Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

"This IS a good game..."

There has been a lot of negative press about this new Tomb Raider game - and yet, whilst some of it is justified, most of it is not.

I'll start with the game's problems - firstly, the controls. The whole control system from the previous Tomb Raider games on the PS1 have been totally rejigged. This control system takes a lot of getting used to, but once you've played a few levels, you start to get the feel more, and you won't be bothered anymore.
Secondly - the training level. This level is highly uninspired (unlike previous TR training levels) and you may find yourself dying a fair few times before you get the hang of the controls. The first level is simply climbing up roofs, ladders, etc - and isn't interesting at all. However, get further into the game, and you'll see the level design improves fantastically. The Parisian Ghetto level allows you to explore a large complex of streets, with lots to see and do. Anyone familiar with the Cistern level of TR1 will notice the similarities with the fantastic Louvre Storm Drain level - and getting inside the Louvre itself is fantastic - dodging laser beams and sneaking up on guards.
The third problem that has been associated with the game is the ''slowdown'' and ''glitches'' it seems to experience. True, I agree with the screen slowing a bit, when lots is going on, but it's nothing to hamper gameplay. I have yet to see any glitches, and I am a fair way into the game, as well.

For all those who love Tomb Raider for the ancient temples and burial grounds, fear not, for after the first set of Cosmopolitan levels, Lara gets to descend into an archeological dig beneath Paris, dodging ancient traps and battling supernatural foes.

Lara has several new abilities - climbing on drainpipes, sneaking around in Stealth Mode and fighting hand-to-hand - yet the gameplay and moves are very similar to previous TR incarnations - just simply rejigged. There is also another playable character in the form of Kurtis Trent - yet Lara is still the star of the show - and you play her the great majority of the time. You also collect ''power-ups'' throughout the game, which allow Lara to run faster, move heavier objects, and hang onto ledges longer.

The story is fantastic - a great leap over other Tomb Raider and 3D adventure games. I don't want to spoil it too much, but it all centers around the murder of Lara's mentor, Von Croy, a sinister chain of killings, and five ancient paintings. It plays out almost like a film storyline, introducing twists to the plot, and keeping you guessing throughout. Lara can now talk to characters - and depending on what she says, may change the path she makes through a level. She may even be killed if she says the wrong thing! The voice acting is very good, and the in-game Lara has far more to say now - such as ''I can climb onto that,'' ''The door's locked, I need a key'' and ''I'm not stong enough.''

The graphics are also good. They are not on par with, say, Final Fantasy X, yet they do demonstrate the power of Playstation 2 well. The real-time physics of the game are also fantastic - Lara's ponytail now swings much more realistically, she hops down stairs, and sidesteps quickly when avoiding an enemy. Even better is when, in death, either Lara or an adversary collapse to the floor - and, if coming into contact with scenery, mould around it and change their ''death'' position. When they are positioned next to a hole, they actually tumble off the edge!

So overall, an excellent game. It doesn't get the 10/10 simply because of the first level, and the dodgy controls that take a while to get used to. It's a new level of 3D adventure game excellence. Core have done it again - and if they can sort out the minor problems of TR6 when they produce number 7, the next game will be phenomenal.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/13/03, Updated 07/13/03