Greetings, all!

Today I purchased at Electronics Boutique my PC version copy of Angel of Darkness. I have not fired it up yet.

Reading the game instructions, I see that the game controls are very similar to what we are used to (i.e., CRTL for firing guns, ALT for jumping, SPACEBAR for drawing weapons, ARROW KEYS for movement, SHIFT KEY for walking). But I hear that there are slight differences to how she moves relative to the "camera" angle you are looking at. Evidently you can use the mouse to vary the camera angle (a la Indiana Jones).

I'll report my findings soon enough.

This is very exciting...

Dadguy

Tomb Raider serial is one of my favourite games, I didn't bought The Angel Of Darkness yet. If controls are same as in the last game I think I will not have problems with that.

Well, I must say, Angel of Darkness is quite good!

There was much hoopla in some of the other AOD Forums about how the graphics were average and the controls clunky. I don't find this at all... I like them a lot. Also, I heard complaints about slow response in certain areas (rooftop)... I found no such slowdown, although I have a very high spec machine.

The only difference I find is that Lara can jump up and grab some things (like pipes and ladders) without using the GRAB function (the CTRL key). She still needs the GRAB when she makes those long jumps and has to pull up.

I love the LOOK function which has been improved and allows you to press the LOOK key (still is the NUM 0 key) and then use the mouse to look up, down, left, and right. Nice.

For Adventure lovers, I have made it through 4 levels without a single shot being fired. It has been an exploration. I am certain that will change soon.

Nice game. Great graphics. Terrific sound. I look forward to hearing comments from other players.

Dadguy

This sounds promising.

I tried to play TR4 a few weeks ago, as a trip down memory lane, and gave up quickly because of the horrible load times (Run, jump, fall, reload, go make some coffee, trip to the bathroom, run jump, fall...). I guess those older games just don't run well on newer computers.

Anyway, it will be fun to play a new TR adventure, and I hope it beats the pants of that dumb Indiana Jones game with no saves (talk about yer boneheaded moves).

Gamespy wasn't too fond of the PS2 version:

Angel of Darkness

Ouch.

Wait a minute, Dadguy.. did I understand that? You finished 4 levels in a few hours??!! Are the levels short, or is the game just that easy?

Just started Tomb Raider today and realized that I don't seem to have an intro. Am I being very stupid here or do other people have this? I start off in the training level in Paris, so miss out on the reason Lara is being hunted etc.

DanF,

There are a lot of levels (30, although there are several sublevels in the Parisian Ghetto which bring the total to about 35). Some of them are very long and some (like the first four) are short. Level four, for example, lasts only 4 minutes as it is just a conversation and then an escape. So, I took my time, drinking in the views and playing with the controls, looking at everything on the first four levels which took about 5 hours. Lots to go! So far the game is pretty easy since I haven't had to use weapons yet. I hear it gets tougher.

Moogie, something is wrong with your installation if (after choosing NEW GAME) you don't get the opening movie of Lara talking to Von Croy. This movie is dark and a bit fuzzy and is not as good as the subsequent movies that happen between the levels (which are quite good!). If you want to see this movie (the Opening Scene) it is a file called EN_CHASE.MPG and it is in my C:\program files\eidos interactive\traod\data\fmv directory (I did the FULL install). I couldn't find it on the CDs so it must be embedded in the CABs. Don't look at the other movies since they will spoil things for you.

Let me know how you are doing!

Dadguy

whats the save situation ? can you save anywhere as in previous TR games?

Thanks dadguy, I'll try that. Am having a break now as I am in a timed sequence and doing badly. I think it's a good game, but I don't find the graphics as good as the Egyptian one; maybe it's my pc, but it has been upgraded.
Zanthia, yes you can save where you like except for some timed sequences.

thanks moogie for the save info

Just played the intro now thanks to you dadguy. Was so keen to play that it took me a while to realize it was missing.

Zanthia,

Welcome back.

Yes, you can save as much as you want and anywhere but during the videos. It is a bit different in that the F5 quicksave now goes into a single quicksave slot instead of popping up the save menu. I prefer the choice to quicksave as a new save or overwrite which you can do with the regular (non-quicksave) function. There is a minor annoyance because the SAVE menu always comes up with the OLDEST save file highlighted, so you have to cursor down twenty times each time to get to the most current save.

