Tomb Raider 2 Group Play

[susanholland]

Finally got to the opera house 2 nights ago. I'm at the early part of the level. I remember figuring out how to get inside stumped me, but it all came back!

Show of hands: Who has tried to chimney jump or use their grappling hook in TR2?

[Stellalune]

Hi, guys and gals! Sorry no detailed post today. Got busy with work and other stuff and haven't had a chance to write much yet. Finished Venice but missed a few pick-ups, so I think I'll take another go later on.

@Amber: LOL at your video. Talk about insult to injury.

@Eldin: Whichever works best for you. I like to drive the snowmobiles (cheesy techno music and all), but Tibet on foot is a fun challenge if you're up for it.

@Kaylee: I haven't tried to grapple/chimney jump yet, but I can't even count the number of times I've unconsciously hopped off an edge thinking Lara would auto-grab. And twice I finished a level and not saved, thinking the game would do it automatically.

[Mute2Conversations]

Just finished Level 4: Opera House. Observations:

First of all, I have several suggestions why there are boulder traps in an opera house:

1) They were scene props for an opera, but anyone who has been to foreign countries knows they aren't big into leveling...so it is only natural props are going to run away.

2) Italians take their opera very seriously, and if they don't like the singer--they release the boulders.

3) The Phantom of the Opera has moved to Italy--and either the owners didn't pay their tribute or reserve his seat, the cleaning lady didn't clean his seat and leave a box of cannolis, or he doesn't like the singer...he releases the boulders.

4) The mafia owns the opera house, and they have realized that it is totally disgusting to off enemies at a restaurant while you are eating spaghetti--can't tell what is sauce and what is blood. So now they take them to the opera--hence, boulder traps.

5) At the risk of sounding like I play the banjo and procreate with immediate family members, foreigners like to live dangerously. Hasn't playing Tombraider taught us that? Think about it. Their ancestors only lived to age thirty if they were lucky because of infant mortality, mothers dying in childbirth, epidemics, getting eaten by animals, being killed by bandits, being sacrificed because they are a virgin (which doesn't sound like a good incentive for abstinence) etc. Yet, these people still felt the need to build their temples over active volcanoes and put booby traps in them. This spirit is still embraced by their descendants--like my Peruvian neighbor, who has managed to burn down three of his five houses and eats green, maggoty meat...and can't figure out why I don't want to come over to his house and eat dinner with him.

The beginning of the level, I was rather bored and irritable. I don't know why exactly. It seemed challenging enough. I felt the same way I did in The Cistern level in TR: Anniversary (oddly enough, in TR1 it is one of my favorite levels) and in several levels in AOD. However, I started getting into it by the time I got my first secret.

The elevator...I must say that is the slowest dang elevator I have ever had to take. And when I went to replace the relay switch, I got attacked by dobermans. I thought I had already taken care of these guys. Did I forget? Did they come back from the dead? Did Stella forget another pair? I don't know. It is possible that if I got killed at some point and hadn't saved, I might have forgotten to take care of the dobermans. Actually, that might be the explanation.

I thought the circuit board looked like a bag of potato chips.

I was getting concerned by the end of the level because I was running out of medipacks. I only had one small medipack by the time I reached the room with the crates (the second one with super-thug). Super-thug...who is this guy? Or maybe it is more appropriate to say what is he? I used my uzis, shotgun, and even a grenade--and he still kept coming like the Terminator. I finally realized that I could get him if I jumped from the top of crates to other crates and used my uzis. I even managed to reserve my medipack.

Oh, and I learned that you can lose some health if you stand too close to a window while shooting it.

So now I am off to the offshore rig. Lara seems a little more cautious now. I remember how surprised I was in TR1 when she snuck onto Natla's boat and fell asleep like an exhausted child. I thought she was nuts to do that. An immortal queen and three thugs--one that likes to cut people--and she decides this is a good time to take a nap.

Oh, and the view of Venice before getting on the sea plane was pretty.

