Tomb Raider II - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Tomb Raider II
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CNET Gamecenter Review
By Hugh Falk
(1/8/1998)

Game at a Glance
Recap: She's still got it
Ups: Refined engine; cool new worlds
Downs: Still no multiplayer; some ridiculous tasks/kills
Multiplayer: NA
Single player: Very good
Demo: Available
Patch: NA
When I hear the name Croft, I don't immediately think of computer games. As a child of the late 1970s, I think of a totally different brand of entertainment (I require some poetic license here). I submit that Lara Croft is actually based on the creations of Sid and Marty Krofft, masters of Saturday morning TV. Lara's last name has been cleverly disguised, but there is no disguising the evidence.
First, Sid and Marty Krofft created a dragon named H. R. Pufnstuf. In Tomb Raider II, Lara searches for an artifact that also creates dragons. Second, Sid and Marty Krofft fought corporate executives to produce Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. Thanks to a new weapon, the harpoon gun, Lara now fights sea monsters. Third, Sid and Marty Krofft wrote a show featuring dinosaurs called Land of the Lost. Lara has explored The Lost Valley, which is filled with dinosaurs. Finally, Krofft shows are characterized by a mix of action and adventure, and Tomb Raider II is an action-adventure game.
We Can Rebuild Her
However, this game is not your typical action/adventure. Lara automatically aims her shots, so this aspect is somewhat tamer than the average shoot-'em-up. In addition, Tomb Raider II's plot is intriguing, but not nearly as obtrusive as the typical adventure game. Only one half of a CD-sized manual page is devoted to plot--the main goal is to find the Dagger of Xian. This ancient Chinese artifact, when plunged into one's own heart, turns you into a powerful dragon. The plot progresses via cut scenes every few levels, but it doesn't guide Lara's every move, and players could go for days without seeing more plot unfold. For example, level three has Lara visiting Marco Tomb Raider II Bartoli's hideout, but I wasn't really sure why. When she found a detonator and blew up half his villa, again, I missed the point.
But the main reason Tomb Raider II is an action-adventure game is that success depends on how well the player works through physical puzzles. Winning requires good timing, hand/eye coordination, and a steady habit of saving often. In this respect, Tomb Raider II is one of the most satisfying games I have ever played. I feel true pride when I execute a perfectly timed back flip onto a balcony, and Core Design really knows how to reward players with cinematic camera angles that make you feel like the star of your own Bond film.

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