Thousands of years ago, a meteor crashed into Antarctica, and the shockwaves of its impact are being felt in the modern age. Lara Croft will follow clues leading to a deadly secret, boldly leaping chasms and blasting monsters that no one has leaped or blasted before. This time, she faces a mystery that is from way out of this world. Tomb Raider III is a complex adventure that combines puzzles with swift action. Tomb Raider III, like its predecessors, is an action game with a healthy dose of adventure and puzzle elements thrown in for good measure. Your job is to guide Lara Croft through a surprisingly varied set of levels, many of which provide an intense sense of immersion. In fact, the size, scope, and atmosphere of the levels are probably the game’s strongest point. But these levels, however cavernous, are filled with things you have already seen, and in order to beat the game, you’re required to make Lara do things she has already done.
The strength of the original Tomb Raider was the fact that Lara Croft was a free-roaming character in a real 3D world; at that time; it was a new experience. Also, the sheer size of the levels was enough to capture many gamers’ imaginations. But even on Lara’s first outing, the weaknesses of the game’s engine manifested themselves. There wasn’t always much to see or do in Lara’s world. From the get-go, the concept behind Lara Croft was always more intriguing than the execution of the plotline.
In the time since Tomb Raider first hit the scene, gamers’ expectations have grown exponentially, and more than a few games have offered up environments on par with Lara Croft’s romping grounds. The stunning lack of innovation as this series has progressed beginning to stand out more as the world keeps moving forward.
One last thing: Tomb Raider III is hard. It would be difficult for most players to finish the game without a strategy guide in hand. If you relish a real challenge, this level of difficulty gives Tomb Raider III a lot of value; if you get frustrated easily, you may need to look for another game.
