History VideoGame / TombRaiderUnderworld

* BagOfSpilling: What happened with [[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Excalibur]]? It seems like a perfect weapon (not to mention needed to open the portal Lara's mom was transported through). Also, while Lara can hold an unlimited number of healing items in this game, she discards them at the start of each new level for some reason.

* FakeLongevity: Certain puzzles requires you to pull not one, but two switches, usually in the mirror opposite part of the mechanism. Might not always be bad, but a few of the most blatant examples it quickly gets tiresome. Many levels, especially earlier ones, also require Lara to backtrack through entire temples just to escape.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Simply tranquilizing animals and human enemies saves ''a lot'' of time and in certain places allows you to bybass really tough encounters.

* SceneryPorn: Thailand and Mexico sections are just gorgeous, combining lush foliage, impressive ruins and breathtaking natural formations. And the graphics aged pretty well, so the effect is still there after almost a decade.

* ShownTheirWork: This is probably the best researched Tomb Raider game in existence in regard of locations, ancient cultures and architecture, to the point of winning award for it. And all while still maintaining pulpy atmosphere of adventure. Special mention goes to Lara's journal entries, which often expound on the mythological bases behind the ruins she encounters - a feature kept in the 2nd series reboot.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler:Not counting the DLC extensions as canon, Lara hits Natla with Thor's Hammer, the most powerful weapon in the series capable of killing demigods, ''and'' she falls into the eitr, which instantly kills anything that lands in it (though it usually reanimates corpses as thralls). Which is ironic considering how hard she is to kill, after what she survives in ''Anniversary''.]]
** Lara uses a different kind of overkill to finally dispatch Natla in the DLC extensions: [[spoiler: She gives her own doppelgänger free will, finally unchaining her from Natla's tyranny. The newly-freed creature promptly submerges her mistress under a pool of eitr and happily stays to watch her drown]].
* ThreateningShark: Two different types of sharks bother Lara in the underwater levels of ''Underworld''.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Simply tranquilizing animals and human enemies saves ''a lot'' of time and in certain places allows to avoid completely really tough encounters.

Set a few weeks after the events of ''[[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Legend]]'', Lara Croft is now searching for Avalon, a mythical place where she believes she might find her [[MissingMom missing mother]]. Thanks to a clue given to her by one of her late father's friends, she manages to pinpoint a location in the Mediterranean Sea, unwittingly stumbling upon the remains of some ancient Norse ruins and, more importantly, one of the gauntlets of Thor, the god of thunder. After an unlikely source informs her that Thor's hammer is the key to unlocking Helheim, the place where her mother was sent to, Lara descends into the underworlds of various ancient cultures. Determined to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance once and for all, she sets out to collect Thor's gauntlets, belt and hammer, simultaneously making sure she stays one step ahead of her nemeses.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The mechanics to trigger [[OneHitKill instant kill]] have been reworked since [[VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary Anniversary]]. Not only the target must be enraged, but Lara herself must have enough Adrenaline to enter BulletTime. Adrenaline is gained in very inconsistent way during combat and complex acrobatics, and almost instantly depletes back to zero.
** PC version took it a step further, since it takes to push few different buttons in perfect sequence all over the keyboard - [[UpToEleven and tap mouse in specific moments too]].

* {{Backtracking}}: In a departure from other titles, Lara usually needs to find her way back out of the tombs she ventures into, and return to her ship - all during gameplay. Whether these extended sequences are for the sake of immersion or filler is up for debate. Averted by Jan Mayen Island; after Lara retrieves [[spoiler: Mjolnir]], she makes her way to Amanda's ship herself.
* BagOfSpilling: What happened with [[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Excalibur]]? It seems like a perfect moment to [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece take it out from the vault]]. Also, while Lara can hold an unlimited number of healing items in this game, she discards them at the start of each new level for some reason.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Lara prevents TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and apparently finally gets rid off Natla. But Alister is dead, Croft Manor is a bombed ruin and Lara had to shoot her own zombiefied mother - the very person she was searching for for the entire ''Legends'' timeline. Alternative ending also has Lara abandoning Amanda in Nepal, during a heavy blizzard, after {{kneecapping}} her. The released ending at least gives them some sense of reconciliation.]]

* BraidsOfAction: [[spoiler: The Doppelgänger in few cutscenes. In an ironic twist has her hair braided into iconic style of Lara, while Lara herself only has a ponytail]].

* DarkerAndEdgier: After the LighterAndSofter that was ''Legend'', ''Underworld'' veers right back.

** It can take ''few playthroughs'' to learn, but BulletTime brings a ''lot'' of flair to combat.
** Mastering proper use of Tranquillizer Gun takes a while, but it allows to thin down the crowd of enemies or turn otherwise hard fight in a small room into no fight at all.

