A review of

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

by Eidos Interactive

In recent years, Eidos Interactive created a game that some say changed the face of PC and console gaming forever: it had 3d-effects, action, and puzzles to challenge the brainy gamer in some of us. And it had an unorthodox character to helm it - a buxom female adventurer named Lara Croft.

Now, after 2 sequels the Tomb Raider franchise is exploding into the year 2000 with a brand new game. The fourth, sub-titled "The Last Revelation" shows some changes over the last, Tomb Raider 3, and some improvements and additions that just might make this the best TR game ever.

The story behind the game itself hasn't changed: Lara must travel to exotic locals to find a treasure that will affect the world if it falls into the wrong hands. But, it starts off in a way that is rather refreshing: we get to see an early adventure of Lara's - her first under her former mentor, a Belog-type of adventurer named Verner Von Croy. In fact, the first chapter of the game is your training level (unlike the previous 3 games, where you trained in Lara's home). A teenaged Lara (you) and Von Croy explore a ancient temple in Cambodia. You basically follow Victor around, doing the basics of running, jumping, dashing, climbing, and crawling.

After this, you move into the main game as the current adult Lara, who is now adventuring in one location: Egypt. Taking a re-think from TR3's world hopping, the game focuses exclusively here, in caves, ruins and such, all with new textures, effects and shadings. Lara herself and a lot of the characters in the game have been improved on as well, with more details in animations and shadings. Also, with new FMV programing in the cut-scenes, the characters have a much more fluid motion to them.

Game play has been improved with a new invetory system and save-game option. No longer do you have to hoard Save Game crystals. You can save your game virtually anywhere. A new twist to the inventory system is that you can combine items: i.e. - In the first level, you must get two parts to an item called "The Eye of Horus" and combine them to form a key, which is used later to open a door. Another game play addition is the addition of rope climbing and swinging. Now Lara can do her Tarzan impression.

Also the puzzles and traps have been reworked in this game. Some are easy to figure out, but others are real brain-strainers. If you've managed to ace the first 3 games, prepare for the challenge of your life now!

Overall, this game is nothing majorly new or removed from the first TR, but as far as game play and story it's returned to the solid roots of its predesessor. Graphically, it's hand-over-fist the best of the four.

Ratings:

• BACKGROUND - 4 of 5
• GAME PLAY - 4 of 5
• GRAPHICS - 5 of 5
• REPLAY VALUE - 4 of 5

• TOTAL RATING - 4.25

by Stephen R. Sobotka, Jr.