Well, i have to say that this new Tomb raider game has to work REAL hard to make up for the dismal glitch of a game that was Angel of Darkness.
Althought so far, i really like what i see.
It's going back to the roots with good old fashioned hardcore platform action, and we'll see the return of actual Tomb Raiding!
Lara looks fantastic, and the locations she visits look astonishing. From neon-lit city scapes to realistic looking waterfalls and murky dimly lit tombs.
Check it out:

http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr7/index.html

Be sure you get the magazine coverage section of Legends to see the best screenshots.

Mmmm... right now I can't watch it (gotta go to college), but I'll watch it later.
Thanks Burns! I LOVE Tomb Raider

I love OLD Tomb Raider. I had the first 5 games at one point. Angel of Darkness was so crap, i actually went out and sold all my Tomb Raider games.
If this one can bring me back into the series, i'll be really happy.

i never bothered to play Angel of Darkness because of the horrible reviews and how bad it looked. i hope the new game isnt like it. the old games did rock tho.

AoD was basically a big glitch. The story was unended, and there were several things in it like collecting money.. FOR NOTHING!! hahah it was so unfinished i thought i was playing a first-released demo.

This one really looks fantastic though. The graphics are amazing, and it really looks like it's gone back to the roots instead of the whole wondering around talking to people crime-drama AoD was.

remember the crouch action?
it was a godsend to male pervs evrywhere.

I've still got all the Tomb Raiders, the first five. One of these days, when I get a little bit more of time, I'll play them again. When will I do that? I dunno- college is too absorbing
And yeah, AoD sucked big time

OMG Burns! This trailer is sweet!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!!

(hope they bring more info on the E3)

I have never played any of the earlier Tomb raider games but this one may bring me to the series!

Wow, i can't believe you managed to avoid them all these years.

A new Legend trailer has been released on Gamespot. It's quite good, but a little bit short. Still, bonus points for having Prodigy's "Spitfire" as the trailer song

I saw it, there's also a bunch of new screen released, i'm really impressed. It's returned to the roots, and it looks dazzling.

Oooh yeah. This end of the year is going to be awesome This game, Path of Neo, Jak X.... looks like I'm gonna be really busy this summer

May: Best. Month. Ever.

Yup, you're quite right my friend.
Other games I forgot: Kingdom Hearts 2 (which will have Captain Jack Sparrow as an ally- bonus points for that- ), Resident Evil 4 and.... I forgot

Too bad I don't have a GC

just watched the new trailer. i gotta say, its looking real hot, as is Lara (or course!).

i have to say i really did enjoy the TR games. I hope this one is good. Just to be sure, I'll probably rent it before buying.

I think all the tomb raider games rule Angel of darkness was really easy. Im gonna get the new tomb raider as well it looks really good the new lara looks interesting lol

You know, the thing that I think it's awesome is the fact that Toby Gard, the creator of Lara, is working in this one (he left Eidos after TR1 cuz he didn't like the way Eidos was using Lara- you know, pornstar and stuff). Also, Crystal Dynamics makes great games. I can't wait for this one

P.S: I'm such a nerd

Do you know of a possible release date jpalz?

Mmm... just looked on Gamespot. It says that the PS2 version comes out 1/1/2006. Gamespy says November 2006, ign.com says the same thing, 1up.com says 1/1/2006.

I'm not sure about what date is right. As long as the game is good, I can wait

TR: Legends just came out a couple weeks ago. I didn't care for renting it, so I just flat out bought it earlier today. I'm too tired to write an early review, but I will say one thing. EVERYONE needs to own this game. It rocks. The new issue of Game Informer gave it an 8.75/10, and it's gotten many other great reviews. This game is just pure fun.

I think i'll buy it too. Thanks for the reminder dude.
Everyone whos played it loves it fully.

I've played it, put I wouldn't mind the classic tomb raider engines just re-skinned.

I've played the demo, the game itself is pretty fun but I think the combat system feels unfinished, it's not so much action as it is run'n'gun.

