Summary

Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft delivers an action-packed adventure that combines platforming and shooter elements. With new challenges, enhanced abilities for Lara, and diverse environments, it offers a comprehensive and thrilling experience that builds upon the success of its predecessors.

Release Year: 1998
Genres: Adventure, Puzzle, Shooter
Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Developers: Core Design
Publishers: Aspyr Media, Eidos Interactive

Introduction

In Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft, players are invited back into the adventurous world of Lara Croft, an iconic character who has defined the action-adventure genre. Released in 1998, this third installment in the Tomb Raider series elevates the gameplay with new abilities, challenges, and environments, making it a standout title of its time.

Synopsis

Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998) is an action-adventure video game that marks the third installment in the Tomb Raider series. Developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive, the game was released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows platforms in 1998.

The game’s protagonist, Lara Croft, is an archaeologist-adventurer who embarks on a quest to recover four pieces of a meteorite scattered across the world. The story begins thousands of years ago when a meteor crashed into Antarctica. The shockwaves of its impact are being felt in the modern age. Lara Croft follows clues leading to a deadly secret, boldly leaping chasms and blasting monsters that no one has leaped or blasted before.

The game is set in five locations: India, South Pacific, London, Nevada, and Antarctica. Once the player completes the first location (India), the following three (South Pacific, London, and Nevada) can be played in any order before the final location (Antarctica) closes the game.

In India, Lara runs into a man who hires her to find several artifacts made of a rare meteorite rock. After traveling through Nevada, England, the South Pacific, and finally Antarctica, she runs across him again. He uses the artifacts to activate the meteor and mutate himself. Lara kills him, the facility blows up, and she heads home.

Tomb Raider III was built on an upgraded version of the Tomb Raider engine used by its predecessors. The engine offers better speed efficiency and new graphical features such as colored lighting and triangular polygons, allowing developers to achieve greater detail and more complex geometry. The game was designed to be more in line with the puzzle-solving gameplay of the original Tomb Raider as opposed to the more shooting-oriented style of Tomb Raider II.

Despite the game’s commercial success, selling around six million copies worldwide1, it did not fare as well as its predecessors. Critics generally agreed that the game failed to change the same tried and tested formula. The game’s difficult and unforgiving gameplay also received some criticism.

In 1999, Tomb Raider III was ported to Mac OS computers. It was released as a PSOne Classic on the PlayStation Network in 2011. A stand-alone expansion featuring six new levels, titled Tomb Raider III: The Lost Artefact, was released in 2000. A remastered version of the game, alongside The Lost Artefact, was included in Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024.

Characters

Lara Croft – The protagonist, known for her athleticism and adventurous spirit. Other characters include various enemies and allies Lara encounters throughout her journey, each adding depth to the game’s narrative.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Tomb Raider III retains the core mechanics that fans love while introducing new elements to refresh the experience. Lara’s enhanced mobility and the addition of environmental hazards require players to utilize strategy and quick reflexes. Puzzles, exploration, and combat are seamlessly integrated, offering a balanced and engaging gameplay experience.

Conclusion

Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the Tomb Raider series. With its challenging gameplay, engaging story, and iconic protagonist, it remains a beloved installment for fans and newcomers alike. The game skillfully balances tradition with new features, securing its place in the pantheon of classic video games.