- Publisher: Eidos Interactive
- Release Date: Jul 1, 2003
- Critic Score
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70Even with TR’s faults, this game is quite enjoyable for new people to the TR universe. Old fans will just be ecstatic over the story and the chance to play a 21st century version of Lara Croft.
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Unlike previous Tomb Raider games that presented you with a handful of secrets items, areas, or unlockable bonus content, there is nothing here beyond the core game (no pun intended). There are no branching paths, multiple endings or any reason to replay the game anytime soon after your first pass.
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65The gameplay fails on so many different levels, and that’s a shame given how good the other elements are in the game.
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61Hard-core Tomb Raider fans and other particularly patient players should be able to overlook some of these flaws and enjoy this new installment for its engaging storyline, death-defying action sequences, and impressive locations.
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Production values in the graphics and sound are excellent. The attention to detail, from the rich textures to the symphonic score, is nothing short of brilliance. If only the game played as good as it looks and sounds.
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56Outside of the updated graphics and the introduction of the new playable character, Kurtis, I really didn't see anything new brought to the game which is a major disappointment.
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56Would have made 70% if not for the atrocious control system.
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53Holds close the qualities that made the first two game so likeable, but it similarly retains many, if not all, of the same mechanics, gameplay tactics and problems that dragged the series down over the years.
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52A mess that 36-plus months of development time couldn't flesh out.
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The twitchy controls mean that instant death is just a flick of the analog stick away, and even though we’re not psychic, we can guarantee you’ll die many, many times just trying to either work out where you’ve got to go or nab yourself a handful of bonus items.
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50This game certainly isn't breaking any new ground, neither have the past few that came before it.
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47Infuriating, buggy, and ultimately boring. [Oct 2003, p.96]
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40The controls handle like utter crap and will remain a continuous nuisance throughout the entire game. Seriously, when it comes to character control I've never witnessed such a badly managed a port.
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40A festering pustule of dreadfulness. [June 2006, p.97]
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There's almost no connection between your keypresses and Lara's movements on-screen. It feels like she's moving through molasses. [Sept 2003, p.74]
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At times, maneuvering Lara is like steering a battered shopping cart; Lara often takes a half second to react to commands. [18 July 2003, p.82]
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And thus gaming's highest-profile franchise is run into the ground and kicked repeatedly in the head. [Oct 2003, p.118]
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25The PC version has better visuals, more comfortable control, and fewer bugs. And online patches might stamp out the bugs that do exist. [Sept 2003, p.51]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 12 out of 18
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Mixed: 1 out of 18
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Negative: 5 out of 18
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JonM.0Easily the most awkward game in the world. Looks great, however controls are as easy to master as a three wheeled shopping trolley on ice.
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ChrisC.1