[Helion555]

Hey Raiders! So I had a productive morning having beaten Offshore Rig, Dive Area and 40 Fathoms. I found all three secrets in the first and third levels, but only two in the second. I guess the Gold Dragon was at the very end of the level and I went straight to the cutscene before I managed to get it... By I found some useful stuff along the way for you guys, including another useful glitch I found on the PlayStation version on Offshore Rig. Whilst there, the part where you must coax the goons into shooting the windows, stand upright against the center of a glass window, facing it, and roll. If done right, you'll find yourself on the other side of the window without it having to be smashed. And the only time I had to use a walkthrough for this level was to find the switch that opens the bottom of the seaplane.

In Diving Area, the flamethrowers were quite annoying and I found myself doing a lot of back and forth work having to run from one of the doors in the square hallway to the other. That was a bugger. Also, I find myself incorrectly shooting the harpoon gun as it takes six shots to kill one frogman. Anyone else got that problem? A part where I died constantly was the room with the pillars and the swinging hooks over the water where you have to get from one side to the other. Another useful tip I found was that you can stand on the sides of the blocks/ pillars as the hook swings by you without taking damage. This will save you some health. If you stand on the first block and shoot the goons without being in their target range, that's a good technique as well. Also, the next room with the slope and toxic pool killed me four times before I got the jump right. I stayed away from the center of the ramp because I thought the small landing with the Silver Dragon was another ramp that took you indefinitely into the toxic pool. Then I tried it and discovered that's where the secret was! Also, the M16 was a nice addition to Lara's ever-epanding arsenal of weapons. Does anybody still get startled by those stupid dogs?!?!?!?

40 Fathoms was a nice break from combat, although when getting the Jade Dragon and dealing with those barricudas, I found myself holding my breath trying to swim away as fast as possible. I'm not made of medipacks ya' know! I also used a walkthrough to find the Jade Dragon as it was kinda' difficult to track down. And figuring out how to fill the one chamber with water near the end AND how to open that chambers' door was quite the time-spender. Stella's site was loading when I finally found the switches and proceeded towards the level's end. I am pretty excited to start The Wreck of the Maria Doria. I'll prbably do that tonight.

This is so much fun everyone! Also, I feel kinda dumb for asking this so late. But how do you upload the pics directly to the post. It's too much work putting them on Photobucket and then linking them to the post...anyone? I'll put up my Stats images when I can put the pictures directly on so I don't have to keep going to Photobucket...

[Shrensh]

This is so much fun everyone! Also, I feel kinda dumb for asking this so late. But how do you upload the pics directly to the post. It's too much work putting them on Photobucket and then linking them to the post...anyone? I'll put up my Stats images when I can put the pictures directly on so I don't have to keep going to Photobucket...

Click on the "Add Reply" button at the end of the thread:

Then at the next screen look for the "Attachments" section below the text box, click on "Browse" to navigate to where you've saved your screenshot and select it, and then click "Attach this file".

Once it's uploaded, click the "Add to Post" link that's on the right to add the attachment to your post.

[Eldin]

Finally guys,first level of Tibet is over.I done it by foot and I can tell that is was reallllyyyy but reallyyyyy hard and full of challenge and it cost me 4 small medpacks.But I done some sceenshots for you guys:

Oh,Lara you must be freezing!

And bad guy flying

Lara noooo,not in cold water!!!

And finally my results:

[Helion555]

Click on the "Add Reply" button at the end of the thread:

Then at the next screen look for the "Attachments" section below the text box, click on "Browse" to navigate to where you've saved your screenshot and select it, and then click "Attach this file".

Once it's uploaded, click the "Add to Post" link that's on the right to add the attachment to your post.

What if I get the error message saying FILE TOO BIG? Should I resize it somehow? Thanks for all the help

Edited July 20, 2010 by Helion555

[Shrensh]

You're welcome Yeah, if it's telling you that the file is too big just resize it. If you need an image editing program, I recommend Irfanview.

[rosinna]

Hello everyone! So I'm posting this this afternoon but it's really about what I played yesterday. I didn't have enough time to do this yesterday when I played or after. So I think I got to the end of Bartoli's Hideout but I didn't get that stats yet. I just did the explosion thing. Is that the end? I don't know.

