Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Series: Tomb Raider
Release date: November 1997 (PC &
Playstation)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS, iOS, Android
Genre: Action-Adventure
Mode: Single Player
1996 was a smash hit year for Core Design
and Eidos Interactive, as their game, Tomb Raider, has taken the world by
storm, with millions of copies sold by the following year. Lara Croft became a
household name in gaming and pop culture as well, appearing in places outside
of gaming. She was in various ads that ranged from drinks, car commercials,
credit card ads (yep, she escaped a deadly trap using a VISA card. She was
using the dreadful “pay 2 win” mechanic before it was a thing), and others that
I forget about. Alongside that, her sex appeal started to explode, as she was
rendered doing sexy poses, being in bikinis or being semi naked in various
images, which caused the main creator of the character, Toby Gard, to leave
Core Design the following year. Whilst this was going on, Eidos didn’t want the
hype to die, so they told Core to make a sequel to their Tomb Raiding
masterpiece. 1 year later of development and crunch, the world got the sequel
that wanted and deserved, TOMB RAIDER II.
Before I go on to discuss the game,
something I want to mention that I completely forgot in my Tomb Raider review
was that I forgot to put the cover art boxes for the games. So to make up for
this silly little bluff, here they are. One is for the Standard version, and
the other one is for the Gold version.
Okay, let’s cut to the chase and see what the fuzz is all about in
this game.
STORY
Thousands of years ago, during… Uh… A
certain period of Ancient China, the Emperor ruled over the land with
terrifying power. Thanks to his mystical tool, The Dagger of Xian, he
had no problem ruling his kingdom, expand it whenever he felt like it and
spread fear among his enemies. Wherever he went, he conquered. His K/D ratio
was too good. This is all thanks to his dagger, which had the power to turn the
owner into a Dragon, and his armies gained immense strength. All the owner had
to do was to stab himself into his heart with the dagger and BOOM: You become a
dragon, your armies become stronger, and you win battles easily.
That is until one day, during a siege on
Tibet, is when the Emperor and his armies tasted defeat for the first, and last
time. An unknown Tibetan monk pulled out the dagger from the Dragon Emperor’s
chest, turning the latter into nothing but bones, as his flesh melted into the
ground. The Emperor’s armies returned to normal, but were either captured or
enslaved.
Deep into the darkness of some land in
China, the Tibetan Monks returned The Dagger of Xian to its resting place.
Their job is now to guard it with their lives, letting no one to obtain it.
Fast forward a few thousand years later, an
Italian cult, named Fiama Nera, led by Macho Broccoli… I mean Marco
Bartoli (damn it, Steve!), shows interest in the artefact, due to the
rumours and legends. They seek to obtain it and rule the world. However, to get
to it, they must first overcome their “enemies”, the Tibetan Monks.
And then there’s Lara Croft. She’s
just there for the artefact and nothing else…
 |
| She's no longer featuring. She's now the starring role of the game... |
GAMEPLAY
It took Core Design 1 year to improve on
the first game. They didn’t just improve it, they almost NAILED it
here.
First off I have to mention that Lara Croft
received a new model for this game. Compared to the one from the previous, it’s
much better looking, more pleasing to the eye, and best of all, she no longer
has the pyramid boobs that every single person on the planet wants to make
jokes about. Now they’re somewhat round, resembling actual breasts. But that’s
not something I want to talk in great detail, just wanted to pint that out. On
top of that, her braid that was featured in all of the FMV cutscenes in the
first game is now present in the game. The developers managed to find a way to
make it look and move in a realistic manner, after a trick was discovered by
one of the developers. It was never specified how, but regardless, we’re happy
it was made possible.
Less blocky, more real, this is how Lara compares to her previous year (Lara vs. The cooler Lara anyone?):
|
ACTION |
CONTROLS (PC/PS) |
|
Movement |
Arrow
Keys / D-Pad |
|
Walk |
Shift / R1 |
|
Jump |
Alt / Square |
|
Sidestep
Left or Right |
Delete
& Page Down / L2 &
R2 |
|
Roll (can
be done in air and under water as well) |
End or
Up + Down / Circle |
|
Draw or
Holster Weapon |
Space
Bar / Triangle |
|
Action |
Ctrl / X |
|
Look |
Numpad 0
+ Arrow Keys / L1 +
D-Pad |
|
Flare/ Throw Flare |
Forward Slash [/] / L2 |
New movement options have been added to
Lara’s mix-up game. And to see what’s new on the menu, we should take a dive in
to our beloved tutorial level, The Croft Manor.
And of course, I cannot move on with this
review without mentioning Winston, Lara’s butler who will make sure Lara will
have her tea, no matter where she is in the world. Which is why you should
always lock him up in the freezer whenever you play Croft Manor. The manor
hides a secret room. Can you find it and see what’s in it?
WEAPONS & SECRETS
Okay, compared to the previous game, Miss Croft’s arsenal has been doubled and she’s now even more dangerous. Let’s see what she carries into that tiny backpack of hers this time around…
 |
DUAL PISTOLS – Lara’s signature weapons
are back and are… Okay. Infinite ammo, low to medium damage. Nothing too fancy.
