The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
For our latest entry, we splash on some sun-screen and gear up for an Egyptian extravaganza in the Lara Croft adventure Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.
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Developer: Core Design
Region(s) available: North America, Europe
Players: 1
Back in 1999, if you had quizzed Lara lovers if they thought the dexterous archaeologist would make a running-jump into the new millennium, their answer would have most likely been an unequivocal “no.” That’s not surprising given the title of that year’s Tomb Raider outing, baring the ominous ‘The Last Revelation’ moniker. 12 years later, she’s still getting into scraps with pugnacious goons, plundering long-lost temples and somersaulting her way over gaping chasms. Back then, though, we all thought Miss Croft had flicked her last switch, so to speak. Ironically, the game would have proven a fitting end for our nimble heroine, for reasons we won’t divulge here just in case you haven’t indulged in this pixelated PSOne Classic.
Most notably, The Last Revelation is conspicuously devoid of the globetrotting exploits witnessed in past installments. Aside from a brief flashback in Cambodia – ostensibly a training stage which sees a teenaged Lara and mentor Werner Von Croy hunting for the mysterious Iris – the game takes place entirely in one location: Egypt. Here, Croft’s poking about gets her into a bit of pickle, as she unwittingly unearths the powerful God Set, who’s a little grouchy after his thousand year nap. As such, it’s up to our spunky heroine to banish the baddie back to his resting place before Armageddon comes knocking. Fortunately, Croft’s augmented with an array of snazzy new acrobatics and weaponry since her last outing to facilitate her efforts. For one, she’s far more agile than before, able to dangle about on ropes, navigate poles, shuffle around corners and more. Weapons-wise our busty bombshell can wield a nifty Magnum with combinable laser-sight for dealing long-distance death, as well as a crossbow that can also utilize the same attachment. Expectedly the ubiquitous pistols pop up again for another burst, though Lara’s arsenal is curiously is tailored for a more bare-bones approach rather than the one-woman wrecking machine we’ve become accustomed to.
Elsewhere, while stages adhere firmly to TR’s if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it puzzling paradigm, Last Revelation’s core template is less considerably less linear than previous excursions. As such, gamers can now approach various levels via multiple paths, each one packing in their own set of trials for Croft to conquer. Fitting it is, then, that the developers have given players the chance to revisit past stages again to unearth new areas. Core’s also blown the cobwebs off a few of the series’ then-aging aesthetics, giving lanky Lara a more realistic look (say good-bye to those blocky joints) and feel that reflects the treasure hunter’s increased flexibility. And, while the game limits you to one region, the environments themselves are surprisingly diverse, with Croft able to penetrate city streets, temples, mountains and canyons. Notably, Lara’s fourth outing elbows combat down a peg or two compared to previous installments, finding a nice balance between the original’s more riddle-orientated exploits and TR2’s love affair with lead. Think TR3, albeit without the passport, and you’re right on track.
Proving she’s just as adept behind the wheel as she is on her feet, Croft also finds herself whizzing about in a series of vehicles, including a speedy jeep jaunt through the sun-baked desert. Meanwhile, the old backpack inventory system has been dumped, instead replaced by a minimilistic Generation Game-style conveyer belt. You can also cobble together various items by combining them, a feature that would also make the transition to Tomb Raider: Chronicles. Also new to the table is the option of plumping for either an auto or manual targeting system. Of course, it wouldn’t be Tomb Raider without the obligatory secrets to uncover, an aspect that Lara aficionados’ and fresh-faced adventurers alike will no doubt appreciate. TLR doesn’t disappoint in this regard, packing in a whopping 70 hidden goodies to unearth on your Egyptian adventure. The game’s pretty meaty in terms of length, and is considered among long-time fans as one of the toughest Tomb Raider’s to date. Expect to be hammering away at this for a while.
Join us again tomorrow where we take another gander Inside PlayStation Network.