Anyways when I killed the guy on the balcony after the explosion this happened. http://twitpic.com/26wnfy If you can't see it, right by the health bar is the balcony. Apparently the bottom of the balcony has disappeared. Plus it's kind of a morbid position that he's laying in. He's the black thing by the balcony if you can't tell

I found another comic book character villain!! Today the Thing (from Fantastic 4) made an appearance http://twitpic.com/26wl68 And the Terminator came back again and I got a (crappy) picture of him this time. http://twitpic.com/26wlit

So I didn't get that far yesterday. I think it's because I spent 30 FRICKIN MINUTES trying to get that dang key behind the painting BEFORE changing the chandelier positions. Grrrrrr!!! My dad got home and I was like "Help! I've been trying to jump to that place and get the key for the last 30 minutes!!!" and he's like "You have to go flip the switch that changes the chandelier positions first." and I'm like "SERIOUSLY!!!" Anyways.....

@Kaylee I haven't tried to use the grappling hook yet but I have tried to chimney jump here http://twitpic.com/26wlvp And I constantly try to jump and climb up these poles http://twitpic.com/26wmp6

Quick side note. I got this http://twitpic.com/26w0tl cool new phone cover thing yesterday and this morning I was thinking "They need to make a Tomb Raider phone cover!". I might design my own in Photoshop.

So that's about it. I was trying to act all gangster when killing the guys. That was kinda fun. I wish I would have taken a video but I didn't I'll start taking more videos, I like doing that.

See ya'll later! =D

[JD_Zen]

Hi everyone! I read about this "adventure" (powered by Stella, thank you, always innovating ;D) some days ago, but didn't have time to start the game. Now I do, and I am ready to do it. As I am a extreme fan of Lara, each year I play all Tomb Raider games (from 1 to Underworld for now), including all extra levels. I started TR1 a while ago, finished, went for Unfinished Business, and then stopped playing. I was waiting for a good date to continue my raid adventure, and here it is. I am about to reinstall the game on my computer, as it was cleaned a while ago, and start the adventure. As a preview from my adventure I know that I will fall in love again with the music. Oh my God, those venice violins, whenever I need to relax a bit, they are the perfect solution. I even used that tune for a philosophy assignment! And also, as Stella said, the techno music on tibet is also welcome. And, I also expect to review some of my personally favourite levels of all the Tomb Raider series: the underwater levels. When I found myself in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by sharks, with my breathing bar going constantly down, I felt the emotion of the game, that heart-beating, oh my goodness, it was one of my favourite gaming moments.

Well, finally, I would like to make a suggestion for Stella. As we, hardcore Tomb Raiders, love miss Lara Croft, why not continue the co-op gaming experience throughout all games? Or at least some more. I would love to share my VCI infiltration or scorpion killing on the temple of Karnak experience. (By the way, I am planning some vacation to Egypt, and I have got to say that it was Lara that showed me the amazing places that I could visit. I am so excited )

Thank you everyone, I will be sharing my experiences soon, and HAPPY RAIDING

[Shrensh]

Welcome to the thread JD_Zen

I've just finished 40 Fathoms. I missed one of the secrets. I know where it is, I just couldn't remember how to get to it...

I drowned a few times at the beginning of the level because I couldn't remember the way into the ship. And I drowned a few times in the tall water-filled room because I couldn't find the switch to open the door at the bottom. I suck...

You know what I'm going to do over here...

Yep, I did it!

[Helion555]

Morning guys! Well...I must say that this morning was not nearly as productive as other mornings have been as I worked on the Wreck of the Maria Doria for an hour only to find I had missed a circuit breaker. That was very annoying as then I used Stella's Walkthrough to backtrack through the level until I found it. I haven't gotten there yet...but I want to take a short break. So, so far I have the Jade and Stone dragons and am loving the level. It's so cool being in a capsized underwater ship with Lara!

Also, for those of you who died at the beginning of 40 Fathoms, a tip I found is to look for the trail of boxes when you first start out. If you find them (laying on the seabed) simply swim in their path towards the ship. This will prevent you from drowning Ms. Croft.

I do not like some of the unrealistic points in this level, and others. For instance in Maria Doria, you have to pull that switch in the room with the boat and the door with the circular twist-thing. The lever is not next to the door, but a few clicks ABOVE the door which is quite annoying as I would think the switches would be right next to the doors in real life. Oh well, this is still an incredible game!

