This year I had the chance to visit a place, that was my personal highlight in TR Legend:
GHANA — with its impressive waterfalls
Hohoe
Hohoe is a small village in Ghana, near the border to Togo. It is around 87 miles away from the capital Accra.
With a population from 30 000 to 40 000 inhabitants it doesn't belong to the bigger cities in Ghana, but it is very well known for its waterfall!
It's named
Wli fall
and is the highest waterfall in Ghana!
Lara besucht einen Wasserfall im T R Legend Level Ghana
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Even though the real waterfall was much thinner than the one we know from the Ghana level, it wasn't less impressive.
If you look up from its foot you feel very minor compared to the power with which the water whooshes down the 66 yards.
We first travelled a part of the way with Taxi. Because of course the waterfall isn't in the middle of the village, but a bit outside.
After the driver dropt us we first had to register. Our small group was formed by only 4 people. Apart from me and my boyfriend, his older brother and younger sister went with us. I thought it was a bit brazenly that the native relatives of my boyfriend had to pay less. But not enough, I was also forced to pay an extra amount for the camera!
For comparison, here is the horizon from the TR Legend level Ghana:
You can find this bush like plant everywhere in Ghana
Flora
This bush-like plants are surely well known by the TR folks. Even those whom haven't played the Ghana Level in TR Legend should know them from one of the plenty jungle levels in the TR series.
Even though the leaves might remind you of a palm, this plant grows like a bush and has no solid trunk.
But this bushes can get very big. They can even reach the height of a human.
bushlike plants & textures in the T R Legend Level Ghana
The plants leaves from the level are not as spiky and sharp as the real ones.
Instead they are more colorful in the level as you can see on the textures.
From the size this bushes are similar to the real ones.
I have a special trick for Lara!
A leave of a plant, that can be found on the way to the waterfall
You can fold a cup from the leaves of this plant — environment friendly disposal included — it's time to end the medipacks, which only leave junk behind…
Look out: this plant can only be seen with enabled “Next Gen”
The flora of Ghana has a lot more to offer, I really missed the all present banana trees and coconut palms in the TR level.
The only bigger “halb”-wild animals, I have found.
The only bigger “halb”-wild animals, I have found.
Fauna
The wildlife in Ghana is manifold. There are various birds, some of them are colorful parrots, many different insects and reptiles.
Sadly I haven't seen any of the bigger wild animals like elephants, hippos, buffalos, antelopes, lions and leopards. But there should (even if few) still exist some in Ghana.
But I met many of the classical domesticated animals like goats, sheeps, chickens, cows, cats and dogs. But the fewest of them are trusting people.
We can find in two places leopards in the TR Ghana level.
Like I already mentioned, I haven't met any wild animal, but the half wild dog on the upper pictures seems at least have the same pose and coat color.
The half wild cat on the picture might belong rather to the leopard's family, still none of them allowed me to touch them!
This is a silk spider. I met it when I had to… go to the bushes… well you know what I mean…
It is not as easy with toilets outside the bigger cities… There are some roofless places with 4 walls around where you can relieve yourself. They are around 2 × 2 yards big and they are separately for men and women — but you can forget about a separation into small cabins like in Europe!
But because of the smell I preferred the naked wildness as loo!
In the bath room in my guest room was a bit more luxurious, it even had a shower, but only with cold water.
Back to the spiders! You can find many spider nets in the TR level. Especially with enabled %ldquo;Next Gen” options they seem to cover the whole temple.
Unfortunately you can't find on any of them a spider! Yet it is not such a problem to create a texture with a spider and place it from time to time…. Just a few tip for those of you who build a level with spider nets…
More inspirations how you could make a Ghana level vivid:
Vehicles
The cars driving on the streets are mostly older models. Especially outside the capital you are seen many practically cars instead of expensive sport cars. But surely you could guess that by yourself.
The car of the enemies from T&x202f;R Legend Level Ghana
But most of the younger generations move around on bikes. Unfortunately most don't wear a helmet! You can always get a moto-taxi for a few coins. Many young boys try to make some money with the moto-taxi and most don't have or need a driving license.
Lara finds a very important treasure in the TR Ghana level — the pin of her mother.
Well I didn't find a treasure, but I was still happy about my discovery:
Lara finds the pin of her mother in the T R Legend Level Ghana
Hopefully you enjoyed my report!
texture comparison:
If you want to publish this text or parts of it elsewere, please ask Tifa Nazah for permission previously!
As every year there is also the TRForge advent calendar contest. Achieve the matching challenge to every calendar door and collect points, to get the chance to win a great prize in the end! You can find more infos here: contest, or you can click on Lara at the calendar page.