Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (PS2)

.co.uk Review

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.

Most exciting moment:
The realisation that this is actually a proper update of the original game, as Lara leaps around cliffs like a ain goat, with graphics and controls that aren’t still stuck in 1996.

Since you ask:
The new voice of Lara is provided by Keeley Hawes, who also plays Zoe Reynolds in BBC TV show Spooks.

The bottom line:
Lara Croft is back in the first decent new Tomb Raider game for a long time.
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description

Gaming's most famous heroine makes her triumphant return in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend!

Lara Croft travels the globe in search of an ancient English artifact and is pitted against rival forces led by a nemesis from her past...long thought dead.

Key features:
Lara comes to life: the dual-pistol wielding adventurer's polygon count and animation set has been increased significantly, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity to date
Return to the tombs: Lara's new quest brings her to lost ancient realms that guard Secrets of the Past
Fluid movement: the revamped control system provides intuitive and fluid character movement
Dynamic animation system puts focus on continuous motion, giving Lara the ability to seamlessly handle any obstacle and interact dynamically with any surface
Move and shoot: Lara uses her physical prowess to combine play with unique signature moves
Variety of player choice: intelligently use the environment, technical gear and weapons to overcome challenging situations
Physics, water and fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara's world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles
Visit a vast array of cinematic & exotic locations including ancient tombs, dangerous jungles, snowy ain ruins and numerous unexpected surprises in between!

• Lara comes to life - the dual-pistol, wielding adventurer's polygon count and animation set has been increased significantly, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity to date.
• Return to the Tombs: Lara's new quest brings her to lost ancient realms that guard Secrets of the Past.
• Fluid movement: the revamped control system provides intuitive and fluid character movement.
• Dynamic animation system puts focus on continuous motion, giving Lara the ability to seamlessly handle any obstacle and interact dynamically with any surface.
• Move and shoot. Lara uses her physical prowess to combine play with unique signature moves.
• Variety of player choice - intelligently use the environment, technical gear and weapons to overcome challenging situations.
• Physics, Water and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara's world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles.
• Visit a vast array of cinematic & exotic locations including ancient tombs, dangerous jungles, snowy ain ruins and numerous unexpected surprises in between.