Installation is a piece of cake and barely takes up any space because the
game is played mainly from the CD, so there's only really need for saved game
positions. The game runs Windows 95 and 98 platforms.
After installing, you will then be able to select the various graphics and
sound set-up options. A 3Dfx selection is available for PCs which are suitably
equipped.
Playing the Game
In-game Controls
Cursor Up: Run forward
Cursor Down: Jump back
Cursor Right: Turn Right
Cursor Left: Turn Left
Ctrl: Action
Alt: Jump
Space Bar: Draw Weapon
(Comma): Draw Flare
(Full Stop): Crawl
/: Dash
Keypad-0: Look
Shift + cursor key: Walk in that direction
End: Roll forward
Delete: Side-step left
Page Down: Side-step right
Escape: Display Menu Rings
Hotkeys: 1-8: Directly select available weapons
9: Use Large medi-pack
0: Use Small medi-pack
F5: Save game
F6: Load game
Starting The Game
Passport - main game options
The passport allows you to start a new game, load a previously saved one, or
quit back to Windows 95/98.
Polaroid - Lara's Home
This accesses the training level, and Lara will explain how the controls work.
Personal stereo - sound effects and music
This allows you to adjust the volume level for sound effects and music, each
on a scale of 1 to 10.
Key configuration
This selection shows the keys to operate Lara's movements, and allows you to
alter those you wish to change.
Actions
My review of
Tomb Raider II
stated the additional moves allowed in that game, and what follows is a summary
of the new moves for game No.3.
Moving
Sprinting is now a possibility. Need a quick burst of energy? Don't
have another doughnut, just press the Sprint key. A small energy bar will
appear and when that bar depletes Lara will revert back to a run.
Other actions
Lara is now able to Duck and Crawl by pressing the crawl key and holding
that down whilst using the cursor keys. If Lara is not able to stand up, then
holding this key down is not necessary, but when she is able to stretch her
pixelated legs, she will resume her erect position.
Monkey is not only the name of a highly-popular Japanese TV show from the
1980s, but is also one-half of the phrase Monkey Swing and if Lara
discovers an overhead frame she may decide to "Monkey Swing" across it.
To perform this, press the Jump key and then Action to jump and then cling onto
the frame. Keep the Action key held down whilst pressing the cursor keys to
move Lara in your chosen direction.
Pressing the Left and Right cursor keys will cause Lara to rotate, while
releasing the Action key will drop Lara like a stone.
And one other thing...
Unlike the first two games, after completing the India levels, you will be
presented with an Area Selection screen, allowing you to choose which one of
the three remaining areas to visit first: London, South Pacific or Area 51.
You can choose each of these in any order and upon completion, you shall finish
up in Antarctica for the final leg of your journey.
Hints and Tips
Contrary to popular belief, there never was a "Nude Lara" cheat for the first
game despite many magazines printing the supposed codes for it.
Level Skip Code : While in a level do the following with Lara :
Take out your pistols (number 1 key). Then, walk one step backwards, then
one step forwards, turn around 3 full times (doesn't matter which direction),
squat then release button and then do a Forward jump.
All Ammo And Items Code : While in a level do the following with Lara :
Take out your pistols (number 1 key). Then, walk one step backwards, then
one step forwards, turn around 3 full times (doesn't matter which direction),
squat then release button and then do a Backward jump.
Lara Bug?
It appears there is a bug in the game that will cause corruption of the map
data. Standing on a certain tile in a certain room and saving the game will
cause invisible walls to come up and prevent the player from completing the
level. Core have released a patch which will rectify the problem on the PC, but
there is no such solution for the Playstation version.
In "Temple Ruins", if you save your game in the room with the statue (at the
bottom of the slope) and then go back into that room later in the game, despite
the fact that you don't need to, then you won't be able to go through doors
that have already been opened, thus you won't be able to complete the level.
The solution is not to save the game in that room and never to return to it.
The patch will also fix problems that some PC owners (not including me) may
have had with the sound, even though it affects the AWE 64 sound card (which I
have). Core used compression sound in the game instead of the audio CD tracks
used in the first two games.
Graphics, Sound and Playability
As in the first two games, the fluidity and movement of the graphics engine is
unsurpassable. Crisp, fast and smooth graphics is what's on show here and
anyone used to this will know what to expect. Depending on your processor's
capabilities, a function is available to control the graphics definition as
well as the screen size, but a 3D graphics card will maximise your PC's
potential.
The sound effects and music match this too. From the music on the start
screen, to the special effects and music which shout out at you during the game,
some may wonder why they haven't been altered for this new release, but when
something ain't broke, why fix it?
The playability is as spot-on as the first game. The controls allow Lara to move
simply around the environment be it simply running, or running along up to a
ledge, performing a forward roll and then pressing Action to hold onto the ledge
before swinging forward to clear certain items. Sounds like a complicated
manoeuvre, but it could be the sort of movement you'll need to perform many
a time.
Overall
Three games on and the cult of Lara Croft continues. When Lara was portrayed
in the media by model-turned-Pepsi Chart Show presenter Rhona
Mitra, Ms. Mitra was due to release a single early last year in the UK
called Raiders. It never materialised in this country, but France were
allowed to hear her dulcet tones on an album entitled Come Alive which
was more like an extended 12" single, since most of the tracks are remixes,
but on the plus-side, it was produced by Dave Stewart.
The Real Lara this time, is Man-O-Man chicken-skinned-bimbo-turned-model
Nell McAndrew (real first name: Tracey). It was when she appeared naked
and bald that she came to the fore, but I really wished she'd been left at the
"three" as she turned out as appealing as Sinead O'Connor's lesbian sister.
If they ever get round to making a Tomb Raider film, then I'll be putting
in a vote for Kate Winslet. And why not...
About the game though, the skeptics are out wondering whether Lara was really
up to a third outing. On the whole it feels more like the continuing adventures
of Lara with a few enhancements, than a brand new game, but it depends what you
want out of a game.
If you enjoyed the first two and want to experience some more then you won't
be disappointed. The game itself isn't particularly hard, but moreso a
selection of scenes which will throw up traps and puzzles that you just won't
be able to solve...for a while. Plenty of times you will want to scream as
you get to a point, and then fail to get any further. The simple course of
action is to stop playing, come back to it later with a clear head, and then
you'll find the answer...until next time.
And that's what makes this, which cannot fail to be one of the best
looking, sounding and playing games of the 1990's, so damned addictive.
Although I'd lay odds on the next Lara adventure needing to be significantly
different to stay ahead in the ever-changing games market, no-one can disagree
that there are few games which can match up to what's on display here, which
is an experience to behold.
If you're after some more info on Eidos Interactive's games, you can check
out their official Website at
www.eidosinteractive.com or
the official Tomb Raider side at
www.tombraider.com
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
