tests as possible before Sunday morning when it goes off. Then they told us that they are taking three weeks off of our last term (which I'm going into). We were supposed to graduate October 28, and now we are graduating October 11. Sounds great--except it has messed up the syllabus and is giving us much more work...and we had so much to begin with! I hope my financial aide check comes when it should. Last term, it was two months late! I need to register, and my mom has had to borrow all the money in my account because she overdrafted hers--and we didn't have money for groceries. So I hope either the check comes or she pays me back!

I definitely need to make time to play TR, though--no matter how difficult it is. The shooting and adventure helps ease the tension of my studies and life. I'm trying to figure out if I'm a late bloomer, or a person repeats the teenage stage where they start questioning their parent's competency. I look at my mom often these days and say, "I wonder if it is time to put you in a nursing home?"

Eh, it isn't that bad yet.

[JD_Zen]

Hi everyone! Well, as I had already finished TR2 I am currently playing the gold edition, TR2: golden mask. I have already gone through the first level, Cold War. As I had only played these bonus levels once, I had some trouble finding the right place to go. Of course, no trouble I had in searching for Stella's help Then, I decided to restart the level, just to check it again since I completely loved the level. It is hard, yes, not good for new TR gamers, but it is wonderful: you have to jump, shoot, and use the snowmobile. What I found very nice about the level is the fact that it is pretty realistic (except those invisible man, or whatever) since you have to go through the whole ice thing and the "compound". It was a challenging level and it had almost everything a real TR should have. I totally fell in love with it. Here are some screens:

You start the level the way we all like: FALLING

Well, the white suit is, kinda of, a strange fashion choice xD And if Lara were a man, she was doomed:

Invisible sliiiiiiiiideeeee:

Mr. and Mrs. Eagle

Spider Lara:

Flying dead guy. Bug?

Hum, dunno if it is a bug

Definitly not a bug

Wonder view:

Final stats. Lots of big strong enemies, really hard, lots of healing needed. On my first run I took almost double the time xD

I'm rockin through Fool's Gold, and as always, HAPPY RAIDING

Edited August 5, 2010 by JD_Zen

[Helion555]

@JD_ZEN: Thanks for the update as I've patiently waited for the GOLD levels to start being posted. I'm a PS player so I don't have that nice little accomody.

@Mute2Conversations: I do think when you write your posts, it seems each new one makes it seem like you're with Lara on her adventure and it is SO funny. It's kinda like that voice in the back of your head that seems to argue with you sometimes, and you are the voice in the back of Lara's head. I love the posts and each new one is even more creative than the last!

@CaityFM: Loved the vacation pic. It seems the woman in the black suit and the woman facing her (image's left side) are about to go at it; the black-suited woman has her hands on her hips and everything! And the woman laying down in the blue suit covering her eyes with her hands...I can see one of three things. One: she is saying to herself, "My oh my, it's hot out here...", Two: "My oh my it's hot out here, and it doesn't make it better with those two women arguing behind me. It's no wonder I had to turn my chair to face away from them!", and Three: "How's this pose!?" she shouts to a cameraman off stage. The whole hand voer the forehead thing makes it kind of pose-ish. Maybe a postcard shoot? Hope you had fun!

@Rosinna: That darn YouTube seems to be harassing EVERYONE these days. Which brings me to...

@Stella: How's the YouTube page coming along? I peeked at your YouTube page and watched your Announcement video (loved the classic TR music) Hope everything is going well for you!

Well TR fans, keep me posted. My summer musical performances are over so I've spent the past week just lying around. Without you guys I wouldn't know what to do!!!

[rosinna]

'Ello mates!! I don't know I just felt like acting Australian for a minute. Anyways, let's get to the run down.

I made it to the top deck when I last left off. I explored that whole area and just jumped around for a while. Not very productive but fun. =D I couldn't figure out how to get over to the overturned hull thingy majigger. I finally got over there and died a few times. I kept dropping down in the wrong place.

After doing everything in the little drop down space at the top top deck thing it took me a little while to figure out where I was. After you pull out the block, flip the switch, go out the door. Not until I went around the corner did I realize where I was.

When I got up to the very top, before you drop down and get the key, I saw a wonderful opportunity to kill her! Well my calculations were a little off. I swan dived but she just hit the orange thing and slid and only got a little hurt. I swan dived from there and killed her but it wasn't as fun.

