Summary
Tomb Raider: Chronicles stands as a creative exploration of Lara Croft’s legacy, offering fans new stories and challenges while pushing the series forward with inventive gameplay mechanics.
- Release Year: 2000
- Genres: Adventure, Shooter
- Platforms: Dreamcast, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
- Developers: Core Design
- Publishers: Aspyr Media, Eidos Interactive, Square Enix
Introduction
Exploring the depths of Lara Croft’s untold stories, Tomb Raider: Chronicles dives into the heart of her most personal adventures. Released in 2000, this game is a testament to the enduring legacy of one of gaming’s most enduring icons.
Synopsis
The narrative of “Tomb Raider: Chronicles” is unique as it is portrayed through a series of flashbacks. The game begins with a memorial service for Lara Croft, who is presumed dead after the events of “The Last Revelation”. In the quiet solitude of Croft Manor, three of Lara’s closest friends – her butler Winston, Father Patrick Dunstan, and Charles Kane, her former mentor – gather to reminisce about Lara’s past exploits.
These stories form the basis of the game’s four main sections, each representing a different adventure from various points in Lara’s life. The adventures take Lara to Rome, a Russian submarine, a haunted island in Ireland, and a high-tech office building in New York City.
In “Tomb Raider: Chronicles”, players assume the role of Lara Croft, navigating through diverse environments filled with puzzles to solve and enemies to defeat. The gameplay mechanics are largely carried over from “Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation”, with Lara capable of performing a variety of acrobatic maneuvers to traverse the game’s environments.
New gameplay elements introduced in “Chronicles” include tightrope walking, swinging on horizontal bars, and a hand-to-hand stealth attack. The game also features a variety of new weapons and items for Lara to utilize in her adventures.
Characters
While Lara Croft remains the central figure, Chronicles brings various characters from her past into the spotlight, offering new insights into Lara’s world and her relationships.
Gameplay
Chronicles builds upon the series’ foundation with enhanced mechanics. Lara’s new abilities, such as tightrope walking and using a grappling hook, add depth to exploration and combat. The inclusion of a level editor further extends the game’s replayability and creativity.
Conclusion
Tomb Raider: Chronicles is a nostalgic and innovative continuation of Lara Croft’s saga. It successfully captures the spirit of adventure that is synonymous with the series, while the level editor marks a significant step forward in player engagement and creativity.
Review Score
7.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
Fan Art
Fan Art Style: Normal
Fan Art Style: Retro
Fan Art Style: Modern
