Tomb Raider 2

Written by Tom Clare in PSOne Game Reviews, Friday 15 July, 2005

The breast Tomb Raider to date

Backtrack to 1997, and Core Design found themselves with bit of problem concerning their action/adventure sequel Tomb Raider 2. Usually, a sequel can improve upon its predecessor as in the intervening time lessons can be learnt; flaws can be ironed out, gameplay tweaked and expanded, and needless problems eradicated - it's how things work in the game industry you see…

But the original Tomb Raider didn't have any problems. Well, nothing substantial enough to go into here anyway, but the prospect of improving such a clever, innovative and mammoth title must have caused many a headache in Core's development house at that time. They also had one other major factor to deal with that wasn't a problem before - the anticipation of the entire gaming-public weighing on their shoulders. Would TR2 live in the shadow of its older sibling, or could it become a classic in its own right?

The star of the first game, Lara Croft (think Indiana Jones-meets-Jordan and you're somewhere close) makes a return and it just so happens that she's embarking on another big adventure - hoping to discover the secret of the Dagger of Xian. Plot plays a distinct second-fiddle to gameplay here and you'll soon discover that the occasional cut-scene is only really in place as an excuse to send out heroine to some rather unusual places scattered across the globe.

Tomb Raider 2 (TR2) is a third-person action/adventure game - that is, viewed from slightly above and behind the central character. Lara is, as ever, well-equipped to tackle the onslaught of enemies she'll encounter, as well as her athletic abilities creating the opportunity for some more platform-orientated sections. Ms. Croft runs, jumps, dives, shuffles, swims, glides, hangs, pushes, pulls, swings, shoots and grunts her way through some of the most memorable gaming moments I can ever recall on the PlayStation format.

I often hear people say that no Tomb Raider has ever topped the first, and having personally experienced the brilliance of that particular game I have never really felt the need to argue the theory. But returning to Tomb Raider 2 for a more thorough play, I discovered that even now the 'magic' that is so hard to pin-point is still very much here and burning bright, whether you can overlook the lack of actual 'tombs' or not. Aside from this, the developers have created a huge stack of levels that are positively epic in proportions; I still can't get over the scale and structure of them - wow!

The opening level just happens to take place on The Great Wall Of China. It's an awesome start to things - series veterans will appreciate the gentle introduction, which mixes a bit of puzzling, shooting and trap-avoiding too - all the right ingredients to a successful Tomb Raider then. Newcomers however will be too busy gawping at the height of the mountainous-section they have to climb up, shortly before gawping all over again when they reach the top of the climb and look down at the huge chasm below - it's unbelievable just how much of the scenery can be sighted in one shot. Towards the end of the first level, you'll encounter another masterful example of the effort and detail that has gone into TR2 in the form of a secret - navigating a network of mini-tunnels will lead Lara out on to a massive valley-floor that previously only seemed viewable from above. However, the surprise comes in the gigantic, cranky dinosaur that you disturb; simultaneously brilliant and totally shocking! Despite the work, it is a very subtle secret (like many in the game are) and a lot of fans to this day do not know it exists. All this and it's only the first level, things are just getting started…

After a single level in China, the game then branches out into mini-adventures consisting of 3-4 levels of a particular theme - and they include trips to Venice, an Oilrig, an Under-sea Shipwreck, the Antarctic and finally back to China.

Each area is an individual masterpiece in itself - I know I like to pipe on about the scale of the levels, but it really is hard to emphasise just how huge they are considering the limitations of the PSOne hardware. The brilliant camera of the first game has been retained and refined, allowing the player to observe all their surroundings including areas well above and below. The best example of the scale/camera combo is on the Wreck Of The Maria Doria level - if you can picture the scene, Lara stalking along the wooden floors of the deserted rooms in the wreck, which are lit up only by the blue-glow of the sea coming through its windows. Walking over to one of the windows and positioning the camera to look out of it, you'll spy not just a simple sheet of blue (a cheap trick that many games would try) - sharks and whales can be spotted swimming past (that you may have to deal with later), bits of wreckage, and even secrets or items lying on the sea-bed, confirming that it is not just animated scenery but an actual part of the level you may get to access a little later on…

The design process must have taken an age - wandering into a large, open area such as the Opera House you'll find sections of flooring and ledges scattered everywhere at varying lengths and heights. Your brain soon gets going and tells you of the old 'everything is where it is for a reason' rule, which just happens to apply perfectly to Tomb Raider 2. It's enthralling stuff; regardless of the level you are on there is almost always some death-defying leap over broken-glass to hold your breath over, as well as satisfying and strategic block pushing and key-finding antics to keep the old grey-cells happy.