Well that's how all the games are. But actually, there's a lot of platforming in between the action scenes. Along with it, there are quick-action sequences like in RE4, and some insanely fun and lengthy motorcycle scenes. I haven't played the demo, so I don't know what it was like, but it was most likely somewhat unfinished. The combat system is very simple, but it works incredibly well.

The classic TR engines are actually pretty poor. While the older games still kicked ass, you have to admit that the movement and combat was very choppy and stiff. The movement in the old engine was based on an invisble gride of squares. You can clearly tell that Legends has fixed that completely.

YEY! Finally a normal TR game Btw whats with all the slagging off of TR6. It wasn't that bad, except for the crappy storyline and overcomplicated battle system. I think I'll just download the demo when(if) one comes out since it just looks a bit too much like a 3rd person shooter from the screenshots...

^If you have an X360 you can download the demo for free from the Marketplace.

The X360 is evil. It costs loads (at least £200) and doesn't really have anything new from the Xbox except for maybe the wow-factor graphics. I'm waiting for the N-Rev.

TR7 is coming out on the N-rev, right?

I've come to a point of impossibility in this game. For the entire game, it's been fairly easy. Not too easy, but not the hardest game in the world, either. All of a sudden, I get to a boss fight that seems physically impossible. I don't know if this certain fight is like severely glitched out, or if it's intended to be this frustratring, but either way, it sucks. You have to use the sword you get later in the game to beat a boss. For some reason, the movement controls can sometimes be extremely delayed or just don't listen at all when attacking. Also, I all of a sudden lose almost all my health by an attack that usually doesn't take away very much health at all. Sometimes I get attacked by literally NOTHING, and I'm reduced to minimal health out of nowhere. The boss can also keep attacking you for damage when you're getting up after getting knocked down, and without even getting the chance to move, he attacks and you get knocked back down again. I was having so much fun with this game up until this point. Hopefully I'll beat it...eventually.

I guess you finished it?

I just picked up the game today. I've been through the first level, getting used to it. It's a good system, sometimes the swimming is complicated, and the camera movement, but controlling Lara is relatively simlified and easy, so shooting, jumping etc is all relatively easy and the jumping puzzles less frustrating than in previous incarnations. I enjoy the rewards system, and the environments are very interactive, such as kicking rocks and grappling, good features.

I've been through what i assume is the whole mansion and unlocked a few things, there's some serious thinking puzzles and riddles in there, it's well done. I'm going to have alot of fun collecting things i think.

No, I didn't finish it. I haven't played since I made that post. I'll try and play again some time during the week.

I haven't really done anything in the mansion yet. I forgot all about that feature and went there at the last second to see how it was. I found maybe one reward. But yeah, the mansion is pretty cool from what I've seen. It actually gives you something to do instead of just walking around. I remember in the thrid game where I would always try and trap the butler in the meat freezer.

hahahah, i got him in there a few times too.

I've played up to passing the Japan level now, min the skyscrapers. That was really fun, i very much enjoyed that level, it's boss and especially, Lara's costume. This game is not dissapointing me at all.

I've missed a bunch of rewards, i found the gold in both the Japan level and the mansion. Oh the riding on the bike was pretty sweet. Some of the controls feel a little difficult, like in Tony Hawk driving vehicles is a little iffy. But it's a really great game, i'm very happy. A massive massive step up from Angel of Darkness, and that's because it's a step backwards!

That boss that I was stuck on turned out to be the last boss.
I switched it to easy mode for that level and beat him easily. The ending makes you know that there's definately going to be a sequel. It almost seems like this is an unfinished game, but I guess there's 2 parts to this one story line. I thought there would have been a little more. You find out what the special menu in the extras section is for beating the game. There's a cheat menu, where you still have to unlock the directions for the cheats. There's for cheats and I only have 1. There's also a video called Unfortunate Mishaps where it goes through all of the special death scenes, like that online video for RE4. The rag doll physics in this game are hilarious.

I also went back to the mansion. It's a little smaller than I thought, though. I found 14/16 Bronze ad 6/10 Silver, and still no gold. I don't think I ever found a gold reward in the game. I still have a lot left to explore, I guess. I'm 88% done with everything.