So onto the storage room. I ran across to the overturned hull and took out the two flame thrower dudes with my M16 before dropping down. I wouldn't have known they were there if I didn't see a flame coming towards me when I jumped across. So then I went and got the seraph. I thought it was a really huge fork for the gods or something but I was proved wrong. Looks like a fork Sam would use though... Sorry my iCarly obsessed mind is taking over. Haha.

So that was the end of The Deck!!! Yay!!! Here's my stats: http://twitpic.com/2bmis1

Now onto the snowy levels!! =D I was anxious to get my snowmobile. I believe it was Mute2Conversations that mentioned something about Lara's wardrobe choice for the cold Tibetan Foothills (correct me if I'm wrong on the person, I'm too lazy to go search for it ). But yes I noticed her very un-practical choice of clothing. I also noticed, besides wearing shorts, that her coast is unzipped too. Doesn't make since!

But about the level. I love how at the beginning she just lands from the sky so gracefully. And how you get attacked by an eagle after you take a couple steps. I was trying to take him out with the pistols (why do we always reset to pistols at the beginning of levels) but it was taking to long so I said screw it and pulled out my riffle and shot the bum. Take that stupid bird, yeah!!!

So I made it passed the first set of boulders and was celebrating. Then she got squished by the second wave of boulders. Then I was sad. =( I didn't know there was a second set! Second try, got killed right away. Third time I didn't even get touched! In your face cold spheres of danger! Yeah!! I did feel compelled to jump behind them though. See! : http://twitpic.com/2bmkpz

When I came to the ice wall i tried to shoot it out but it didn't work. I just ended up running and jumping trough it.

I came to some more luck with the birds on the cliff. Remember back in The Wreck Of Maria Doria when i said that the scuba diver got stuck in a rock? Well a similar thing happed to one of the birds. http://twitpic.com/2bmm42 MWAHAHAAHAHA!!! I have like a magical talent for getting enemies stuck in walls or rocks!! =D

So a bunch of jumpy jumps, which I was happy about. I could do without the icicles though. Then I made it to the big thing. THE SNOWMOBILE!!! I blew the two dudes up real quick with my grenade launcher then walked over to the snowmobile. A cool start up kind of title sequence montage that they do for races and things immediately started in my head. I must say I was jamming out to the track that was playing when you get on the vehicle.

When I got to the place with all of the ramps I was having a lot of fun just speeding around and killing her a few times. And blowing the leopards up. Where do the body chunks go after you blow 'em up?

On to the bridge with the really big gap. WHERE THE HECK DO THOSE LEOPARDS AT THE BOTTOM COME FROM!! I dropped down on the opposite side and then when I ran across the magically appeared. Freaky. But that's where I stopped. On the other side of the bridge thing. =D Wow that was long. See ya' later!!

[Mute2Conversations]

@JD_Zen--somebody needs to call the hospital...I think the guy in the white suit escaped. He probably wants to get revenge on Lara for putting him in there. I guess this is why Lara believes in killing enemies dead. In Lara's world, if your enemies live, they come after you later. TR1 taught her that. Of course, since not everything truly dies in Lara's world--just comes back gross sometimes--I don't know if her concept always works. I guess it normally works on regular humans--but if it is one of the few exceptions...it just ticks them off! It is nice to see the photos. I can't play the bonus levels since I'm doing TR by Playstation. It would be nice if they would release the bonus levels on other formats.

@Helion555--thank you! As I've said, I enjoy reading everyone's posts. Aside from the fact that this has been fun, I'm glad Stella introduced me to this site because there are so many nice people on it. I have to admit that while I love Tombraider, some of the fans on other sites have freaked me out just a little bit. Once you get to know them, they seem to be pretty nice people...but you have to get to know them before you can truly appreciate them, and getting to know them can be difficult because your first instinct is to punch them in the puss.

