Ok who got Tomb Raider?

[T.Tashi]

I have to admit it's pretty damn good. Sure they borrowed from Prince of Persia, God of War and Resident Evil 4, or Shenmue if you're old school... or Dragon's Lair if you're really old school... (all in the first 45 minutes I played it) but if you're gonna borrow, borrow from the best. It controls great and it's classic Tomb Raider.

BUT... what I don't like is the combat. Sure it controls like butter and Lara has nice moves and cool gadgets but the combat design is just... eh. You can shoot stuff in the environment and knock enemies around though. But the game is paced in a really nice way. Tomb Raider always was heavy on exploration and puzzles and light on combat and this is no exception. So while it's nothing new, it is well done and a lot of fun to play.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I have to admit it's pretty damn good. Sure they borrowed from Prince of Persia, God of War and Resident Evil 4, or Shenmue if you're old school... or Dragon's Lair if you're really old school... (all in the first 45 minutes I played it) but if you're gonna borrow, borrow from the best. It controls great and it's classic Tomb Raider.

BUT... what I don't like is the combat. Sure it controls like butter and Lara has nice moves and cool gadgets but the combat design is just... eh. You can shoot stuff in the environment and knock enemies around though. But the game is paced in a really nice way. Tomb Raider always was heavy on exploration and puzzles and light on combat and this is no exception. So while it's nothing new, it is well done and a lot of fun to play.

I've got it, though for the 360. I'm really enjoying it. I know Eidos has been burned by churning out TRs each year on the PS1, but I would really like another TR next year. Same game engine, same graphics engine, more locations, more wardrobe :), just more, and I'll be happy with that sequel. Any sequel after that, they can use a full 2+ years for development.

As far as the combat, it's definitely old school (not to be mistaken with Old Skool) Tomb Raider. It's not too bad, though I think anything resembling DMC type of gunplay would have been uncalled for. One thing they could do is allow Lara to move when you hit R3 and kind of zoom in for shooting. That would help some long distance gunfights. As far as the rest of the gunplay, I dunno. It can be improved, but I wouldn't want them to do too much to it.

I think the motorcycle portions are not as bad as reviewers make them seem. I don't like the fact that she loses health (or dies) too easily while riding, but it doesn't hurt the rest of the game.

[Cuddly Knife]

Tashi, you need to update your What're you playing? sig.

I plan on getting this game as soon as it comes to my Wally World.

RBH, what are the achievement requirements?

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

RBH, what are the achievement requirements?

Most are pretty easy. Complete this level, complete that level, complete the game on easy or normal, complete the game on hard. There's also achievements tied into finding so many gold, silver, and bronze rewards hidden throughout the game. The only ones I have found to be kind of hard are the gold rewards, because they are either well hidden or in a place that's so ridiculous that no one will find without reading about the location (aka Bolivia).

Your Wally World still haven't received TRL yet? Hmm....they sound a lot like my local Blockbuster. It took them three weeks to get a game that was already released at every other store....and this was a pre-ordered game.

[T.Tashi]

I've got it, though for the 360. I'm really enjoying it. I know Eidos has been burned by churning out TRs each year on the PS1, but I would really like another TR next year. Same game engine, same graphics engine, more locations, more wardrobe :), just more, and I'll be happy with that sequel. Any sequel after that, they can use a full 2+ years for development.

As far as the combat, it's definitely old school (not to be mistaken with Old Skool) Tomb Raider. It's not too bad, though I think anything resembling DMC type of gunplay would have been uncalled for. One thing they could do is allow Lara to move when you hit R3 and kind of zoom in for shooting. That would help some long distance gunfights. As far as the rest of the gunplay, I dunno. It can be improved, but I wouldn't want them to do too much to it.

I think the motorcycle portions are not as bad as reviewers make them seem. I don't like the fact that she loses health (or dies) too easily while riding, but it doesn't hurt the rest of the game.
Well, the thing that bugs me is, everybody and every creature takes a gazillion shots to kill. I didn't think the combat really gets emphasized except during boss fights, so emptying a whole clip just to kill a leopard strikes me as boring. And a little stealth mixed in would be nice. I like the weapon limitation though and the fact that you can see all the gear she's carrying.