Also I found that there was a collapsable floor tile that doesn't collapse in the place where the barrels roll past. Running towards the floor space, ould be the top right tile that didn't seem to trigger for me...I love the little bugs in the game as they are fun to work with! Corner bug for example.

Also, I forget who mentioned it, but I love the Venice music as well. While playing through the level, I enjoyed listening to those violins...

Keep up the good work everyone! I love this group-play and it's lots of fun to read others' posts! Good job all!

[Gia@LCO]

Alright! Things are returning to a more normal pace here, so I loaded up TR2. I'll have lots more time next week to play.

Finally finished the Great Wall (really hate all the traps at the end).

You all are doing great! Hope I can catch up with you LOL

[CaityFM]

UGH! I am STILL not finished with that dang opera house!

I saved at a really bad spot where my health bar is red and guys are shooting at me. this. sucks. I do not want to repeat the entire freakin' level!!! AHHHHH!!!!! I'm gonna make a run for it and kill the guys once I find some medi packs...maybe...anything to keep me from doing the entire thing over again. I've also been really busy with my volunteer work, so I'm gonna fall a few levels behind. darnnnn.

The good news is that whenever I get frusterated I can go kill lara

(@stella : 'tis my video, actually. )

*later*

UH YEAH!!! I got past the bad save and now I'm almost done with that danged opera house. I have about a page of walkthrough left! finally! at least now I have a little more health gonna go finish! @dogg thanks got through it with just a smidge of flashing red.

Edited July 21, 2010 by CaityFM

[Dogg]

Hello guys!

@Caity: I feel so sorry for you... I had similar situation when I was playing Legend, bunch of mercenaries and lots of explosive barrels around, no health packs and only little health left... And during level 3 (Bartoli's Hideout) whenever I got a health pack (large or little, usually little) I had to use it to survive - but I made it through okay and actually in a weird way enjoyed it! One of my best raiding experiences ever Btw about that your video which you have sent some posts ago - I just watched it - it was hilarious! Talk about bad luck! Anyway hope you make through that annoying spot in Opera House level!

Right now I have played three levels (The Great Wall - found Silver dragon, Venice - found all dragons yay! and Bartoli's Hideout - found Silver dragon). Didn't list kills or anything, simply forgot... this game is so addicting! Only one thing to complain: during battles or swimming up the motions get slower, as do reactions and everything that happens. (That's not very clear way to say it, sorry guys...) But still I love this game, and now I go playing Opera House - I heard it's tough one, so wish me luck!

[AmberNamber]

Hey everybody. :] Everyone seems to be doing really well. I just started on The Wreck Of The Maria Doria. I absolutely hate these levels especially this one. > I'm ready for Tibet! XD

[Eldin]

Hey everybody. :] Everyone seems to be doing really well. I just started on The Wreck Of The Maria Doria. I absolutely hate these levels especially this one. > I'm ready for Tibet! XD

I don't like level Wreck of Moria Doria too,I don't know why,maybe because all of those bad guys,there are everywhere and there are places where Lara needs to fall down and because of that you need to use madpack.I am in level Barkhang Monastery on Tibet,now I have little help here,those monks they will help me to fight Bartoli's mans.

[rosinna]

Hey guys! I didn't play any yesterday 'cause I had dance class and got up at 12:30 and was just really busy so I ran out of time. But I'm going to be playing a bunch today. I'm posting this to let you know that I'm going to be sneaky today. I said that I want to post more videos so I'm gonna set my camera up in the living room and hit record when my dad gets here and we start playing. But I'm not gonna tell him that I'm recording. He doesn't check this site or YouTube so I shouldn't have to worry about him finding out. I'll just say that I was taking videos off of my camera if he notices it. Mwahahah!!! Then I'll post it on YouTube. I'll cut out the boring parts in my editing software so don't worry. Oh and it should be better quality then my other vids 'cause it won't be shot on my phone. That way I won't have to jump up every time I want to shoot a video. Wait how am I gonna turn it off without him noticing... Hmm. I'll think of something. If you have a suggestion let me know. Ok that's all for now. Look forward to my TR vid with my dad and I's stupid comments. Haha, I'll be back later.

