Tomb Raider: Underworld reviews embroiled in furore

A row has erupted around reviews of the new Lara Croft video game, Tomb Raider: Underworld, after some journalists claimed they had been asked not to post reviews that gave the game a low score.

The situation first came to light on the microblogging service Twitter, after one reviewer said he had been asked by the PR company representing Eidos, the game's publisher, to hold off posting a review of the title if he gave it a mark of less than 8 out of 10.

Several other games websites picked up on the story, although the PR company at the centre of the row has denied trying to influence reviews.

[Peter Griffin]

PR, u lil sly boots u

UR SECRETS OUT!!!! 5'S ALL AROUND NOW, THIS IS UR FAULT!!

[aggh im on fire]

Ive been playing it this weekend and think its excellent. A well deserved 8.5 ot of 10 in my book.

[Genesis5]

I have to agree with you. I have just about finished it and I would score it between a 8 or 9. I really think it is a great game.

[Fobuo]

So that's why there hasn't been many reviews....

[iamtehpwn]

If you make a good game, you don't have to tell people not to score it bad.

:]

[mrdxpr2]

wow eidos epic fail... really u make a bad game a review is just for customers to know how a game is but a person cant buy a game just from one review... for me to buy a game that i have not heard much about i would go to reviews and if about 10 sites give the game about the same review and atleast 3 of them are huge sites and they give them the same review then i would... but if i know a game is a flop i wont buy it...and tomb raider is a flop and there is no reviews that can help my cause on this thanks eidos u guys really are a failure ..Uncharted 2 ftw

[Andras84]

First off I think you are not a real gamer. Why do reviews have to tell you how a game is??? Do you think that you have the same taste as anyone else?? Maybe reviewers find a game to be terrible and you would enjoy the hell out of it.

Let me give you some examples. Half-Life 2 socred really great everywhere, I got it and I hate it. I think it's a pice of crap. Than we have a game on PS1 called The Lost World Jurassic Park wich scored below 5's everywhere but I loved that game so much...I still play it sometimes nowdays on my PS3.

Do you understand what I'm trying to get at??? If you are a real gamer others should not persvade you wich games you will enjoy.

I never read reviews. I just check out gameplay videos and if I can get hold of a demo than that too. If I can't I rent the game first to make sure and than I buy!!

Maybe you should do the same!!

Also Tomb Raider is a great game. It's jaw dropping.

[chanmasta]

... "tomb raider is a flop" yeah well done mate, you're a genious! (Borat voice) NAAAAAAT!!!!

[DiabloRising]

If this... coupled with all the other BS in reviews that has gone on at various outlets the past 2 years (The Gametrailers "editorial"/The Gametrailers "GRID" comparison fiasco/Kane & Lynch firings/"too much variety"/Shoe's infamous A+ review/Halo Swag bags among others) doesn't show people to value their own opinions over paid, biased, "professional" review outlets... then there is no hope for gamers.

Use reviews to inform, not to judge, and always... always play for yourself. Reviewers have agendas. Gamers don't.

[Why o why]

http://www.abjecthubris.com...

it takes the biscuit. Please tell me if that review makes ANY sense when you see the score then tell me duffel bags dont exist.

[Andras84]

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

i wanna check this game out... nice break from all the fps pwnage

[MIA]

Po' lara!

[Andras84]

It's so great. I love it, somehow it manages to get that magic back that the first 3 Tomb Raider games had. Also I think the gfx are amazing. My jaw droped when I had to swim down to the bottom of the ocean on the first level. It's just amazing. Can't wait to get home and play it again.

[Enigma_2099]

... but that didn't turn out so well.