The motorcycle portions for me just seem to go on a little long. And it's practically sitting on rails, but yeah I don't think it's as bad as some reviews point out.

Tashi, you need to update your What're you playing? sig.
Yeah I'm really lazy about that. I am playing all those games though, at various points in time. I actually picked up Destroy All Humans for $14 and started playing that. The presentation is great and very funny. The dialogue alone is worth it for me. The gameplay is good, just starts to get repetitive in a bland kinda way.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Well, the thing that bugs me is, everybody and every creature takes a gazillion shots to kill. I didn't think the combat really gets emphasized except during boss fights, so emptying a whole clip just to kill a leopard strikes me as boring. And a little stealth mixed in would be nice. I like the weapon limitation though and the fact that you can see all the gear she's carrying.

The motorcycle portions for me just seem to go on a little long. And it's practically sitting on rails, but yeah I don't think it's as bad as some reviews point out.

You're right about having to empty clips just to off a leopard. It should be like TR3 after you find the Desert Eagle...one shot. Maybe two, but no more than four.

I think the next TR will do good if they had headshots in the game. They already allow the view by hitting R3, so it shouldn't be much of a problem.

I disagree about stealth, though. I had enough Metal Gear Lara when I tried to beat Angel of Darkness. The most I could stand is dropping on enemies from above, like in Splinter Cell, and maybe some peaking around the corners, but that's about it for me.

If Crystal D plans on more vehicle portions for any future TR, they have to get it off rails. More freedom would do the levels a lot of good.

Other than that, I really enjoy the game.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

I like it the game is pretty good. This is coming from someone who actually thought Angel of Darkness wasn't that bad once you could get over the fact it didn't feel like tomb raider.

The vehicle sections aren't that bad. I'm still early in the game I've rode the motorcycle in the desert section when you rescue your friend and the roof top jump. I thought both were pleaseant distractions.

The combat on normal difficulty is a joke damn near every enemy drops a health kit so it takes really no strategy. And like someone above in the thread stated enemies seem to take a lot of shoots to go down. They seem like they tried to make the combat stylish with the slow motion flip move and the dive shooting but you can tell combat wasn't the focus.

The physics systems is pretty good (wish bodies wouldn't disappear right in front of you though) and it makes the puzzles a lot more organic. They seem to be kind of Soul Reaverish though move the block or globe in correct postion etc. Still fun Control is butter smooth. The pacing and scripting is pretty good as well. Overall really good game I'd rather see Crystal D working back on the leagacy of Kain/ Soul Reaver series though.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I like it the game is pretty good. This is coming from someone who actually thought Angel of Darkness wasn't that bad once you could get over the fact it didn't feel like tomb raider.

After playing with Legends' fluid controls, do you think you could ever play Angel of Darkness?

I need to hop back on this game and finish it.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

After playing with Legends' fluid controls, do you think you could ever play Angel of Darkness?

I need to hop back on this game and finish it.


Yeah the control are pretty bad. But par the course for Tomb Raider. It just seems like the Press made AOD out to be worse than it was when it was actually probably the best one since the Second game.

Legend is Better in every respect though.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Yeah the control are pretty bad. But par the course for Tomb Raider. It just seems like the Press made AOD out to be worse than it was when it was actually probably the best one since the Second game.

Legend is Better in every respect though.

I dunno, I still consider AOD the worst one. It was still playable, as long as one took the time to get the hang of the controls. There were too many things with the game that shouldn't have been introduced, like stealth, the leveling up crap, and the boring and useless 2nd character. I enjoyed the 3rd TR, especially when I got a hold of the Desert Eagle (or when I used a code to unlock it).

I still want one quick sequel by early 2007, then Crystal D can take their time with the others.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Best Ending EVAR! It's somewhat of a cliffhanger (what game doesn't end like that now a days) But I really enjoyed the end to this one "Every breath you have left is a gift from" or something like. Nice!

The game was short though the clock showed 9:45 when I finished and I thought I took my time. Should have know it would be short if the game was including speed trials. Haven't played the mansion maybe I'll come back to that even though I have no interest in playing it now.

