Tomb Raider: Underworld releases later this week (tomorrow in the US, Friday for most of the rest of the world), so here’s a launch trailer to celebrate the latest addition to the series, hopefully continuing the upward spiral of quality for the franchise. The trailer below seems to provide reason to think it will.

Tomb Raider: Underworld once again follows the adventures of one Lara Croft, this time venturing deep into the realms of Norse mythology and the Mediterranean Sea, bringing with her some pretty radical and unique archaeological excavation methods.

Thanks to a post on Major Nelson’s Blog, we now know that a Tomb Raider: Underworld demo has been unleashed unto the world, available on Xbox LIVE right now in all LIVE regions. The tag line reads; “Explore everything. Stop at Nothing.” A further bit of blurb describing the motivation behind the game is as follows:

“For generations, stories have been told of the fearsome weapon of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Legend holds that Thor’s hammer had the power to smash mountains into valleys and to destroy even the gods. For more than a thousand years it has existed only as a myth … until now.”

Indeed. The full game is out on almost every platform November 18th in the US and November 21st in the UK and Europe.

A nice, short Tomb Raider: Underworld trailer showing off some footage of Lara doing what she does best - solving puzzles, climbing, jumping and shooting extraordinarily large creatures that time forgot. Have a gander below:

Tomb Raider: Underworld releases on the 21st of November in UK and Europe, while the date for the US is set at November 18th.

The upcoming Tomb Raider game, Underworld, will receive future downloadable content, coming exclusively to the Xbox 360, according to Eidos and Microsoft.

The DLC will comprise two singleplayer chapters, one called Beneath the Ashes, which adds a new environment and enemies, while the second chapters, entitled Lara’s Shadow, is a bit more mysterious as the developers tease it will contain “a new kind of playable character… a unique Tomb Raider experience.” Both chapters together are said to provide an additional six hours of gameplay. Crystal Dynamics general manager Sean Vesce said:

“We are constantly looking at ways to extend our franchises, whilst developing a deeper relationship with our players… With these additional chapters and the online reach of Xbox Live, we are able to deliver exclusive content to millions of gamers worldwide.”

While Tomb Raider: Underworld is expected around the world on the usual suspects (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii and DS) in late November, the DLC will be released later, with the first hitting in time for Christmas, while the second will be available early next year.

From what we have seen so far Lara Croft’s latest adventure is shaping up quite nicely.

A new trailer has been released in which Cinematics Director Toby Gard and Creative Director Eric Lindstorm reveal the story behind Tomb Raider: Underworld. ‘Beneath the Surface’ investigates the mythology behind the game and takes a look at the visual style given to the places Lara visits, ranging from Thailand’s Hindu culture to the Mayans in Mexico.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is scheduled to be released on the 21st of November on the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS and PlayStation 2.

As the PR machine starts churning for the next Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Underworld, they’ve seen the opportunity to release a video detailing the process of becoming Lara Croft for real. The video features the latest real-life Lara Croft model, Alison Carroll, and sees her doing all kinds of stunts, acrobatics and slo-mo walking. Exciting stuff.

You can read more about Alison Carroll’s background here.

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld, raising questions, showing off vehicle action, some explosive sequences as well as giant spiders and an irritable kraken. It then ends on a big ‘ole suspenseful cliffhanger.

Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lara Croft’s latest adventure, is set for release on November 21st on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS and PlayStation 2 (what, no PSP?).

Now that Underworld has been dated, Tomb Raider fans can start getting excited, specifically by looking at these screenshots.

Underworld truly brings the Tomb Raider franchise to the next-generation of consoles with tons of texture and geometric detail, while also featuring ‘next-generation’ game play, extending on classic Lara Croft adventuring style.

Check ‘em out.

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Eidos has stamped a November 21st European release date on Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will be released simultaneously on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, Nintendo DS and PC. Developed by Crystal Dynamics (who also developed the Legend and Anniversary installments), Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first game in the series to be designed specifically for next generation consoles.

The game sees Lara Croft discovering proof that the hammer of the Norse God Thor, once thought to be a myth, exists. So begins a journey around the globe as Croft seeks to uncover this power, hunting for clues, solving puzzles and facing both animal and supernatural foes with advanced weapons and abilities.

The Nintendo DS and Wii versions include exclusive features; Wii owners can look forward to an archeological toolkit to excavate hidden areas and secrets with a compressed air gun, acetylene torch, chisel and pliers.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Lara Croft and Tomb Raider at Christmas time on all formats,” said Patrick Melchior, Head of European Distribution. “Lara Croft has never looked, acted or played so realistically before. Tomb Raider: Underworld will delight fans and gamers alike as well as being a great gift for the Christmas season!”

Eidos has announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld will be out in November for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2 and PC.

Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first Lara Croft adventure built specifically for next-generation consoles and promises an “epic adventure that offers a new level of challenge and choice.”

The legend of the weapon of the Norse god Thor says that whoever holds the hammer wields ultimate power to smash mountains and destroy even the gods. It has been a myth for over a thousand years until Lara discovers proof of the Norse underworld and the hammer.

The game sees Lara embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Norse underworld and a forgotten power that will threaten civilization if unleashed. Lara will have to use her duel guns and an expanded kit of archaeological tools as well as objects in the environment and her broad range of acrobatic abilities if she is to uncover new paths and survive.

Lara’s quest will see her explore exotic locations including Thailand, frozen islands of the Arctic Sea and the jungles of Mexico. Players will face elaborate multi-stage puzzles in each level and can use a new range of combat options as you choose to pacify or kill enemies, target multiple enemies at once with the new dual-target system and shoot with one hand while suspended with the other.

Lara’s inventory has been upgraded to include an active sonar map (emits active sonar ping to create a 3D image of the surroundings and enables Lara to uncover hidden items and locations) as well as a multiple purpose grapple (claw-like device with a high-tension cable that enables Lara to climb, rappel, wall run and manipulate objects). The game also includes a new all-terrain hybrid motorbike which can drive on mud, snow and ice.

Head over to the official website for more information, podcasts, developer diaries and screenshots.