I am in love again....

[Laughing Man]

...with Lara Croft.

10 years ago, on the advise of one of my Uni mates, I bought a copy of Tomb Raider for my Sega Saturn (remember those?). I loved it, brilliant music, wonderful graphics, massive an often awe-inspiring levels and of course the lady Lara herself.

Over the years I watched as Core slowly squashed the life out of this game with it culminating in Tomb Raider 3, this was the last Tomb Raider I bought and Tomb Raider 4 (whatever it was called) was the last I played.

Today I picked up a copy of Crystal Dynamics re-work of the original Tomb Raider and I have to say it's rekindling fond memories.

For the most part it is an accurate rework of the original with some clever twists. Which so far seem to work.

So far the only reworked part that hasn't matched the original was in the Third Level 'The Lost Valley'. Admittedly it was going to take something truly impressive to match that feeling of utter dread as that T-rex homed in to view, that feeling of uh oh I am toast, but somehow turning it in to a mini boss battle just didn't really work out.

I can't wait to see what they have done with levels such as St Francais's Folly and The Coleseum.

[Nitrous]

Did you ever try Tomb Raider Legends? That was developed by Crystal Dynamics as well and you can pick that up rather cheap these days.

I've not got Tomb Raider Anniversary yet because I've still not had chance to complete Legends but when I do I'll buy the new one.

[Laughing Man]

I might give it a go but to be honest I am not sure about what they have done with this game.

Some how they have made the entire game look really nice and yet in the process have managed to remove the splender of those show piece moments from the first game.

The T Rex incident is one
St Francais Folly some how doesn't seem any where as big and as impressive as I remember it

and

They totally botched the entry to the Collesium by, yup you guessed it, turning it in to another cut scene.

I am also not to sure about the controls. In the first one Lara was constrained by her limited movements. It was simple if you couldn't jump that far then you were not going the right way, it made things very linear and quite clear.

This version has a whole host of nice moves that give the impression of possible multiple routes through a level but truth is it's just as linear only problem is that because of the range of moves it's no longer obvious weather the route you're taking is correct or not.

I spent 20 mintues trapped in the Damequlles sub section of St Francais Folly just because I wasn't pressing the correct button direction during a wall run.

[Nitrous]

^ A review I'd read said almost the same thing. Its not very clear at times but for the most part that were very impressed. Think it was the Eurogamer review. Check it out. See if you agree with what they say.

Yea if you get the chance, get TR Legends. I was impressed and now that I've recieved a little help on a section of the game I might try it again tomoz.

[si2001166]

i finished tomb raider legend in about 2 weeks. was too easy.

anniversery. well i finished the main game in 15 hrs and 50 mins.

st francis folly took me nearly 3 hours to work out!
also some levels took close on 2 hours!
croft manor. around 40 mins for the 1st time. but now ive done the time trial on it.

i mustve however, killed lara over 400 times...she dies to easily

[nemesis01]

personally i liked all the psx tomb raiders, loved them infact, first tr on ps2 was crap let's be honest, probably play the new one on PC caus i int got a PS2 no more so it better be good.

[Nitrous]

I finally finished Tomb Raider Legends the other day! Now all I need to do is buy the anniversery game. Probably get it next week after I pass my theory test. Don't want this destracting me do I...