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V3.2.3/63 12/09/03
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Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness.
AOD Bugs definitive list.
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New information is [*[surrounded]*] New bugs cannot be highlighted
due to their nature, but new bugs always go at the bottom of their
section.
--
This 'FAQ' is intended as guide to the various problems encountered
in AOD. It can help players to determine whether the game is worth
playing, and can be used as a spring-board for discussion.
NB. This guide will contain spoilers...but I have not included
detailed story descriptions.
It is also a reference file for TR players with which they can
either lobby Eidos/ Core or use in discussion. But please attribute
any used information to me and the others that have helped in this
guide's creation.
--
I've noticed during my travails through alt.games.tombraiders that
Bugs and problems in AOD are an interesting side-note to this game.
This game was heralded as the next great venture by Eidos - the
publisher of the Tomb Raider franchise - and perhaps this 'FAQ' can
give some indication as to how the game was received.
Most long-time TR players were disappointed with this game. Despite
its heavy delays, it still has an unfinished or raw aspect to it.
You may be interested to read the following article about schisms
within Core, the game developers, during AOD's creation:
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines1424.html
Many players are trying to campaign for either a re-release, or a
'Gold' expansion set that will address the following problems.
At any rate, if you're thinking about buying AOD, you might want to
review the following information, as it may help you determine
whether you will enjoy the game or not.
Please remember, however, that not all of the bugs are experienced
by all players. Most players have experienced between two and ten of
the following bugs, with an average at around 4 or 5 IMO. Some
players have experienced nothing but bugs, and others have
experienced no bugs whatsoever.
--
Bugs that have been entered are done so according to a fairly
liberal interpretation of 'game bug'. In this guide, bugs are
defined as 1) inhibiting normal game play, and 2) distracting from
the intentions of the developers. Now, obviously, I'm not a
developer for this game, and so I've had to guess for the most part
at the developers' intentions. The short and long of it is: the
following bugs are not necessarily faults in the programme code.
They're often just an annoyance.
There are plenty more than what I've listed...I've been meaning to
do this for a while, but have only started now.
Where a patch and date are given, this bug has been 'fixed' by said
patch, which was released on or around that date. Often, this has
been the only way to find out about some bugs.
I have included some bugs that have been fixed by various patches.
While all bugs that have '(Patch dd/mm/yy)' added have been fixed,
not all fixed bugs are listed as being fixed. That's for another
update sometime.
Posting Details/ Instructions are below.
The guide is divided into 6 separate areas, covering the major
headings under which the bugs can be found. Bugs are further
subdivided. There is no real order to the individual bugs within
their headings.
Contribution acknowledgement is in the form of "(.contributor
placefound datefound [dd/mm/yy])", where a.g.t stands for the
newsgroup "alt.games.tombraider" and gfq stands for "GameFaqs
(www.gamefaqs.com)".
This FAQ is incomplete in so far as it will never be fully complete
while people are discovering new bugs. I have yet to determine all
platform-specific bugs, but I've indicated what some of these might
be.
I still very much need confirmation for many of the bugs. By
confirmation, I am looking for people to tell me whether certain
bugs are platform-specific, or even if some bugs exist [*[ Bug
*6.3*, for instance, was without confirmation for quite some
time.]*]
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*1. Levels*
1.1 The Secret Garden. In between level One and level Two. Not
really a bug...but 1) it's full of them anyway, 2) it's clearly
meant to be included in the game, and didn't quite make it, and 3)
it links in with (Bug *2.1*).
This area is especially interesting. It is a clear indication that
the game was released well and truly before it was completed. It can
only be accessed through cheats, but I have yet to encounter it.
There are, however, reports of ghost textures, non-existent
textures, interactive objects which, when interacted with, do
nothing, flashing objects that can be picked up, but are not entered
into the inventory, and textures that disappear from different
viewpoints. It contains speech, introductory tutorial-type lessons
however, so it was intended as a set piece. It just never made it,
and they didn't bother removing it completely.
1.2 Lara can steal Watch from house at entry to
Graveyard...but Rennes dies before she can pawn it.
The watch is behind the woman, in a sideboard. But Lara cannot exit
from the house. She can only go to the graveyard, from which she
returns to Rennes' pawnshop as Eckhardt is leaving.
1.3 Von Croy's Apartment. Continuous laser beams at end of
hallway near end of level.
The lasers all activate and Lara cannot move forward. She is in such
a position that she cannot target The Cleaner. She is stuck. (.Fran
31/08/03)
1.4 Kurtis cannot return to earlier part of level after
entering the room in which the Proto is first encountered.