Really good game overall though.

[Cuddly Knife]

6 hrs and 4 min, and I'm at 76% with only the final boss to go. Man, I really wish someplace local rented games, because I literally would've beat this game in one sitting(adventurer difficulty) if not for the cheapest boss outside of Liquid Kasumi(DOA4). It made me so mad that I stopped playing out of frustration. GRRRRRR! I found it so stupid that you play the whole game with gunz, and then they make you shoot projectiles from a sword. BLEH city! Time Trials aren't going to hold up either. I beat the first one on the first try.

Overall, the game has good flow, and the best shadowing I've seen in a game. This game is done so well graphically, that I want to rent the XBOX version just to see really how much better it is. The XBOX and PS2 versions can't have this kind of lighting, can they?

Any tips on that final boss?

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

6 hrs and 4 min, and I'm at 76% with only the final boss to go. Man, I really wish someplace local rented games, because I literally would've beat this game in one sitting(adventurer difficulty) if not for the cheapest boss outside of Liquid Kasumi(DOA4). It made me so mad that I stopped playing out of frustration. GRRRRRR! I found it so stupid that you play the whole game with gunz, and then they make you shoot projectiles from a sword. BLEH city! Time Trials aren't going to hold up either. I beat the first one on the first try.

Overall, the game has good flow, and the best shadowing I've seen in a game. This game is done so well graphically, that I want to rent the XBOX version just to see really how much better it is. The XBOX and PS2 versions can't have this kind of lighting, can they?

Any tips on that final boss?


Well you should have 3 health packs from when you killed all the goons. Main tip throw strategy out the window. Get as close as you can and don't let up just keep attacking with the sword take the hits and just keep attacking you'll win by attrition and it won't take that long.

[Cuddly Knife]

That worked. I guess I was making it more complicated than what it really was, because as soon as I tried to stick in the middle, I beat it without having to use a health pack..

Anyways, I re-started the game, and my new game(I tried for speed) was 2 hrs and 21 minutes total(I saw my time after I saved after the credits. Too short for this to be next-gen. I guess they sacrificed length for purtiness.




_____________________SPOILER_____________________





Overall, it's a damn good game that was just too damn short. From what the ending showed, sequel, here we come!!! Hopefully it's soon, since they'll probably be using the same engine.

And what's with the Soul Reaver, and all the other hints of this relating to the Reaver universe?

[Fivespot]

6 hrs and 4 min, and I'm at 76% with only the final boss to go.

Damn.... I finished the first mission. Yeah!!!

Told you. I knew it was only a matter of time before your gamerscore passed mine. It was the few month head start that separated us and that was all.

[Cuddly Knife]

LOLers! You probably explored the crap out of the level, plus I also played the demo(but only up until the spinny-wheel puzzle. For some reason, I couldn't figure it out on the demo). Once I got to mission 4, I stopped looking for the medals too(I'll do that later).

[Fivespot]

LOLers! You probably explored the crap out of the level, plus I also played the demo(but only up until the spinny-wheel puzzle. For some reason, I couldn't figure it out on the demo). Once I got to mission 4, I stopped looking for the medals too(I'll do that later).

Yup, looked in every nook and cranny of the first level. I was able to earn an achievement after finding a few bronze medals however so that's a plus.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I'm still looking for the medals, but the gold ones are ridiculous to find. If I don't find one by accident, I'm going to wait until I play through it a 2nd time, even if I have to make a stop to Gamefaqs.com.

I should have waited until I finished the game on one playthrough before I started doing the timed missions, since all of that gameplay time is added together. I'm sure it would take me 10+ hours to finish, especially while looking and searching everywhere.

[Cuddly Knife]

Hard mode is weak sauce! The only difference is the amount of damage you take. weak sauce

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I finally finished the game. Good ending, definitely calls for a sequel.

Here's what I would do with that sequel:

1) No extra playable characters, liek Core tried with Angel of Darkness. Keep it strictly about Lara.

