Mute2Conversations

LOL--stupid creepy bat! That is saver--just like boob light.

@Shrensh--thanks for sharing the motorcycle vid! That is the coolest bug I've ever seen. Hope it doesn't happen to me, though. COASTAL THAILAND So I started where I left off in sunny Coastal Thailand on the ledge you emerge from after taking a swim. It is nice being in the sun. I climbed up the rocky pillar. I perched and tried to jump to the other ledge. I missed and fell into the water. Repeat. I'm glad I decided to wear my jungle pants. My boots are going to be a mess with all this bug squashing. So I'm running through the foliage. Every so often, in the darker areas, I still need my boob light. Then I hear a tiger roaring. I take out my guns, but there is nothing there but the mosquitos. The tigers are still a way off...but that ain't a kitten purring, that's for sure. Chimney jump, when I first played the game, was a really difficult skill to learn. I've mastered it by now, though. The camera was buggy in some areas. I would suddenly be zoomed into Lara's shoulder. I couldn't always zoom out. I couldn't see where I was supposed to go, so I did a lot of blind jumping. I just jumped and hoped something was there. Do you think developers play their own games? Again in this level--thousands of save dings when I didn't need them. Then we get to the difficult jumps, and suddenly no dings! I often have problems getting Lara to drop on the side of the bar I want her to be on. That second pit with the jutting out bar-like ledges and bats, Lara makes things difficult by being distracted by something. She keeps looking elsewhere when I'm trying to get her to concentrate on the jumps. I stopped at the Kali statue.

MEDITERRANEAN--BOAT LEVEL (I LOVE BOAT LEVELS!!!) Man, I wish I could steal guns, particularly since setting the game on medium makes me run out of ammo and makes me take more damage. And then one of my stickies was a dud. I threw it, but no boom or dead guys! And then one guy I killed came back to life. He must have some of that zombie juice in his blood. Then I wondered why I like this level so much. I probably die on the boats more than I do at any other part of the game. At some point, I was down to my spear gun--but I found out that it works very nicely on humans...better on them than sharks. Then I wondered why it only takes three spears to kill a human, when it takes a tone of bullets to do the same thing. The game either has too many save points or not enough. It dings--I save--I walk two steps--and I get another ding. But when I'm in a difficult level, being chased by thralls, praying for a save point--no dings! My eyes are bloodshot, and I'm almost near having a seizure for playing so long before I hear a ding! Okay, I really hate mentioning this--because it makes me feel like a perv, which is never attractive, particularly at my age. However, am I the ONLY one that noticed the protrusion in Natla's pants. LCO was being uncooperative, so I hope this link works: http://twitpic.com/8ojvb4/full What is that? Is she keeping her wallet in there so Amanda doesn't max out her credit cards? Do the Atlanteans possess both male and female accessories? Is there something Natla isn't telling us? Or is she just very happy to see Lara? Meanwhile, Amanda looks rather worse for wear. She is all scrawny like she's doing crack or something. As for how Lara got the artifcat after Amanda threw it in the water...well, maybe it went down slowly--and maybe the current wasn't so strong that it drifted much. However, this game requires a suspension of disbelief. I started THAILAND. This was where the graphics were really stupendous! And it is nice to be in the cheerful sunlight, though we are going into another dreary place soon enough. I love seeing the parrots fly off. I didn't give Jaws a chance. I shot that bastard! I learned my lesson in the Mediterranean level. Then I wondered if I shot a dolphin instead...but there are no dolphins in this game, right? First time I played, I did swim too close to the cave that triggers that famous bug. Then I read about it, and went, "OH, @#*&!" However, I decided to play and see if I would have the problem...and I didn't. I was fortunate.

