Tomb Raider II - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Tomb Raider II

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Still the Same Ol' Gal
My only complaints about Tomb Raider II are relatively minor and no different from those I had about the original. First, there is still no multiplayer component. Yes, Tomb Raider has proven itself to be a wonderful single-player game, and it's hard to criticize something for working as designed and working well. However, a second Dr. Jones appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I'm still hoping Lara's mom will make an appearance in Tomb Raider III, and there can be some cooperative exploring...Aside from that, the only real complaint still lingering from the original is that all animals are inherently evil in the Tomb Raider universe. Lara is attacked by tigers, spiders, rats, and even crows for heaven's sake! Forget the animal rights crap; it's just ridiculous to be attacked by a crow, and it's even more ridiculous that it takes 20 shots to bring one down. I will admit, however, that this would make those duck hunting shows on ESPN a lot more entertaining.
Tomb Raider II is both a technological wonder and major fun. If you don't try to figure out why things happen and just enjoy doing them, you'll have a blast. And be forewarned: this game is difficult, so novices should buy the hint book ahead of time; but for those willing to work, Tomb Raider II is a truly rewarding experience. If this were still the '70s, and Lara were to plunge the Dagger of Xian into her heart, there is no doubt that she would be the next Krofft Superstar dragon. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than inviting over the Bugaloos, Magic Mongo, Dr. Shrinker, Bigfoot, and Wildboy to play Tomb Raider II.
Tips
-Inside the Great Wall, Lara will encounter a pair of Indiana Jones-style rolling boulders. If she stands in just the right spot, she'll fit safely between them. (I could give you two good reasons why standing sideways won't help her fit, but Gamecenter is a family site.)
-Also in the Great Wall, you'll see an obvious "secret" Jade Dragon on your way to the exit. However, if Lara stops to grab it, she is crushed by spiked walls. After grabbing the dragon, use a right-sideways jump to escape the walls in time.
-Venice is a particularly difficult level to solve. A complete walkthrough could be longer than this article. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1)Lara can shoot windows;
2)She can run over gondolas with the speed boat;
3)Holding down the Ctrl key (by default) makes the boat go faster and is necessary to solve the level. This feature is in the manual but isn't listed in the command reference;
4)Lara will need one boat to destroy the mines blocking the exit and another boat to reach the exit in time.
-If you get stuck in Level 3: Bartolis' Hideout, the answer is usually found by experimenting with balconies, bookcases, chandeliers, or fireplaces. Climb everything and try pushing the back of the dormant fireplace.
-Here's a cheat similar to the original Tomb Raider: Light a flare, hold down the walk button and move one step forward then one step back, release the walk button, turn three times in either direction, then: a)jump once backward to get all weapons; or b)jump once forward to proceed to the next level.
If you like this type of game, you might want to check out MDK.

Hugh Falk believes that all video games are really tests in which the best players will one day be swept up by aliens to fight for the freedom of the universe. He has dedicated his life to critiquing and hopefully improving games for the sake of Earth and the universe. Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know.

Facts

Tomb Raider II
Eidos Interactive
Price: $45.00
Pentium-90, 16MB RAM, 1MB disk space, SVGA, 4X CD-ROM drive, Windows 95; Sound Blaster or compatible sound card

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Tomb Raider II

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