> Sony PlayStation 2 Games > Tomb Raider:

Tomb Raider: Legend (PS2 - Platinum) In a nutshell: Lara C ... Read more

Tomb Raider: Legend (PS2 - Platinum) In a nutshell: Lara Croft is finally back in the first game to do her legacy justice since the days of the original PlayStation. With updated graphics and gameplay, and a whole new suite of moves and equipment this is the sequel fans have always demanded. The lowdown: After the disappointment of Angel of Darkness, the Tomb Raider series has gone back to basics with a new developer and even a new Lara. Combat is back to being only around a third of the game with everything else centred on platform jumping and puzzle solving. To help this, there's a canny new movement system that allows Lara to jump onto and grab objects at an angle, so there's none of the awkward grid based movement of the earlier games. This is also the first Tomb Raider to have a proper physics engine, with lots of the puzzles revolving around movement and the use of Lara's natty new magnetic grappling hook. The graphics are also excellent, and with input from the original creator this is a long awaited return to form. Minimize

The original Soul Reaver was a sort of gothic-themed versio ... Read more

The original Soul Reaver was a sort of gothic-themed version of Tomb Raider, with a bit of The Legend of Zelda thrown in for good luck. This sequel, as you'd expect, is pretty much the same (with better graphics), but despite an almost overpowering feeling of déjà vu it's actually pretty good. The puzzles have been vastly improved so there's far less of the original's block-shuffling, and the combat has also been revamped to include a Zelda-style target lock-on that works rather well. Although often fairly functional the graphics convey the atmosphere adequately enough and the game camera actually works very well--which is a rarity in itself. There are also no load times at all, and you wander throughout the game world never setting eyes upon the dreaded words "Now Loading". In fact, the only real weak link is the storyline and dialogue, which is the biggest load of sub-Anne Rice-style tosh you could ever hope to avoid. Still, if your book collection is primarily composed of trilogies, you may even enjoy that. It may not be the most original game in the world but Soul Reaver 2 is actually rather good and fares surprisingly well against the somewhat similarly themed Devil May Cry. It's a rather different beast to Capcom's slash-'em-up, though, and some may even prefer its slightly slower, more thoughtful pace.--David Jenkins Minimize

Tomb Raider: Anniversary Platinum (PS2).

The original Soul Reaver was a sort of gothic-themed versio ... Read more

The original Soul Reaver was a sort of gothic-themed version of Tomb Raider, with a bit of The Legend of Zelda thrown in for good luck. This sequel, as you'd expect, is pretty much the same (with better graphics), but despite an almost overpowering feeling of déjà vu it's actually pretty good. The puzzles have been vastly improved so there's far less of the original's block-shuffling, and the combat has also been revamped to include a Zelda-style target lock-on that works rather well. Although often fairly functional the graphics convey the atmosphere adequately enough and the game camera actually works very well--which is a rarity in itself. There are also no load times at all, and you wander throughout the game world never setting eyes upon the dreaded words "Now Loading". In fact, the only real weak link is the storyline and dialogue, which is the biggest load of sub-Anne Rice-style tosh you could ever hope to avoid. Still, if your book collection is primarily composed of trilogies, you may even enjoy that. It may not be the most original game in the world but Soul Reaver 2 is actually rather good and fares surprisingly well against the somewhat similarly themed Devil May Cry. It's a rather different beast to Capcom's slash-'em-up, though, and some may even prefer its slightly slower, more thoughtful pace.--David Jenkins Minimize

Taking on TV-character Xena's warlike persona, you come arm ... Read more

Taking on TV-character Xena's warlike persona, you come armed only with sword, chakram (Xena's trademark circular blade that acts like a boomerang) and feet. As you battle your way through increasingly difficult challenges by foes as formidable as King Valarian, Narsus and Kalabrax, you journey through a variety of 3-D environments based loosely upon the show. Fun and enjoyable, Xena: Warrior Princess will please Tomb Raider fans who like playing a female character from a 3-D perspective, though Xena's hack-and-slash approach lacks the finesse and gameplay intelligence Lara Croft oozes. Whereas in the latter game it takes time and cunning to beat your opponents, in Xena a few lucky hits on the controller are often all that is needed to win. Age-rated 15+, the violence during battles and sexual appeal of the main character, make this game unsuitable for anyone younger. Graphically uninspiring, the developers broke no new boundaries and obviously concentrated their efforts on Xena, at the expense of other characters. That said, the overall atmosphere is close to the TV series and the sense of fun will bring many a joyful gaming hour to true Xena fans. Gamers looking for a more serious challenge might do well to stick to Tomb Raider. --Robert Hyde Minimize