PUKE LEVEL CONTINUED...OH, I MEAN THE MEDITERRANEAN LEVEL (also called the Migraine Level) I hate the long loading time. When I saw the octopus, I thought, *Homer Simpson moan* "Hmmmmm....Calamari. Let's have that for dinner tonight! I wish Costco hadn't gotten rid of that brand where I felt like I was ripping the tentacle off a live squid myself." The octopus might be blind, but his hearing was good. I nearly got slapped a few times. PANIC! I RAN OUT OF AMMO! But oh wait! I found out by mistake (you aren't the only one who accidentally presses the sticky grenade button, Stella) that grenades work on breaking the chains for that spikey chandelier that we use to kill the octopus. Why does my boob light keep shutting off? (Your friend's phrase is catchy, Hunter...what can I say?) It always goes off after a cutscene. There are a lot of illegal slopes in this game. I got caught in one and couldn't stop Lara from getting jiggy with it for a minute or two. Just when I thought I would have to restart, she jumped out of it. I'm certain Lara is not using proper lifting techniques with those blocks that we use to weigh down the floor pads. Tsk, tsk. She is going to be feeling that later. That area where we jump on the pillars is always a hard one for me. I always miss a couple of times. However, I guess I can't blame Lara--her equilibrium is probably off after getting conked on the head. That jump over the area where the octopus was, I was singing as I swung, "Swing set! Swing set! Up and down I go! Swoosh goes the whirly wind up and down my toes!" FINALLY, we leave the water level behind! I emerge, get onto the boat. I see Amanda's ship. I'm thinking, "Why does that scrawny b**** have a bigger boat than me?" I also love boat levels, and that is why I stopped here. I wanted to save that level for another day. @Hunter--I keep swimming into jellyfish in the first part of this level when we have to find the keys. @Caity--my! Either I'm going senile or you've changed! I thought you were really big into killing things when I first met you (in video games)

God, you guys are all going to be finished by the time I finish Mediterranean Sea. I'm afraid that since I spend so much time working and studying on the computer these days, my game playing has slowed down. I just can't stand to look at a TV screen after looking at the computer screen for so long. Besides, Underworld is intense for me, so I can't play it for very long anyway. @Eldin--thanks for that screenshot of the portrait. I never noticed that!

@Shrensh--good to see you! Love the pics! Glad to hear Windows 7 isn't a problem. @Stella--yep, good you skipped Vista. @JBTRPlayer--good to see you again! I knew you as Tombraiderfreak.

How the heck can you guys play so quickly? My eyeballs would be bleeding if I played Underworld for that long. Did anyone watch the preview and the previously trailers? I love the intro where you see the ashes of Croft Manor coming off Lara's gun, and that mournful Mozart music. I should have known there was no happy ending when they played that music. I remembered when I first played this and saw the intro, I was like, "Okay...I know Lara is destructive, but why did she blow up her own house?" I remembered the plotline, but I still watched the Previously trailer to get myself in to the mood. Very nice trailer. I was ready to cry by the beginning of the game. I chose to do the Tomb Raider setting this time. Normally I always choose easy. I like a little bit of challenge, but too much p***es me off. PROLOGUE Underworld's beginning is definitely dramatic, no arguments here. When I saw Lara in the explosion, I realized she didn't blow up her house. I couldn't explain how it did get blown up. I was so worried (I'm referring to the first time I played) that there was a timer at the beginning. I was glad to see there wasn't. I hated the menu they have for this game, though. The graphics were better. I was not pleased with Lara's new look. I thought she was so beautiful in Underworld, so I didn't understand why they had messed with perfection. I remember being bewildered when Zip started shooting at Lara, and he was doing it on purpose. And I was wondering where Alister was. MEDITERRANEAN SEA I hate sea levels! I really hate this one! I too got sick. I am glad you guys are big into looking for those stupid little secret things, because I am not going to bother. Maybe if someone paid me, I would. However, the rewards are not enough for me to be bothered. It was one thing in Legends where I could unlock an outfit, but Underworld isn't making it worth my while. I should have realized there was no happy ending here when Lara was more pessimistic than she had been at the end of Legends. I guess one of the result of increasing the difficulty is that the sharks decide to attack me. They used to ignore me in this level, and I never got attacked by all three at once. My health got low, but of course that health pack I picked up in Prologue didn't carry over. I always get turned around inside those caverns getting the keys and artifacts, and I have a hard time finding my way out. I had made a map the last time I played, but now I'm wondering if I didn't get things wrong as far as where things are in relation to each other. I played a little bit past opening the door, but I got too whoozy and had to stop. My last save (because I don't think I can save manually in Xbox) was just after opening the door. So I'll start off there again.

Everything is a *#$%# on Vista, Caity. Take it from a Vista owner. I'd upgrade, but I haven't heard things are much better with Windows 7, and I worry that the Level Editor will not work with it...though people have said it does. I'll be playing on Xbox. Unfortunately, the Xbox that had the downloadable levels needs to be repaired, so if you were planning to do those as well...I can't play. I can sometimes get the old one to work, but I don't want to risk my disk if it decides to stop working. Underworld isn't my favorite of the series, but it certainly made an impression. Everytime there is a contest, I usually am inspired by the events to do a piece of artwork or a story. Speaking of Lara's mother, did anyone have any preconceived ideas before playing this game of what her fate would be? I have to admit I didn't exactly expect a happy ending. I thought maybe Lara would find her dead, but maybe Amelia would leave behind a nice note leaving her love behind that would make us feel fuzzy. Or maybe Amelia would be alive, but it would be a situation where they only had once chance to get back--and Lara makes it, but something keeps Amelia from going back. However, I have to admit the real ending was a shock.