Lara is starting to talk to me more again. I did it during Legends, but it was easier with the constant interaction with Zip and Alister. That is one thing I really enjoyed about TR7--though I guess some levels have more impact when you can feel the isolation. I didn't bother doing it for TR8, and the first time I played it I was glad. I was so bummed out by the ending. I don't know how I wanted the Amelia story to end, but that was really depressing--and to lose Alister too! I've been in the mood to play TR8, and I might do that once I'm done with TR2 and Lego Harry Potter. I'm assuming you all might be taking a break for the new game coming out. I'm going to hold off on that. I graduate in October, and I want to reward my hard work with a graduation gift. What I would really like, but it is expensive, is a Wii and a Ju-on game. If I can't afford that, then the new TR game is probably going to be my cheap alternative. Anyway, I hope Lara talking to me isn't a sign that I'm losing touch with reality like they say is a constant danger of playing video games --NAH! I'm no more crazy than I normally am! Speaking of gamer critics --that stupid Blockbuster manager guy keeps charging my mom's account for a game pass she has canceled, which is why it is overdrafting...he's a gamer bigot and he's costing us money--UNFORGIVABLE! He is so lucky I take out my aggression in TR games and GTA IV! He better be glad I do the things I want to do to him in video games rather than in real life!

@Stella--Are you planning to make a walkthrough for the Guardian of Light? That is the advantage of waiting. I didn't know, since it seems to be a little different in style, whether you would bother. And I know you are swamped with other walkthroughs.

[Mute2Conversations]

I hope you guys don't mind me double posting, but I always worry about character limits--and I thought I might have more to say about Ice Palace than what could fit--though this site is nice about giving you lots of space to write.

So, that is the level I completed yesterday. The bells, the bells, the bells! Bells have played a part in other TR games and movies, which has been mentioned. A bell also was helpful in TR7 for breaking King Arthur's amber cocoon so Lara could get a piece of the sword (I was so proud of being able to figure that puzzle out by myself).

No matter how many times it has happened before, the dramatic music mixed with the yeti bellowing always makes my heart palpitate. Of course, I got kind of grossed out. One of the yetis was belching--did you guys hear? I thought they were yelling at Lara, but I think she walked in on some gross male bonding experience. One of the yetis was trying to impress his friends that he could belch one of the Lady Gaga songs or something. Lara was totally grossed out. That is one part of her that has remained a Duchess. She crawls through sewers and hangs out with riffraff, but she doesn't like gross male tricks.

Shotguns are the weapon of choice for yetis. Oddly enough, they are easier to kill than the dang fish are. Small things are much harder to kill in these games than big games--you all notice that?

Lara was wishing we could take a photo of her on the invisible bridge. She wanted to send it to all the girls who had been mean to her in boarding school. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo, you looked your nose down on me for wearing army boots, but while your accomplishment is holding down martinis at 9 A.M. and sleeping with the illegal immigrant pool boy...I can walk on air! I was surprised that Lara felt this way, you don't expect her to care what people say...but I guess we all carry that wounded inner child that remembers every rejection. She particularly wanted to send it to Miss Hyphenated Name...the one who had scrunched up her nose in disgust when Lara had told them what she had done for her summer vacation. They had all went to the Riviera or shopped at fashionable boutiques in France. Lara had went excavating with Von Croy and brought back her lucky backpack as a souvenir--which she had taken off a corpse. Miss Hyphenated Name had sniffed and said, "Oh. It isn't even from coach." (This story isn't original--one I picked up from a Lara Croft novel). I personally think Lara embellishes sometimes, though her stories are interesting enough. I'm quite certain I saw a "Made in Taiwan" tag on her backpack.

Had a problem finding Secret #2. I kept going to where that door is, which is on the same side. That little nook wasn't visible to me until I went up to it. The secret is opposite the door and at the beginning of the right ramp--near the entrance. You have to jump over an angled block. I know there is a good chance you all know this, but I sometimes write down things I feel could use more explaining for Stella's benefit. Of course, I'm playing from the perspective of PS2, and I do believe that there are variations among consoles, and even different releases of the games. What I found interesting is that the copyright on my TR2 is a year earlier than the copyright on my TR1.

I had my doubts about jumping into that water that was melted by the hot oil. I was saying to Lara, "Ah, man. Not only you might be risking some burns and becoming flammable, but you are going to be as greasy as a customer at one of the ill-reputed massage parlors." The fish didn't get cooked, though--a shame. I was getting hungry again, and I'm certain those fishies would be good eatin'.

I never understood, when I was learning the level building, why you would want to copy a room. Now, playing the games, I realize why. If Lara is going to return to the room later in the game, it is a time saver. I believe this is what they do--and why you'll find shotgun shells or something in an alcove that weren't there the first time. Technically, it isn't the same room, but a copy with altered objects. Sometimes learning the tricks spoils the illusion, but I haven't found that with video games. Actually, it can be helpful--you can find trigger squares if you know what to look for.