* EurekaMoment: [[spoiler: After stopping Natla, Lara and Amanda are apparently trapped right next to the collapsing structure. Amanda remarks how they've saved the world, but now are going die, [[KickTheDog just like Lara's mother]]. Miss Croft almost instantly [[TheDogBitesBack launches with a fist]], but realises mid-swing there must be [[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend a dias connecting to Nepal]]]].
-->'''Lara:''' ({{beat}}) Wait...
* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Amanda]] might be vengeful (and for a good reason) toward Lara, but that's private and personal. Outside of that, she's more than eager to stop the end of the world.

* EvilRedhead: The Doppelgänger's hair colour is bloody crimson and she serves as TheBrute to [[spoiler: Natla]].

* ExposedToTheElements: {{Averted|Trope}}. Each level features a few possible outfits, all of which are suitable for said level's climate.
* FakeLongevity: Certain puzzles requires to pull not one, but two switches, usually in the mirror opposite part of the mechanism. Might not always be bad, but in the few most blatant examples it quickly gets tiresome. Many levels, especially earlier ones, also require Lara to backtrack through entire temples just to escape.

* ItsPersonal: To ''everyone''. Lara, [[spoiler: Amanda and Natla]] all have very good and very personal reason to try to kill each other over the course of the game and it only gets worse as the story progress. This even extends to Zip - [[spoiler:after Alister is killed, he is motivated by desire to lay vengeance on Doppelgänger]].

* MaleGaze: Much since Lara dons a [[LeotardOfPower swimsuit-leotard]] for significant portions of the game. The camera also seems to hang around a lot closer to Lara than usual.

->'' '''Lara:''' [[spoiler: Jacqueline Natla]], you just don't know when to die.''\\
'' '''[[spoiler: Natla]]:''' A trait we have in common.''

* ObviousBeta: {{Downplayed|Trope}}, but still noticeable. The issues range from annoying, but tolerable - such as wildly inconsistent fall damage - to outright GameBreakingBug - like plot-important objects / entire areas not spawning / loading properly.

* OneMythToExplainThemAll: Turns out [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian Lore]], Norse Mythology, Myth/AztecMythology and UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}} were all inspired by the same events, with Norse Mythology being the closest to the truth.

* DownloadableContent: A considerable amount of extra content for Underworld was exclusive to the UsefulNotes/XBox360, including two new levels and several additional outfits. [=PlayStation=] loyalists, especially those who had supported the franchise from the very beginning, were not pleased.

* BagOfSpilling: What happened with [[VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld Excalibur]]? It seems like a perfect moment to [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece take it out from the vault]]. Also, while Lara can hold an unlimited number of healing items in this game, she discards them at the start of each new level for some reason.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Lara prevents TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and apparently finally gets rid off Natla. But Alister is dead, Croft Manor is a bombed ruin and Lara had to shoot her own zombiefied mother - the very person she was searching for for the entire game. Alternative ending also has Lara abandoning Amanda in Nepal, during a heavy blizzard, after {{kneecapping}} her. The released ending at least gives them some sense of reconciliation.]]

* CoolBike: Lara has access to her bike in the ''Mexico'' and ''Jan Mayen Island'' levels. Sometimes it's even used as an instrument in solving a puzzle. It also proves to be the easiest way (barring [[spoiler: Mjolnir]]) to get rid of thralls.

* {{Gainaxing}}: Subtle, but it's the first game in the franchise to have engine capable of doing so.
* GiantMook: Yeti thralls are roughtly the size of a small truck and with similar resistance. [[spoiler:It takes 3 blasts from Mjolnir, leveler of mountains, just to subdue one.]]

* Myth/NorseMythology: While still treated with some liberties to fit into the pre-existing lore, it's suprisingly well researched, all things considered. [[spoiler: Lara basically plays Thor's role in his fight against Jörmungandr, even if the myth is treated as a mere metaphor]].

* ThePowerOfHate: [[spoiler: After having to put her own mother down, [[HeroicBSOD Lara is unable to even stand up]]. Cue Natla showing up and smugly mentioning how she killed Lara's father after he was no longer useful for her. This not only adds up to already [[ItsPersonal high stack of reasons]] why Lara wants to kill Natla, but gives her the strenght to get up and fight]].

* PragmaticVillainy: [[spoiler: Amanda is suprisingly pragmatic in her actions, even if her aim is to make Lara suffer as much as possible rather than outright killing her (but that's still a fair game). Meanwhile, Natla subverts it, at first appearing to be a great mastermind, but then it's revealed it's all just petty revenge with a convoluted plot to hurt Lara rather than getting rid of her first chance given. Not to mention what she plans to do, regardless of consequences]].
* ReactorBoss: The final confrontation with [[spoiler: Natla]] focus entirely on dodging or powering through a huge amount the thralls, while desperately trying to destroy the machine she's currently preparing for launch.