@Caity--Sorry to lose you, but I understand. NEVADA DESERT CONTINUED. I fell so many times into the water and had to reload. I thought Secret #3 was a snake. The second time I replayed this, I didn't trigger the snake that guarded it. After subduing cranky guy, I forgot about the snake (the second time) in the bushes and got bit. They are becoming harder to see. I drowned because I had a hard time finding the underwater levers. However, it was a neat death scene--Lara's body floating up. After picking up the large medipack, and you are going to get the smaller one on the opposite ledge...I thought the medipack was on the ceiling. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get it when I realized it was a ledge. Going back to the TNT cave, I fell into the river again. Had a hard time figuring out how to climb out of the pit--until I looked up. *DUH* The noise of the electric fence was annoying. I wanted to see what it would look like to electrocute Lara, but I didn't have a save crystal. I got caught pulling the underwater levers and was unable to exit for a few seconds. I thought it was an invisible wall, but suddenly I was able to go through. Taking that running jump over the fence--that is when I had to trust Stella that there was something to land on the other side. What does anyone think of these guys that just beat up a person for no reason...just because I'm an unauthorized person in a secret military base. I found stopping the quad bike nearly impossible except when I turned it sideways. The last scene--that is definitely artistic license. Lara could not get up and walk away from that crash...at least not with her brains intact. I don't care how hard-headed she was. Time: 1:57:48 Secrets: 3/3 Kills: 28 Ammo Used: 601 Hits: 367 Health Packs: .5 Distance: 6.96

NEVADA PART 1: NEVADA DESERT So far, I've liked this level. It is neat that she is in the States. Nothing has been frustratingly complicated. It is basic tombraiding--jumping and shooting pesky animals. The snakes are not that hard to spot, except that one that was behind the bush on a ledge. However, since I read the walkthrough, I knew to expect it. @Stella--I did find the description for getting Secret #1 a tad confusing. I died several times on the barbed wire. The most startling thing was the planes zooming past. Towards the end, I kept falling into the water. Had to reload several times. I stopped at HEADING UPSTREAM. I'll continue from there today.

LEVEL 4: CAVES OF KALIYA Is anybody still reading this thread? Well, as for me, sorry that I dropped off. My schedule has changed, and it took me a while to get accustomed to it. TR3 is not one of those games that I'm addicted to, or else I probably would have found the time. However, everytime I considered playing it, I had to ask myself, "Do I feel like getting p***ed off now?" The answer was no until today. This was a very short level for me. I don't do anything more than what I have to, so of course I took the shortcut. I kept getting lost and had to reload. One time I fell to my death when I went into the pit that leads to the lower level. One time I got crushed by the boulder. I had a hard time with Tony, mainly because I could not get Lara to stop looking at him. Her doing so messed up my ability to turn her so she could jump to one of the side platforms. Out of desperation, I jumped onto the platform with Tony. I caught on fire the first time, but the second time I finished him off rather easily. Time: 10:19 Secrets: none Kills: 11 Ammo Used: 254 Hits: 117 Health Packs: 0 Distance: 350 m

