Summary
- Release Year: 2002
- Genres: Adventure
- Platforms: Game Boy Advance
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002): A Retrospective
Released in 2002, Tomb Raider: The Prophecy marked the debut of Lara Croft on the Gameboy Advance. It was the first game in the series to feature a quasi-3D overhead perspective, which allowed for more dynamic and varied gameplay than the previous 2D-platformer handheld entries.
The game’s story follows Lara as she travels to Peru in search of the fabled Dagger of Xian, a powerful artifact that is said to be able to control time. Along the way, she must battle her way through hordes of enemies, solve puzzles, and navigate treacherous environments.
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy was a critical and commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and challenging puzzles. However, it was also criticized for its lack of a save feature, which forced players to rely on a password system to restore their progress.
Gameplay
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy is an action-adventure game that combines platforming, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Players control Lara Croft from an overhead perspective as she runs, jumps, shimmies, and shoots her way through a variety of environments, including jungles, ruins, and caves.
The game features a wide range of enemies, from giant spiders and bats to armed mercenaries and supernatural beings. Lara must use her wits and agility to defeat her foes, as well as utilize a variety of weapons and gadgets, including her signature twin pistols, grappling hook, and shotgun.
In addition to the main story mode, Tomb Raider: The Prophecy also features a number of bonus levels and challenges. These include time trials, score attack modes, and boss rush modes.
Graphics
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy was one of the most visually impressive games on the Gameboy Advance. The game’s environments are rendered in a vibrant and detailed 3D style, and the character models are smooth and well-animated. The game also makes use of a variety of lighting and particle effects to create a truly immersive experience.
Sound
The sound design in Tomb Raider: The Prophecy is top-notch. The game’s soundtrack is composed of a mix of orchestral and electronic music that perfectly captures the game’s atmosphere of adventure and danger. The sound effects are also excellent, and they do a great job of bringing the game’s world to life.
Controls
The controls in Tomb Raider: The Prophecy are tight and responsive. Lara is easy to control, and the game’s camera system does a good job of keeping up with the action. The game also features a number of customizable control options, so players can tailor the controls to their own preferences.
Replayability
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy is a highly replayable game. The game’s main story mode is relatively short, but there is a lot of content to discover in the bonus levels and challenges. Additionally, the game’s password system allows players to easily pick up where they left off, making it easy to revisit the game at a later date.
Overall
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy is a classic action-adventure game that still holds up today. The game’s innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and challenging puzzles make it a must-play for fans of the series and action-adventure games in general.
Pros:
- Innovative gameplay
- Stunning graphics
- Challenging puzzles
- Variety of enemies and environments
- Replayable
Cons:
- Lack of a save feature
- Password system can be tedious
- Short main story mode
Score:
8/10
Review Score
7/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