The rewards in the mansion are easy to find. You have to just follow clues, after finding all the stuff. You need the grapple and the light. After that, head to the library and discover/overcome the first puzzle in there. You need the pistols for that too. Then you get the hint for the next one, which i think is in the swimming poll. It goes on, but eventually you find all of the hints and get the gold reward. Just takes some trial and error.

I love trial and error in this game, since there's so many checkpoints i don't mind the occasional hilarious mishap, like above the buildings in Japan with the bike and the quicktime.. whoops! Crunch. hehe.


How long is the game? How many levels?

Oh, Angel of Darkness was a half game with a 'too be continued' at the end, it was awful there was no closure to it at all. I guess they scrapped that game since it was so crappy and started afresh with Legends, which seems to be working out well so i'd like a sequel. I dislike these half games though, there's no need for it. Just make the whole damn game, i don't want to spend another 60 bucks to finish the story.

Well, the ending made it seem like it could have been over in like 2 more levels; kinda how the first LotR movie made it seem like they were 20 mins away from getting where the needed to at the end. The ending movie of the game was like the end of a first part of a TV mini-series. Nothing is wrapped up at all, and leaves the entire game open for a sequel, which is both a good and bad thing. Bad because I was hoping something would get solved and good because a sequel would kick ass. If they can make the next game as good or even better than this, I'll be very happy.

The game isn't too long; you can beat it in about 8 or 9 hours, depending on how much you die and what difficulty you're on. I don't know my completion time, but I played the whole game through on medium. But there's so much replay value in this game. I still want to go through on hard mode and find all the rewards in the campign levels and unlock all the extras. I could definately see myself playing this game many times in the future. It's damn fun.

In the mansion, I didn't know there were clues or anything. I went to the gym area first. The only reward that I didn't get in there - that I know of - is the one right above the little pool thing. I think it's a silver one. Then I went to the pool area and got everything in there (I think) right away. After that, I went to the library and did 2 puzzles in there. Then went to my room. I got all of Lara's things, too. I have more rewards to find than it seems. About the library, what do I do with all of those books on the shelves that are bright and stick out? I can't seem to do anything with them.

You have to find the right clue first.
This is the point where you have to riddle solve.



Now, my memory is a little funky, but this is how it goes. The puzzles i solved are:

In the library, there are two squares. One bookcase is behind a wall you have to shoot, and the other is above a ledge you have to grapple. Put these on the squares.

A tunnel opens. In the tunnel, use your light. On a wall is a riddle. Discover the meaning of the riddle, and where to go. Other riddle locations include above the between the statues, and on either side of the balcony above the fireplace in the main hall. The first riddle, found in tunnel, it says something about facing two statues away from one another above the pool.

At one point, a riddle about colours should present itself, and i can't remember where so you'll have to find it for yourself. When this riddle appears, the books in the library with open up allowing you to pull them in. Use the right combo of colours as said in the riddle, to unlock the next step.

You may have done this part. on one side of the pool are two fish you need to pull out. On the other side, one fish and a spear from one of the statues.
Go to the side where the two were pulled up and hop on the one closest to the back of the pool. From here, make your way to the opposite length, and up above the pool area.
Now here, originally you face the statues in and get an item. Now, face the statues completely away for the second clue, which talks about areas above the fireplace. Next, go to the other top area of the pool on the otherside using the spear you pulled out and the grapple hook. Pull down the metal ball on the otherside, and solve the rest of the puzzle for a silver reward.

The riddle talked about switches above the fireplace, and haste. Make your way to the balcony in the main hall, and then choose left or right it doesn't matter. Go to the very end, and find a switch in the painting in the wall above the fireplace. You need to grapple down poles from the glass wall, and swing across to pull the other switch on the other side of the hall.

When this is done, the final puzzle with appear, giving you the gold reward.




Phew. Complicated stuff.

I just finished Russia, the secret base. That was fun, this game is really awesome i love the biking parts. The monster there took me a few attempts to figure it out, but so far it's relatively easy, and i have it on medium.
I liked Lara's evening dress.