Man, as slow as I'm playing, I get the idea you all are going to finish and I'm going to be in this thread talking to myself. Ah, well...I am playing on a Playstation--and it goes slowly when you have to get save crystals...and you die so many times and have to redo parts. Plus, I was all high-strung this week, so I really wasn't in the mood to play. Then I got addicted to Air Sports on Wii. I just finished Level 3: River Ganges. I liked this level. I died a lot, but I really didn't mind once I had the quad bike. So many satisfying explosions. I fell so many times getting Secret #1. Then I got to the end room, and died on the spikes. I have to say, though, that I much prefer how the old games had you loading from the passport and saving from the other menu. If they would have done this in TR5, I wouldn't have accidentally saved when I wanted to reload. Once I got Secret #1, I fell so many times coming back. I started realizing that I would probably be using every save crystal that I got in this level. I usually try to save a few for the next level. I was really uncertain about the first jump you do with the quad bike. In fact, there were many jumps--whether Lara did them herself or on the bike--I was amazed were actually possible. The first time on the quad bike, though, I said, "I don't know about this." And Lara said, "Don't be a pussy!" Secret #2--was I ever going to reach the bottom of that pit? I didn't make the jump that comes afterward, but the explosion was nice. In the area with the many ramps, I fell into a pit but didn't die. It was shallow. The quad bike really needs headlights. Had a really hard time doing second jump in multi-ramp area. I just started having fun and riding around, since I didn't die if I fell from the ramps. Then suddenly I did this Dukes of Hazzard like jump, where the quad bike was actually jumping sideways--and I made the jump. WOO-HOO! I saved at the left path, calling it a night. Glad I saved, because I didn't make the jump--but that is the BEST EXPLOSION EVER! The quad bikes explodes three times! @Stella--I found the left path part of the walkthrough confusing. Perhaps it would help to mention how many rooms you pass before coming to the well-lit area. One time I died when my bike exploded and then I was eaten by piranhas. Did anyone notice that the piranhas had blood smears on their mouths, like they had wiped their mouths after eating? Those were some big-a** vultures! I remembered how to drive the quad bike--but I forgot how to brake. That lead to another death. The jumps for Secret #4 were definitely difficult and hard to believe. However, I am learning for my own levels--yes it is possible to do these jumps. Time: 1:11:16 Secrets: 5/5 Kills: 14 Ammo used: 428 Hits:888 Health packs used: 0---NO WAY! Distance Traveled: 4.70 km Well, I guess if I am here talking to myself, I won't really notice. You guys probably don't read the posts from a long wind-bag like me anyway.

TEMPLE RUINS--STILL BEING CONTINUED @Stella--running into room with two high openings did not make the statue disappear for me either...and I have a Playstation. I suppose it is possible there are different versions of TR3, and maybe it works for some people. Not me, though. Randy and Rory I saw when I explored the room more carefully. The body over the third Ganesha key didn't actually look that bad until I saw the hole in his chest. Lara was making some joke about how she could see right through this gentleman. The fourth Ganesha key--UGH! That was so hard! I thought I was never going to get it. Though I hate wasting save crystals, I realized I had better save before getting the fourth key. I saved before I got the third key, so I had to remember to go back for it. I finally got past the spikes with a hair of health. I used another save crystal before getting the fifth key--my last one. However, these traps were hard, so I figured I needed it. I didn't want to have to redo the fourth Ganesha key after barely scraping by. I'm glad I did, because the fifth trap was even more difficult than the fourth one. First, I thought I was supposed to go behind the spikes. I am really having a hard time seeing in this game. I remember my mom complaining about it in other games, but it has never been an issue for me until now. Another time, while trying to look for the lever, I forgot that Lara needs to go up for breath. Finally, with the help of a flare, I find the levers. VICTORY! Well, not quite. I forgot to get the fifth Ganesha key after pulling the levers and had to go back in. However, it wasn't that difficult now that the current was off. And then I realized that Stella had a map for this, and I didn't need to spend all that time looking for levers! I was going to write and tell her we needed a map. But what I need to do is look at the entire walkthrough before doing the level. BUT I FINISHED IT! HOORAY FOR ME! THIS IS THE FARTHEST I HAVE EVER GOTTEN WITH THIS GAME! Time: 2:17:18 Secrets: 4/4 Kills: 29 Ammo Used: 775 Hits: 444 Health Packs used: 2.5 Distance traveled: 6.43 km Now I have to go and print out the walkthrough for the next level.