Kurtis approaches the room via a duct: he is crouched. If he turns
around to return to where he came from (especially if one wants to
go back and take out the new, wandering lunatics seen through the
windows), he falls into infinite space. The box upon which he lands
into this room will also sometimes disappear, and it will appear as
if he's standing in the middle of a desk.
1.5 Wrath of the Beast invisible hang. (PC only?)
During the final run, if she missed a step and grabbed the edge, she
just kept hanging on to thin air after the walkway collapsed and
fell down; only when the "grab bar" had been depleted. (.Taava Hein
a.g.t. 6/09/03)
1.6 Final battle problems with Lightning effects.
(Patch 6/09/03)
1.7 In duct after Luddick's death (what's the name of this
level? Anyone remember? I've yet to check it).
A guard should appear with pass, but doesn't. Lara can't advance
further. Game crashes after playing from Eidos supplied savegame.
(.Eddie a.g.t. 08/09/03)
1.8 Tomb of the Ancients no-load.
Just after level splash screen, game will freeze. Occurs in last
hallway: 'gauntlet run' with mirror floor. (.Paul E Kiefer Jr a.g.t.
13/09/03)
1.8.2 Lara can't grab ledges.
Lara either grabs below or above the actual ledge. (.DarkKnight3217
gfq 7/7/03)
1.9 Sanitarium no-jump/ Key sequence error
When jumping to achieve a medipak, jump works, but to jump back to
original area doesn't. Numerical keypad rejects all combinations, by
entering it's own number first. Fixed by entering an incorrect code,
then the correct one. (.Peterbuilt 16/09/03)
1.10 Aquatic Research garden place, reverse pipe climb.
To move left, you have to press right, and vice versa. Inconsistent
with other climbing structures throughout the game. (.Peterbuilt
16/09/03)
1.10.2 Lara sticks to bottom of metal pan in main
Research hub area.
(.MouseNightshirt gfq 7/7/03)
1.11 St Aicard's Graveyard.
On pipe, after shimmying right (as you should), you can shimmy back
left. Suddenly, Lara is holding onto a non-existent rope, with no
grap-bar limit. Eventually she is returned to the original
drainpipe. (.Tim Scott 13/09/03)
1.12 Training level repeating Lara.
When cancelling Lara's instructions, Lara began to repeat 'To move
the barrel… To move the barrel… To move the barrel…'. (.Xian 042 gfq
26/06/03)
1.13 Prague, Mansion.
In room where the Clock must be set to gain entry to the secret
lower levels, it is possible to jump over railing from the second
floor and bypass all levels. Lara lands in the lower level, and is
able to retrieve an etching. Even though the stairs do not appear
(they were never activated), Lara can still walk back up to the
ground floor as if the stairs are there, but invisible. (.HauntedOne
gfq 10/9/03)
1.14 Archaeological dig's lift does not respond.
(.Seth87 gfq 10/9/2003)
1.14.2 Circle puzzle work-around.
Move circle, save, exit, load save game, and the circle will be in
the correct position. (.DarkKnight3217 gfq 7/7/03)
1.14.3 Lara's face etched onto screen.
Even a reload won't remove the image. Total restart of machine
required to remove image. (.Awesomebomb316 gfq 7/7/03)
1.15 Infinity and Beyond.
Lara, in the second level, jumped through a wire fence, and could
not get back. She then fell into infinity. (.cybermike gfq 28/6/03)
1.16 Le Serpent Rouge forgotten floor.
Lara falls through floor after falling from lighting rig. (.Punk1
gfq 30/6/03)
1.16.2 Rouge thick-air.
Lara floats down from the rig, then back up to the rig. (.dragon54b
gfq 30/6/03)
1.16.3 Re-load insta-death.
Lara would die in 'fall-death' animation after a reload, even though
she hadn't actually fallen off anything. (.brianandvicki gfq 6/7/03)
1.16.4 Guard runs…and runs…and runs…
Guard runs towards door, doesn't acknowledge Lara. An easy kill.
(.wileee gfq 7/7/03)
1.17 Parisian Ghetto French man keeps talking.
Let Frenchie answer the phone, then talk to him. Hear Frenchie
continue to yabber on in the background (overlay of speech events).
(.DarkKnight3217 gfq 7/7/03)
1.17.2 Boxing match loop.
After winning bet, and exiting church through a certain exit, the
cutscene showing the boxers fighting loops indefinitely.
(.whitelightning gfq 7/7/03)
1.17.3 Lara's ponytail spins like a helicopter blade.
(.MouseNightshirt gfq 7/7/03)
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*2. Movements*
2.1 What! She can _COMMANDO CRAWL_??!!
I, for one, had no idea this move even existed. It was in the manual
but Lara never described it, and it was obviously meant to be
explained in (Bug *1.1*).
2.2 Walking toggle button does not prevent Lara from falling
over edge.