* TheUndead: Thralls represent any living creatures which had contact with eitr. They are animated corpses with skeletal appearance and as the name imples, they are slaves to the person commanding them. Left alone, they are vicious, aggressive creatures attacking all living. Also, for whatever reason, all thralls seem to be slightly bigger than alive counterparts. After sustaining [[MadeOfIron some serious damage]], they will collapse, but if not quickly smashed to pieces, they will simply get up and continue their attack.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Simply tranquillizing animals and human enemies saves ''a lot'' of time and in certain places allows to avoid completely really tough encounters.
* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: There is absolutely nothing stopping Lara from first using tranq gun on her enemies and then shooting them with real bullets, when they lay unconscious. Lampshaded by the manual.

* RequiredSecondaryPowers: Thor's Hammer might be the most powerful weapon in the universe, but without the help of special gloves and powering belt, it can't be even lifted or swinged.

* BulletTime: One of Lara's moves utilises this; in a bit of combination from the previous Matrix-style moves, Lara will jump onto and then flip off an enemy. While in the air, time slows down and two reticules align themselves over the enemy's weak point, which Lara can shoot ForMassiveDamage. Additionally, during sudden dangerous moments, Lara will have a brief period of BulletTime to react, replacing the [[PressXToNotDie Quick Time Events]] of the two previous games.

''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' was released in 2008 and is the ninth entry in the ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series. It is the last game of the first Crystal Dynamics trilogy that started with ''Legend''; after the release of Underworld, the series was rebooted a second time with ''VideoGame/TombRaider2013''.

* ShortRangeShotgun: Subverted, [[BrokenStreak breaking a really long streak]] for the entire franchise.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Lara prevents TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and apparently finally gets rid off Natla. But Alister is dead, Croft Manor is a bombed ruin and Lara had to shoot her own zombiefied mother - the very person she was searching for for the entire game. Alternative ending also has Lara abandoning Amanda in Nepal, during a heavy blizzard, after [[{{Kneecapping}} her. The released ending at least gives them some sense of reconciliation]].]]

-->Distasteful? Yes. Unsporting? Yes? Efficient? Try it and see.

* PragmaticVillainy: [[spoiler: Amanda is suprisingly pragmatic in her actions, even if her aim is to make Lara suffer as much as possible rather than outright killing her (but that's still a fair game). Meanwhile, Natla subverts it, at first appearing to be a great mastermind, but then it's revealed it's all just petty revange with convoluted plot to hurt Lara rather than getting rid of her first chance given. Not to mention what she plans to do, regardless of consequences]].

* OutsideContextVillain: The poachers in Mexico have nothing to do with the rest of the plot, but they definitely don't like people crashing in the middle of their operation.

* Backtracking: In a departure from other titles, Lara usually needs to find her way back out of the tombs she ventures into, and return to her ship - all during gameplay. Whether these extended sequences are for the sake of immersion or filler is up for debate. Averted by Jan Mayen Island; after Lara retrieves [[spoiler: Mjolnir]], she makes her way to Amanda's ship herself.

* BenevolentArchitecture: Poles randomly sticking out of walls - allowing Lara to swing her way across - is but one of the many examples. Climbable ledges also have a clear white tint compared to surrounding surfaces, making them very easy to spot (usually).

** Lara uses a different kind of overkill to finally dispatch Natla in the DLC extensions: [[spoiler: She gives her own doppelgänger free will, finally unchaining her from Natla's tyranny. The newly-freed creature promptly submerges her mistress under a pool of eitr and happily stays to watch her drown.

* TrashTheSet: Croft Manor is blown up and engulfed in flames, courtesy of [[spoiler:Natla and Amanda's Lara Doppelgänger]]. Amanda's first ship also ends up capsizing and sinking into the ocean.

* BagOfSpilling: What happend with [[VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld Excalibur]]? It seems like a perfect moment to [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece take it out from the vault]].
* BareYourMidriff: Lara's default outfit and its many variations. Actually, the wetsuits and really thick snow clothing are the only ones to avert this trope.

* BenevolentArchitecture: Poles randomly sticking out of walls - allowing Lara to swing her way across - is but one of the many examples.

* BlatantItemPlacement: Weird medicinal mixtures and up-to-date sterilised medkits can be picked up at every corner.

* BraidsOfAction: [[spoiler: The Doppelgänger in few cutscenes. In an ironic twist has her hair braided into iconic style of Lara, while she herself only has a ponytail]].
* BossBattle: Somewhat notable in that it is the first game in the series to have no traditional boss battles.