@Caity--my computer is in the living room, and my Playstation is in the bedroom, so I'm afraid I can't do livechat. SECOND TIME I did better with the things I hadn't done well before. I made the jumps the first time. Yes, it is possible to land on the ledge with the snake and not get stung. The snake doesn't start leaping right away, and during that time you are supposed to jump back. My mistake the first time was thinking that maybe the snake was a nice snake since he wasn't doing anything at first. Yes, that was stupid of me. Managed to grab doorway. Didn't get cut. Then I scrambled to my computer because I never printed the alternate path Stella advises Playstation users to take. Why didn't Stella just write it in her walkthrough?! OH...wait. Heh, heh. She did. It is further down (@Stella--maybe move this further up, like near the message about the alternate path?). Well, since computer is on, I decided to check Facebook. *sigh* My friends have better things to do than be on Facebook. Nobody is writing to me or replying to my posts. My News feed is reporting the same stuff. God, it is so boring! I guess everyone is actually going outside and enjoying the sunshine. I got confused about when to do the alternate path, and so I wound up doing the very thing I shouldn't have done. Therefore, I had to reload and start over...but I didn't have much to make up since I had saved when I got the blue crystal in this area. I liked the moving block puzzle--I'll have to do something like that if the level editor gives you moveable blocks. Hagix, I love you! I don't know who you are, but thanks for finding a way to get all the secrets and not have to contend with the boulder trap! When I went back into the water, I worried that I had encountered an invisible door. I couldn't get through to the tunnel--then realized Lara was caught on one of the rocks. Then it was time to get the first Ganesha key. (@Stella--I found it a good idea to take a running jump into quicksand, otherwise my Lara drowned). Do you guys get that horrible sound when Lara is treading through quicksand? It seems to be quicksand music, for it comes on in another section later. But it doesn't shut off when she comes out. I was able to silence it by going to my menu. Relief. @Stella--with gauntlet of traps with timed door--maybe mention that you pull switch, jump to the left, then sprint. Also, in area with the central structure that has gold grills, mention that you go right and then turn left before you come across moveable block. I fell to my death trying to go back down on the ladder. TIP: When getting the secret in the pool with the levers and timed door...if you are low on air when you enter the area where the secret is, swim back to the door. It closes behind you, but it will open when you go towards it. What is nice is that it will stay open afterwards, so you can get breaths of air. @Stella--I had to take a running jump to get to the first invisible platform--but I jumped from save crystal side. The advantage there is that you can jump to the ledge from first block. I could see the platforms without a flare or fire once I knew what to look for. The flare didn't help as much because it didn't illuminate until you jumped. I chose to run off the ledge with the switch, though I got some damage, because I didn't make it to the timed door otherwise. I started enjoying this game around the time with the timed run to get the Ganesha key in the spiked wall area. Normally, I hate timed runs. The hardest part really of this one, for me, was trying to see the key--which blended in very well. Or maybe I need my eyes checked. Dang, that quicksand music is really annoying! It is even more annoying than Rebecca Black or Justin Bieber to someone who is over thirty years of age. @Stella--the passage you climb up to after the quicksand part in this area...maybe mention it is the second set of stairs that have the boulder trap. You see three steps before that set. Hmmm...should I go left (which is more dangerous), or right? Oh, these difficult decisions! The save crystal was so pretty in the right room--the blue glow against the rocks. I didn't see the spikes you had to jump over. I got grazed by the ceiling coming down because I misread and thought you dealt with monkeys first. @Stella--am I being too nitpicky in pointing out that the shotgun ammo was on the left set of steps? @Caity--don't feel bad. The scimitars thing confused me at first too. By then, I was tired, so I got the save crystal in the right room. I'll have to keep an eye out for Randy and Rory. I didn't notice them.

TEMPLE RUINS--CONT. So, I had just killed the first statue when I left off. Okay, pull the switches. Go into trapdoor. Switch? What switch? Oh, a flare would help...yes. While getting the secret, failed to notice dart trap and got hit. I am not taking any unnecessary risks with the lack of save crystals, therefore I ignored the medipack in the boulder trap. I took Stella's advice, since I'm on Playstation, and went for the second Ganesha key first. Monkeys got a taste of me because they saw me before I saw them. I couldn't find the medipack. I'm beginning to rethink having a dark level in my custom level. Of course, I think I have a harder time seeing with the jungle textures, because the secrets blend in so well with them. OHHHH...that is why I didn't find a medipack. I was reading the wrong part of the walkthrough. I luckily escaped the falling rocks, because I didn't read that far. That first jump, when you are facing the ladder and jumping to the left ledge--I was cursing the designer. It was difficult to angle Lara when the camera focused only on her. I feel two times, got it on the third. Lara didn't think I had properly angled her on the next jump either. She was right. I disagreed with her the next time when she said this was the proper angle. She pointed out that I made her fell last time--so why should she listen to me? So she took the jump--and made it. She said, "I told you so." And I said, "Nobody likes I-told-you-soers." This is why you don't have any friends. Lara informs me indignantly she does have friends. I say, "If you give them a paycheck or they are trying to kill you, they really aren't your friends." Lara muttered something I couldn't quite make out but could guess the gist of. Is it possible to jump on that ledge and not get stung by the cobra? I hope this game is generous with health packs--and they can be gotten in areas that won't result in my death. It is perverse that I risk my life to get a pick-up that will save it. When I jumped into the doorway, the boulder didn't kill me--but I couldn't grap the edge of the doorway fast enough and fell. Well, one good thing about redoing everything is that I do seem to get better at it. Got into doorway. Got distracted by the pink writing in the walkthrough about the ALTERNATE PATH. Went too far right and got killed by the blade. My last save was after I had killed the first six armed statue. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Did I mention how much I hate this @#%@#%& game?!

