Date Released: 1998 on PS1 and Microsoft Windows
Publishers: Eidos Interactive
Developers: Core Design
Genre: Aaction/Adventure
This classic game is the third story in the popular Tomb Raider series, along with its predecessors this game was in one of the top leading series of the late 90s. Although it is now considered by some as outdated and poor, this game is an all-time classic and I'm glad to be doing a review of it.
The game starts in the Indian Jungles, where Lara is searching for an artefact in some ancient Indian ruins. As the first level starts you are thrown in nearer the deep end as you have the task of sliding down a hill with many obstacles in the way as well as things to collect. Sometimes a difficult start to the game can be good as you are forced to adjust to the nature of the game quickly, and faster become experienced. You progress through 4 levels within the 'Jungle Theme', one level being where you drive the jeep through some old caves. Evidence of how to game has improved in manner of detail is how in one of the India levels, a monkey enemy has the ability to steal things from your inventory. Music is great throughout the whole game, especially the tension themes which have the power to make you feel suddenly very unsafe, and want to hide behind the sofa. New features and additions to this game come with higher quality dynamic lighting, slightly better graphics and a whole set of new and even harder puzzles to solve. Effects such as fire and water have improved substantially, however there are still some prevalent mishaps, such as the fog in the South Pacific levels, which stays completely frozen rather than moving around realistically. If you are one for extreme detail and perfection, then perhaps this game will not be your cup of tea :D. One thing I like that stands out about this game is that you get to choose in which order to progress through the levels, as at the end of some levels you can choose whereabouts in the world to go next. Despite the different order of locations you can progress through, the game still always has the same ending unlike games like Silent Hill.
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| You get to choose where to go next |
Tomb Raider 3 also has the 'secrets' little collectables that are located in very well hidden areas throughout each level. They are optional to collect, however if you collect every last one you will unlock a secret level named 'All Hallows' which is based in a London Cathedral. I love the addition of a secret level as it gives the game more character, and makes you want to strive to collect the secrets. Any game with mysterious secrets and easter eggs instantly makes my favourite list.
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| All Hallows, the bonus Level |
As regards to the enemies of the game, the overall theme is more contemporary. Rather than dragons and spiders, we have security guards and gang members lurking underground. You could almost say the game as a whole is more contemporary, and maybe even urban. This urban atmosphere is prevalent in levels such as 'Thames Wharf", "Aldwych" and the "RX Tech Mines". Throughout the game you come across a large variety of different enemies from tribe members to rats, geordie gangs to mutilated humans, dinosaurs to jail guards and many more. Most of the enemies of the game are great, however some are a bit too fantasy like, sometimes jeopardising the serious tone of the game. Graphics of the enemies is better than the scenery detail, however the human men look a bit squarish, but still a vast improvement to the squareness of Tomb Raider 1-2.
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| A member of 'The Damned', a geordie gang lurking in the London Underground. |
In terms of storyline and locations to explore, this game is simply amazing. There are many interesting places of the World to explore in detail, such as Nevada, London, the South Pacific, Antartica and India. Some levels represent iconic areas like Area 51, and St Pauls Cathedral. In one cutscene Lara falls down the bell tower of St Pauls after a fight, and ends up in the tunnels of a disused tube station. The character of the scenery overall is appealing to people with a taste for contemporary exploration. Graphics are a bit of a downer for this game, but if you're anything like me then you will see the graphics as what made the game retain it's unique atmosphere of quirkyness and mystery. The Aldwych level is my all-time favourite, as it has the most intriguing atmosphere and feeling to it, the fact that it is an old disused station under a famous capital city, and everything is so quiet and eerie. The train hurtling down the tunnel and killing Lara is in my opinion the best jumpscare of the game, the music is terrifying.
The music of the game is composed by Nathan McCree, and has been composed by him for the previous two installments. Music in the game is memorable and very tasteful, and its use in the game and at what moment it its played is perfect, apart from the odd moment where it may be considered unnessescary. Whenever the creepy tension themes come on, you know something is about to happen. Those tense moments are the best gaming moments of my childhood.
Some people who write reviews of this game may have many more bad things to point out than I do, but personally this is my favourite classic childhood game, I am unlikely to point out much fault :D. As with any game, Tomb Raider 3 has its bad bits, especially the graphics, but back in 1998 this was the standard and many people enjoyed this game for what it was. Anyway, I guess that's all from me on this review. Thank you for taking the time to read this review and if you have never played Tomb Raider 3 before, I hope you have a better insight into it and may even consider playing this awesome game!
Goodbye :)
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