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Archeology has never looked so hot!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: April 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Wow! That is the first word that popped out of my mouth when i started the game. From the graphics to the story to the music and to the playability, this game does not dissapoint. About ten years ago, the first tomb raider game came out for the psone, redefining 3-d gaming and creating one of the most popular video game characters ever. i was a fan of the first two games in the series but after that the games started to lose their flavor. I was sad for tomb raider was my favorite game. It made it all the worse at the time but makes it all the better to welcome in Tomb Raider Legend. This game brings back the experience the originals gave you but with better graphics, (MUCH better graphics. I cant imagine ps2 graphics getting much better) with a more in-depth storyline, better camera control, better in-game movement, better fighting and plenty of bonus goodies to spice things up a bit. Over all, the game is fun and intriguing. I had trouble putting it down and when i put it down, i came back to it a few minutes later. Any old fan of the series or anyone jus lookin for a fun game shouldnt pass up this title.

Keeley Hawes Is Positively Awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: April 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was lucky to experience this game a few days early, and I have to say I have not had this much fun in a long time.

Tomb Raider is back, with a vengeance. Forget the used Tomb Raider Chronicles, forget the botched Angel of Darkness. What Crystal Dynamics is giving us here is a completely rethought franchise.

Depending on the quality of your hardware, you'll either be amazed by the graphics, or completely bedazzled. Tomb Raider now actually looks good, and not just the lush curves (and expressive face) of its archaeologist heroine. The environments are masterfully crafted, and (thanks to an game engine completely rewritten since the past episodes) manage to successfully break from the cube-geometry we've all been used to.

But, but, but-Tomb Raider doesn't only *look* good, it also sounds wicked!! I would never have imagined how big a difference the audio voice-over makes. Indeed, Keeley Hawes is excellent (*excellent*!! "I haven't the foggiest."), and gives Lara some added depth and class. I promise you'll come to love the witty banter exchanged by Lara and her faithful geek team.

The obvious aim of the designers was to make this feel as much as a movie as possible-hence the "action sequences", sort of interactive cinematics. While I have to confess they do not always succeed (and, having to play through the same, at the beginning of a checkpoint "interactive cinematic" over and over, is maddening!!), they are none-the-less a commendable attempt to diversify the action. On the other hand, the vehicle sequences were always fun (if sometimes a bit long), and the race behind the Russian built train in Kazakhstan was a memorable one.

Now, as for the controls, they are exceptionally fluid-think Prince of Persia-, and make controlling Lara one of the most exhilarating experiences. Even though sometimes I cursed the complexity of them (in one boss, you have to shoot, then put your gun away, then throw the hook, then the pull-this is not particularly easy, and I was swore quite distinctly under my breath before I finally got a hang of it). While frustratingly, the camera on occasion has a mind of its own, I think you'll find this to be, at the worst of times, not much more than a nuisance (it does a great job the rest of the time). The grapple hook is reminiscent of Indy's whip, and adds an extra element that was much needed to make the puzzles interesting.

The weapons though, are a bit disappointing. Well not disappointing, because I was completely happy using Lara's trademark dual guns. They have unlimited ammo, and are so efficient that there is never really a need to use anything else. The grenades, I found, were particularly useless. (But to be honest, I *never* have any luck with grenades, ever.)

The plot and locations. Well, as I said above, this game is like a movie. Never a dull moment, and the plot motivates you to go along (you'll play the game as much to see what happens, than to shoot down bad guys). Supernatural is very efficiently mixed with real-life myths, ? la Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (in which the designers blended several versions of the myth of the Lost City to produce their own interpretation), to create a believable (well, at the very least, not so far-fetched as most) story.

You begin your journey in Bolivia. This is the tutorial level, that eases you into the game. Then you go to Peru. Peru is good old fashioned tomb-a real tomb, in which you do some digging to discover a friend you thought was dead, actually isn't either (isn't a friend, and isn't dead). You then discover elements that point you to a mafia boss in Japan. Japan in one of the most fun levels, I found, because how often to you get to swing (and occasionally motoride) through the skyscrapers of Tokyo?! (That, and Lara's outfit is pretty smooth!)

