TR underworld my first impression

"Erik Steffl" <steffl RemoveThis @bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:Vq6dnYs2D8rlz7XUnZ2dnUVZ_o7inZ2d@posted.rawbandwidth...
> McG. wrote:
>> "J.H." <justaguyhanginout RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:YDPVk.2244$jr4.1815@edtnps82...
>>
>>> You say the movements are quicker. I say they're jerky and stunted. TRA
>>> and TRL had very smooth movements. I also think those two games are the
>>> most thought out and bug free TR games ever. Not to mention the
>>> horrible collision detection in this game.
>>
>> That really sounds like low game framerates. You're on vista, right?
>> x86?
>>
>> Though it's just the TRU demo, I figure its the same engine. I don't
>> know what the fr's are on my system. I recall that you have a quadcore
>> with nVidia 8nnn video also?
>>
>> I'm running it on a Q9550, GA EP45-DS3L mobo, 8 gigs PC8500 DDR2, BFG
>> 8800GTX, DualView with 19" Sammy 930B secondary and Sammy 245T 24" ws
>> primary. XP Pro x64 sp2. nVidia 163.21 drivers I think. Running game
>> in 1920x1200, no lagging, jerkiness or 'stuntedness' going on. Game
>> plays smooth as silk, maybe even a tad too fast. Anims look wonderful.
>> Sure wish I could play all the original TR's on this!
>
> yeah, I have the same impression, she's a bit faster than I'd expect but
> definitely smooth, no jerkiness,
>
> I don't see any problems with collision detection in general (other then
> some unexpected glass walls, but strictly speaking that's not collision
> detection, just unfinished level design)
>
> erik

I think the glass wall bit is by design. It's a game flaw, not a bug. Got
to admit, game PLAY is much smoother than I expected. I found I could get
around pretty good, just got to rethink what Lara can do now. I still
expect to be able to step back, turn in place and belly crawl. I still find
it hillarious that Lara can do gymnastics on the uneven bars and use The
Hook (grappler) to some extent! Drowning animations were better in the
classic versions. And I haven't seen a swan dive in the demo yet so can't
compare it to the old ones.
McG.

McG. wrote:
> "Erik Steffl" <steffl DeleteThis @bigfoot.com> wrote in message
> news:Vq6dnYs2D8rlz7XUnZ2dnUVZ_o7inZ2d@posted.rawbandwidth...
....
>> I don't see any problems with collision detection in general (other then
>> some unexpected glass walls, but strictly speaking that's not collision
>> detection, just unfinished level design)
>>
>> erik
>
> I think the glass wall bit is by design. It's a game flaw, not a bug. Got

maybe we're not talking about the same glass walls? e.g. the glass
walls in the boat (where demo starts) are definitely not there because
of engine limitations - she could go downstairs or more towards the
front of the boat,

there's number of places where she can go into tiny spaces or
precisely reacts to environment, e.g. the thor statue with a hammer -
she can go behind hammer etc. At the same time sometime she cannot go
into open space - that seems like level design, not engine limitation.

when you say "by design" - do you mean it's engine design or level
design?

> to admit, game PLAY is much smoother than I expected. I found I could get
> around pretty good, just got to rethink what Lara can do now. I still
> expect to be able to step back, turn in place and belly crawl. I still find

she can turn in place, at least using gamepad, plus no matter where
she's facing she can go into any direction - that's pretty flexible,

as I wrote in my other post I am having fun trying to move on
specific path even though camera position changes, that's gamepad only
and I admit it's slightly perverse but it's fun

she cannot do nice 180 turn (she can turn 180 it's just nothing extra)

I definitely miss the floor exercises - all the summersaults etc.

> it hillarious that Lara can do gymnastics on the uneven bars and use The

and she can pull them out (some of them), she can climb up so that
she stands on them,

> Hook (grappler) to some extent! Drowning animations were better in the
> classic versions. And I haven't seen a swan dive in the demo yet so can't
> compare it to the old ones.

drowning? she has scuba gear now, how she can drown?

erik