"Lara comes home, but was it worth it?"

Well Lara has finally come home to the company where it all started, four and a half years ago.

Lara was originally designed to be played on the Saturn, but was then expanded to include the PSX and PC. After this she never returned to SEGA until now.

Well after playing the conversion of Legacy of Kain on the DC I was looking forward to this game, although not being Lara's biggest fan I still enjoy the odd play. The big question is ''Was it worth the wait?''

Story:

The ususual rubbish. Lara has unleashed some terrible horror on the world and has to stop it before it destroys the world. Also you get to find out the origin of Lara and how she received her training (which contradicts the story of the original).

Graphics:

You've all seen the shots of the Internet and in the magazines. Look pretty don't they? Well at times you will see some of the best Light Sourcing and effects you will have seen in a game. Other times you will just see some dull and uninteresting scenery. The dull graphics could have been forgiven if it was the smoothest game ever. Unfortunately it isn't. At times the frame rate seems to drop to about 1 frame per hour and it can be really unsettling trying to play this. I mean this is the DC where talking about, and the PSX version could run it better than this.

Controls:

Special mention has to go to the control system. I have played some games with terrible controls in the past, but this takes the biscuit. The analogue pad is used for walking. The digital pad is used for running. This can make for some horrible mistakes. Also, due to the nature of the pad itself you can find yourself doing a back flip down a chasm when all you wanted to do was turn around. This for me was the final nail in the coffin.

Sound/music:

The one redeaming feature of the game. I am a fan of the way music is used in the TR series as well as the Resident Evil games. It is only used sparingly in scenes of tension. All this and it is a remixed version by Paul Oakenfield. Sound effects on the other hand are passible.

Replayability:

I doubt if you will even complete this game, I know I haven't and probably won't, unless I play it on the PSX.

Extra's:

Apart from the remixed sound the only extra's you get is an exclusive picture gallery (some nice pictures), shodddy controls and a crappy frame rate (not sure if the last two are intentional though).

Overall:

Well should you buy or rent this game. Personally I would say neither, avoid this game. I would go out and buy either Shadowman or Legacy of Kain (this would be my choice) and if you have them, wait for Code Veronica, it may be shorter but you will get more fun out of it.

I would give this game 2/10 (and I am being generous here)

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 03/27/00, Updated 03/27/00