|
||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Could she really have died when the Temple of Horus collapsed at the end of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation? Youll have to find out when you play the game. Aspyr, the games publisher, isnt talking. (And were not going to be accused of spoiling anyones fun.)
Packing some heat in a frigid climate.
The Flashback Episode As Chronicles opens, Laras associates, including her butler Winston and good friend Charles Kane, recall her past exploits. Conversation leads into adventures that serve as opportunities to explore missing scenes from the first four games in the series. Chronicles is more of a flashback type of episode in the Tomb Raider series, says Aspyr president Michael Rogers. Different from the TV versions of flashback episodes, Chronicles shows you parts of adventures that you havent seen yet. So, there are familiar locales and situations, but different gameplay, complete with new moves. Producer Mike Schmitt of Eidos Interactive adds: The story in Tomb Raider: Chronicles picks up a few days after the end of The Last Revelation. (The game) is a way to wrap up the Tomb Raider series as we currently know it and set the stage for Laras next adventure. Four Adventures The game starts in Rome, where Lara begins her quest for the Philosophers Stone, one of four artifacts that she keeps in Croft Manor and which were picked up during adventures that havent been shown until now. Following that is her search for Hitlers Spear of Destiny in a Russian base. After that we see a teenage Lara on Black Isle in an adventure with her friend Father Patrick Dunstan (who has also gathered at Croft Manor to remember her). Finally, we join Lara as she searches for the Iris artifact in a high-tech, Matrix-like story that features Werner Von Croy when he wasnt such a nice guy to her. When you complete enough of Chronicles, youll unlock some special features that allow you to access storyboards of the cut scenes from the game (cut scenes are those movies that play between levels of a game) as well as a gallery of Lara Croft images. Youll even get a sneak peak at what Eidos is calling the next generation of Tomb Raider. |
Motion So Fluid Each new Tomb Raider game has featured new moves and weapons, and Chronicles is no exception. The new moves in Laras inventory include parallel bar swinging, tightrope walking, and a stealth attack that comes in handy for when she cant use her guns and has to sneak up on some guards and knock them out without making noise. Lara can also search through cabinets, drawers, shelves, and other spaces for items to take with her (heres a hint: you can combine many of the items you find during the game). Among her new weapons are a grappling hook gun and a revolver with a laser sight. As with previous titles in the series, Chronicles also has that distinct Tomb Raider look and feel that Mac gamers have come to adore. Says Rogers: The motion is so fluid, the camera angles so well done, and the cinematics and storyline so engaging, that the game pulls you into the experience. Many people enjoy watching others play almost as much as they enjoy playing the game, and in the videogame industry, thats incredibly rare. Your Tomb Raider Once youre done exploring Rome, battling cyborgs, and uncovering hidden treasures (among other things), youll get the chance to build your own Tomb Raider scenarios with the level editor creation tool thats included with the game. This is your chance to participate in the Tomb Raider fan community by creating levels that you can trade with other gamers. Hes behind the tree, Lara!
In general, the editor is very straight-forward to use, says Rogers. Its fairly intuitive to make a simple level with it, but making the detailed, interesting levels you see in the game will take some time. All the tools are there, though, from making torches to creating trigger events. |
How does TR the movie measure up to TR the game? Find out on page two. |