Tomb Raider: Legend

"Bringing Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise back from near death."

I've never really been a fan of the Tomb Raider games. The main reason being that I couldn't stand the controls. People still loved the games though and they kept selling well until the terrible PS2 game was released. At that point they finally realized that the Tomb Raider series needed to change.

I'm glad to say that they have made what I believe is the most accessible and fun Tomb Raider to date. If you haven't liked this series before I think it's time to give this game a chance.

Graphics: 7.75 / 10

While the game is at heart a last generation game they took advantages of the 360 hardware and added extra graphical touches to the game. The characters and environments look better in certain aspects then they do in the other versions and I was glad that they didn't do just an exact port.

Also the particle and water effects in the game are amazing. When you're swimming on the surface of the water, there are points where it looks almost photo realistic. It's not the best looking 360 game but it isn't just a lazy port either. It may have been developed for last generation consoles but it runs just fine on the 360.

Controls: 9.25 / 10

The controls are mapped out very well and respond perfectly. The only thing that hurts the control is the camera. As with many platforming games the camera can be a problem at times. It'll lead you to believe you have a perfectly lined up jump only to go off speeding towards the ground.

The only other problem I really have is the lock on. Many times during gunfights I'd lock onto an enemy in the distance which gave a closer enemy a chance to get some shots in before I could correct the problem. It never really lead to any fatal instances but it was still frustrating.

Sound: 9.5/ 10

I was surprised by how good the voice acting in this game was. I wasn't expecting this much quality from the voice cast and I was glad that they took the extra effort.

The game also has a very good soundtrack and during the big action moments it really give you the feeling you're in the middle of a big epic event. The only thing I wish they had done is had more music during more of the puzzle heavy moments. The quiet got to me when I was trying to figure out the puzzles.

Gameplay: 9.75 / 10

The game feels quite a bit like the newer Prince of Persia games and that's not a bad thing. All of the platforming has a near perfect set up and if you go through it just right it feels like clockwork. I never felt like there were any cheap jumps that were there simply to be a problem.

Also some of the puzzles are very difficult to figure out but greatly rewarding once you do. Many of the solutions to the puzzles were quite creative and took quite a bit of thinking to figure out.

Story: 9.25 / 10

The story isn't that interesting at first but as you get further into the game it picks up quite a bit. I really liked how everything tied in together. Many games send you off on tasks that don't have anything to do with the story, which wasn't the case at all in this game.

They also did a good job of sending you off to various different and interesting locations. I never felt like I was playing through the same areas over and over again which is a good thing.

Length: 8.5 / 10

The game on the lower difficulties can be relatively short, so if you're an experienced gamer I would recommend bumping up the difficulty the first time through. On the harder difficulties the game hits a good balance and keeps you challenged.

The game also has quite a bit of unlockables. Unlike in other games where it's boring to unlock the extras, finding the awards in this game is like an entire second game. Many of them are very well hidden and it'll take not only your best gaming skills but also your best thinking skills to find them.

Overall: 9 / 10

To me it's the best Tomb Raider game so far. If the other games in the series kept you away there isn't a better game to start with than Tomb Raider: Legend. The game is going for pretty cheap right now and would be a good addition to anyone's 360 collection.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/20/07