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Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend
Let’s get this out of
the way; this game was the one that Crystal Dynamics and Eidos needed to
revive the Tomb Raider franchise. After a lacklustre last outing, Eidos
took developer Core away from the project as the name Tomb Raider needed
some fresh blood. What we’ve got here is a kick arse game that truly has
invigorated this gamer and I am really pleased to say that Lara is well
and truly back with an offering that is as fresh and exciting as the
original two Tomb Raider games.
The story is a mix of present and past. Lara is sure
that a friend of hers Amanda is still alive, despite being trapped under
a pile of rubble underwater, an accident that Lara only just avoided
herself. This all ties in with the disappearance of her mother as well,
presumably into some kind of vortex as she tried to spare Lara from the
same fate. Croft needs to find out what happened and it involves some
sort of ancient sword relic that other parties are keen to get into
their possession as well.
The tale takes you all over the world to some truly
fantastic locales. The attention to detail is fabulous and in fact it is
this game that has really shone to me in terms of the fact that if you
put your mind to it that great looking games can still be developed on
the PS2. It simply looks amazing and there is very little to complain
about graphically.
The game has upped the ante from the puzzles in the
past where you just had to pull across some blocks to get to a lever or
something along those lines, you will actually have to think. Part of my
thing was a series of slapping my forehead when you work out what you
are meant to do, part of it was really enjoying the fact that this time
round, the game is going to throw a number of spanners in your works.
Traps and adventuring aside, there is plenty for
those of us with itchy trigger fingers. Lara can handle a number of
weapons with inclusion of throwing hand grenades. There are a number of
fire modes and also clicking the R3 button can do some close and
personal firing. Locking onto enemies by holding on to the L1 and then
deftly flicking firing and changing targets will see Lara taking out
most of her foes.
Gymnastic moves abound in the title as Lara is
possibly her most animated in any game in the series. In a great effort
to make sure that the game runs as smoothly as possible, If you get Lara
near an item that she can grab, that’s what happens. She’ll grab with
both hands and if only one manages to hold on then it’s a press with the
triangle that will allow her to rip the other hand up and make sure she
is safe.
Locales in the game include Kazakhstan, England,
Japan and loads more that Ms. Croft has to negotiate her way through.
Everything looks highly polished even on the PS2 and there are many
interactive items that you can latch onto with your grappling hook,
including your enemies in a Mortal Kombat “Get over here!” type way.
In a bit of a breakaway another thing that I enjoyed
is the occasional side step into a Dragon’s lair mode where Lara is pre
animated and you affect her movements by simple button pressing at the
right time. It’s pretty cool and they’ve fitted it into the game really
well.
My only gripe with the title is that it’s over too
soon. I clocked in at 11 hours
With a compelling storyline, drop dead gorgeous
graphics and a real return to form, this is one game that if you had
been put off the franchise then you simply owe it to yourself to find
out why Lara and Tomb Raider was so awesome in the first place. I would
have to give this one both thumbs up and say that it is a must have
title for your PS2. If you want to see a game done right, then this one
is for you. |