Haha yeah her evening dress is great.
Unfortunately, there are only 2 biking parts. They really could have put in at least one more of them. Oh well; they're fun while they last.

Thanks for the mansion puzzle solutions.

Three technically, but the one in Japan doesn't count i guess.

I've finished the game now, almost fully. 97% complete with just a few rewards missing. I just spent 2 hours in King Authurs tomb looking for them, i eventually got them all, the gold was fairly straight forward but a pain in the ass to discover everything, there's three switches in a timer to hit.

Unlocked a good few costumes now. Still no dominatrix though, but i'm still confident.



The end boss was easy, man once i got that sword it was all i was using, i didn't even realise you couldn't hit that thing with normal bullets.
The end was cheap, man i hate that i have to wait for a sequel now. Still, very fun game, i've enjoyed it but i think to be honest it's far far too short and a rental would have been wiser than a full-out purchase. It's also far too easy, even on Hard mode. The enemies do more damage and drop less medikits, that's the only difference.

I thought it was a awesome game but way to easy. I completed it in 8 hrs i think on tomb raider mode seems like a waste of money now.

Yeah, i agree there's definately not enough and once all the rewards have been found, which isn't THAT hard, the replay value hits null.

I also think that I might have been better off renting this game. Yes, the game is very awesome, but it's soooo short and not very hard. There are plenty of unlockables, but it doesn't even take that long to get them (though I still haven't gotten them all yet). I'll finish unlocking things and play through the game on hard mode. After that, I might just trade it in at my local GameStop for something with a little more replay value. Maybe not, though....I dunno...

100% complete. All time trials (very easy, but probably the most challenging part of the game) and all rewards.

Some of the costumes are kinda nifty. I enjoy her Goth costumes, as well as the Bikini. You can also play with a couple of Amanda's costumes too.

Hard mode is still far too easy, unfortunately.




What i've noticed, that i didn't even realise, is alot of things i liked about previous TR games have been completely scarified, for speed i suppose.

Take the items you can pick up in-game. There are basically zero! There's rewards and.. that's it. When you kill an enemy, you can pick up a medipack or their weapon. So... what happened to the actual inventory system of old? Did you notice that not once in the game, not once, do you pick up a key. Why the hell not? You don't pick up any special items, don't find ammo or health in the levels, nothing. That's really unfortunate and takes away alot from the game. Not to mention, all the acrobatics are pretty much automatic. I liked struggling with complicated controls in, say, TR3 where you would have to hang off a legde, drop and then quickly press the grab button to grab, jump backwards and press the roll button in mid-air then press the grab button. Now it's all just completely automatic, except for pushing the correct direction. That's unfortunate.

Oh well, i still enjoy it for what it is i suppose. But a waste of money. I should be able to get 20 bucks back at least.

Yeah the graphics are impressive though. They completely changed her life story though which is weird. I think what made the game extremely easy was the check points theres to many of them . The only part i had a problem with was on the bike because i kept crashing lol.

That's true, you never really needed to worry about dying because if you did, you'd just re-start 2 minutes before the place where you died.
They didn't fully change the story, it is said in the very first game that when Lara was young she crashed in the mountains and had to survive up there for days, which pushed her towards the life she leads. The movies changed her life, remember they are based on the games not the games based on the movies.
I like that they took the Mannor directly from the movie.

Yeah i noticed that as well. thanks for clearing the life story up guess it makes more sense now lol. Oh yeah it was cool to see zip back in the game lol. One more thing i noticed is that the voice of Amanda is the woman who does the voice of dexters mother in the cartoon dexters laboratory. At least i think it is lol.

haha really? I had no idea. Pretty cool if it is.
Would have been kinda neat if Angelina Jolie actually voiced Lara, but i suppose they wanted to distance game Lara from movie Lara.

Angelina Jolie doesn't want to continue the character for a third movie, so I doubt she would have ever agreed to voice her for the game. But, they did really try to model Lara around Jolie for this game, which I liked.

I dunno, there are obvious features which are quite different. Lara is done well, and in my opinion besides a few things like full lips and eye shape, she really doesn't look very much like Jolie at all.