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Tomb Raider: Legend

Legendary or lame, let's see shall we...

As stereotypically predictable as it is, the first thing any male fan of the Tomb Raider series will notice from the first screenshots released of Lara's latest adventure is that the quality of graphics used to create her have certainly moved on since she made the game's debut back in 1996. Gone are the legs shaped like a couple of French Fries and her prism-shaped bosoms, and in their place come perfectly smooth and gorgeously textured re-creations. It seems that Lara has had more than just a nip and tuck under the surgeon's knife in preparation for her first next-generation outing (admittedly the game is out on current generations, too, SCI-Eidos keeping their bottom lines firmly in the foreground). Of course, given the mauling that Angel of Darkness received graphical improvement were expected, but whether this latest instalment will up the 'sagging' quality of the series overall is a different matter altogether. Let's hope Legend can stop the rot.

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Promising to deliver a fresh experience are Crystal Dynamics (best known for the Legend of Kain series) who have taken the reins from Core for Lara's next adventure, the seventh in the series. Producer of the game, Morgan Gray, promises that the series is returning to its roots. So instead of the trend that saw you sprawling through ever more urban environments as has been the case with more recent games, Lara will be back trekking and exploring through Aztec-style locations for a South American relic in some of the world's most beautiful countries. This is all good stuff, and perhaps this time she won't be trying to hopelessly evade a tiger biting chunks out of her as she struggles with an awkward camera angle.

Thankfully the game looks to lay to rest many of the previous titles problems (camera positioning and all), with an emphasis on actually enjoying controlling Lara and a much more user friendly combat system. Could it be that the days where Lara's turning circle was similar in circumference to the Titanic are over, with nimble joints and the flexibility of a Slinky replacing them? Video screenshots seem to exhibit just that, showing our protagonist flipping, swimming, leaping and sliding up, over and around obstacles that stand in her way with what appears to be a new zest for life.

As well as the pistols with infinite ammunition which Lara always carries with her, in this latest incarnation she has acquired a brand new gizmo that looks like adding a new dimension to the customary Tomb Raider gameplay of years past. A magnetic grappling hook will allow Lara to attract useful objects within the vicinity. The ability to draw metallic boxes towards her will help her reach previously unreachable areas, and the ability to grapple and swing across dangerous chasms is also rumoured to justify its inclusion.

Puzzles have always been an integral part of the Tomb Raider experience and Legend appears not to deviate in this respect, although this time they are to rely more heavily on combined physical and cerebral tasks rather than the more common move-block-A-onto-switch-B formula that has remained a staple in the series past and so many other examples of the genre. Restructuring the game in this way means that players will have to pay close attention to visual clues and triggers within each environment in order to progress. We're hoping for an altogether more immersively 'real' experience on this front.

Visually, as already noted, everything is looking fine and dandy so far, though lets be honest, you would expect nothing less from the technological capabilities of the Xbox 360. The game is based on the engine used to create Legacy of Kain: Defiance with not a jagged edge in sight and all the smoothness of a buffed-up snooker ball. Both background and foreground objects look pin sharp and detailed too.

A filter being implemented to remove any rough edges also gives the game a more 'organic' feel. An eerie corridor shown in one preview video is dimly lit and complimented perfectly with ethereal shadows. It looks a bit like that dark alley in town where only the brave and stupidly drunk go to relieve themselves after a night of heavy drinking, except there's crushing spikes instead of a scruffy man after your mobile phone and haunting figurines on the walls instead of damp and sticky flyers for crap local DJs.

Now that Tomb Raider is reportedly returning to its roots we might even be on the verge of a reemerging craze similar to the one which blasted the game (and Lara) into superstardom with a flurry of critical acclaim nearly a decade ago. That the game's focus is set to return to an emphasis on exploration will relieve long term fans of the series, many of whom have been eager for such a reversal in thinking, especially after the poor Angel of Darkness. Who knows, if Legend creates enough of a fizz Lara might just get her contract with Lucozade back. On the other hand a game that leaves players feeling deflated, one with as much sparkle as a 1993 bottle of Coca-Cola with the lid left off, could signify the end of a series that just couldn't turn itself around quick enough. We shall of course see.

1. Holy sh** the graphics are amazing! You can actually see what son her belt like the bernoc. Im guessing.....no wait i know this will be a great game.