I died shortly after picking up the gong hammer, but I had saved before I did. When I reloaded, the game showed the gong hammer under the water again. I picked it up. In my inventory, I had two gong hammers. Were there two, or was this a confusion of the game?

@Stella--in Under the Ice/Gong Hammer, four yetis greeted me. In the tunnel on the left, I had the one yeti that I expected. However, in the right tunnel, I only had to deal with one yeti on the stairs. The second one never showed up, unless it had been the fourth yeti at the beginning.

Lara is never going to want to build snowmen or have snowball fights after this game, I think. I think she will be totally allergic to snowballs. I probably will be too.

For the drop you have to make to the gong, be sure to have full health or more than half anyway. You'll die otherwise.

I think Superman had the same designer as the Tibetan monks for his Ice Palace.

I had a hard time figuring out where to climb up to the gong after going after the secret. You can climb up, facing the front of the gong (back to pillars), on the far left blocks. These are also, as mentioned in the walkthrough later, a good place to fire at the guardian safely...though you can lose some health getting to them.

I expected the gong to hurt my and Lara's ears. It wasn't that loud, which I guess was good...but a little disappointing.

The guardian of the Talion...that is one Polly that has had too many crackers--and steroids. Moved pretty fast, though. I swore I saw a prison tattoo. Lara is certain she saw him on America's Most Wanted--though she can't remember whether he was the actor that did the re-enactment or the criminal himself.

So, the Temple of Xian is next. I watched the little movie. I was relieved that nothing bad happened, because my mom tripped over the plug and pulled it out of the wall. However, I had already saved, and it hadn't hurt the console.

The car chase in the snow was awesome! Lara shooting out the window of the other car was so cool--and the guy saying, "Die!" right before it crashes and explodes. And Lara says, "Yeah, that is exactly what you are doing!"

And then when she jumps over that gap, I heard her shout to the bad guys behind her in that UPS truck, "Try to do this in that truck!"

Why do bad guys have impractical cars for chases? You figure that they probably are going to chase someone or run from the cops--so why don't they have better cars?

[CaityFM]

@helion555 thanks! lmao I never noticed all that stuff before now haha!

I need to get back in the game! fudgecake, I'm not even in tibet yet.

I'll finish the deck tomorrow. hopefully. I've been sick lately so I've been slackin'. haha!

yeeah Legend is the best TR, I was so sad about Underworld though I was like "OK. alister PLEASE COME BACK TO LIFE so you and lara can get married! and amelia, how dare you be a zombie! after lara went to hell and back just to find you..literally!!"

Edited August 6, 2010 by CaityFM

[AmberNamber]

hey everyone :]

I have really enjoyed everyone's posts! It's nice being in the company of fellow tomb raider fans. I am currently just started the Ice Palace. The yetis do freak me out quite a bit at the beginning of the level =/. I do have a question for everyone though. As I have been really troubled with some of the levels in Tomb Raider 2. I was just curious, in all the tomb raider games which one is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite? For me I absolutely love The Lost Valley in Tomb Raider 1. My least favorite is Lud's Gate in Tomb Raider 3. I just can not stand that place. >:[ So I would love to hear some feedback! Back to Raiding!

[Stellalune]

Hey, kids. Sorry I've been absent so long. I've been playing some TR2 and following your comments as they arrive in my inbox, but I got a little sidetracked by Guardian of Light news and blog-related matters, including a contest I'm having. (Write a TR haiku, win a LCGOL download, in case you're interested.)

Not sure whether I'll do a Guardian of Light walkthrough. I kind of want to try the game first to see if it eve needs one—and whether it's something I'd have fun doing. I wish the PC version was coming out next week and not just the Xbox. I still don't have a reliable setup for taking screenshots/video off the console.

I've been taking my time and gradually tweaking the TR2 level walkthroughs, and I'm only up to Bartoli's Hideout with that. But I've played ahead into the Maria Doria levels. I agree completely with you, Helion. Those always make me claustrophobic. It makes for great pacing and level design though. When you finally step out into the snowy mountains of Tibet, it's like a huge weight has been lifted. Then it's back underground into the blacks, browns and reds of Xian. Those Core guys didn't have much to work with back in the day, but they sure worked what they had.

Loving all of your screenshots, videos (lol Barracuda! I <3 Heart) and blow-by-blow adventure diaries. And thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for the walkthrough, tech help, etc. You guys are great and I'll catch up with you eventually.