Moogie, I just discovered that there are actually TWO movies that play at the beginning. The first one is the Opening Credits and plays before you choose the NEW GAME button. It is a file called EN_CRDIT.MPG You may want to take a look at that one also (in the same directory). I have noticed that the quality of these MPGs is great when you play them from the file and reduced when you see them in the game.

Have fun!

Dadguy

Well, people, let me put my 2 cents in if I may....1st of all I am playing the PS2 version...which I am sure there is no difference.....I waited all this time for this game and I am very dissapointed....I am finding it very confusing to finding everything and just controlling Lara is the pits!....just to line her up to push a crate or just pick something off a table is awful....but I guess I will push on and grin and bear it....
Paul

Hi all,

I have also been waiting for this game seems like forever having seen it pushed back and pushed back. It took me a long time to get started on this series. I started TR1 3 times before I could finally get past the first chapter/level or whatever you call it. Once I learned it I really enjoyed it and have played every one that came out. (more than once not unlike Syd's Dad)

I am also at the Parisian Ghetto and have mixed feelings. They said it would be darker and it is that indeed. Running, dodging and sneaking are unusual in these games but not all that bad and I think she will be back to her old self before long in the game.

So far I find controls not too different from the previous games as they always add a move or two to each game. My one complaint with the cotrols is the turning. It seemed much easier in the previous games to turn the character but maybe that's just my machine and maybe I can figure a way to tweak the controls where they are comfortable for me. If there were a timed puzzle where I had to run around corners(as in TR3 I think) I don't believe I could do it in this game.

But, so far, all in all I have no complaints.

When she starts getting into some real serious trouble I'll probably be pulling my hair out.

I came to GameBoomers, it was as a Tomb Raider fan; the only true adventure game I had played was Myst. I still love the TR series but I have found that as they've gotten darker, I've lost interest in them. TR1,2,3 and Lost Artifact are my favorites...very pretty and colorful. I really need to know how "dark" this newest game is before I buy it. Are there any outdoor scenes that are bright and pretty or is it all indoors and gloomy looking?

I would say it's indoors, outdoors and gloomy so far. It's different though in that you can take your time in some parts and study and explore without being attacked all the time. You also have a choice of responses in conversations to give it more of an adventure game feel; but over all it's gloomy.

Hate gloomy It's like watching an X-files movie...even the interegation rooms have no lights on. What's with that? I know I'll end up getting it anyway but I sure do miss the old bright florescent looking colors of the past.

Is it absolutely necessary to have DirectX 9 to play it or will it work with DirectX 8.1?

The game says you must have DirectX 9.0 and it also recommends that you upgrade your drivers to be compatible with DirectX. So, I had the install disk upgrade me to DirectX 9.0 (I have WinXP and had DirectX 8 before). I DIDN'T do any driver upgrades though, and the game plays like a gem.

After about 10 levels I have seen mostly dark scenes, but the Paris Ghetto is in the daylight, although, not a bright sunny day.

Still having a nice game playing experience with AOD!

Dadguy

TR games are cool, that's one of my favourite games. I finished all TR-s except The Angel of Darkness.

There's a PATCH for the PC game already. You can get the patch at: http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/support/patchinfo.html?ptid=65

Yes it solves the lack of intro problem. I am just hoping they will do something about the controls: Lara is always a bit wayward when I play but with this game she goes wild; the times I've stopped to think and she's just taken it upon herself to climb up and leap off things, or spin round and round; it really makes those timed puzzles and jumps a nightmare.

What happened to the much publicised upgraded game engine? This game looks surprisingly like the previous 5. If Lara is now made of 5000 polygons then I must have the wrong game.

Angel of Darkness : It looks ugly, plays badly and continues to aggravate with some of the most clumsy movements imaginable. I am sure that thousands of people across the globe are yelling "No, grab the ledge you stupid (insert curse)" right at this very moment.

What a let down, you wait for years, and then Eidos chuck this out. Appalling.

