Tomb Raider
by Eidos Interactive
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Platform: PlayStationPublisher: Eidos Interactive
Video Game Reviews of Tomb Raider
Customer Review: It's a Classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
Every year, there comes a time for Tomb Raiding season. I feel compelled to get out the game once more and re-live TR: complete with all its action and puzzle solving. Yes, I cannot count how many times I have beaten Tomb Raider; but the game never gets old. It's an exciting, fun, and thrilling adventure that I never tire of. I must say, there are not many games that fall into this category for me. So, this is just one of the many reasons why I consider Tomb Raider a classic.
Tomb Raider was released in 1996. Luckily, I discovered the game by accident that same year. I've been playing the series ever since. So, what makes this game so great, you ask?
Let me begin with atmosphere. Tomb Raider manages to create this brilliantly. You might have a key moment where the character (Lara) steps into an unknown room and there is just - silence. The silence, it turns out, is a key element. It creates a sense of tension on its own. You do not know what is behind a corner, a ledge, where a trap is, etc. You are constantly feeling a sense of anticipation. The silence also adds to the isolated feel of the game. You are alone. It makes one feel vulnerable; but also draws one into Lara's world because of that. You will feel attached to what is going on and begin to enjoy solving the puzzles and the mystery of the story by yourself. Atmostphere is a key element in the game.
Atmosphere would not work well without a stunning soundtrack either. Silence preceeds some pieces of music that can make one gaze in awe as he/she steps into a new room. Or, it can give a sense of danger, when enemies or traps are triggered. In some cases, the music gives off a false sense of danger, keeping one on his/her toes the entire time. The music is emotional, most particularly the Tomb Raider theme by Nathan McCree. It's probably one of the most powerful pieces of music in all of TR. The music can stand alone (even apart from the game) as beautiful compositions. They carry the impact of a scene, place, or emotion and work wonderfully together.
The story itself is actually quite good, especially since it is from an older era in gaming. You start off as Lara Croft, the daughter of wealthy aristocrats, who has been disowned due to her love for adventure. After surviving a nearly fatal plane crash in the Himalayas, coupled with the equally painful experience of having to survive alone in the snow capped mountains for two weeks, Lara returned to England changed. She decided to set out across the world to uncover the secrets of civilizations and made a name for herself. The game starts off with Lara receiving a job offer from Jaqueline Natla, the head of Natla Technologies, to receive an ancient artifact called the Scion. The trek takes you across the globe attempting to unravel its secrets.
The story is interesting in itself. It has its own twists and turns; but it also focuses on the characters, the mystery of the Scion, and the history behind it. Now today, one might find the story a little too short, with not much information. But, this was very well done, especially for the time it was made in. You actually care about the characters and what would happen in the story.
Now, aside from having a great story, I must mention my favourite aspect of the game. That is the puzzles. If you love puzzles and a good challenge, this game is definately for you. Each level is centered around some sort of giant puzzle, with other smaller puzzles surrounding it, sometimes even built into the major puzzle. Yet, the puzzles never get old. There's always something new thrown into the mix which makes them all the more fun. This could be in the form of water mazes, secret rooms, hidden levers, rabid animals, and let's not forget the downright diabolical death traps that are imbedded throughout the game. (Boulder traps anyone?) Ironically, even the death traps are extremely fun to traverse. Not only do they keep you on your toes; but there's a high replayability factor. You'll want to relive the thrill of danger and adventure at the same time over again. This feeling especially, gives the game high replay value.
The controls themselves are pretty solid. They're mostly easy to learn, with the exception of the jump/grab control which can be tricky. This may frustrate some newcomers to the older games; but with a little practice even this becomes easy. The only qualm I have regarding the controls is that sometimes it can throw the camera angles out of whack. This is especially true in a battle situation. If Lara is pinned in a corner or closed doorway, the camera might shift to the side shakily so that you don't know what's happening or you might be able to see through a locked door, for instance. Generally, this is a glitch because the camera is mostly stationed in third-person view behind Lara. But it is a small glitch and does not take away from the game as a whole.
The graphics may be dated; however, remember it has been over 10 years and the graphics were revolutionary for their time. Again, despite the graphics, the game itself is still just as fun as when I first played it.
To me, this game hasn't died out over the years. So, this is what I call a definate classic. I'd recommend the original Tomb Raider to anyone.
Description of Tomb Raider
The first of the now-famous Tomb Raider games is a must-have for every gaming fan. You are Lara Croft, a tough, beautiful, sophisticated female Indiana Jones--think of a British Demi Moore in a fedora. Lara climbs walls, leaps chasms, and generally defies gravity using impressive gymnastics. All of her actions are intricately modeled to produce the lifelike athleticism that made Tomb Raider--and Lara Croft--famous.But Lara's got more than good looks and smooth moves to help her on her globetrotting quest for relics. Like guns. Lots of guns. Lara begins her adventures with her trademark pistols, wielded John Woo-style: one in each hand. She eventually works her way up to Uzis and even adds a handy shotgun to her arsenal, perfect for taking down a troublesome tyrannosaur found in some steamy Tibetan lost world.
Here's the story: having made a name for herself as a finder of antiquities, Lara is hired by a mysterious woman to find an artifact believed to have come from Atlantis. Lara travels around the world, plumbing the depths of long- or best-forgotten locales. As she discovers clues to the artifact's whereabouts, she also uncovers the true motivation behind her employer's search. The intriguing plot is told through gorgeous computer animation movie cutscenes interspersed throughout the game's episodes.
As you venture to and through various ancient tombs, a host of enemies and puzzles await you. In fact, it is the puzzles that will keep players interested even after the challenge of slaying enemies has passed. Also hidden throughout the game are a number of secret rooms and hidden treasures, unnecessary for completion of the game but adding a level of complexity and replay value.
Being one of the few video game characters to grace mainstream magazine covers, Lara Croft is part of video game history. Ravenous fans have demanded three sequels, with the fourth installment, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, due in late 1999--and a live-action movie in the works. And it all started with this game, the original Tomb Raider. --Allen Stewart
Pros:
- Great graphics
- Fun camera angles
- Complex puzzles require time and thought
- Entertaining plot, well-directed movie scenes
- Takes a while to learn all of Lara's moves
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