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A good, fun game, with a few minor flaws

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I last played Tomb Raider (the original) on the PC, so after not seeing the game in over 10 years, this is a quantum leap for me.

This sports really great graphics -- the immense levels (caves, caverns, etc.) are endless and really give you a sense of grandness. The detail is amazing, and the locations are beautiful. At times, though, you get the sense that you're playing a last-gen game, because there are things that look 3-dimensional, and you think you should be able to jump onto a ledge, but it turns out to be 2D without any ability to jump or grab onto things. The cinematic cut-scenes are great, and the voice-acting is excellent. The balance of cut-scenes within the game is great, and helps move the story along. Finish a puzzle, and you get a great cutscene.

Lara moves and responds excactly as she did in the first Tomb Raider, and I was really comfortable jumping back into her role. At times, the controls seems a little sluggish, especially when she needs to wind-up when swinging on bars. Her character animations are excellent, though, and I feel the interface between the controller and what you see on the screen is really smooth. She's an easy character to control, but sometimes lining her up in 3D space on a ledge can be tricky. And there are times when you can't judge how far away she is from something, so expect to die along the way here and there.

The load times are acceptable -- when you first start a level. However, if you die, the entire level loads again, which seems odd and slows your progress. You would expect Lara to respawn immediately, but that doesn't happen. If there is a cut-scene at the reload point, you'll start at the cut-scene, which can be skipped. In essence, it's hard to keep the action moving, especially when you want to get right back in and correct your mistakes. You get stuck waiting for the reload.

The puzzles are the best challenge of the TR series. They are hard enough without being frustrating. However, it does get tedious at times trying to do things over and over again, especially if you get close but then die. Figuring out a puzzle without using a guide is very rewarding, however, and in this game, you really feel like you're doing something...you're in the adventure and playing the role of Lara.

This is more than a shooter -- it's a great story with great controls and great graphics, with just enough puzzling to keep your mind going. There really is nothing like Tomb Raider, and this is a good outing for the 360.

Great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I first played this game on the computer and enjoyed it very much. I do have to admit the graphics are not as good as a computer game, but the game play control is much esier and smoother. I love the way they changed Lara's graphics and the way she handled. If you love tomb raider games this is one of the best I have played.

Legends never die.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Back in the day, the first Tomb Raider gave was a REALLY big deal. Arguably it was the first of what is now considered a modern adventure game. Instead of cute animals it featured a buxom brunette who shot at animals and people instead of jumping on their heads, and navigated elaborate deathtrap dungeons devoid of any music save in sparse moments. The first game was much lauded for its exploratory fun factor, but the controls were very complex, and based on an awkward digital control system. Still, amazing (for their time) graphics, interesting level design, and a gorgeous hero go a long way. In fact, the protagonist Laura Croft has come to be a symbol of the 32 bit generation of gaming, more so than any other character. Gradually however, the series lost steam as sequel after sequel came out and was progressively less and less fun.

Fast forward to the now. People had almost forgotten what Tomb Raider even is aside from a couple of movies starring Angelina Jolie (but that's another review). When it was announced the Crystal Dynamix was making yet ANOTHER Tomb Raider game, some people feared the worst. But like Prince of Persia, this was not another cheap rip-off. This is the true second coming...

When Prince of Persia Sands of Time came out it pretty much reinvented the wheel in terms of what an adventure game should be, emphasizing easy to pull-off combos, fluid and responsive controls, and levels requiring amazing acrobatics, yet surprisingly almost never frustrating. You could say that Tomb Raider Legend takes these elements, combines them with gunplay, throws in a grappling hook, and integrates some button-press action sequences (where Laura encounters a threat and a flashing button alerts you to press it before something kills her).

The gaming elements aren't perfect. Some puzzles might slow down the action a little (your mileage may vary), the combat sequences are basically just running around and shooting and throwing grenades (hand-to-hand isn't very effective in my opinion), while characters and environments look great, facial detail is a little zombie-looking (I blame the eyelashes), and the whole experience ends rather quickly just as things are starting to get interesting.

On the whole though, this is a game that is definitely worth owning. All cinematics are generated on-the-fly and in general look great, voice acting is adequate (don't really care for Laura's voice all that much this time around), boss battles break up the action nicely, there are multiple difficulty levels, level design keeps you moving forward and rarely stumps you completely (in my experience), and the pacing is excellent. And to me most importantly of all, you are no longer alone exploring the tombs. In the previous games I hated the eerie silence. But now you have two friends Zip and Alistair, who provide commentary as you progress, and throw in some needed comic relief. The only time you won't hear them is when you lose your radio connection (and that means you probably will be hearing some loud music instead), or if you get STUCK on a puzzle. Oh, the music is pretty cool too and really adds to the whole experience feeling more cinematic, and again, less lonely. The story leaves a bit to be desired in some respects and compels in others. The whole King Arthur's Sword aspect I found really cool (especially a level that starts in a silly history museum complete with cheesy voice-overs from the tour and ends up in the real tomb), but just exactly why Laura is obsessed with recovering the sword to the point of killings hundreds of mercenaries and fighting her old friend doesn't really make sense to me somehow (when you are plagued by guilt of someone's death trying to kill them afterwards just doesn't make sense to me).

