Story
Tomb Raider Legend follows Lara Croft as she investigates the death of her mother several years earlier. You’ll travel all around the world digging up little clues along the way until there is a typical “eureka!” moment and you rush off to the climax. The story is good overall, but there are a few twists that will leave you scratching your head. Legend definitely succeeds as far as pacing goes. The story is told through cutscenes and radio communications with Lara’s support team and it reveals just enough to keep you interested but not so much all at once as to spoil any surprises. I do want to add that the ending sequence is pretty slick and a satisfying end to this adventure while leaving the door open for a sequel. And it isn’t a little “what if” tease for a sequel. It is a full on, “see you in about 18 months, we promise” door left open for a sequel.
Graphics and Sound
Eidos
Graphically, Tomb Raider Legend looks surprisingly good. The game has that shiny look most 360 games have, the textures are better and the models are nice and smooth. The water looks great and the reflections are a sight to behold. The lighting effects are also very pretty. Wander around the party in the Tokyo level and see marvel at the real time shadows and the way standing in different light sources makes Lara’s dress look different. The graphics are a bit inconsistent, though. Some levels look better than others and it is clear when you look closely at things that this is a game that was designed with the last-gen consoles in mind. There is definitely some special 360 eye candy to enjoy, though, so I can’t complain too much.
The sound is very good overall. The voicework is great all around, particularly for Lara, but they had good dialogue to work with which always helps. There isn’t a ton of music, but what is here suits the action very well and sounds great.
Bottom Line
Tomb Raider Legend is a good game all around and is worth checking out for Xbox 360 owners. There are a few nitpicks, however, that make it more of a rental than a purchase. At least, not at $60. The game only has a handful of levels and you can beat it (counting deaths) in under 7 hours. There is some replay value in the time trial mode and the trophies you can collect on each level to unlock new costumes, but the rewards aren’t really worth it (unless you are crazy about achievements) and most people will be done with it after they beat it once. The game is very fun and well worth playing, but not really worth owning unless you are a crazed Tomb Raider fan. Rent it for now but wait for the inevitable price drop to buy it.
