Probably the last thing anyone would think of when picturing a 'fun game' would be a hospital management sim, but just five minutes of this charming gem would make you realize how wrong you were. Theme Hospital's quirky irreverence keeps the game lighthearted and accessible, yet it manages to retain gameplay that is engrossing, in-depth, and at times, quite tense. Diseases such as 'the squits' may give a few chuckles, but you'll soon regret not paying attention to staffing levels once an epidemic strikes and patients are dying out in the corridors. And just when the city mayor was making an official visit, too! With its unique humour, colourfully cartoonish visuals, and addictive gameplay, Theme Hospital is a classic that never gets old, and will keep pulling you back for more.
By the time the fourth Tomb Raider had rolled around, critics had started to tire of seeing the same old, same old. And though it is true that Lara's fourth outing wasn't drastically different from what had come before it, it is arguably the best of the classic Raiders. While the previous two instalments had replaced the puzzling and exploration of the original with action and gun play, The Last Revelation took the series right back to its roots with an isolated, Ancient Egyptian setting, its cryptic riddles and booby traps taking the place of thugs and speedboats. That's not to say the game doesn't have its action sequences (a rather memorable car chase and train journey spring to mind), but rather than being the main focus, they instead act as a staging area to break up the blocks of old-school adventuring. New additions such as Lara being able to hop back-and-forwards between levels is also a nice touch, allowing a sense of depth and exploration more akin to a modern open-world game. The sprawling levels are also more cleanly designed than the abstract confusion that tended to plague Tomb Raider 3, with some lavish environments and graphical effects that still hold out well to this day. As for Chronicles... well, it's not that it's actually a bad game, far from it, it's just that it's a bit short. Split into four separate chapters, each one with its own distinctive setting and style, there is a nice mix of different gameplay elements, from stealth and action, to puzzling, platforming and exploration. It won't last too long by itself, but on top of The Last Revelation, there's a good chunk of top-notch gaming here to enjoy. Overall, if you're a fan of any of the other classic Tomb Raiders, then you'll certainly enjoy these two. And if you've never played a Tomb Raider game before in your life, then it's as good a place as any to start, and you'll see why in the late '90s Lara Croft was at the top of her game.