All in all, this Legend is fast, fluid, and a whole lot of fun. It gives you a lot of interest and excitement for the series as a whole, as we see what new directions it will take and what exciting adventures Laura will take us on next. Definitely worth owning.

Great game, you'll surely be entertained

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 23, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Im not much of a reviewer like some others are on here but I do take reviewing seriously cause I judge most of my purchases on these. So the best I can tell you with this game from my perspective is you can't go wrong with it. Some people might tell you it has minor flaws, etc. But no dont worry about it. This is a game for all ages, you'll play it and you'll like it. What I like about the game is its scenery. You'll be on mountain tops, in Japan, underground. I really enjoyed this game. I found it to be rather easy and it wasnt so much a long game as others are but theres nothing wrong with that. It will be frustrating as well cause some puzzles will be hard. I had to go online to find out how to get past a couple parts in the game. Im sure you'll have to as well so be aware of that. Unless you want to rack your brain trying to figure it out lol. But this game gives you action, adventure, and puzzles. Lots of fun so go ahead and experience it. Solid addition to your collection at a cheap price.

Great game, but not very re-playable

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: April 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was a big fan of the first Tomb raider when it came out. The series went down hill and it was a fairly poor franchise for a while. But this game is a great return to Tomb Raider's roots.

The graphics for the 360 are very pretty. The lighting and textures are good, better than the PS2 and x-box, but not as good as other x-box 360 titles.

The game play is intuitive for anyone who's ever played tomb raider before. The camera is a little tricky, but in a game like tomb raider where you're constantly moving up, down, left, right, forward, and back - it's pretty hard to have a standard camera angle that would work all the time. The opening level has a tutorial so it walks you through how to jump, swing, shoot, etc.

The major downside of this game is how short it is. The game could easily be beaten in under 5 hours (especially if you set the difficulty to easy). There are lots of hidden "treasures" that you can collect to boost your "achievements" score; but it gets a little tiresome to find all of them. There's also a time-trial to beat levels under a set time (and it is VERY hard to do, I might add).

But the time trials and hidden treasures don't really add much to the game. There's no reason you couldn't pick this up, play it over the weekend, and beat it and return it. Overall, I thought it was a lot of fun, and then I returned it to the video store.

And, of course, if you have x-box live, you can download a demo of this game on the live marketplace.

Fun game with great graphics

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: April 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is the first Tomb Raider game I've played and I liked it. Initially, my biggest problem was to focus on what I was doing and not watching Lara's cleavage. The framerates have been mostly smooth and the graphics are good. The characters can look a little blocky and the camera is a bit frustrating, which cost me a couple of deaths. The game on default is also easier than the Prince of Persia series and makes this game feel short. Some have said that the PC version looks better and that may be true. But in my experience, the 360 games have looked very similar to the PC games I've played, although I only play at XGA resolution. As for the price, yes it is too high, which is why I only buy used games now. This requires a little patience while you wait for the early adopters to sell their copies, but I have a backlog of games to keep me busy in the meantime.

BUY THIS GAME! IT IS THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: June 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am a huge fan of the Tomb Raider series, and and avid gamer in general. This has been the BEST OF ANY GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED AND I HAVE PLAYED ALOT! It's beautiful for starters, full of action, puzzle solving and fun motorcycles. It has something for everyone. IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY SPENT AND THEN SOME. In general the entire series is a blast and super addictive, but this is the best yet. Eidos even has you play in Lara's "memory" at one point and she's wearing her original Tomb Raider cloths. They have catered to every aspect of pleasing the gaming community. (Though we always have the complainers no matter what, don't pay attn: to those in this case) THIS GAME IS ALMOST TOO FUN, WHEN YOU DO BUY IT- DON'T PLAN ON GOING TO SLEEP ANY TIME SOON! GREAT JOB EIDOS!

Best of the Series

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: June 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a pretty good game. The only compaint i have heard is the length and i for one am not bothered with that. The graphics are very nice, the tombs and jungle sections were in fact magnificent. Gameplay is good. Puzzles take some thinking but not so much that you get discouraged. It left itself open for a sequel and i look forward to that. The only thing i would like to see is the controls be a bit quicker. While not bad by any means there are a couple of places where a quicker reaction would have been a help. All in all i would recommend this game, however the more hardcore gamers might be able to beat this game quickly and may consider renting instead of paying the price.