Not TR2-related but just by way of saying I understand and sympathize, here's a video link for Mute2Conversations.

As for my own videos, I've been able to recover everything except for the 2 most PITA boss battles from Anniversary: the Centaurs and Natla. Can't quite face redoing those right now, but it'll happen eventually. Maybe I'll recruit little Katrina (from the video above) for help. Thanks for your sympathy, guys.

[JD_Zen]

@Helion555: Ok, since you don't have access to the gold edition, I am trying to take screens that show the main environments of each level.

So, after going through the delicious Cold War level, now we are led to a similar level, with the military kind of enrivonment. In the end of the level we find ourselves in a big excavation, and then it translates to an ancient civilization environment, just the one Lara likes

This level is one of the most strategic ones I ever played in TR. You have to think how to kill the enemies, since there are a lot. You need to confuse them and get in certain positions of which you can kill them. Other than that, it is a pretty easy level, fun, but not THAT fun as the previous one. Here are some pics

The flame guys are SCARY

Staline decorated wars. Very... huumm... original

A big snowy area

A warehouse

More buildings

The entrance to the digging

Well, there are more screens, but I haven't got enough space. I'll post them separately

[JD_Zen]

Uhuh, skelleton

I don't know why but this one remebers me the end of the Angkor Wat level in Last Revelation

Definitly Lara is better in here

The final stats. As the previous level, I retraced a bit and played most areas twice, since it is the 2nd time I play the golden mask, I want to know better the levels.

Now, I am gonna enter in a very hard and somewhat odd level, Furnace of the Gods. Happy Raiding!

P.S.: I sent already a mail to Stella, but I would like to say it in here, although is not the more appropriate place. I was checking the Guardian of Light videos in IGN. So I searched for the game, and this came:

http://uk.search.ign.com/product?query=lara+croft+and+the+guardian

Yup, you are seeing it right? Episode 1, 2 and 3. Are there like, going to be three games? Three DLC? I wanna find some more answers. If anyone has them, please transmit them.

[rosinna]

Hello guys!! I haven't posted in a while so I decided I should. Lets get on to it!

So I stopped right before going into the room with the drawbridge last time. I didn't really like the drawbridge room. Well I did until that guy on the snowmobile came out. He killed me like eight times. I had fun going back and blowing the snowmobile up in the big gap though. It was really fun because my mom was on the phone with the bank or something and her phone was on speaker and I turned up the volume and blew up the snowmobile. I did that like four times but the bank lady didn't say anything. =( I was hoping to get a reaction out of her.

I got a little bummed out when I had to go back though. I was all excited to get the snowmobile with guns and then I realized that I can't accelerate enough to jump back across in that snowmobile.

So the hut. I got killed 11 times!! Yay!!! Yeah, not really. Those bums just wouldn't die. I tried just blowing 'em up with the grenade launcher but they didn't blow! Grrr.

After I killed the snowmobile guy in the next room he landed very strangely. http://www.twitpic.com/2c7sur If you can't tell from the pic he was literally floating in mid air. It wasn't like where part of their body is on the platform. No, he was straight up floating. It was crazy.

Ok, onto the place with the pool, near the end of the level.

I just had to do it! I couldn't miss that opportunity. =D Sorry Lara but you come back.

Here's the stats: http://www.twitpic.com/2cxd41

Then I started the Barkhang Monastery. It glitched the first time I ran into the big room (space?) so I had to reload. =( Both of the monks got killed though. I didn't kill so they still like me. Well I did go and kill them once just for fun but I reloaded. =) Although the monks are very ungrateful. The bird was attacking his head and I went and killed it for him and he just walked away from me. I was like "Yeah, you're welcome. You better be glad I just did that for you! I could've just left you to die but no I killed that bird for you and I don't even get a thank you! I didn't have to aim that well! Jeez! And you're still not responding! Fine then be like that! See if I care! But the next time you're being attacked don't expect me to come and save you!" And yes I did say all of that out loud. =D

But that's mainly where I stopped. I'm gonna play a lot more today.

Side not though. It's kinda about TR but not the game. A while ago I said that I got a phone cover and I wanted a TR one and that I might make one in Photoshop. Well I finally did! =D Here's the original picture of my real phone cover: http://www.twitpic.com/26w0tl

And here's my TR phone cover: http://www.twitpic.com/2by0q1

You guys like it? I think it came out pretty well. I just wish it was a real phone cover.

Oh well, see ya' later!