This, however, may have something to do with the problems of
running/ walking with the control stick on the PS2. This is
unlikely, as it's reported on the PC as well. See the next bug. It
mostly happens on broken stairways, or where the player tries to
turn Lara when she's right on the edge of the platform. She'll stay
on if the button is held down, but not if it's been toggled
(tapped).
2.3 Lara is not really analogue: walk or run.
Nothing in between, run often fails without walking first (which
would be understandable if she's truly analogue, but she's not).
2.4 Look torso-twist.
Lara will, at certain times, completely twist around, so that her
torso is facing in the opposite direction of her legs. Multiple
instances on multiple levels reported by multiple players. (.Paul E
Kiefer Jr a.g.t. 09/09/03)
2.4.2 Look inside Lara.
Look function will occasionally swim up through Lara's head and
body, providing reverse-textures.
2.4.3 'Metal Bar' will come out of Lara's hip/ shoulder.
(.Sas a.g.t. 09/09/03)
2.5 Next-level auto fall.
After falling/ jumping off a structure, player is advanced to next
level. (.Maurice Schellekens a.g.t. 10/09/03)
2.6 Lara wants IT!
Lara will walk through walls and structures to pick up object after
'hand' icon appears (even though Lara is not near the object).
(.Maurice Schellekens a.g.t. 10/09/03)
2.7 Look reversed axis through camera terminals.
When Lara looks through a terminal, the look axis is reversed.
(.Peterbuilt 16/09/03)
2.8 Extended side-step wait.
When side-stepping, an extended amount of time is sometimes needed
before game recognises side-stepping mode. If you don't wait long
enough, Lara will rotate and not side-step. (.kh 16/09/03)
2.9 Look lock.
The camera, after a certain point in the game where the camera
swings around to face Lara, will not return to the traditional 3rd
Person view. (.J. Rose a.g.t 21/09/03)
2.9.2 Spinning Camera (PS2)
Camera will gently circle around Lara, even if the camera joy-stick
is not being pushed. Circling stops after a slight tap to the joy-
stick. The joy-stick is correctly set and centred.
2.10 Lara bends the Matrix
Lara is trapped between two world-objects. One leg is lifted, a la
'Crane' kung-fu style. Camera can then be panned around to create
the ultimate Matrix effect! (.nadwodny gfq 19/09/03)
2.11 Lara floats.
Lara floats on a variety of objects. See also *1.16.2* and *2.10*.
(.brianandvicki gfq 6/7/03)
2.12 Lara's hair won't die.
Lara was swimming, drowned. Hair then stuck up. Straight up. Out of
the water. (.DarkKnight3217 gfq 7/7/03)
2.13 Clipping Fun.
Lara, when 'drowning' it vat of acid in laboratory, will stick her
head through the floor, and be sucked into the wall. She also drowns
in midair. (.Shiro Xetas gfq 7/7/03)
====================================================================
*3. Ammunition*
3.1 Two Bullets at once. (Fixed Patch 6/09/03)
Lara will fire two bullets for every one recorded or seen shot (her
ammo depletes faster than the amount of damage she inflicts). This
may be an indication of the original idea of using 'dual pistols'
mode with some weapons.
3.1.2 Two holsters, one weapon.
Why is she given two holsters if there is never any option to use
'dual pistols'?
3.2 Re-spawning ammunition inside inventory (also Bug *5.2*).
I'll admit, this is a friendly bug, but very rare. I experienced it.
3.3 Ammo Combination.
The manual describes combination of ammunition, but there is not the
opportunity to do so (Bug *5.1*).
====================================================================
*4. Weaponry*
4.1 Auto-aim is bung-o.
The auto-aim switches to the farthest away target, even after trying
to switch targets. The aiming seems to get confused (twitches
between) but then ends up on the furthest target away. (.kh a.g.t.
10/09/03)
4.1.2 Aim through walls.
Lara will aim through walls, corners at enemies. (.Paul E Kiefer Jr
a.g.t 10/09/03)
4.2 Ammo count neutral.
Ammo count for all weapons (except shot-gun) is always at 0. But the
guns still fire. (.briandandvicki gfq 6/7/03)
====================================================================
*5. Inventory/ Menu*
5.1 Manual describes option to configure controls, option non-
existent (PAL)
--
5.2 Re-spawning Periapt Shards...I mean, really!
Strange, considering there are only three in the game, and they
should decrease after being taken by Kurtis and used in final
battle.
5.3 Maps useless.
All the maps given are transparent, and do not help the player to
find the 'right path'. Lara informs player to 'check the map' for
the right location of the explosives, yet this is impossible (and
unnecessary).