Edited July 21, 2010 by rosinna

[Eldin]

Barkhang Monastery is finish

I must tell that I enjoy this level immensely:

First reason is that Lara isn't alone in this level monks are her bodyguards here

Next reason is this level is so amazing,I don't know why but I just like it

And here are some sceenshots from this level:

If only those guys can come with me in next level.I miss you guys

Its huge

Lara and one monk fighting bad guy

And finally my results

[Shrensh]

I like those monks too Although I usually shoot one by mistake, then I have to reload because they all start trying to murder me...

I'm done with the Wreck of the Maria Doria now I missed one secret again. There's always one...

I must say, I like this level very much. I have a thing for abandoned and wrecked places, so I find it all very atmospheric and creepy. I love Aldwych in Tomb Raider 3 for the same reason.

Very cool and creepy upside down pool:

Don't you just love the way Lara bares her teeth when she's shooting at something?

Ha ha ha, floating Lara...

I had about a millimetre of health left, and then a stupid barracuda nibbled on my ankle and killed me

So how come these bad guys can just walk through the door and Lara can't? Totally unfair, I say!

[Mute2Conversations]

I've been very happy. I am playing much better. I'm not using TR2 to gauge this but TR1. I've played TR1 before, and though I didn't finish the first time...I made it to the level where you fight that huge mutant. I am doing much better in all the levels. Levels that used to take me three or four days are only taking one day usually. Things that I struggled with the first time I'm doing much better on. I'm hoping I might finish this game.

But we aren't here to talk about TR1.

On TR2, I finished Offshore Rig.

Question: Is it my imagination, or does Lara use up more air when she is going for a secret? I admit that I'm not very good with underwater areas because I don' have as fine of control over Lara. I think the breath meter might also be influenced by the health bar, because I notice that I can't hold my breath as long when my health is getting low. Still, I swear it goes faster when I go for a secret.

I accidentally used yet another flare because I got confused about where the sidestep button is (sigh).

I really liked the area where we picked up the silver dragon. Very pretty sunset. I was surprised too. I lingered there for a few minutes because I enjoyed being outside so much. I didn't realize that I felt claustrophobic in the rig. I don't often feel claustrophobic in tombs, so why the rig? I think because I was associating the rig with bad smells--the smell of rusting metal...and worse, gross men smells--the kind you only like when you are madly in love. I'm sure the gals know what I'm talking about. And I bet these brutes particularly smell--since they seem to be all testosterone.

For a change, I saw the scuba divers a lot better than Lara.

At the very end, I panicked because it seemed after the gate opened--the water was pushing me back. However, I just had to go more towards the middle--I was caught apparently on the lever. Then I was confused about whether I was on the next level--even though I got the statistics screen. Usually, the next level looks a little different, but not in this case. I didn't use as many medi-packs and managed to keep a few.

So tomorrow, I will do Diving Area.

Question: What is one of your favorite buttons to use in TR games? I know Lara can do many fancy moves, but I'm talking about practical buttons that help you...buttons that would grieve you to lose. I have to say Walk is my favorite--because it keeps me from falling off ledges. It also helps me walk through spikes and set off traps.

[CaityFM]

OPERA HOUSE IS DONE! FIN!

Observations:

1: I must have cut italy's population in half

2: I survived most of the level with a flashing speck of health

3: The pistol guy took like 10 shotgun bullets, what is he, the Thing on steroids?!

4: This bartolli guy must have some dough if he hired the joker, the terminator, AND the Thing.

5: where'd that guy on the seaplane even COME from?!

6: this is the most frusterating TR level I've played yet

7: I forgot to save in crucial points, and when I DID save it was in a really screwed up spot..

8: I kept yelling at "the freakin' supa-gansta-pistol-dude" to get his big booty back in my crosshairs.

9: I wrote all this but then accidently deleted it...this is the 2nd time typing all this..

