Tomb Raider: Legend

TR: Legend is the first part of trilogy that has rebooted the TR series after quite less than average TR: Chronicles and TR: Angel of Darkness. It has brought a lot of new gameplay elements, increased game dynamics, introduced a new interesting story and characters. The only not-the-best element of TR: Legend is a disbalance to shooting gameplay, it looks a bit not-natural to this game series. Summary: the whole trilogy (TR: Legend, TR: Anniversary, TR: Underworld) is very fine and entertaining, and this one is a good start of it.

Legend gets a bit of flak, as it is the largest departure from the originals. It tried to make an exploration/puzzle/platformer into an action/platformer, with a lot of Bond/Bourne levels and at the same time 'dumbed it down'. People criticised it for sections with no exploration and just shooting, motorcycle chases reminiscent more of mobile games, fully linear platforming, lack of inventory/object puzzles, and, most of all, quick time events, which sealed the 'dumbing down' argument. Most of it boils down to 'not the Lara Croft we loved' and is now largely irrelevant, with this game becoming a classic itself. The action sequences are rather simple and you will spend considerably less time on shooting than on puzzles and platorming, but what they lack in gameplay, they make up for in coolness - how often do you get to jump on a motorcycle over a train while shooting? Platforming also requires less skill and thinking than before, becoming just a more interesting way of moving around while solving puzzles, which are just about right for not strictly a puzzle game. So while everying is easier, it's not without challenge, and you proceed much more smoothly than in a precision platformer or a point-and-click. The game is entertaining in the way watching an Indiana Jones film is: hopping from one location to another, seeing and doing outlandish things, without any frustration. The level variety is second to none, and they ooze atmosphere; temples and tombs look and feel the part, rather than being thinly disguised platfforms. I recollect single levels from other games, but I can recite in one breath all the levels and sections from Legend. QTEs are few and far inbetween, and it's only the duo of advisors you have on the line that can get annoying, While it does feel dated, it's still 100% worth playing, simply because - outside Uncharted - there is nothing quite like it. Just approach it with expectations for something relaxing, rather than particularly challenging.

The first in the dubbed 'LAU Trilogy' is a reboot of the franchise and re-tells the story of Lara Croft, allowing her to visit new locations under a new story. Much like Tomb Raider 2, you'll be fighting many human enemies and visit more modern-orientated environments, my favourite being Japan! This reboot game also re-introduced the most-beloved Croft Manor, expanded upon from Tomb Raider 3 by including puzzle rooms and collectibles, which carry over to the main campaign and as fun extras. You can select Lara's costume for each beaten mission, too, which the originals didn't allow. TR:A expands even further on the Croft Manor and it's recommended you play that first for continuity. Either way, Legend is a masterpiece of gameplay and is still fun to rock out to 15 years later!

There were many complaints about this reboot / redesign back in the days, that it would differ too much from it's predecessors, a lot of people missed exploring endless caves and so on. I however loved it, this is my favourite Tomb Raider title up to this day, I am glad it finally made it's way here. The controls work fine, the riddles and the level design are simpler than in some of the earlier games. It's more straight forward than some of it's predecessors, focuses more on the story. This is the "old" Lara Croft at her best, before she was redesigned completely to match the modern young unexperienced, sensible, vulnerable but still invincible female hero archetype we know from several movies. I like the new games as well, but their Lara is not as unique as the old one was. This Lara doesn't mess around. If she's angry, you better stay out of her sight. The script for this game was great.