Yes, at the moment Lara has one leg but is managing very nicely. This game is bizarre: it is easier so far for me but the graphics are appalling.

I just got my copy today, and I love it. Have finished the others, exept Chronicles, thanks to a computer breakdown. I like the darkness and more seriosly toned game.

Caroline.

I finished this yesterday; it's a much easier game to play as it's more obvious where you are supposed to go next, most of the time. I usually have to resort to some sort of cheat, but not this game; even the bosses are easier when you know how. Thought most enjoyable level was the bioresearch as it was a pleasant change to see some colour.

Thanks Moogie and Dadguy, for asking and answering re- the intro. scenes. I can't get them to play either. It must be something straightforward, but I can't suss it out ?!?!

They work from Explorer, as you recommended, though.

Cheers,

Gelert.

I gave up on this game a while ago in favour of TR2 and probably 3 next, and 4 and even 5 (which I just picked up for a song). A lot of people liked it, but it seems many felt let down by it. I didn't feel like I was playing Tomb Raider - it was more like a hybrid between TR and something like NOLF, though without the humour.

Greetings Gelert and Hagatha,

The chatter about AOD has gone dark in the past couple months. Seems we have finished or chucked the game in lieu of others. I know Hagatha's feelings from other threads.

Myself, I must be easy to please. I found the game beautiful to look at, fun to explore, and nice to listen to. I had some dissatisfaction with aspects of the movement (Hagatha and I jumped off of many a railing to our deaths) but all in all I had a good time.

Gelert, I can't remember what fixed that video glitch for many folks. I never had it. The videos look better playing on MS Media Player anyway. If you want to get to the bottom of it, make sure you are DX 9.0 and check to see if you have installed the latest patch. Remember, that once you apply the patch that the CHEATS won't work (if that's important to you).

Happy gaming!

Dadguy

Thanks Dadguy. Hi Hagatha.

Yeah, I'm only now approaching the Louvre dig site. I'm at the second set of security beams near the Mona Lisa. It's good so far, but nothing like the my favourite TRs, TR1, TR4 and TR3. TR2 was pretty good too, but I didn't like Chronicles at all. What ruined that one finally for me was a really bad bug near the end, where the nasty guy wouldn't follow Lara when she was upping and downing the dipped fllor and the helicopter was shooting at her. I tried that hundreds of times until I read in a walkthru that if she went too fast he didn't come after her and so you couldn't trap him. Poor game all round for me.

I really hope this one doesn't go the way of Indy and Emperor's Tomb. I gave up on that after that ridiculous scene when the nasty guy - can't remember his name - came after Indy in a tank over all those pits and swings. I skipped that level - I hate doing that - and then stooped where Indy was jumping those floating platforms. Not having save capability was bad, but I thought the game was far, far too much combat and peril compared to Infernal Machine. ET was the most disappointed I've ever been with a game. Pleeeease don't let Lara go the same way !

I'm using a Sidewinder joypad with TRAOD and it is much easier than the keyboard for me. The stairs are still a bit of a pain, but the worst two things are manoeuvering Lara when she's autoaiming (heard that's a big problem later with Boaz), and having to piddle around with the Tab key to get to the inventory and to reload and change weapons.

I have DX9.0b and I got the patch already. No difference. It didn't even correct the face graphics of the Cafe owner - half frontward and half backward. I can't see it's made any difference at all yet, except the game hasn''t crashed since I put it on. Before it crashed at the boxing contest in the church, near the rubble from the ceiling. What was the point of that contest anyway ? Betting on who wins ? Was it important to do ??

Sorry for the long ramble. I'm off to Paris again !

Fingers crossed !

You bring back memories! I did make it through that tank scene in Indy's Emporer's Tomb (I think that was another Von something like Von Croy now that you mention it), but I agree; I hate those near impossible tasks.

I didn't have the TR Chronicles bug (or got lucky and missed it) that you mentioned, but agree that level (running and jumping over the pits with the helicopter shooting) was brutal.

The boxing contest was some way for them to add gameplay to get Lara some extra cash. I guess it was a cute idea.

Have fun, Gelert!

Dadguy