Perfect game? No. One of my favorite games? Yes!
This is not a full review of the game. Just some random thoughts of a Tomb Raider fan.
I never had the chance to play the original Tomb Raider. I head that one was amazing. But I did get to play the second Tomb Raider. And that one was in my top 10 many years.
Since then I tried many others (tomb raider games or simply action adventure games), but nothing really captured the beauty of Tomb Raider 2. (the GBA version of Tomb Raider is probably the closest one).
The series has done worse and worse over the years. Then the Hollywood movies came out where Angelina Jolie, completely destroyed the character. And Tomb Raider, dug itself more and more into a tomb.
This game, Legend is the game that every tomb raider fan was waiting more. It is Lara Crof resurrected. And it's awesome.
There are many things changed from the good old days. Some of these things are good and some aren't. However most of them, have a both a positive and a negative.
For example, Lara now is constantly in touch with 2 other guys. That... is not the greatest thing in my opinion, since it ruins the atmosphere. Yes, I guess it builds a little more character, but at the same time, that feeling that you are alone deep down below the surface of the earth, and if you die, there is no one to ever know about it... is gone... Well it's not the same.
On the other hand, the dialog that the characters are having is very impressive. Legend, has some really cool lines and sometimes very funny, without using the same tired clichés that most of the games/movies are using.
Another change is Lara's moves. For the most part she has the same moves. But if you play around, you will quickly find that Lara has new moves as well (even some slow motion ones). However the very basic backward flip is gone. (unless you are using guns. ). I may not remember correctly, but I think in Tomb Raider 2 you could just flip backwards and sideways without using the guns... And that's something I miss.
There are many changes like that. And that changes the feeling. However, that was to be expected. (Like this one, having a little more story. I dont' eve think the other one had a story. LOL Just a bunch of tombs)
The graphics are wonderful. At the beginning I wasn't very impressed. I think Lara's new look, and the first few maps... threw me off a little (not a fan of her dress, even though it's probably the most revealing.). However, when Lara wears that Ducati motorcycle outfit, than... it all hits you back. IT'S LARA!
I have a decent computer, Dual Core, 2 Gb, and a 7800GTX and yet I wasn't able to play with next gen on, since it was too laggy. So I have no idea what specs you need for this game... (7900GTX SLI, I suppose). But the game looks beautiful regardless.
The game is very short, so that's another plus for me. I hate long games. And this game is very easy as well. And I love easy games. So what can I say, this Tomb Raider is pretty much perfect for me.
Well it's not perfect, since there is room for improvement... But unlike the gamespot reviewer said, it doesn't leave me unsatisfied. It leaves me very happy.
If you never played tomb raider before, well... this will not give you the perfect accurate tomb raider flavour... but it may give you an idea of what Tomb Raider could be.
Somebody said that the Tomb Raider idea was cool 10 years ago... but now it's very outdated. I have no idea... it may be so. It may be that younger gamers, have newer better things out there. But as far as I'm concerned, I hope Tomb Raiders will keep on coming.
I love Prince of Persia and God of War but they just ain't Tomb Raider!
This game receives a perfect 10 from me, not because it's perfect, and everybody should play it, but because it really made me as happy as a game can make me.