An appropriate title

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: July 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First off, let's face a horrible fact: since about the second Tomb Raider game, the series has just plain sucked. Fortunately, with some key personnel back on board, the folks at Crystal Dynamics and Eidos have put together Tomb Raider Legend, a game that's much more true to what made the series actually attractive in the first place.

Of course, Lara Croft is back as the well-endowed and athletic protagonist, and this time she's going to delve into a mystery that involves her parents, long lost friends, and plenty of ancient ruins to explore through.

Unlike past Tomb Raider games, Legend goes back to its roots with a healthy does of exploration and puzzle-solving. You'll still use your dual pistols, complete with infinite ammo, to take out plenty of bad guys throughout the game, but the killing of various wildlife is pretty much gone. There will be a leopard or an attack dog to kill every once in a while, but mostly you're going to be fighting various commandos that also want whatever Lara's looking for in those ruins.

Combat is much more stylish than in the earlier games. Lara can still flip, dive, and roll while shooting, but now she's got even more acrobatic moves. Charge an enemy and slide at them while shooting, and you'll pop them up into the air, ragdoll-physics-style, and keep shooting them. Jump at an enemy and then jump again once your feet reach their face, and Lara will do a graceful, slow motion backflip off of the guy's head while shooting him simultaneously. We've seen this kind of stuff in games before, but the delivery here is very satisfying. And Lara isn't just limited to pistols; she can carry very powerful grenades, and she can carry an extra, limited ammo weapon on her back, like an assault rifle, grenade launcher, or shotgun.

Lara's got plenty of moves she can employ even when her guns are safely in their holsters. When it comes to acrobatic moves, Tomb Raider Legend has picked it up habits once again from the Prince of Persia series of games (the Tomb Raider games have borrowed plenty of platforming elements from the original Prince of Persia games from the late '80s and early '90s). Lara moves gracefully as she hops, climbs, flips, and shimmies around. The animations are great, and the situations Lara gets into can get intense. There are a few dramatically scripted sequences, complete with a "tap this button right now or Lara gets crushed or falls to her death" element, which will keep you on your toes. Some Tomb Raider purists might scoff at these part-Dragon's Lair, part-Shenmue moments, but I think it's a good way to make sure that players are paying attention to the action at all times, even if it's during a cutscene.

Mixed in with the platforming and action elements are some new sequences on a motorcycle. Although Lara can shoot from the bike, you will find quickly that you really have to watch the path in front of you. Every bump against the wall or a rock costs you plenty of health, so watch the road! Well, in this case, watch the dirt path. These sequences are kind of fun but leave something to be desired, especially the very, very short motorcycle sequence in Tokyo.

Most of Tomb Raider Legend's difficulty comes from the puzzles that are laid out in many of the ruins. Combat is usually pretty easy since everyone but Lara is a terrible shot, and most of your enemies stand still while you're flying around the room, and the controls are pretty sharp and easy to get used to. That leaves actually figuring out what to do when the game presents a puzzle, and the first major one will test your logic skills right from the start. Sure, Lara has some crazy binoculars that can "scan" items like what we saw in Metroid Prime, but the game still doesn't tell you how to solve anything. You'll have to figure them out for yourself.

The addition of a grappling hook makes for some interesting gameplay in Legend. You'll need to use it to pull things towards you, smash things open, pull yourself towards something else, or even swing from the ceiling like Indiana Jones on his whip. That last bit only happens in specific spots, though, so you can't just use it to go all Tarzan to escape an area.

The Xbox 360 version of the game of course has excellent graphics, but the frame rate can get iffy at certain times. While the developers seem to have tried to make sure that there aren't any major frame rate issues that pop up in mid-jump or during combat, it's a little disconcerting having the game slow down significantly just because you decided to swing the camera around a bit.

The locales you'll be visiting in Legend range from the Ghana rainforests to Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Tokyo, and even Peru. The developers have done a great job mixing up the pacing, sending you back into ruins just before you get tired of shimmying around the edge on a Tokyo skyscraper (and vice versa). While Lara's adventure this time around is pretty short, the exploration elements, great visuals that the Xbox 360 can produce, and even the surprisingly interesting story all come together to make a pretty solid game anyway. Those who aren't big on finding hidden bonus items or replaying levels in a "time attack" mode might find that the price is too high to pay for six to eight hours of gameplay, but there's plenty here to satisfy both those who like to rent or buy their games.

Not bad, but not great either.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: July 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The short and sweet of it: Great graphics, very nice looking, but too short. The mini games are silly, the motorcycle also silly. What could have been an awesome game feels under developed and misguided. If you are more than a casual gamer, rent this one, you'll beat it in several hours. I really wanted to like this one, what a shame...

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