WARNING: Anybody that says that Level 2: Temple Ruins is easy is going to get buckshot in the butt. I'll tell the police I thought you were a deer. It worked for my great-grandfather when he ran over his wife, so I feel confident it will work for me. Okay. This is the level that made me hate TR3. In fact, I never finished it. Maybe it is better on the PC...but in Playstation it is a real pain! Not enough save crystals. I can't see well with the graphics (I don't know if it is because they are bad, or I need my eyes checked). And I hate how complicated things are--and if you miss a jump, you often have to remake up a lot! I didn't see the opening in the tree. The vegetation graphics really do suck--but I have to admit...aortic blood gushing of killed enemies is a nice touch...though I don't think cobras have red blood. Speaking of cobras, the way they move...bad whiplash. Now personally I think it is best to let sleeping cobras lie. Lara agreed with me to a point, only she thinks that lying cobras should be dead ones. She can't tolerate laziness. I said to her, "Aren't cobras sacred here?" She said, "Everything is sacred here." Has anyone seen the new Piranha movie. I remember the one that came out when I was a kid scared me of the water forever. Forget Jaws! You have a fighting chance against a shark. But piranhas....Anyway, the new movie is the first one I have ever seen where I could tell you that you would sin less by watching a triple X movie (if you were concerned about that). Naughty movies last 30 minutes. This movie was longer and very...revealing. Of course, I guess it was sort of biblical. Thou shalt not be a drunken hoozy, or God will smote thee by having you devoured by prehistoric piranha. I am doing better. I managed to outswim the piranha when I jumped into the underwater opening. They can follow you to a point and get a few morsels, but I managed to get away then. I love the sound monkeys make when you kill them. One had his hands up in surrender, but Lara showed no mercy. I was confused about where the Uzi clips were in the mud slide area, but then I found them by accident. I think I brought this up in TR2. Why, when there is a pause button, won't I get up to pee? Does my performance really suffer when I take a break? And even if it does, does it do any better when I'm bursting? I managed to get the other Uzi clips in mud slide area--the one where you had the difficult jump. I got them the second time, but I chose to go the long way back because I didn't think I could jump back. TREETOPS. This is where I started getting really p***ed. I fell jumping to the second tree trunk and had to make my way from the beginning. It didn't take as long as I thought it would, and I should have remembered that I had saved near the piranha pool. @Stella--Stella, I actually take a standing jump from the first tree trunk to the tree trunk with the turned up tip at the right. Of course, I walk up until I no longer can, turn slightly, and do a standing jump. Then I fell again trying to do the other treetop jumps. When I went to go through the piranha tunnel, there seemed to be a forcefield blocking it. The piranhas got a few bites out of Lara. I got out of the water, and then jumped back in again. This time I could get through. Lara decided she wasn't going to do anymore pick-ups that weren't on the path she had to take anyway. She used two health packs trying to get the pick-ups in that dang tree. The only problem is when you don't do the pick-ups, it is easier to get confused in the walkthrough (I'm not criticizing, Stella--it may just be me). So I wound up running into a cobra and having to use another health pack to cure myself. Knowing another one was in the passage, I hugged the wall...which is how I prevent from being stung. I really wanted to save in the next area, but then I read that I might cause a bug to be activated. So I played into the next room, but then I had to fight that statue. I don't like starting a game with a boss fight, so I decided to destroy it. I like the statues. They remind me of the first Tombraider movie. I sometimes got caught by the statue, but I didn't sustain any damage. The shotgun does make quick work of it. I wasn't willing to use it initially because I can't run well and shoot with the shotgun...but pistols take forever. After the statue was dead, that is where I stopped.

I was having trouble posting in this thread, and so I was experimenting--which is why there are all these posts.

