CHRONICLES HEADS
TO ALL FORMATS
Copyright 2000 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ August 26th 2000 ]
It's
official - Tomb Raider Chronicles will be released
this November on PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast.
Details are slowly emerging over the content of
the game but what is known is that Tomb Raider
Chronicles will feature four of Lara Croft’s previously
untold exploits, each comprising a separate adventure
offering brand new insights into her past. The
game takes place only a few days after The Last
Revelation, beginning at a memorial service for
Lara - her body has not been found. The Game After
the service three characters, Jean Yves, Winston
and Irish priest, Father Dunstan, retire to the
house. As they collect their thoughts, they reminisce
about some of Lara’s past adventures, each of
which is introduced via an FMV flashback sequence.
The game
gradually reveals more details about Lara's past
interaction with these characters. Locations The
locations for Chronicles’ four adventures feature
the streets of Rome, a small Irish Island, a hi-tech
tower block and a Russian U-boat. Each episode
has a unique focus and requires the player to
adopt a different strategy. For example, the Irish
level is a ‘famous five’ style adventure played
without any weapons and relying on puzzle solving
and traps. (This level is played as the 16-year-old
version of Lara). The U-boat has an ‘X-files’
feel, the Rome levels comprise classic Tomb Raiding
action and the tower block features hi-tech systems,
that require stealth, strategy and continual guidance
from your companion, ZIP.
Chronicles
consolidates the most popular elements of previous
Tomb Raider titles. Objectives are clear and the
linear nature of each adventure enables goals
to be clearly identified. The game engine is modified
for graphical improvement and the smoothest gameplay
yet. Environments feature increased detail, improved
lighting, a greater number of characters and objects
plus greater levels of interaction with the characters
and objects. Greater use is made of the inventory
system and more items may be collected to allow
greater variations on the ‘combine’ option.
New Features
New features include additional moves and miscellaneous
animations for Lara plus a wider variety of enemy
animations. A ‘search’ option for Lara is included,
enabling her to look through files, drawers etc.
and take any items of use. New weapons include
a sniper rifle and a grappling hook gun. New moves
make use of tightropes, suspended bars (Lara may
swing from bar to bar) and grappling ropes. The
combination of bars and ropes will require the
player to traverse areas in a wider variety of
ways than previously seen. Enemy AI is extensively
overhauled and Lara’s opponents now react to sound,
allowing a ‘stealth’ option to be implemented.
Hand-to-hand combat features where Lara creeps
up behind enemies and uses either a bat or chloroform
to disable them.
Line
of sight issues are re-addressed so that enemies
are able to hide more effectively - Lara will
not lock on until the enemy is clearly visible
to the player. Lara has two new in-game costumes:
a ‘Matrix’ style catsuit with headset, plus an
SAS camouflage outfit. The game features a larger
amount of full motion video than seen in previous
Tomb Raider titles.
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