Tomb Raider - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Tomb Raider

continued
she's gonna getcha
Generally Lara fights bats, wolves, bears, and other assorted animals, but the competition becomes progressively more interesting: dinosaurs, demons, centaurs, mummies, and even other humans. However, the pace of the game is rarely as frantic as Quake. More time is spent exploring, jumping, and climbing rather than shooting. This may be an attempt to make Lara a more realistic heroine. However, Tomb Raider still suffers from the same unrealistic design flaws as Quake: why are there medi-packs, shotguns, Uzis, and ammo lying around ancient tombs? Why are medi-packs more effective than the surgical staff of an average hospital? And why are all creatures inherently evil? Most wolves would scatter after a gunshot, and bats generally don't attack humans. I know these traits make games more interesting, but if a game is going for realism, I consider them flaws.
So Tomb Raider is a game that isn't as action-oriented as Quake but isn't as realistic as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (and Indy used a life raft as a parachute in that one). Also, unlike Quake, there is no multiplayer mode, no way to set difficulty levels, and no joystick option (unless you have one that is programmable). Tomb Raider does have enough action to keep it fun, however, and it has a lot more personality than Quake (Dank and Scud not withstanding).
Tomb Raider is a wonderful one-player game for those who want some exploration, plot, and characterization along with their shooting. For those with high-end machines, the graphics and gameplay are truly stunning. In fact, I've just realized that Lara isn't the one who has moved me to song; it's Eidos, for producing such an excellent game. Here is my second attempt at songwriting (sung to the tune of "Old MacDonald"): "There was a company who made a game, E-I-E-I-DOS. And that game was really cool, E-I-E-I-DOS." Maybe it's not Goldfinger, but Tomb Raider is still the bomb. Kudos to Eidos.
tips
-Spend time practicing your moves in Lara's home (choose the picture from the main menu) before heading to Peru.
-Hold down the Action key to fire rapidly, especially when you're using pistols and have unlimited ammo. However, be sure to let go of the Action key in order to switch targets, or you'll keep shooting the carcass.
-Look up and down often. Secrets generally require you to climb or drop to find them.
-The first secret is located at the very beginning. Run straight ahead through the cave until you reach a dead end. Look up and to the left to find a ledge. It will take a well-timed backward somersault followed by a forward jump to reach it and the medi-pack inside.
-Hold down the Walk key while climbing onto an object to do a handstand. This is an undocumented and worthless move, but it looks really cool.
Download the demo now.

Hugh Falk has no clue about the gaming industry in general and wouldn't know a good game if it was crammed down his throat. This biography is dedicated to those hardworking programmers and quality assurance engineers who have taken the time to critique his crappy reviews of their perfect games. Send your gaming challenges to GamerX.

Facts

Tomb Raider
Eidos Interactive
Price: $45.00
Pentium-90, 8MB RAM, 1MB disk space, SVGA, 2X CD-ROM drive, DOS 6.0 or Windows 95; Sound Blaster or compatible sound card

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Tomb Raider

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