5.4 Game exit twice over.
When exiting, the menu or 'exit screen' will appear twice, prompting
player to choose to exist twice. (.kh a.g.t. 11/09/03)
====================================================================
*6. Misc.*
6.1 Diagonal texture-skin sprites after a load.
Lara would have lines of texture-tiles spinning out from the centre
of the screen to the edges.
6.2 Missing faces and body parts on people. (PC)
Cafe owner (without Eidos' patch [6/09/03]), guards in Louvre (with
and without patch). (.Taava Hein a.g.t 6/09/03)
6.3 Razor-lizard in Aquatic Research level does not inflict
damage.
It just sort of lovingly nuzzles against Lara's legs. (.Eric/ Garous
a.g.t 7/09/03)
6.4 All sound events not always occurring. (PC only?)
(.Pvt. Hudson a.g.t 7/09/03)
6.5 Quicksave produces empty filenames. (PC)
(.Patch 6/09/03)
6.6 Lighting problems on 'staticly lit animated objects'.
(.Patch 6/09/03)
6.7 Video files don't play. (PC) (Fixed Patch ??/??/??)
First two and last video files do not play (but can be played on
Windows Media Player). (.harlekin a.g.t. 16/09/03)
6.8 Re-spawning items.
Most re-spawning ammo clips are there for a purpose, but others have
been noted, such as in Von Croy's apartment. All items re-spawn when
exiting and re-entering environment (as when going into Café Metro
and back into Parisian Ghetto). (.Maurice Schellekens 16/09/03)
6.9 Shut up shut up shut up SHUT UPPPPPPPPPPP!!
Lara, after a fall-death, will continue screaming all throughout the
reload process. The scream sound has even continued to cycle when
the new game is loaded, forcing a complete restart of the game/
machine.
====================================================================
*References:*
Patch 6/09/03:
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/support/patchinfo.html?ptid=67
ftp://ftp.eidos.co.uk/pub/uk//tomb_raider_AOD/patch/TRAOD_PC_PATCH_V
42.exe
ftp://ftp.eidos.co.uk/pub/uk//tomb_raider_AOD/patch/TRAOD_PC_PATCH_V
49_ALL_LANGUAGES.exe
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines1424.html
====================================================================
*Posting:*
Only send new bugs/ problems etc., to *alt.games.tombraider*. Go to
www.deja.com for help. Do not email me.
Use subject header '(ATTN: DC) AOD Bugs Definitive List' if you
start a new thread, otherwise just reply to the existing thread.
If you do reply to the existing thread SNIP ALL IRRELEVANT
INFORMATION. This guide is big enough as it is to post in a
newsgroup, and with four hundred replies to it, the problem only
gets worse. Thanks.
Bugs are loosely sorted upon order of appearance. Please add new
bugs *at the bottom* (after the last bug). Do not number them. If I
ever feel the need, I'll order them meself. If you know of platform-
specific bugs, or notice a platform-specific bug that I haven't
listed as such, please do so *at the bottom*.
Do not middle post, unless you're wanting to discuss the bug...other
than that...
Knock Yourself Out.
====================================================================
*Author:*
[*[****Dragoncarer, of alt.games.tombraider, wrote this Bug List.
It is available for free-range distribution, provided you retain the
text in its entirety, and that you DO NOT in any way change or alter
the text (this includes minor changes including but not limited to:
spelling, grammar and syntax; and major changes, including but not
limited to: truncation and removal or addition of text).
You must, therefore, include this section, which contains contact
details.
Dragoncarer is Australian.]*]
You can contact me through alt.games.tombraider.
Please attribute this list to me (courtesy of alt.games.tombraider).
I gratefully thank all of the peeps at a.g.t, and especially those
who have given or edited bugs here.
[*[I also offer gratitude to those at the gamefaqs
(www.gamefaqs.com) forums (chiefly those surrounding TR and AOD).]*]
If you feel that you drew special, new attention to a bug, or
'discovered' it (ie., it only seems to work on your machine, or you
can provide evidence that you posted the first set of information
regarding the bug) and I haven't cited you as a reference after the
bug, please tell me so. Follow posting guidelines above.
If I have cited you, and you do not wish to be cited, please also
tell me.
I'm more than happy to remove or include citations, if inclusions
are for a valid reason.
I want to make it clear that this guide is dependent upon those who
have given help, advice, and information about these bugs, and
especially everyone in alt.games.tombraider. They deserve the
recognition.
--
Version information is based on 1.2.3/4, where 1 is build number, 2
indicates a new paragraph in introductory notes, 3 indicates new
bugs/ changed formatting/ general fiddling, and 4 indicates the
number of listed bugs. [*[Each number is independent of the others
(a change in 1 does not reset 2 or 3 as in a usual walkthrough
version information scheme).]*]
END END END END END END END.
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