LEVEL 1 JUNGLE—SECOND TIME It didn’t take as long to redo everything, though I guess it was because I knew what to do. Got grazed even more by the spike wall, but still survived. Second time around, very easy to get crystal on roof. Why wasn’t it that easy the first time?! @Stella—In the paragraph that begins with (**) in Multi-Level Room With Spikes and Hollow Log, after the fourth sentence. I think it would be useful to tell people to turn around, or mention they will be climbing on the block that formed the crevice. I had a time trying to figure out what block I was climbing onto. I saved before doing the boulder trap that occurs after Secret 5. I’m glad I did. I got smooshed. Lara is not the waiting type. Neither am I. It was safer to wait and kill the tiger from above, but that tiger would prance off and take forever coming back. So we did it the way Lara does things—jump in with guns blazing. And while fighting the tiger, she nearly jumped into a spike trap. In the boulder trap with the three boulders, she nearly missed being squashed like a bug. Guardian angels are working overtime today. In the river, Lara got stuck near the right white ledge—when you are going downstream after getting Uzi clips up stream. I had to reload. A few months ago, I did Path A. Since the level is already challenging enough, I decided to make my life easier and do Path B. I didn’t find Path A, if I recall, much fun. Just long. I was able to do my swan dive, which is rare for me. Of course, I always worry about diving onto dry land and cracking Lara’s head open. It is probably because I was lectured so often as a child not to dive into rivers and lakes, because you never know what is at the bottom—and how deep it actually is. You could dive in and hit your head on an old air conditioner. Do they still preach about how many ways you can die in school? When I was a child, there seemed to be assembly after assembly about how dangerous your life can be—even if you are not Lara Croft. You could get hit by lightning standing under a tree (particularly if you were blonde and blue-eyed), get abducted by perverts (again, especially if you were blonde), accidentally ingest poison, hit your head while swimming, blow off your hand with fireworks, die in a fire, die from taking someone’s medication…did I forget anything? Hmmm. Near the end of the level, when you emerge from the pool—I came face to face with the tiger. And I swore he was giving me the same look my cat does when I haven’t changed its litter or given him food when I first wake up in the morning. I was reading the walkthrough when monkey grabbed the key. I rather enjoyed shooting it. Wasn’t that guy’s suitcase very interesting? I think he even outdid Lara. Okay—what do we need to pack? A big bomb. A radar thingy. Oh, yeah…he’s going to get through customs. My statistics: Time: 1:23:40 Secrets: 6/6 Kills: 8 Ammo used: 310 Hits: 181 Health Packs: 1.5 Distance Travelled: 3.46 km

I have a horrible time keeping up with the monkeys when I'm supposed to follow them. Of course, it helps not to read the walkthrough at the same time, but I still have trouble. In fact, I think the monkeys have pretty much given up on me. At first, they'll come back...but after the third time, I'm on my own. Monkeys have lives too--you know, feces to throw, bananas to eat, lice to preen. Speaking of monkey activities, those were some sorry looking bamboo plants in the quicksand area. Did you see the ends of them? I think the monkeys are using them as target practice. Since I have to wait for save crystals to save, I try to be careful where I save. I decided the area with the spike wall would be a good area. I did actually save myself the first time, though I did get grazed a bit. For my sanity's sake, I decided not to worry about monkeys unless I had to. Yes, they often had a health pack--but I can't usually see the secrets anyway. They blend right in with the scenery, and sometimes I think I see secrets that are just textures. Then I got a message that my controller wasn't plugged in, even though it was. I actually remember this happening last time. I wonder if it is the controller or something with the game? So I unplug and replugged the controller. I blew on the end of it. I wriggled the cord. Finally, the message disappeared. I can appreciate the old games more since doing the Tombraider Level Editor. Sometimes knowing a magician's tricks ruins the illusion, but I get quite delighted when I figure out that a particular square is a trigger. And I make mental notes about things for future reference. One such note: if I ever make a jungle level, I am going to brighten the objects so they don't blend in with the surrounding textures! Or at least the ones that I don't mean to be hidden. I liked the music we heard when we killed the second tiger. Like romantic dinners, the right music can create the right atmosphere to indulge your homicidal desires. The third tiger startled me, even though I knew it was coming. I screamed like a girl. Of course, I am a girl. Lara wants you all to know it was me that screamed, and not her. Then I read Stella's walkthrough about going into an area where the second tiger came from. The problem is, I wasn't paying attention! I had no idea where the tiger came from. I think Lara was checking her Ipod, and I was getting a drink of water. We were in the doorway. We were safe. We did figure it out, though. Then came the part where I wanted to get the save crystal on the roof. What is annoying about save crystals is that getting them is very dangerous. So, here I am jumping up to grab the roof with spikes below me. I missed and died. I was on page 4 of the walkthrough, in the area with the hollow log--and I was put back to page 2, the area with the spiked wall. That was my last save point, because I was trying to conserve save crystals. So then I got p***** and stopped.