   Someone Saturday, 22 October 2005, 14:23:2

2. HI IM ANWRA IS GREATE GAME BEST BEST BEST I LICK TO THX GRATE GRAPHICE GRATE CONTOR BET SECAN BET STATE

   ANWAR Tuesday, 25 October 2005, 10:56:57

3. is't von croydead in the tombraider choricle

   puzzled Friday, 11 November 2005, 22:54:21

4. is't von croy dead in tomb raider chronicle or other one why does he die again in angel of darkness

   puzzle fanatic Friday, 11 November 2005, 22:56:34

5. 43

   wanchi Thursday, 17 November 2005, 03:01:25

6. 43

   wanchi Thursday, 17 November 2005, 03:01:27

7. looks da bomb. They shud make it so that when u comlete it on "legendary mode" u can play as a naked lara that wud b awsome lol :)

   tommyh Monday, 21 November 2005, 13:52:43

8. looks class the graphics are amazin

   sean l Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 10:55:39

9. looks class the graphics are amazin

   sean l Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 10:55:39

10. looks class the graphics are amazin

    sean l Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 10:55:39

11. Is Kurtis Trent going to be in Tomb Raider: Legend??!

    In the last game, (AOD) they left it where you weren't sure who he really was. At the end of the game, Lara finds his weapon in his pool of blood in the room he was last seen in. But here's the thing, before that scene, Karel reveals himself to be disguising as Kurtis. So what's the real deal, does Kurtis really exist or is he just someone Karel was pretending to be? It's been botherin' the hell out of me ever since i've finished the game. = /

    confused TR: Fan Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 23:05:25

12. I SERIOUSLY NEED SOMEONE TO ANSWER MY QUESTION!! I AM DYING TO KNO WAT THE HELL HAPPENED

    confused TR fan Tuesday, 21 February 2006, 01:14:35

13. I think it is cool tomb raider is going back can't wait to get it!

    crissie Monday, 13 March 2006, 01:06:11

14. The Game is EXCELLENT i ordered mine in september,lol and i see what you mean by that confused TR: fan i was thinkin the same thing

    TombRaider.! Monday, 13 March 2006, 21:28:1

16. Glad to see someone somewhat agrees with me. (TombRaider!.)

    lol. Someone has answered my question. I had e-mailed a website & they wrote back, kind of answering my question. I definitly agree with u, the game is excellent. I have all of them & have beatin all of them except the 1st one (it won't run on my comp) & the 3rd one (got stuck). I thought about pre-ordering TRL too but just decided to get in the day it comes out. Can't wait till it comes out. 3 weeks away.

    Confused TR Fan Monday, 20 March 2006, 01:27:10

17. TombRaider.! This is the reply i got from that email word for word. Check it out.

    Karel is a nephilim, and he can become as other characters, in that scene show us sometimes was Karel and he help her, but, in other situations, it's the Real Kurtis, for example in the Louvre or Strahov (TR AOD was cut a 40% from the whole game, then, maybe some scene were removed, that's the answer why Lara knows Karel in the final duel, nevertheless, from us... Lara and Karel weren't meet never).

    And about TR Legend, EIDOS said it's a new adventure, they never confirme if he will appear in the game or not, but they say it will be a new adventure with no connection with previous games.

    Although... maybe at final level in a cutscene or something... it could be appear as a surprise or a continue, I don't know.

    UnConfused TR Fan Monday, 20 March 2006, 01:36:4

18. dang they r good grahpics

    kingkong Monday, 3 April 2006, 08:19:1

19. What's up with this hidden nudity in the game?!! Not that I care, it just better not push back the release date in the U.S or I AM GOING TO BE REALLY PISSED OFF!! I've been very excited about this game coming out and then to find out it is delayed once again. I don't think so. : (

    Unconfused TR Fan Saturday, 8 April 2006, 16:06:11

20. i need help wth the bit where u hav to move dem boxes can any one help me plz coz its relli hard plz ??

    twat Saturday, 15 April 2006, 15:55:49

21. plz can someone help me and say it on the comment bit

    it the bit were u hav to move dee boxs on da frist level

    fanny Saturday, 15 April 2006, 15:58:18

22. reply to fanny

    What Tomb Raider game are you stuck on the first level?

    (Unconfused) TR FAn Monday, 17 April 2006, 20:26:14

23. reply to fanny

    What Tomb Raider game are you stuck on the first level? Cause I can't help unless you tell me which one.

    (Unconfused) TR FAn Monday, 17 April 2006, 20:26:17

24. TOMB RAIDER LEGEND IS INCREDABLE.THE BEST ONE YET! It's a must get!! Everything in and about this game is great. If you like games with adventure & action, then u will like this.

    TR FAN Monday, 17 April 2006, 20:32:52

25. Sounds like Hitman: Blood Money is another superb game done by Eidos. Two excellent games put out by the same company in one year, Sh*t, you can't beat that!

    TR Fan Monday, 29 May 2006, 15:39:19

26. i love the graphics,its very cool,im the fan nº1 of lara croft and her games,i just love it....I hope next game, be so good as this!!!love a*j* styles!

    A*J* STYLES Saturday, 9 December 2006, 16:21:45