Look a lot different than in TR1, that’s for sure… |
 |
SHOTGUN – This bad boy has also remained
the same from the previous game. Slow firing, but deals a lot of damage. No
need to search for it, as it’s a part of Lara’s arsenal from the start… |
 |
AUTOMATIC PISTOLS – The Magnums evolved
into this. Fancier look and an even fancier name (sort of), they act as the
“tougher” brothers of the default pistols… |
 |
PAIR OF UZIS – Funny pair of Uzis go
brrrrrrr… (Best weapon in the game…) |
 |
HARPOON GUN – The first true new weapon
of the franchise. And it’s mediocre. Uses harpoons as ammo and it’s
situational. Good for underwater fights… |
 |
M16 – This magnificent assault rifle can
help you out take out enemies from a long distance. Fast fire rate, but you
need to use it strategically if you want to clear rooms with ease… |
 |
GRENADE LAUNCHER – The final weapon that
can be found in her adventures. Slow fire rate, flies in a straight arc,
makes enemies go BOOM! Ammo is scarce… |
 |
SMALL MEDIPACK – Restores small amount of
health. Common healing item… |
 |
BIG MEDIPACK – Restores huge amount of
health. Slightly less common, but at least it’s not scarce… |
 |
FLARES – When you enter a dark room and
can’t see shit? Just use a flare! Allows you to see things clearly for 1
minute. If you somehow run out of flares, then uh… You’re brave and bold. |
PC players can now choose weapons and medipacks on the fly, by pressing from 1 to 9 on the keyboard (the numbers fellow the F1, F2, F3 buttons, a.k.a. the Function Keys).
The addition of flares being part of Lara’s
inventory is because of the upgraded engine, as it now allows for dynamic
lighting to be present at all times. Tomb Raider 1 had dark areas, but you
could still see where you were and Lara herself. Here, you need something to
light up your path, so you can avoid falling down a pit, activating a trap, or
stare at a black screen. Should you run out of flares, you can use your weapons
to light up your way. They don’t give out big illumination, but it’s an honest
way of seeing things in the dark.
Another thing to note is that this game handles the secrets a bit differently from the previous game. In every level, there are 3 dragon statue that you need to pick up. Collecting all 3 will reward you with either healing items, ammo, weapons, or all 3. Below are the types of dragons you will find in the game:
LEVELS
Lara will travel a lot. On her travels,
she’ll explore various locations and fight animals, people and mythical
creatures. Unlike TR1, you will fight people as common enemies. They’re no
longer end of chapter boss. But fighting animals in the first level will be a
recurring trend in these games.
 |
| And thus, the adventure has BEGUN!!! |
CHINA
Our journey begins, innocently enough, in China of all places. More accurately The Great Wall. Time has not been kind to this place, as the place is slowly deteriorating and parts of the wall are falling apart. The place is inhabited by tigers, crows and spiders. And a dark pit with some rather funny looking, yet familiar enemies to gun down. This location however, serves as the basis for everything in this game…
VENICE
La città di Venezia può essere bella con le
sue gondole e la struttura complessiva, ma ha i suoi oscuri segreti.
Oh sorry, here’s what I wanted to start off with:
The city of Venice may be beautiful with its gondolas and overall
structure, but it has its dark secrets. Upon learning that the location of the
cult Fiama Nera is located in this lovely Italian city, Lara ventures into the
shady alleyways that even locals are afraid of visiting. Local goons with guns,
bats and dogs are a tricky obstacle that can kill you off if you let go of your
guard. You can engage in some “racing” with the motorboats scattered in the
alleyways. Once you’ve dealt with all of that, enjoy your stay at the opera
house, where it’s more enemies and more traps for you to deal with. Then board a plane… Sto facenn nu maronn 'e
cacio e maccarun... E NEISCIUN
M'ADDA SCASSÀ 'O CAZZ!!!
OFFSHORE RIG
Lara should’ve been more careful with her life choices in Venice. Captured
and stripped off her weapons (not her ammunition though), she needs to break
free from her prison, get her weapons back, go on a wild revenge spree, all
while having to explore the huge rig and survive the propellers and other
things the place has to offer. A lot say they don’t like this part because of
the tight space and plethora of corridors, but I enjoy it because the levels
aren’t that long, and exacting revenge on a cult with evil intentions is always
a badass thing to do. Lara also encounters a captured Tibetan monk in here, who
explains in little details about how to retrieve the dagger from its resting
place. Few sentences ago, I said the levels are filled with tight spaces and
corridors. You want to guess where we’re headed next?
MARIA DORIA
UNDERWATER!!! WE’RE DIVING IN BOYS AND GIRLS!!!
In all seriousness, the Maria Doria was used by former members of
Fiama Nera, couple of years prior to the events of the game. The cult was
attacking Tibetan monks with the intentions of stealing a precious artefact
that leads directly to the keys that open the doors of the Dagger of Xian. The
monks were able to sink the ship, but not retrieve the artefact. So the ship
itself is a tomb.
