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| | Title:
Tomb Raider: Legend
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
Action/Adventure
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Publisher:
Eidos Interactive
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Developer:
Crystal Dynamics
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Release:
April 7, 2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Rating Pending (RP)
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It goes without saying that when a new Tomb Raider game is announced hardly anyone in the gaming community jumps up and down. The Tomb Raider games have had their share of flops, as the series has painfully tried to reinvent the gameplay that made it popular. So far the series has had little success reaching this goal. But the people at Crystal Dynamics see something in the Tomb Raider series that many gamers have abandoned. They see the potential for what this series could be. Prince of Persia and even God of War have shown how receptive the gaming community is to exploring vast tombs littered with puzzles. Shouldn’t the series that started this trend finally get to present its own twist on this type of gameplay experience? Crystal Dynamic thinks so, which is why the team is behind the latest title in the Tomb Raider linage, Tomb Raider: Legends.
Being developed for the Xbox, the PS2 and Xbox 360 all at once is no small undertaking. To make the process easier all three games will be identical in terms of content and gameplay. But in typical fashion the Xbox 360 is going to be the best looking. This should come as no surprise. Several improvements to be seen in the Xbox 360 version of Tomb Raider legends are the character models. Lara herself looks incredibly detailed and very stunning for a digital female. It is nice to see the woman that started the whole craze of digital beauties finally get the face lift she has deserved. Complimenting the detailed character models is the world the game takes place in. Utilizing the power of the 360, Crystal Dynamics has crafted a beautiful world for gamers to explore. The tombs Lara explores reek with detail and ambiance. Lighting plays a huge role in this process. Not only will shadows been handled correctly but some impressive visuals will be found when Lara walks into a darkened area and flips on her shoulder lamp. Pretty indeed.
What made the Tomb Raider series such a hit was its popular blend of exploring and combat. This is the general formula for Tomb Raider: Legends. Lara will be traveling to several locations throughout the game. Two of these locations are Peru and Bolivia. Since the game takes place primarily in South America jungle ruins are going to be a big part of Tomb Raider legends. These ruins will be full of traps to avoid and enemies to take down. Luckily for gamers Lara has a full repertoire of moves for doing just that. As seen in some trailers Lara can cling to walls, swing off pipes, roll, jump, and climb. As veterans of the Tomb Raider franchise know though, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Lara’s dealing with enemies is also being fleshed out and the team behind the game has given players a lot more options now. Returning are Lara’s trademark duel pistols. Lara can shoot these at enemies all the while dodging their attacks. She can also perform some nifty moves. One in particular that was featured in a trailer showed Lara rolling into her enemy, which knocked him into the air and allowed Lara to riddle his body with bullets. Lara also has a new exploring/combat tool known as the magnetic grapple. Think of it as Indy’s whip. Lara can swing across large gaps with the grapple while at the same time wrap up enemies and beat them to a pulp. It is not the most original idea in the world but some homage to the original “raider” is never a bad thing. It also seems that Lara will be able to use other weapons beside just her dual pistols and magnetic grapple. Trailers have shown Lara firing off a rocket launcher. Whether or not Lara can pick up an enemy’s weapon has yet to be confirmed, but it is a good bet that she will be able.
Being kept most secret is the story behind Tomb Raider: Legends. What we do know though is that is involved Lara in a race against a rival to uncover a secret but new artifact. Again, not the most original plot for the Tomb Raider series but I have faith that Crystal Dynamics will inject some much needed flair and freshness into the story. Lara will encounter some interesting characters in her travels. There is Anaya, a civil engineering working to restore South America. One can guess that she will assist Lara is locating some artifact. Lara’s team will consist of Zip (the tech guy) and Alister (her research partner). Both of these guys will serve as support for Lara as she journeys into various tombs. In terms of the rival one can only assume that the character James Rutland Jr. will taking up this role. Since the goons Lara will encounter have been referred to as “Rutland’s raiders” then it is a pretty good bet.
While it is obviously going to take a lot of word-of-mouth to get this game to sell, one thing is certain for sure. This is the first Tomb Raider game in quite a long time that actually looks like it might be a fun experience. Crystal Dynamics seems to be doing all the right things. Not only will the game have next-gen visuals, but is returning to the roots that made the franchise so successful. Couple this with a few new combat tweaks, and prospect of earning points for your gamercard and Tomb Raider: Legends just might redeem the franchise. Look for it to be released in April of 2006.
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ahnonamis
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