The police chase Lara in Paris after presumably having killed Werner von Croy, she has blood on her hands. Werner von Croy gave her the address of Madame Carvier, his friend. The main goal of this level is to get unseen by the police and go to a derelict apartment.
Known references[]
01.01 - Sign[]
Maison princip translates as main/principal house, but there is actually a typo here, since ‘princip’ does not exist in French, whilst ‘principe’ does. There will be many typos like this to look out for throughout the course of the game; obviously, the Core team’s French was a little rusty…[1]
This is an Easter egg! Read more here: Easter Eggs page
01.02 - Europe 2 posters[]
As for those Europe2 posters plastered in the alley, it’s a French network of FM radio stations dedicated to Rock and Pop music, relaunched in 2008 as Virgin Radio. They’re everywhere as well, which makes us think that students plastered them everywhere, much to the city council’s annoyance.[1]
In the Russian version of the game it was changed to "Chocolade Shock".[2]
01.03 - News paper[]
On the newspaper is a picture of Franz Kafka.
- Franz Kafka lived in the Czech republic. The second part of the game happened in Czech republic.
- His work "The Trial" speaks of a person who has been innocent and getting for a court but doesn't know why he is guilty. He is framed for something he didn't do, a theme in this game as well.
01.04 - Iron wrought door[]
The door is an iron wrought door. The level designers of Core Design used the design of iron wrought balconies in Paris. I discovered that on the Washington Hotel on Rue de Richelieu has the same iron wrought designs.
01.05 - Reine des Clubs[]
When Lara crawls near the policemen she sees a dance club Reine des Clubs.
Overlooking this park is also a shuttered club called Reine des Clubs, which translates as ‘Queen of Clubs’. Whilst the French word for club is actually trèfle, there are a number of clubs in France (well, a few in Metz and Montpellier, anyway) that actually have the name of the club in French, combined with the English word for ‘club’. In this sense, Core has really done their research—either that, or they just wanted to slip in a delicious pun. There’s even the image of a crown on the sign.[1]
01.06 - Place de Delphine[]
Place de Delphine could link to the novel “Delphine”, by Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein. In the Carvier level everything is Napoleon-themed.
01.07 - Police Car[]
Core Design did their job very well in making the game realistic. The police car in the second picture is a Citroën and has the coat of arms of Paris on it.
01.08 - Bench[]
The bench can be found on multiple areas in the Parisian Back Streets. It is based on a real bench found in Paris (see second picture). It can be found in Paris at Île-de-France on the Quai de Bourbon.
01.09 - Library[]
This is an Easter egg! Read more here: Easter Eggs page
01.10 - Bastide[]
According to Secrets guide: Bastide translates as "cottage", which is perhaps meant to be an ironic joke given the shop’s current condition. [1]
01.11 - Rue Alphonse[]
The street sign mentions Alphonse. It could be a reference to Alphonse Mucha, a lot of art from Alphonse are in the Prague levels.
01.12 - Street sign Rue Eliott[]
This is an Easter egg! Read more here: Easter Eggs page
Unknown references[]
In this section are all the images with unknown references are displayed. These contains words that are a mystery what it links to. If you known or recognize, please leave a reply :-)
01.13 - Iron wrought door[]
Most likely inspired on the iron wrought balconies in Paris. Source unknown.
01.14 - Barrel[]
On the oil drum or barrel is text that could read either Rocki or Rocci or Rocel.
01.15 - Boxes[]
There are two boxes:
- Box with marking: Roddard Le Gumes, this translated as Roddard the vegetables. Who's Roddard?
- Box with marking: Bière with a crown on it.
01.16 - STRE paint[]
A box of STRE paint. Don't know what "stre" is...
01.17 - Hicho 100[]
After crawling under the fence, Lara sees in the garbage some Japanese stuff.
01.18 - Dancing school[]
The dance school of M. Roxby. That name "Rox" or "Roxby" appears also in the Parisian Ghetto part 1 level as a store Delphine and Roxby and in the Margot Carvier's Apartment as a can of "Rox" in her kitchen. It could refer to a name of a family member.
01.19 - Head[]
The head above the window is from a relief. It reminds me of the art nouveau imagery in the Prague levels.
01.20 - Litter on the street[]
On the streets there is a patrolling guard near the library. On the floor is some litter. Although it is small some things can be seen: a paper with TNT? And an art poster of some kind of movie.
01.21 - Hotel de Eloise[]
The same hotel can be found in Parisian Ghetto part 1.
01.22 - Rue Pantoufles[]
The Rue Pantoufles is not used in the game. It translate it as “Street slippers”.[3]
01.23 - Place de Liberté[]
Place de Liberte; Which translates as “Place of the freedom” according to google translate. [3]