Rust, metal, wood, a hall and a theatre within the ship is what
Lara and the player will encounter. Swimming plays a major part of these
levels, and the harpoon gun will help you out in certain situations. Another
set of levels that people hate, and there’s me who likes them. Just because it
doesn’t have ancient murals and ruins, it doesn’t mean it cannot be a tomb.
TIBET
With the important artefact in her possession, Lara lands into the
snowy mountains of Tibet. The cultists have already arrived and are causing
trouble for both us, the wildlife and the monks that are trying to protect
their sacred grounds from some sinful bastards. But who’s to say that the
sacred grounds are welcoming to anyone? Even the monks can be turned into dust
or bones from the secrets they’re hiding.
Snow, snow and MORE SNOW! Luckily, no need to worry about freezing,
as the temperature is perfect for wearing shorts, so exposing your beautiful
sexy legs is A-Okay. You can swim in the waters and not freeze to death. Fun!
Also how can I forget the skidoo!
CHINA REVISITED
What in the actual fu-
ENGLAND
EXPANSION PACK
Much like Tomb Raider 1, Tomb Raider 2 got its own expansion pack
in 1999. The original game repackaged + the standalone adventure, or get it
online. Nowadays, the expansion pack can be easily downloaded by going to www.tombraiderchronicles.com or through fan made patches. But that will be placed in the end.
On top of that, we got a new cover art and a brand new main menu background as well:
As for the expansion pack, Tomb Raider II: The Golden Mask follows
its own little adventure. It’s not connected to the main plot of the main game
with the dagger. It’s about a certain golden mask that has the power to
reawaken the dead. Lara discovered this piece of lost history by pure luck
whilst reading old news articles. A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E. is the main antagonist
group of the plot. I almost forgot their name whilst writing this…
Another change are the secrets:
- Gold coins
- Gold bars
- Gold skull
The game has 4 levels. 4x3 = 12
Finding all 12 secrets rewards you with a bonus chapter. After all,
you deserve a little break from all the treasure hunting. Enjoy your Nightmare
in Vegas…
GALLERY
.jpg)
SOUNDTRACK
Once again, the legendary Nathan McCree is at it again with the music of this game. What I said from my previous review still stands here. Enjoy yourselves listening to another masterpiece of video game music…
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tomb Raider II is a game that tackles the “sequel = bigger and
bombastic” strategy. It focuses more on the action rather than exploration.
Enemies are EVERYWHERE in this game and are even in areas that you have yet to
visit, making the tomb exploration feel a bit empty and shallow in this game.
The levels can also feel like they are more linear than before, with some
locations having a ramp up in difficulty, as if they were created with a
specific view that caters towards the veterans or those that know what to do in
tough situations. That doesn’t mean the places are bad however, as the
locations are beautiful to look at and explore for items and secrets.
Speaking of pickups, ammo and health are common as fuck. I
apologize for the profanity, but it’s true. Each level is packed with these
items, even enemies drop them upon being killed. Apart from the grenade
launcher, whose ammo is scarce (unless you pick up the secrets you find in the
levels, they grant you grenades). The FMV quality has also improved and looks
much better than TR1. Same goes for the in-game cutscenes.
SPECIAL THANKS
- www.tombraiderchronicles.com as
per usual, and also for housing “The Golden Mask” expansion.
- Core Design for being the
best of the best fan made tribute website for old–school Tomb Raider. They have
A LOT OF STUFF ON THAT SITE!!!
- TR2Main by Arsunt. He’s not part of the original team that made TR1Main
(now rebranded TRX), but is the progenitor for all future TRMain mods. He has a
packed in .pdf file that explains all the options this open source injector
has.
- Steve
Of Warr for creating the Macho Broccoli meme.
An English youtuber who is known for his in-depth Tomb Raider Retrospectives.
Give him a watch, he’s funny.
LINKS
TRIVIA
- Winston’s sounds were created by the game’s composer, Nathan
McCree. He gave birth to the legendary moans and farts of Winston.
- The PC version of the game has some slight differences compared
to the PS1 version. One of these is the sfx for the footsteps. During the Maria
Doria chapters, Lara has different sfx when on land, but the PC version uses
the default ones. Another difference is that some traps have reflections on
PS1, but not on PC.
- It is the first Tomb Raider game where Lara changes her outfit during her adventure. First outfit being the diving suit, followed by the bomber jacket for the Tibet section.
- Lara’s grunts are a mix of Judith and Shelly.
- The game has an anywhere save system. Only 1 slot for saving, but
it’s an improvement.
- Lara was meant to wear a different outfit for the bonus level in
TR2 gold. Same goes for the dive suit (which is sponsored by Sola Wetsuits)
- Originally, The Titanic was meant to be in the game, but was
changed to the Maria Doria, which is based on the SS Andrea Doria, an Italian
luxury ship that sunk in 1956.
- Completing both TR1 and TR2 will give the player access to a New Game+ option, where you have all weapons and infinite ammo and flares.
- In the level "Temple of Xian", there's a section that is a cave full of spiders. This is clearly inspired by the iconic chapter of the Chinese epic "Monkey King: Journey to the West", "The Cave of the Silken Web".
Ѓорѓи „GioGio“ Илиев
No comments:
Post a Comment