New details on the forthcoming Tomb Raider Underworld for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been unearthed on Portuguese gaming website, LusoPlay.

First and foremost, the website confirms that the events of Underworld take place after Tomb Raider Legend, with the game currently functioning in a pre-alpha build. As previously hinted at, the location of the title takes place in Chiapas, Mexico, and will recreate a local Mayan named Xibalba.

Crystal Dynamics Director, Eric Lindstrom, further added that Lara would face a plethora of different enemies, including Leopards, bats and human enemies, the latter of whom are also in pursuit of the Xibalba. Additionally, Lindstrom revealed that the environment would play a key role in the game, with lead character, Lara Croft, able to interact with it in many ways, such as being able to climb any surface with “bumps”.

Croft will also leave footprints in the mud as she battles her way through each environment, and the corpses of her enemies will no longer vanish after a period of time. The website also states that the lighting, animation and sound effects are all implemented to an excellent degree, despite the game being in its early development stages.

Lastly, LusoPlay revealed that gamers would be able to utilize Croft’s grappling hook more frequently than previous titles, and that you will also have the ability to target individual or grouped targets when in combat. Croft is also said to be more susceptible to injury this time around.

Tomb Raider Underworld is due out on PS3 and Xbox 360 in late 2008. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available here at PSU.

Source: OnAxis