2) Less bosses. The combat isn't bad overall, but the draw of the game isn't going to be a bunch of bosses. If anything, let the final, final boss be where Lara has to escape a tomb before it crumbles to pieces, within a time limit.

3) More secrets to find. The various costumes are fine (add more of those as well), but I think there should be some unlockable weapons to be found in different levels.

4) Give the game the same atmosphere as the first Tomb Raider. What I mean by that is, in the first one, Lara was basically alone after her companion got eaten by wolves. The next TR would do well with that same kind of atmosphere, instead of people chattering in her earpiece every couple minutes.

5) Get rid of the "missions" and make the game feel like an on going adventure. It's not as bad as DMC with its missions, but the game would have an even better flow, IMO, if the next level feels like it started where the last one ended. The vehicles made a few of the levels feel that way, but for instance, after Japan, let the game show Lara actually going to the next place (or even let us control the helicopter if you can make the controls decent, Crystal D) instead of showing her getting into a chopper, then throwing her at the next level. Did that make any sense?

[Cuddly Knife]

Totally, and I agree. IMO, action/adventure games were meant to be the most interactive, so get rid of the non-playable cut-scene altogether, I say. Make almost eveything that happens be dictated by the gamer. It doesn't even have to be hugebreakthroughs in gameplay or anything. The QTE's in Legend were really very childish in how they were so easy to do. There was no real sense of urgency, so I didn't really feel like I had to do much to keep Lara breathing. The only games that have actually nailed this down have been RE4 and Shenmue 2. God of War was also excellent in QTE execution, and I'm sure part 2 will be even better, but still, there were tons of uncontrollable scenes. In the new GoW trailer, when Kratos in on the Gryffin(sp?), it looks like that could be QTE heaven for me.

I remember talking about how Snake Eater would've made my day if all those action-y cut scenes were interactive. It would've made the game seem a million times more emotional if you were in some control of the situations and could determine how bad Jack got the big hurt put on him. QTEs would've gone a long way in this game.

Same goes for Ninja Gaiden(which had a couple), and DMC series. If the next games for each don't have more interaction, I will not be impressed. Itagaki has promised more level interaction for NG2, we'll see what he means about that.

Legend was obviously designed to be ran as fast as you can, based on the level layouts. Make the next game about exploring, and not simple exploring to get rewards. I want puzzles that make you go to different areas to activate other things back over theres. Like the spinning water wheel deal. Make me serach for an answer, instead of sticking it in my face. The water level was nice, but too short. Give me a underwater level that lasts 20 or 30 minutes, and give Lara an oxygen tank.

QTE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I did make Lara bite if a few times during the QTE, mainly because I wasn't paying attention. I really thought they were going to get better after the first one, but they were all the same. Unless future QTEs are like RE4 (the best thing about the game, IMO) and GoW, I say leave them out all together.

I dunno about long underwater levels. I hated those. :D An Oxygen tank wouldn't be bad, but I wouldn't want to have to fight/shoot underwater. A couple of crocodiles or Florida Gators underwater would make the swimming a bit more exciting.

Speaking of crocs, here's another thing I would add to the sequel: More animals, less humans. A bigger variety of them too. Dogs & tigers were kind of lame, especially if they aren't jumping out at you by surprise. No bats, though. Those things are annoying.

Besides a sequel, I would like to see Crystal D take this engine and remake the original Tomb Raider.

[J_Cunningham]

I picked up Tomb Raider: Legend last week, and I gotta admit, I'm impressed. I thought the franchise was a completely lost cause after the travesty that was Angel of Darkness, but I couldn't help but pick this one up following all the positive buzz surrounding it. And I have to commend Crystal Dynamics for taking the series back to its roots and making Tomb Raider fun again.

The graphics are amazing--Lara looks like an actual person now!--and I love the reworked controls. Exploring is just as fun as it was way back in the original game, and overall I enjoy the feel of this game; the puzzles aren't entirely nonsensical and the pacing is just right. I agree the combat isn't the best, but Tomb Raider was never really about combat. You want kick-ass fights? Play God of War (which I still am, btw...catching up on games now that I'm done with school).

Anyone wondering if Tomb Raider: Legend is worth the price tag, I say most definitely yes.