10: I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOOOVED IT!!! A GOOD CHALLENGE! HAHA! --Time for MARIA DORIAA!!--

STATS:

Edited July 21, 2010 by CaityFM

[rosinna]

Hello! I just got done playing for today. Stopped in the Opera House. Here's the stats for Bartoli's Hideout. http://twitpic.com/27e0qs That's the only picture I got for this level. The rest I got on video!!!! My dad didn't even notice the camera sitting there. Hahahaha!!!! So I was successful in my little spy filming thing I pulled off. I'm going to go edit out the boring parts right now then I'll post it to YouTube and put the link in here. We were being pretty funny at some points so I think it turned out pretty good.Oh I do have another picture! http://twitpic.com/27457m This is my tiger that I won at the fair a couple of weeks ago. Doesn't it look like the tigers from The Great Wall? I thought it did. Oh and that's my cat sniffing it in the back there. She's an idiot so pay no mind to her. Haha. So I don't have much to say since I got all my thoughts on tape! They'll be up in a little while so go watch 'em! Ok now I'm off to edit the videos.  <div><br></div><div> Uploading Part 1 right now. I'll put the link to the video later today because it's going to take 3 and a half hours to upload (it's not THAT big!) because the upload failed last night so I'm trying again today.  YouTube really gets on my nerves about the whole uploading thing.  Grrr!!!! <img src="http://www.laracroftonline.net/public/style_emoticons/default/angry.gif" alt="" class="bbc_emoticon"></div>

Edited July 22, 2010 by rosinna

[CaityFM]

Hello! I just got done playing for today. Stopped in the Opera House. Here's the stats for Bartoli's Hideout. http://twitpic.com/27e0qs That's the only picture I got for this level. The rest I got on video!!!! My dad didn't even notice the camera sitting there. Hahahaha!!!! So I was successful in my little spy filming thing I pulled off. I'm going to go edit out the boring parts right now then I'll post it to YouTube and put the link in here. We were being pretty funny at some points so I think it turned out pretty good.

Oh I do have another picture! http://twitpic.com/27457m This is my tiger that I won at the fair a couple of weeks ago. Doesn't it look like the tigers from The Great Wall? I thought it did. Oh and that's my cat sniffing it in the back there. She's an idiot so pay no mind to her. Haha. So I don't have much to say since I got all my thoughts on tape! They'll be up in a little while so go watch 'em! Ok now I'm off to edit the videos.

haha! that's a great idea! I should film myself playing..it'd be hilarious.."dang you lara get your freakin' butt up that ledge and kill that dang thug!!!" lol!

[Stellalune]

Well, I finished Venice tonight. That was fun. A real blast from the past! Love: Speedboat, shooting out windows. Hate: Thugs with bats and guns (I used 2 whole health packs), not being able to sidestep by holding Walk + direction key (like in TR3 on). Puzzlements: Ginormous keys, switches miles away from the doors they open (Helion mentioned this too).

I spent a lot of time taking screenshots and replaying sections to try and find safer ways to do things. Not exactly the most fun way to play, but I feel compelled. I can't remember if I mentioned it on the board or in a side conversation with Eldin, but this was the first walkthrough I ever wrote...way back in 1997. It's definitely starting to show its age and will be much improved by more screens and a little tweaking. You guys are also helping a lot with your suggestions, corrections, sharing strategy, etc. So thanks a lot!

@Caity: Sorry about the video mix-up. I must've seen the quote and not the original post. Still, it's great.

@Eldin: Nice screenshots! Tibetan Foothills and Barkhang Monastery are my two favorite levels in this game. Looking forward to them....

@JD_Zen: Welcome! I'd be interested to do the rest of the games at some point. I've played both TR1 and Angel of Darkness fairly recently, but if you guys decide you want to do those as well, I'll stop in even if I don't end up playing. I will need to take a break in the middle of August for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, though. Maybe later in the Fall. But don't wait for me. If you want to do it, just go for it.

Congrats on your upcoming Egypt vacation. That's awesome! I recently ran an interesting piece on my blog written by a raider friend who also visited Egypt. It really made me want to go traveling too. See "Following In Lara's Footsteps: An Egyptian Travelogue" if you're interested.

Mods: I hope that link is OK. If not, please remove and accept my apologies.

@Mute2conversations: Your forum posts are as funny and interesting as your emails. You crack me up! Thanks for the walkthrough notes too. Posting here or emailing is fine. I'll be sure and look more closely at those areas. My walks are all based on the PC games. I think the PC/PlayStation versions are just about identical, but there may be a few slight differences I'm not aware of.

@Everybody else: I'm running out of steam for tonight, but I'm really happy to be playing with you all. Thanks for all the great action reports and screenshots.