I started with the Jungle level. But first, my Playstation was telling me that I needed to insert a memory card into the console. Why was it telling me that when I had one inserted in there? Then I realized what the problem was. When I play PS1 games, I have to use a PS1 memory card, which thankfully I have two. It does not recognize PS2 memory cards, though they look the same, which is what I had inserted in it. So I had to search for my PS1 memory cards. Then I remembered I had better get Stella's walkthrough and had to remember which ringbinder it was in. I have lots of ringbinders, all the same color, so this wasn't easy. But finally I was ready to start! I was disappointed when I played this game the first time, because I thought the graphics were much poorer than the ones in the first two TR games. However, the levels were more interesting--more challenging. Maybe a little too challenging for a game that uses save crystals. Though I expected it and heard it, I was nearly crushed by the first boulder trap in the beginning. I just managed to jump over it. Lara has trust issues. I don't. This proves it. Stella's walkthrough would say to jump somewhere, and I didn't see there was anyplace to land. But I jumped anyway. Usually, I still couldn't see the secret or whatever, but I didn't die.

This is a test to see if I can post a short response in this thread. So, I dusted my old Playstation 2 off. When I got back to playing Playstation, I remember how much I love it. Of course, wireless controls are nice. The poor Playstation doesn't get used much now that I have both an Xbox and Wii. Of course, it is more because not many games are released on PS2. However, it is good for playing old games...particularly since I've heard some PS3 consoles don't play PS1 games. I do like the intro for TR3. Did anyone understand that guy that was doing most of the talking? He was, as we say around here, speaking "some sort of English"...which can be even more hard to understand than someone speaking another language. I only visited Croft Manor to review my skills. I like visiting Croft Manor after completing the game, though sometimes I forget to. In the newer games, it makes more sense because you have to unlock stuff first. But I find it a nice way to end the games. Unlike so many people, I did not kill Winston or try to. I am totally against killing poor Winston, even though he does get in the way. And why is he serving Lara Croft tea? I imagine Lara would prefer a beer and some cigarettes (which are supposedly called "fags" in England...I got so grossed out when I first heard Robbie Williams singing about how his mouth tasted like twenty fags...and then I learned he meant something different). Anyway, I did not complete that level.

This is a test to see if I can post in other forums and am only having a problem with that one thread.

I was glad to start this. I had been thinking about it for some time, but I was worried about appearing as someone who was "taking over" something. We all know people like that. But I knew Stella already had so much on her plate. It is so nice to see the old group! I started playing TR3 some months ago and got frustrated with it and quit. I was waiting for the group play, thinking it would help me enjoy it more. I am playing TR3 on Playstation, where I have to wait for save crystals. Why am I playing on Playstation instead of the PC? Well, my mom got a great deal on the first five Tombraider games (plus a memory card)--and they were all Playstation. I might eventually get the PC version to save myself save crystal grief. Actually, this is the story. I originally bought TR3 from Gamestop for 99 cents. This was before I found Stella's site. I had no idea how to move Lara. I got so frustrated, I tossed it in the garbage--along with AOD, which I had also gotten hopelessly stuck on. When I found Stella's site, I thought I should give the old games another try...because Stella is thoughtful enough to include Controls in her walkthrough! @Caity--glad you got a copy. It wouldn't have been the same without you. @Marluxia--I'm just glad the forum glitch got fixed. I was bummed out when I couldn't log on. I really like having the group plays here. @rosinna--play at your pace, and start where you want. We're not sticklers here. @Eldin--I don't remember that top picture area. Of course, I never actually fully played Lara's home. @gmoneypower--we are starting now! @saxplayer1216--don't worry about the delay. Some are speed runners, but this game was so frustrating for me! I'm expecting to go very slowly. @Eldin and Stella--you are very welcome! @Stella--since you will be popping in, I guess you will make notes if anyone mentions glitches. We don't need to email them to you?

I don't know if this was the right place to do this, but I wanted to thank the webmaster Tom for sorting out that glitch that was preventing me and my friends from logging onto this site. I really enjoy this forum for group plays and was quite distressed when I couldn't log on. So, many thanks, Tom! Exceedingly grateful, me.

Hello, everyone! Since Stella has been busy, I have decided to start the Tombraider 3 Group Play. I thought it would be a good time, since I assume most of our younger friends are out of school. Essentially, if you haven't done this before, you play the game at your own pace. You tell us about your experiences playing the game. You can be technical and share better ways of doing things, mention bugs, etc. This will be helpful to Stella when she gets around to revamping her walkthrough. You can also be imaginative like me--or maybe be a chick about it --and discuss what you think Lara is thinking, her motivations, why she does what she does, etc. So enjoy! I hope people will play with me--because I didn't really enjoy this game playing by myself. I'm playing on Playstation, and I have to wait for save crystals to play--and getting save crystals often involves painful deaths. So it was really frustrating, and I am hoping group play will make it more enjoyable.