Improved control system
The legendary British archaeologist, Lara Croft, swings back into action once again with an adventure that hopes to stand the test the time, and etch itself into the illustrious history of this famous franchise.
Eidos vowed to listen to the legions of Tomb Raider fans whilst researching their latest game. They’ve conducted surveys, read previous game reviews and embraced the community, the result is Tomb Raider: Legend.
This First Look is purely based on one level of gameplay, and in no way reflects the overall quality of the game.
As the game begins you’ll witness Lara doing what she does best, hanging from a ledge, feet dangling, high up in the mountains (why does she never break a nail,her hands look so soft). As she makes her way to safety, and arrives at the foot of a waterfall you’ll embark on your first puzzle. You’ll need to find an escape route from the enclosed area and search for the ornate stone hidden within the Bolivian mountains. This mountainous region is dwarfed by sheer cliff faces and littered with boulders, vines and, you’ve guessed it, ledges.
Click for larger imageNothing much has changed in this initial task from previous Croft encounters, it’s a matter of finding a route by using the environment around you. It’s this explore and solve mentality that’s been a trademark of the Tomb Raider series. Jump from boulder to boulder, scurry across a ledge, swing from a vine or branch until you find a way out of an enclosure. The difference is that Lara’s control system has been given a makeover, making all of these actions far less frustrating than previous encounters.
Click for larger imageThe controls complement Lara’s athletic movements superbly, as she moves with the precision and grace of an Olympic athlete. By pressing the ‘Y’ button in time to your movement you’ll be able to shimmy across a ledge at speed. In fact the whole game has been speeded up, you’ll be jumping from ledge to ledge, and climbing vines faster than a rat up a drainpipe. How does she move so freely whilst wearing such tight shorts?
