For Tomb Raider Fans
After the sequel, the Tomb Raider franchise unfortunately hit a stone wall, and was unable to find its way out of mediocrity. This all culminated in the abnormally long titled Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. This one was certainly no angel, and Eidos was left to ponder their next move with one of gaming’s most popular properties. Enter Crystal Dynamics – the development studio most well known for the Legacy of Kain series. After looking at the success of the 2003 release, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Eidos saw many aspects that the next Tomb Raider could draw from. Make no mistake; raising a floundering franchise to its once prominent heights is no easy task – especially with millions of fanboys waiting in anticipation. Was Crystal D able to right the ship?
Gameplay
It’s apparent that Crystal Dynamics wanted to take the Tomb Raider franchise back to its roots, which means plenty of adventure and puzzle solving. There is a good mix of third-person action elements and the occasional motorcycle ride, but these feel like afterthoughts when compared with the Indiana Jones-inspired exploration. This is even more evident in the overall production of Tomb Raider Legend as it has a legitimate cinematic quality to it. The in-game cut-scenes are excellently written and framed, and the story even touches on Lara’s childhood, the loss of her mother, friends (supposedly), and more. Despite trekking to seven different worldwide locations, Tomb Raider Legend ties things together fairly well. The story progression leaves just enough info to whet the appetite before moving on.
Control wise, it’s out with the old and in with the new…sort of. The clunky controls that were so limiting in previous Tomb Raider efforts have been replaced with a more free form mechanic. It’s not completely open-ended, as the geometry and level design ultimately determines exactly where Lara can explore. Those familiar with Legacy of Kain: Defiance will immediately notice how similar both games feel.
Probably the most lackluster portion of Tomb Raider Legend is the combat. Shooting consists of a lock-on targeting system that can be a bit sketchy. Flicking the right stick cycles through enemies, but because Lara must stay nimble in her gun battles to avoid damage, the targeting system often feels like it is ignoring your requests. When in close, Lara has a few melee actions at her disposal (boot kick, slide attack, etc.), but the Aerial Assault includes a little slo-mo action where she can still fire off rounds into a foe. It’s pretty snazzy when it works right. Most of the time, you’ll stay at a distance by picking up dropped weapons, like the SMG and shotgun. Lara totes her patented dual pistols by default on most missions, so you usually have some firearm to fall back on.
Much of Legend consists of simple platforming concepts – jump here, scale this ledge, climb this pole, and so on. For the most part, everything works as it should and you aren’t left fighting the controls and camera. As with any third-person action/adventure, there are trouble spots, but thankfully they have been kept to a minimum.
Puzzle solving can be tricky on occasion, but it is usually due to missing a hint or important item that is just out of view. When things get tough, Lara’s Remote Analysis Device (R.A.D.) can be used to indicate specific objects and how they can be interacted with. For example, a set of fasteners on top of a giant computer monitor will blink while in R.A.D. mode to demonstrate that they can be moved. While you may know it can move, the answer isn’t just handed to you. How can I move it? Can I climb up there? Should I use my magnetic grappling device? While the “moving box” puzzle may be an adventure cliché, Crystal D managed to spruce things up a bit. After a few hours with Legend, the puzzles do follow similar patterns, but they still provide some challenging (a fun challenge, that is) moments.
To emphasize some of Lara’s exploits, a few cinematic action sequences make an appearance in Tomb Raider Legend. This is simply a game based on timing where a specific button or direction must be pressed at the exact moment the indicator pops onscreen. Remember how Dragon’s Lair worked? Same thing, but without the bumbling Dirk the Daring.
A few motorcycle chases are thrown into the mix, but are merely filler in between on foot stages. The targeting system is simplified so you can keep one eye on the road and the other on enemies, but it really isn’t all that important. You can usually just keep the throttle down and jet through with little effort.
Each environment is sprinkled with a number of rewards. The bronze are of course the easiest to find, while the gold ones are only for the real diehard explorers. It’s a simple concept: the more rewards you find, the more unlockables and Game Achievements you’ll attain. After completing each mission, the opportunity to replay them on a new difficulty or in the Time Trial mode is available. Time Trials are tough to say the least. They play just like the regular story missions, complete with the same puzzles, same enemies, but now you have the clock as an added foe. The Croft Manor provides a scavenger hunt-like mission for true completists.
Overall Gameplay Impressions:
It seems as though that the Tomb Raider franchise is back on track. Thanks to a renewed focus on adventure and exploration, Lara no longer feels like an aging hag. I particularly love how you are thrown to the wolves from the get-go. No boring tutorial sections - just start exploring. Some of the combat could need a shot in the arm, but the pros of Lara’s latest endeavor far outweigh the negative. Expect 10 hours tops to complete Legend on the medium difficulty – just about the norm for action/adventures nowadays. The inclusion of the Croft Mansion as a scavenger hunt, and the ability to replay each mission in a Time Trial adds some replay value. The Game Achievements (23 in total) are thought out well, consisting of bronze, silver, and gold reward collection, along with the overall completion of the story and each time trial. It’s nice to have Lara on the Xbox 360, and her debut doesn’t disappoint.
Graphics
When it comes to a next-generation game, many Xbox 360 owners hem and haw over “ported” titles. The criticisms of Tomb Raider Legend began even before the first Xbox 360 screenshot was released. Well, quit yer **** because Lara looks mighty fine. Admittedly, we were a bit skeptical of what Legend would bring to the table graphically, but surprisingly it really provides that extra something that makes it special.
Even on a non-HD television, the increased clarity of the bump mapping and lighting effects add to the entire Tomb Raider feel. In fact, this is the most Tomb Raider-ish that the series has ever been – if that makes any sense. Up close you’ll notice the pores on Lara’s skin, the detail on the weapons are amazing, the water effects impress – everything just pops off the screen.
Unfortunately, all is not rosy. Even though the majority of the environments have an organic quality to them, you’ll still notice more than a few flat textures. Despite the action onscreen never really going into overdrive, the framerate has a tendency to slow slightly.
Audio
Crystal Dynamics always manages to include strong voice-over performances in their games, and Tomb Raider Legend is no different. Lara is just as sassy as ever, but doesn’t come across as a spoiled brat. She is intriguing, she is sexy, and you want to play with her – in a manner of speaking. Even the chatter from joe bad guy comes off well.
The surround sound aspect is subtle, as it should be, but plays a vital role in replicating locations like Bolivia and Ghana. Throw in a finely crafted soundtrack that includes everything from tribal beats to a full symphony ensemble, and you have the finishing touches to a solid adventure experience.
The Bottom Line
It’s about time that Lara Croft received the prime treatment. While many gamers put such a strong emphasis on the British beauty, Tomb Raider Legend would be a solid action adventure title, even without Ms. Croft as the heroine. With a renewed focus on adventure and the inclusion of a less restrictive control scheme, Crystal Dynamics has managed to rekindle the fading flame of the Tomb Raider franchise. Although it is a bit on the short side, a multitude of extras and the tough Time Trial mode will extends the Croft experience.