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Tomb Raider 2 – The Floating Islands [No medi-pack]

The Floating Islands has got to be the creepiest level in Tomb Raider 2, if not the entire franchise. The background music makes for an unsettling setting from the get go. And those damned statues… The ones that are on the ground are bloody hard work to fight and keep the health high, and many times Lara ended up getting skewered. I actually find the ones that float in the air more unsettling, mainly because of the speed at which they do it. It’s an old horror movie trope that creatures come towards the characters slowly, almost like it doesn’t matter what you do, you’re screwed. These statues floating towards Lara with their massive swords, seem like such an unnatural threat that you can’t outrun or ever get away from. Just as well Lara brought an M15 with her that takes them out effectively.

The Floating Islands themselves are such a memorable location: jade islands floating in a black void. I particularly like the area with the two bridges, and the zip line ride to get to them, and then through those large doors. But just where are we and how did we get here? What’s up with that room filled with fire on all sides that Lara just casually dives into. And what’s with the ladders that you have to do a twirly jump to progress upwards…twice (you have to love the fact that if you screw it up not only do you fall on spikes, you fall on spikes sticking out of LAVA). If people ever actually lived on these Islands, they loved living dangerously.