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| Tomb Raider: Legend | 
 enlarge | From: Eidos Interactive
Category: Video Games
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $7.76
You Save: $12.23 (61%)
New (15) Used (7) from $6.19
Avg. Customer Rating:  62 reviews
Sales Rank: 3531
Format: Dvd-rom
Platform: Windows Xp
ESRB: Teen
Media: DVD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 1.4
MPN: 100722
Model: SSNOWPUS00
UPC: 788687100496
EAN: 0788687100496
ASIN: B0009V9P56
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Sweet but short February 16, 2008
Crystal Dynamics has done what I assumed was impossible. They turned Lara Croft into a nimble, responsive game character. I used a dual analog PC gamepad, and enjoyed nearly every minute of her death defying globetrotting. (I suspect a lot of reviewers who complain about the controls are using mouse and keyboard).
The first step Crystal Dynamics took was to make environmental interactivity much more forgiving. "Close enough" is now good enough as the game will give you the benefit of the doubt during acrobatic maneuvers. As opposed to the sadistic difficulty of CORE designed games, TR vets may actually feel Legend to be a bit on the easy side. (I say we've done our time in gaming hell, and it's time for a little relaxation.) Even dull block pushing puzzles are now fun with the new analog push/pull engine. The grapple is a nifty and useful gadget designed for constant interactivity with environmental objects. And Lara herself moves with surprising agility and quickness, rarely taking a bad step on even the most precarious ledges. Finally, Lara moves with the grace and skill she always should have.
The camera generally points in the right direction, and the right analog stick can be tailored as the camera control (I recommend it). I didn't encounter a stuck camera more than a few times in the game, which is very good for a 3rd person 3-D action game. What isn't good is the retention of the "dramatic" camera angle swings during tough maneuvers. Bad habits die hard, and this staple of bad old TR gameplay needs to be buried six feet under. And if there's room in the coffin, drop the relative control scheme in and pile on the dirt. Forward on the joystick needs to be forward, left left, right right, and back back at all times regardless of camera angle. Yes, I'm an absolutist.
Lara's new voice is more human than the angry British dominatrix styles of previous games. She has more depth to her character, and is finally pleasant to listen to. I'd like to hear less of her next time, though. The chatter between her and her two knucklehead companions is grating. While it serves an admirable purpose of pointing out environmental hazards to avoid cheap deaths, and breaking up the lonely monotony of a long level, it's just too much. As Elvis said, "A little less conversation, a little more action..."
Plenty of folks have already raved about the graphics, so I'll just briefly concur. You haven't seen Tomb Raider as it was always meant to be without playing Legend. I would like to replay quite a few of the original TR classics rebuilt with this graphics engine, if only to see them in high res and no PSOne draw distance limit.
The gunplay and motor vehicle engines needs a rebuild. I wouldn't bring this up if so many human enemies weren't presented in the game. Lara's precision aim is pitifully inaccurate, and auto aim is laughably easy, resulting in dull, lifeless segments of shootouts. The motorcycle levels are an embarassment due to the floaty, arcade feel and tinny sound effects.
Finally, the game is too short. I'm all for brevity in gaming when it means a tight ten hour rollercoaster ride with no padding. But Legend just feels truncated. Then again, it has to be a good sign that Crystal Dynamics left me wanting more, instead of having to force myself to trudge through another brutal Tomb Raider debacle. Here's to improvement.
Best Tomb Raider Game to Date January 20, 2008
If you're already a Tomb Raider fan then you don't need me to tell you to get this game. This game was a load of fun. A little short I guess but still sweet. If you are looking and action adventure you can just pick up and play this is the game for you.
 Fun, but difficult to control December 27, 2007
I've played the other Tomb Raider games on my PC and loved them. In the first 3 games the controls are basically the same (via keypad). In this game, they are very different, and they try to incorporate the mouse, which is troublesome. I'm still not used to the controls. I have the most difficulty during the fight sequence. When the enemy came into view on the older games, it would automatically lock onto the the target and you could blow them away. This game I haven't figured out how to stay in front of the bad guys, it keeps locking on a target far away while the closer bad guy shoots away at Lara. A bit frustrating, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it.
Overall I think that it's been fun. If your a tomb raider fan, you probably would like it. Try to get it on sale.....
Update to review: Jan 2008: It took a couple of weeks of playing the game and the controls grew on me. I did finish the game and now going to go back to see what I missed on the first levels. The sounds and graphics are incredible, so I say over all it's a four star game.
 Extremely hard to control her movements November 3, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I owned the original Tomb Raider and played it with great wonder and satisfaction on a Pentium 1 & Voodoo 1 video card. Man those were the days (for Lara). This new game, while no doubt good to great on other platforms, has a serious flaw for PC users. Keyboard control of Lara is shameful. I spent six hours trying to get her to do what I wanted her to do without much luck. I press the forward key and she instantly turns left and runs off a cliff. Every time I tried to move straight ahead she turned left to walk or run 90* away from the direction I intended. There apparently is no more strafing left or right either which is limiting. Why couldn't they have kept the original's control functions (which were fine)? I couldn't even get her to turn left or right without trying to walk or run.
I suppose I should have given the game more time but after 6 hours of movement madness I have decided to uninstall this 9 gig game. You'd think with 9 gigabytes worth of game they would have... well, you get the idea. After trying to figure out the strange movement issues I went online and found many other people with the same complaint, but strangely a lot think it is fine. I suppose this is an indication that there is some type of setup, workaround, or patch that works. I may do some more digging before uninstalling after all, but I shouldn't have to. Beware...
 Uncontrollable October 29, 2007
I am a huge Tomb Raider fan. With all the previous games under my belt, I went out the day this game came out and paid full price for it. What did I get for my $42.89? A nearly uncontrollable marionette. The two things that attracted me so strongly to the Tomb Raider series was the exploration aspect,(yeah, I don't get out much,)and I liked that from the moment you started the game YOU were Lara Croft. The up key meant Lara went forward, the left key was always her left, no matter the camera angle. With Legends, they completely remapped her controls, and now, you are the camera. What fun is that? All of a sudden, moves that were simple in all the other games got me killed over and over and over. How do you jump forward, then do a backward flip when the camera, along with all your directional controls swing around twice during the maneuver? I think I made it one checkpoint, and lost interest. I would love to play the game, but the controls are far too frustrating. I can only hope in the future they add the option to use the tradition game controls.
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