Then you go to Ghana in West Africa, in a tomb that is mostly a big giant puzzle (well, it's much more fun than that). The puzzles in this game, by the way, is not the old trademark "Push a bunch of cubes around until you feel like jumping out the window." The puzzles here are actually interesting, never illogical, and never impossible to figure out. In doubt, you can always use the R.A.D. mode of your binoculars to discern what you'll have to move, what you'll to shoot, etc. After Ghana, there's that Kazakhstan level that I *really* enjoyed (I'm a sucker for Soviet experiments awry) ... and then England (in an odd King Arthur museum), Nepal and Bolivia again for the final confrontation. The ending practically announces the next installment! (and yes, perhaps the game is a bit on the short side.)

I have to confess I've never been as much a Tomb Raider fan as I am now. This is one of the most enjoyable and gripping games I've played in the past two years, and I highly recommend to all action game fans (regardless of whether they've enjoyed the previous instalments).

Fun, intuitive, enjoyable

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: July 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I played a previous Tomb Raiders for about 5 minutes only to realize that the game really wasn't that good. Well, they corrected the problem by pretty much copying the control scheme and puzzle environments of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, one of the best games in this current console generation.

The game is short but sweet. Rarely any frustration, rarely any repeating. Now hardcore gamers would be repulsed by that fact they you never have to repeat the same level over and over again or that you won't be struggle over and over again. However, for just fun, simple gameplay, it's pretty good.

You play in a few varied levels, an underground cave, in snow, in the jungle, ancient temple. All unique and a sight to behold. The levels have a tremendous amount of checkpoints, so there's no worries about killing the same people or making the same jump over and over again.

The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, adventure, and puzzle. In the puzzles, you'll have to move a certain rock of climb a certain rock to advance to the next stage. While not difficult, it will sometimes tingle the synaptic nerves now and again. The action is a simple third person shooter, with a few jumps and quite a few enemies. The weapons are standard, the shooting and auto-aim work pretty much like the standard fair. All in all, it's a standard game done very well.

It's not all perfect though. While this game flows well, there are a few moments where the games don't work well. Most notably, the bosses. The game falls into the trap where there has to be a giant creature where you have to find the "trick" to beat it, and then continuously repeat the "trick" or you'll have to repeat the whole ordeal again. Quite boring and annoying to say the least. Also, the motorcycle missions are extremely out of place as well.

All in all, it's a very good game. Everyone should at least rent this one.

Pros:
Intuitive
Varied, colored levels
Rarely has to repeat anything.
Puzzles

Cons:
Motorcycle missions were annoying
Bosses were boring, clichéd, and ruined the flow

Difficulty Level (on easy): Easy

Time to Complete: 8 hours

One of the best in the series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: July 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Well, Tomb Raider is fun again. I couldn't believe the steady decline of this game from its original masterpiece to one mediocre game after another culminating in the bomb, Angel of Darkness, the first release for PS2. Given it's history there was absolutely no reason to expect anything beyond mediocrity from this latest incarnation. Thankfully, I was wrong. This is a great game though it's no trendsetter the way its ancient ancestor was. Those who are avid fans of action/adventure games will immediately see the influence of such greats as Prince of Persia and God of War. Lara is much more acrobatic in this game performing stunts that Prince of Persia fans will recognize and overall control of her as well as graphics is akin to God of War.

The story line is intriguing but I really don't play videogames for their drama. I'm much more interested in the action and the quality of the puzzles. Tomb Raider delivers on both. The puzzles are clever and fun to figure out requiring all of Lara's extensive acrobatics that I never tired of watching. The action usually involves Lara in a shootout with a bunch of baddies at key spots in the game. She can dispatch of them with an arsenal of weapons and grenades that include her trusty pistols, shotguns, and machine guns. This time it's a little more realistic though. Along with her pistols and grenades she can only carry one other weapon which you have to choose from based upon the weapons dropped by your dead enemies. The choice could be a shotgun or one or another of an assortment of automatic rifles. Along with her weapons Lara also has a grappling hook which is absolutely the coolest accessory that's ever been added to her arsenal. She uses it for a variety of reasons both to solve puzzles and to dispatch of enemies.

