Tomb Raider: Legend...A Star is Reborn

Author's Rating:

Pros: easy to pick up, new moves, cool levels

Cons: short

The Bottom Line: 
Long time fans will appreciate and enjoy the changes made to the series.

Author's Review
Tomb Raider: Legend starts off with Lara Croft (explorer/archeologist) searching for an ancient relic in the jungles of Bolivia. However, Lara’s trip takes a detour when issues involving her family arise.

Gameplay
The biggest change to the Tomb Raider series is the game engine. Crystal Dynamics took over the series and the company’s past third-person adventure experiences (Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver) are apparent. Right off the bat, you’ll notice Lara’s responsive movements. She no longer needs to take a certain amount of steps to perform a long jump, and you don’t have to bother switching in and out of walk/run mode. Controls are pretty smooth and the camera doesn’t become a problem.

Objectives require you to reach a specific location. This is done by safely navigating your way through cliffs, platforms, and puzzles. The environments go hand in hand with Lara’s new abilities. There’s a great emphasis on hanging and jumping from ledges. Swinging and jumping from ropes and horizontal poles also adds complexity to the levels. Every now and then, you’ll stumble upon a room that appears to be a dead end. So that’s where the puzzles come into play. Some require you to shoot objects, pull switches, or push boxes.

Gadgets play a key role in the game. The most crucial is the grappling hook. The hook is used as a swing and can also grab structures. In a puzzle room for example, the hook is used to pull down a statue holding a giant boulder. Once the statue falls over, Lara can then push the boulder on top of a switch on the floor. There are even binoculars that are used to give hints about the surroundings. By using the binoculars, you can enter R.A.D. (Remote Analysis Device) mode and objects can be examined. The results tell you if an object is a mechanism, moveable, or breakable.

Not everything is about exploring. Throughout her quest, Lara encounters mercenaries and wild animals. Lara comes equipped with two pistols and has the option of picking up enemy weapons such as shotguns, grenades, and assault rifles. If enemies are in close range, Lara can jump kick and slide attack. What’s pretty cool about the levels is that there are a bunch of hazards that play into your favor. You can shoot explosive canisters or other structures that will inflict damage to your enemies.

Graphics
The levels are vast and varied. Jungles contain detailed vegetation, waterfalls, and ancient temples filled with booby traps. On the other side, a warehouse setting contains huge machines and obstacles like fans, pipes spraying toxic chemicals, and damaged electrical lines. Lara’s animations are fluid and she displays some amazing acrobatic maneuvers (somersaults, handstands).

Sound
Lara’s voice talent does a great job. The dialog is clever and the supporting cast increases the story’s value. Sound effects are pretty good. Big explosions and ambient noises fit perfect with the scenery and action. The music is quite effective. Slow, ominous pieces are played when exploring dangerous terrain, while a more chaotic effort kicks in during battles and dramatic cut-scenes.

Overall
Tomb Raider: Legend can be completed in 7-10 hours. That’s extremely short for an adventure title nowadays and a disappointment considering how great the game turned out. Luckily, there are a ton of hidden treasures scattered around each level. Once obtained, these goodies unlock cheats, new outfits, bios, and weapon upgrades. In the end, Tomb Raider: Legend is the perfect weekend affair for casual gamers. Adventure seekers and long time fans will no doubt give the game a couple spins and appreciate the changes made to their favorite heroine.