The best new feature? Certainly the most radical change is in the 'Save Game' system. Whereas in the first Tomb Raider you had to find blue crystals to record your progress, you can now save as many times as you wish (great for nervous gamers like myself!) and in any position. This is great, but the downside is that as a consequence the developers have made the general adventure much tougher (I'll come to that in a moment) - but there are less frustrating moments and retracing of old footsteps because of the new system.

By far the biggest criticism levelled at this second instalment seems to be universal complaint that it is too difficult. The fire-fights in particular spring to mind as Lara runs into many gun-totting goons who carry shotguns, pistols, machine-guns and flamethrowers. Harpoon-wielding frogmen also make an appearance, though as these encounters are cumbersome and frustrating, it's thankful that there aren't too many of them to worry over. It is definitely the action side of things that has been stepped up by Core - the wildlife-based enemies in TR1 felt little more than of secondary significance after awhile, but not so here. Wasting ammo is not too clever either; there is a fair bit to pick up in the early stages but the stuff becomes increasingly scarce in the latter stages.

Controls and general movement are fairly good on the whole, though beginners will still find that Lara Croft has a fondness for smacking into walls/solid objects. Both the technical and visual sides of things I rate really highly. The character of Lara has been greatly improved and looks quite superb, and as she goes about her raiding, you'll see that she moves far less awkwardly than in her previous outing. Environments aren't (as I've already mentioned) confined to yellowish-brown tombs - the Venice sections in particular stand out in my mind. Houses, streets, cabins and the waterway are all glorious-looking, and jumping into one of the speedboats and flying downstream is fantastic fun. This is going to sound a little strange, but Venice is probably the most beautiful set of levels because it showcases a blue-sky, therefore being set in the daytime. It sounds a really simple idea, but in reality can't be that easy to pull off; no other areas in either of the first two Tomb Raider's feature anything but darkness for a skyline (Medal Of Honor, Quake, Resident Evil and other 3D games had to use black-skies too). The end result is a less tense, more vibrant feel and thoroughly pleasant too.

Core are masters at creating tension. The threat brought about by gun-wielding baddies and their pounding footsteps means you'll be sneaking up to corners really slowly, gun drawn as you try desperately to crane the camera to give you a look round the next corner. Helping dramatically is the superlative soundtrack - the odd mysterious chime may sound if you find a hidden area or secret, whilst it has the ability to send you into near-panic states when enemies start to surround your position.

How long will Tomb Raider 2 last me and is it good value? It will last an absolute age; each level will take at least 45 minutes to polish off, with some of the trickier and more extensive ones (such as the Opera House) pushing on for 2 full hours. Take into account that there are approximately 20 levels of these lengths and you'll understand that it isn't the type of game you will be finishing in the one sitting. Indeed, being renowned as it is as a bit of a toughie, I'd say it's worth a month's solid gameplay, easy.

ELSPA have awarded it a 15+ guideline, though as it doesn't feature any blood, swearing or other extreme forms of content (except shooting of course), I would think that some leniency wouldn't go a miss. I say some, as it really is your thinking-mans action/adventure, not only are the puzzles tough but the action keeps you well and truly on your toes - younger kids may find this element jading in time.

Tomb Raider 2 may not prove to be a favourite among all fans of the series but what can't be argued is the overall effort that has gone in by the developers, especially considering that such a sprawling game was created and developed in under a year. Some may find its new-found action slant makes life unnecessarily hard, whilst others will welcome a generally meaty challenge. Me? I appreciate Tomb Raider 2 as one heck of a strong package - its gorgeous visuals and elegant soundtrack; its supreme level-design, incredible ambition and never-ending lifespan…Oh, and you can get it for under a fiver on eBay - what are you waiting for?

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