Controlling Lara is as much fun as I've ever had with a character. She jumps gaps, climbs ropes, swings on them, does giant swings and "flyways" on limbs and bars, climbs poles, and scales walls, grabs ledges, grapples them, jumps from one to the other and shimmies along them. The environments created for her to exercise these moves are brilliantly laid out, beautiful to look at, and challenge you to a satisfying test of your dexterity with the controller while you marvel at her fluid executions of your commands. In combat, Lara is just as responsive. The patented auto aim is still present with some clever additions added. You can rush up close to your enemies and springboard off of them to enter a bullet time sequence where you somersault high into the air and dispatch of your enemies as you sail back to earth. You can also slide tackle them as you rush them, then finish them off as they struggle back to their feet.

Lara also rides a motorcycle in a couple of sequences that are a combination of a race against time and a survival test as bad guys show up on their own motorcycles, jeeps and armored vehicles to thwart you from arriving at your destination. On one occasion you're chasing a military convoy to rescue a friend, the other a train which has an ancient relic that you have to prevent the bad guys from holding onto.

There are only 8 levels in this game and that's its one shortcoming. It's clear there's a sequel to this game by the way it ends, but I think if the producers weren't so cheap they probably could have included the sequel in this game instead of breaking it up into 2 separate games which I suspect they did. Each level ends with a gratifying boss fight that requires a combination of action and puzzle solving. Don't expect to win on the first shot. It usually took me 2 or 3 attempts to kill a boss.

All in all, I would say this is the best Tomb Raider game since the second one after which they steadily declined through about 4 or 5 inceptions. This might even be the best since the original. I've already played through it twice and I have no doubt I will be playing it several more times in the future as the years pass by. I still play TR1 and TR2 every now and then as I do with all great games and this one is in their ranks. It is on my permanent shelf of best games ever and I am very particular about which games I store on that shelf.

I love this game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: April 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The graphics are awesome, the gameplay is good, the story is interesting enough, and the puzzles are just hard enough to make you go "hummm" :(.
The only faults are the controls are still a little off, the game is too short, and the mansion should have been able to explore more. Other than that it's a good game.

Adventure in mediocrity...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

While i had fun playing this game, i didnt have THAT much fun.

Everything in this game has been seen or done better before.

The guns go 'pop' instead of 'boom' and feel grossly under powered. Especially when a panther or a human takes 15 bullets from point blank range...

The jumping 'puzzles' are pretty fun though thanks to the games awesome controls. All of lady Lara's moves are simple to pull off. Though there are more worthless moves than useful ones. Whats the point of doing 5 cartwheels or doing a handstand on a ledge?

Theres also a ton of different scenary and environments but sadly, they arent put to great use. They all look and play decent but nothing stands out or wows you.

Tomb Raider Legend is a pretty decent game but its definitely not one of the 'must have' games of the year.
If i were you i would wait until a price drop or simply rent it for a weekend because of its short, 6-8 hour, length.

Great Adventure, Great Story.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

One of the great aspects of this game is its story. I haven't played all of the previous Tomb Raider games, but Legend has a much more personal story than the ones I have played. We find out a little of Lara Croft's past and about what happened to her mother. It's much more interesting because Lara has a personal interest in what's going on. The voice acting is also exceptional in this game. Lara has a couple of guys who provide her with technical support via a headset that she wears, and this provides many opportunities for Lara to interact with other characters. This helps the player to get to know the character much better.

As far as actual game play goes, the controls have never been more fluid. Lara is more agile than ever. This really helps keep the pace up. You don't have to spend nearly as much time trying to line up jumps and the like. Improved controls also makes fighting enemies a lot more fun. Unfotunately, the enemies are a little too easy at times because of the improved controls.

