Tomb Raider: Legend, it's a date!

by Blake Snow { Feb 3rd 2006 at 5:00AM }

Eidos has announced that Tomb Raider: Legend will be released for the PS2, Xbox, and PC on April 11. Lucky UK blokes get the game four days earlier on April 7 though. And if you were hoping for the PSP or Xbox 360 version, you'll have to wait until what the publisher calls "shortly after."

After a downward spiral in sales for the past several game iterations, Legend hopes to take the series back to its roots. What do you think of its chances?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Alex K. @ Feb 3rd 2006 6:44AM

I feel very ripped off by the tomb raider series.

I think it's way overhyped, just by anticipating it in any way. Tomb Raider was great, and the first sequel was pretty good too, but after that, there hasn't been a single good Tomb Raider game. Not one.

Anticipating this series of titles is like anticipating the next iteration in the "Big Rigs" series (thank God that there's only one Big Rigs game). I mean come on, you know Tomb Raider is just going to be a dissapointment, since the last 5 games were.

So until Tomb Raider surprises us with...um...a GOOD game, we should all just ignore it. By making the series worse and worse, Eidos doesn't deserve our previewing attention, let's just see when Legends actually comes out.

Nixor @ Feb 3rd 2006 6:54AM

I loved all the Tombraider games - the gameplay was great and the puzzles were ruthless but fun. I'm looking very forward to this new incarnation!

Spamalot @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:10AM

Hopefully the return to the original game designer will do the series good.

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Spamalot
www.squatsquat.com

kizza @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:43AM

It's not going back there spamalot.....
Only one team memeber from the original (core) is still working on the game..... Eido's gave core the big heave ho after the last absymal PS2 travesty.....
Crystal dynamics are now the developers, for the 1st time ever.
I think someone called adrian someone is the only original memeber that came accross from core...and he was only a character designer anyway.

The good part is I'm hearing good things about this game, on from preview plays in mags, they are saying it's more like the original (1 of my favourite games ever), but the controls are cleaned up & the grid style controls are gone for a more ergonomic form.

We'll just have to wait & see... I hope they bring the t-rex's back..That trex in the 1st one was the most memorable gaming experience I've had to date...it was awesome..... the sound of it roaring (& you'd jump in your chair), the way it stomped the ground as it walked, the way you'd hear your bones snap when it got you....This game was an allround awsome package & although dated now, it need a sequel to do it justiceafter the last (lack of)effort.

LunarDuality @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:03AM

We have to remember that name recognition is a powerful tool when swaying the casual gaming masses. However, only quality gameplay will allow this game to escape the fate of the past couple iterations -- and actually sell.

rudimentalist @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:03AM

I'm trying to care....

URGH PUSHHHHHH

it's really hard to!

Sense @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:04AM

Crystal D is behind the Legacy of Kain series (after the 1st one), so I have hope for this game. Crystal D knows how to make playable, fun 3rd person adventure games.

Hopefully this follows suit.

Vagabond Artist @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:39AM

I'm going to buy it day one. I haven't done that with a Tomb Raider game since the first one...
I'm looking forward to this new one making us feel like we did back when the first one came out.

With each subsequent quick sequel they churned out on the PS1, more and more of the games charm was sacrificed.

I'm hoping for a grand return-to-form with this one.

random @ Feb 3rd 2006 12:56PM

I also had fun with the first 2 games, and my interested in the follow up sequels drifted off. My question to fans of the series: Where did the old games fail and what can Legend do make it a sequel and still retain the TR feel?

I'm asking because by now the old TR games are way outdated. The enjoyment I found in the first two was based around the world and the sense of discovery. Since games have changed considerably since TR released, how can it meet the expectations of fans and still not be a Prince of Persia rip off?

I'm going to hold off and see if CD can actually pull it off. Snowblind and Whiplash, both two new properties for CD have pretty much bombed. I'm not terribly impressed with their games, and their tech seems one step behind the rest. Here's hoping they can think outside the original design doc.

Jay @ Feb 4th 2006 7:37AM

I think it fell apart in that as the games progressed there was less of these 'tombs', they could have been good games so long as they had different main characters to separate from the first couple of games.

Tomb Raider 1 was just god like. Tomb Raider 2 was ok at best. I liked Tomb Raider 3 for the India levels alone. They captured the adventure perfectly. not overplayed, not overdone. just right. a more obvious example would be if Mario Bros 3 had a laser gun and enemies with realistic AI. some things fit, somethings dont.

raistlinsghost @ Feb 4th 2006 11:30AM

I've never been able to figure why everyone has been so hard on this franchise.

I guess that's what happens when you make a truly spectacular, ground breaking game (Tom Raider 1): There really isn't anywhere to go but down.

I for one, loved the first one, and enjoyed the sequels, particularly AOD.

My PSP is shaking in nervous anticipation of this next game. With the inclusion of the original game as one of the designers, I think the franchise will be renewed in a big way. And I WILL be buying it on release day.

MarkTAW @ Feb 5th 2006 1:24AM

I know everyone calls Tomb Raider "Prince of Persia with boobs," but the mood of the original was much more in line with Zork. Just hours spent alone exploring a vast underground empire... errr.. world. Those are the roots they need to return to. It's the silence between the beats that made the game, not the action itself.

supergirl @ Feb 5th 2006 6:52PM

Dear Joysiq, I'm a bit curious as to why you think "BLOKES" (in the UK) are lucky (for getting it earlier than everyone else) - why do you think that this game is only orientated at guys.... i'm an avid fan of all the TR games, and so are probably a lot of girls BECAUSE it's a game that a girl can play as a role model, i do still like playing male lead role games like Prince of Persia and God of War, but as a girl i feel i can relate more to a girl lead role than some of those muscly steroid looking heros...... and research shows that there are more and more girl gamers who have plenty of money to spend on gaming, i even have more games than my boyfriend but find it hard to find those decent female lead role games to buy. SO BRING ON TRL FOR THE GIRLS.... cheers.