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 games: tomb raider: legend
Back from the grave. If a film bombs, a franchise can die, but in the case of games a disastrous release and critical response often seems to spur publishers into action. Not only has the Driver franchise come back from the brink lately, but Tomb Raider has also now had the Lazarus treatment. The previous game, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, had been an utter disaster, an awkward, unfinished, frankly unplayable game that had shocked the industry.  The original Tomb Raider (from 1996) had been a hugely important title – as a key component in the establishment of the PlayStation, a game that showcased the potential of 3D environments, and a title that even helped make games more visible to the wider public. Even as the subsequent instalments got progressively weaker, the franchise remained at the heart of publisher Eidos’ business. And even though the films that bore the Lara Croft Tomb Raider stamp were poppycock, they did help enhance the brand even further. That's the point – it's such a key brand, there’s no way Eidos would have just let it die, even after Angel Of Darkness seemed to be such a nail in the coffin. So what did Eidos do? It dumped Core Design, the company that had developed everything from the original classic to the Angel Of Darkness disaster, and replaced them with Crystal Dynamics. Crystal Dynamics (who’d made other Eidos releases like the Legacy Of Kain games) then agonised over just what makes Lara Lara. They even employed Toby Gard, the original designer, as a consultant. The result? A completely reinvigorated Tomb Raider. Legend really has put the franchise back on track.  Not only has Lara herself had a makeover, but the control system has clawed back from Angel Of Darkness’ cruddiness to enable you to move our heroine with elegance and grace. Indeed, it's fair to say that Prince Of Persia: Sands of Time was an influence here, as Lara's now comparably athletic and almost as acrobatic as the Prince. She's also firmly back in environments where she belongs. Angel Of Darkness had her on the run in the big city; here she's back tomb-raiding and adventuring in the jungle and mountains, replete with platforming and puzzle elements. She also has a few new bits of kit, which arguably show the influence of Metroid Prime – a scan ability and a grapple hook. The combat system may be simplistic, but that's a minor quibble. This really is a great save for a franchise that looked like it had destroyed itself.
Daniel Etherington
Tomb Raider: Legend is out now on PS2, PC, Xbox and Xbox 360.
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Read members' comments related to this game.
comment by Magaski
Apr 23, 2006
The franchise is definitely back on track and although the game is a little short, it remains loads of fun. It possesses a compelling storyline and just the right level of difficulty and 'secrets' to warrant more than one play.
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