One complaint I've heard is that the game is too short. It is shorter than previous Tomb Raider installments, but that doesn't make it any less fun. Games don't have to be really long to be enjoyable. Sometimes it's nice when you don't have to spend months to beat a game. I still feel that I got my money's worth because, even though I beat it in under two weeks, I still enjoy playing through it again.

Overall, it's a very enjoyable game. Personally, it's is my favorite of the series.

Laura is Back and Better Than Ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: April 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a brilliant game. It's fun. It's got different difficulty levels. It's got extras. It's got an improved Croft Manor. It's got wonderful graphics. It's got wonderful control. It's got a great story line. It's got new features such as the grapple hook. And it's a lot of fun to play. I haven't had a better game playing experience in years. The fact that some people think it's too short is a compliment. It's so good that you don't want the experience to end. Laura has never looked, moved, or played better.

Forgive Laura for the disappointing Angel of Darkness with it's poor controls. This game is worth the wait and worth the money. Controls aren't a problem this time around.

This game is classic Tomb Raider with some hints of God of War and Prince of Persia. It's top notch.

I'm ready for the next one. Hopefully they will keep these coming. Whoa!

More boring mainstream gaming

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 20
Date: April 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

After hearing on the TV and in magazines about how great Tomb Raider Legend was, I went out and got it the day it came out. Lo and behold, it stinks. Boring plot, British accents abound (when will companies realize U.S. gamers want to hear characters that speak the way we do?), obstacles that seem copied and pasted directly from Prince of Persia, and enemies that STILL take 10-15 shots point--blank to kill.

All in all, just more of the same. TRL is for the mainstream gamer, the one that plays Madden and Metal Gear Solid "cuz they rock" and "cuz everybody else is" and for no other reason. Nothing unique in TRL, no reason to play it.

Tombs? Check. Gunplay? Check. Sexy outfits? Check. Itýs Lara alright.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: April 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I haven?t played Angel of Darkness and I want to keep it that way considering the feedback it has. I actually haven?t played any Tomb Raider game excepting the first one (Tomb Raider) and this one (Legend). But one or two (ot three) years ago, my TR1 disc broke. Several Tomb Raider-less years passed and now I can be happy again. Lara is now much more realistic and her OOs are not pointy anymore. They are round and bouncy. And there are several unlockable outfits. I got two: Legend and Evening ripped. My fav is Evening ripped. You unlock it after clearing the Japan stage (My favourite). Also, there?s the Croft Manor. It?s not just a training stage anymore, now it?s a near fully free-roaming level of its own. Go around in search of outfits, artefacs and uncover secret passegeways and talk to your team-mates. You can even go for a swim in her super-large swimming pool, making her soaking wet when you surface. I would SO fancy living here. Lara deserves living in this sexy manor for she has made a GREAT comeback. My current progress is Ghana. So that means I?m almost half way done with the game. Bummer. But on the bright side, when you?re done, you can unlock the Amanda skin. Amanda is the ******SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER****** main villain of the game. She is one of the b**chiest character in the history of games. I first saw her at a Tomb Raider fansite and at the moment I saw her, it was hate at first sight. In short: I hate her. ******END SPOILER END SPOILER END SPOILER****** So aside from a bit of frustraition, near-impossible time-trials and the b**chiest character in Tomb Raider ever, this is a pure gem you can?t afford to miss. Tomb Raiding, gem, see what I did here?
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Pros:
1. Lara is more realistic.
2. The yabbos are not pointy anymore.
3. Fluid gameplay.
4. Tons of extras.
5. In the ending, you see Lara slam Amanda?s face with her pistol.
6. Lots of gunplay.
7. Tons of unlockable outfits.
8. The uber-sized Croft Manor.
9. The PLS.
10. Lara?s swimming pool.
11. Awesome voice acting (Lots of swearing though)
12. The dialouge.

Cons:
1. Short.
2. Amanda.
3. The breath meter depletes really fast while swimming.
4. The time trials.
5. A tad uncreative at times.
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Final words:
9.5/10
Not perfect but damn close enough.
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