As Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider Underworld heads out to store shelves this week, publisher Eidos has tasked UK PR firm Barrington Harvey with managing the review scores, resulting in journalists being asked to hold off on negative reviews.

The story emerged after games journalist Guy Cocker reported, via Twitter, that Eidos informed him "if you're planning on reviewing Tomb Raider Underworld at less than an 8.0, we need you to hold your review till Monday."

Barrington Harvey confirmed the policy with videogaming247, explaining:

We're trying to manage the review scores at the request of Eidos.

We're trying to get the Metacritic rating to be high, and the brand manager in the US that's handling all of Tomb Raider has asked that we just manage the scores before the game is out, really, just to ensure that we don't put people off buying the game, basically.

It's the second review-related controversy for Eidos in the past year, following rumors that it pressured GameSpot into firing journalist Jeff Gerstmann for a negative review of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, which was edited following his departure.

At the time, Eidos was heavily advertising on GameSpot. The site later claimed Gerstmann was let go "purely for internal reasons" that were "unrelated to any publisher or advertiser," though it noted Eidos' displeasure with the original review.

In a formal statement, Barrington Harvey director Simon Byron admitted the firm has "been working hard to ensure the launch scores of Tomb Raider Underworld are in line with our internal review predictions over the launch weekend - but... Read more

Eidos has released a pair of trailers for Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider Underworld, the latest adventure featuring famed heroine Lara Croft. Lara goes on a murderous rampage aboard a large ship, but she'll have to face the consequences.

A demo is out now for PC and Xbox 360, and the final game will launch for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS on November 18.

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For a developer interview video, check below... Read more

As expected, a demo for the PC version of Tomb Raider: Underworld is now available. Like the Xbox 360 demo released earlier this week, the 1.20GB download offers an introductory level set in Thailand. Tomb Raider: Underworld will be released for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS November 18.

On the Xbox Live Marketplace you can now find a demo for Tomb Raider: Underworld, the eight Lara Croft adventure due out November 18.

Available in all Xbox Live regions, the demo is a 1.27GB download and contains an introductory mission set in Thailand. In addition to Xbox 360, Tomb Raider: Underworld will also be released for PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS.

Publisher Eidos, continuing its media barrage for Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider: Underworld, has released a pair of trailers for the latest in the long-running action series. Today, heroine Lara Croft can be seen pulling off some Prince of Persia-esque gymnastics as she gets herself into and out of trouble.

The tomb-raiding antics will start on November 18 on PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS. Xbox 360 owners should be able to get their hands on a demo by the end of this month.

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For one more trailer, look no further than right below... Read more

Come November 18, Lara Croft will be raiding once again, so publisher Eidos has released new screenshots from the many versions of Crystal Dynamics' latest. Tomb Raider: Underworld and its action-adventure antics are slated to hit PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS. The Xbox 360 edition will receive two exclusive story-expanding downloadable chapters post-release, with an Xbox 360-only downloadable demo expected to arrive by the end of October.

Following up on yesterday's announcement of Xbox 360-exclusive downloadable content for Crystal Dynamics' upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld, publisher Eidos has affirmed that there are no plans to bring that content to other platforms.

While Tomb Raider: Underworld will hit PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and other consoles November 18, the two downloadable episodes are not a timed exclusive and will only appear on Xbox 360, an Eidos representative clarified to MTV Multiplayer. Furthermore, there are no plans to release additional content on other platforms.

Said to add six hours to the game, the chapters will arrive in two chunks. The first, Beneath the Ashes, is set after the game's conclusion and will hit by Christmas. The second, Lara's Shadow, should be released in early 2009.

That exclusivity apparently extends to the action-adventure game's impending demo as well, as Eidos stated that the PlayStation 3 will not receive the downlodable demo set to arrive in the Xbox Live Marketplace later this month.

Continuing the battle of platform-exclusive downloadable content, publisher Eidos announced today that Xbox 360 owners will be privy to two exclusive downloadable chapters for Crystal Dymanics' upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Along with the new episodes, Eidos revealed that a Tomb Raider: Underworld demo will be downloadable from the Xbox Live Marketplace later in the month.

Set after the game's conclusion, the first chapter--Beneath the Ashes--add a new environment and enemies to the game. It will be available "in time for the holidays."

The second chapter--Lara's Shadow--brings "a new kind of playable character" to the mix, and will arrive in early 2009. No price point was mentioned for either episode.

In all, the two chapters are said to add six hours to the action-adventure game, which hits PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP on November 18.

Publisher Eidos has released a few more gameplay trailers from Lara Croft's latest latest Crystal Dynamics-developed adventure, Tomb Raider: Underworld, which hits PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii on November 18.

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Check below for the other gamplay video, featuring a jungle environment... Read more

Publisher Eidos passes along a new trailer for Tomb Raider: Underworld, which shows off some new gameplay footage after cinematics director Toby Gard stares into your soul and discusses the game's narrative.

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Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Underworld hits PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii on November 18.

More footage of Tomb Raider: Underworld has arrived from publisher Eidos, showcasing more of the Thailand environment found in the action adventure game.

Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Underworld hits PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS on November 18.

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With Lara Croft's search for Thor's mythical hammer hitting retailers on November 18, publisher Eidos has provided the first gameplay trailer and some new screenshots.

Crafted by Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary developer Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Underworld is slated to hit PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS.

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Publisher Eidos has announced that Lara Croft's next crypt-exploring adventure, Tomb Raider: Underworld, will arrive on November 18 in North America, with a European release following on November 21.

Developed by Tomb Raider: Legend and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver veterans Crystal Dynamics, Underworld is slated to hit PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS.

Lara Croft returns later this year in Tomb Raider: Underworld (PC, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii, DS, PSP). A few new screenshots have been released featuring Lara in a wetsuit.

Eidos has revealed a first look at the latest installment in Lara Croft's ongoing tomb-raidin' adventures with new screenshots of Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider: Underworld (PC, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii).

Tomb Raider: Underworld's plot is planned to directly follow the events of Tomb Raider: Legend, released in 2006. Underworld is said to feature a variety of new graphical touches and motion-captured animations.

Eidos parent company SCi announced earlier this month that four of its titles—including Tomb Raider: Underworld—would be shifted to a late 2008 release to boost the company's bottom line during the holiday rush.

As suggested by a recent trademark listing, Eidos subsidiary Crystal Dynamics is currently working on the eighth outing of busty Tomb Raider heroine Lara Croft.

Slated to arrive on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at some point in 2008, the game was unveiled in the latest issue of gaming magazine Play. The official title of the game, however, was not revealed, though that trademark listing indicates it may be subtitled "Underworld."

According to the magazine, Lara Croft's latest adventure takes place after the events of Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider: Legend (PC, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GCN, NDS, PSP, GBA). It is also said to feature all sorts of new graphical touches, such as footprints in the mud that slowly wash away and motion-captured animations.