* BottomlessPits: Yes, Lara still dies when she falls down one of these. They tend to make at least one appearance in each level.

* [[CheckPoint Check Points]]: Frequently double as a SavePoint as well.

* CoolBike: Lara has access to her bike in the ''Mexico'' and ''Jan Mayen Island'' levels. Sometimes it's even used as an instrument in solving a puzzle.

* EvilSoundsDeep: The Doppelgänger speaks in distorted, almost baritone version of Lara's voice.

* FakeLongevity: Certain puzzles requires to pull not one, but two switches, usually in the mirror opposite part of the mechanism. Might not always be bad, but in the few most blatant examples it quickly gets tiresome.

* GiantMook: Yeti thralls are roughtly the size of a small truck and with similar resistance.

* LightningBruiser: The Doppelgänger is fast enough to make it virtually impossible to aim at her, while able to ''punch through'' [[GiantMook Yeti thralls]]. She also seems to be completely unfazed by sustained injuries.
* MaleGaze: Much since Lara dons a [[LeotardOfPower swimsuit-leotard]] for significant portions of the game.
* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: [[spoiler: [[WildCard The Doppelgänger never really was on anyone's side]], but since she's bound by magic to Natla's commands, she grudgingly follows them. Natla really should know better not to order her openly rebellious thrall to end herself after killing Lara]].

* PowerOfTrust: The only way for Lara and [[spoiler: Amanda]] to both stop the EvilPlan and survive doing so is to entrust each other with their own lives, fully knowing at no point the second party is obligated to uphold their side of bargain. [[spoiler: Defied in the alternative ending, where they are quickly back to fighting each other. Lara ends up wounding Amanda and leaves her to die, alone and in a blizzard.]]

* SanityHasAdvantages: [[spoiler: Natla wants to wipe ''everything'' from the face of Earth, including continents, killing pretty much entire life in the process]]. Never mind it would left her absolutely alone on the top of the barren rock. On the other hand [[spoiler: Amanda might be driven with maniacal desire to get revange on Lara, but is sane enough to realise where the entire Midgar Seprent plot will lead and does her best to prevent it, even overcoming her pathological drive to harm Lara]]. They are still not friends by the end (and they probably never be again), but at least some traces of reconciliation are present.

* ShownTheirWork: This is probably the best researched Tomb Raider game in existence in regard of locations, ancient cultures and architecture, to the point of winning award for it. And all while still maintaining pulpy atmosphere of adventure.
** To wield Thor's Hammer it requires to first wear [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megingjörð Megingjörð]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Járngreipr Járngreipr]].
** Special mention goes to use of Jan Mayen island as plot point. [[spoiler: The island is a microcontinent, situated at the point where Eurasian and (supposed) Greenland[[note]]or the North American[[/note]] Plates connect and is also very close to Reykjanes Ridge. Basically, applying as much force as Midgard Serpent is impled to have at that point would indeed cause a catastrophic split of Earth's crust]].

* TranquillizerDart: Due to more than a decade of critique for killing endangered species, Underworld introduced tranquilizer gun. Due to InstantSedation it's extremely effective, in certain situations more than real guns. Hit enemies are put to sleep for about a minute, which is more than enough to traverse the area.
* TrashTheSet: Croft Manor is blown up and engulfed in flames, courtesy of [[spoiler:Natla and Amanda's Lara Doppelgänger]].

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: There is absolutely nothing stopping Lara from first using tranq gun on her enemies and then shooting them with real bullets, when they lay unconscious. Lapshaded by the manual.

* SticksToTheBack: ZigZagged. On one hand, currently selected secondary weapon, if not used, will be on Lara's back. On the other hand, remaining four weapons will be hidden in ((Hammerspace)).

'''''Tomb Raider: Underworld''''' was released in 2008 and is the ninth entry in the ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series. It is the last game of the first Crystal Dynamics trilogy that started with ''Legend''; after the release of Underworld, the series was rebooted a second time with ''VideoGame/TombRaider2013''.

* {{Bookends}}: [[spoiler:After destroying the Midgard Serpent, a monstrous device that could have caused the end of the world, and taking out Natla with Mjolnir, Lara and Amanda escape through a nearby dais, which teleports them to the one in Nepal, where Lara's mother originally disappeared.]]

* ItsPersonal: To ''everyone''. Lara, [[spoiler: Amanda and Natla]] all have very good and very personal reason to try to kill each other over the course of the game and it only gest worse as the story progresses. This even extends to Zip - [[spoiler:after Alister is killed, he is motivated by desire to lay vengeance on Doppelgänger]].