Tomb Raider: Chronicles
Rating:  -
I have played almost all the tomb raider games. From the first through the chronicle. This game was very short. It only had 13 levels. Delivery was on time.
Rating:  -
but still it is not a bad game. I just finished it and am left not excited, yet I still enjoyed Chronicles throughout regardless. Upon assumption Lara is dead or either hopelessly lost, her closest friends gather together and tell a few stories about her past adventures which you will play through, one even includes when she is young yet again like in the beginning of Last Revelation when she traveled with Von Croy. And yet again, she is with no weapons, which can make that level definitely one of the harder ones.
Nonetheless, the entire game itself is not too hard. It isn't as difficult as Tomb Raider 3 or 4 that's for sure. The ending gets difficult on the last level, but nothing more strenous than we had to face in the last few Tomb Raiders I think. I got through all the levels with hardly breaking a sweat. The entire game I think is just average difficulty for Tomb Raider fans whom have played both 3 and 4 already. If you're new to Tomb Raider then it might be hard though- I would say if you're new to the series build up from either TR 1 or 2, then go on either to 3 or 4- at least beat one of them before attempting this. Basically, know some TR history before doing this one. If you have played TR before, Chronicles is no challenge. Fun, but no real challenge.
I would say, buy it if you're a fan of the series, it is a nice addition. The stories are exciting and the puzzles are interesting enough. Just don't expect much. It is really just a few stories of Lara's past adventures and that's it.
3.5/5
Rating: -
The first time i played TR Chronicles for the PS1, i found it not that interesting. Face it, the Rome levels are just not that exciting. I played and beat levels 1 & 2, then attempted 3, unfortunatly, it took me 2 weeks to figure out how to beat level 3, it was WAY too hard. And that's just one of the many things that make TR Chronicles fall short of being one of the best in the series. OK, so there's alot of pros, Lara can now interact more with the characters around her (instead of just shooting a weapon, she can now bash people over the head with crowbars & stuff), she can now open and search file cabinets for various items, and she can kick down doors (which she could do in TR Last Revelations but it's still a cool move). In addition to new moves, there are 4 massive adventures to be explored. But as with all pros, there must be cons, and unfortunatly, the cons are major. My first complaint is puzzles (particulary timed-puzzles) being WAY too hard. I couldn't complete level 3 in Rome (Colessium) for 2 weeks because of the timed-puzzle in the middle of it, i almost tried to give up on the game in all, but after i beat the Colessium, i found it not so hard. In adventure 2, which takes place on a Russian Submarine (personally my favorite adventure of the game), Lara must get onto the sub, dive under the sea, and collect the Sphere Of Destiny (i think that's what its called). Not only is the storyline fun, but you have alot of fun exploring the subs many levels and areas, but once again, a con came into play. I found the Deep Sea Dive level incredibly difficult, and it took me awhile to collect the Sphere and escape back to the sub. Adventure 3, takes place on a haunted island in Ireland, i really just didn't like this area, not only is it boring, but it is so dark its hard to see what your doing. Finally, Adventure 4, which takes place in the VCI Headquarters, is a partly fun adventure. But even with its cool graphical images of a high-tech city, its really difficult to complete the 3 levels involved (espicially since you on have the HK weapon). On level 1 of VCI, i found it difficult to get the Iris at the end, but luckily, i found a cheat (not too much of a cheat) where you can press the button, sideflip left, flip backwards, then press and crawl like your crawling off a ledge, you will go through the glass!! It took me awhile, but after that helpful little clue, i completed level 1 of VCI. Level 2 of VCI, Escape With The Iris, is incredibly difficult (espicially since you have no weapons), i found all the portions with the elevator shafts and that slide where you half to jump and swing off two poles very difficult, i could barely complete this level. And the final level, Red Alert!, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to complete shooting range #2, it took me 45 to 50 times to complete this one obstacle. Pretty much, i found TR Chronicles a cool game graphics wise, but gameplay is very difficult and sometimes annoying, if you want an all-out fun TR game that still has cool graphics, check out TR2 or TR3, just remember this one is just a sample of what will be on TR6: THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS for the PS2 & PC, coming soon!
Rating:  -
It starts out in rome the first level took a bit to figure out but now it's easy (for me). The other levels are about the same ecxept for the second where you have to kill the three headed dragon.
then comes Russia you start out by getting into the submarine after getting in, it gets tough. When you get to the kitchen figure it out
but be careful of the chef. Walk quietly around the stove and quietly up behind the chefs back and hit ctrl twice fast to hit the chef with your cowbar in his back, I'll leave you there. ...
Rating: -
At the end of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, many fans were left devastated thinking Lara was gone for good. They need not have worried as Lara returned in November 2000 in Tomb Raider: Chronicles, the fifth installment of the most successful PlayStation game series ever. There was one slight problem - Lara was presumed dead! Tomb Raider: Chronicles contains four sections of different times of Lara Croft's life from the past. These four stages are titled Rome, Search For The Spear, Black Isle and VCI Headquarters. Each quarter includes three brilliant levels, except Search For The Speach which includes four. Whilst probably the worst game out of all five, Tomb Raider: Chronicles is still superb, proving the excellence of the Tomb Raider phenomenon. The Official UK PlayStation Magazine says of Chronicles, "10/10 - Lara's swansong on PlayStation is a triumph". They're not wrong!
The first section is Rome. As with all Tomb Raider games, the levels become harder and more challenging as the game progresses - Chronicles is no different. In Rome, Lara is attempting to acquire the Philospher's Stone. This adventure brigns her into contact with Pierre and Larson, who you will probably remember as the peksy guys who wouldn't die from the first Tomb Raider! The three levels in Rome are called Streets Of Rome, Trajan's Markets and Colloseum. All levels are superb, mainly because of the scenery. The sky is a deep blue and the sound is superb. You can hear the crickets chirping away and you can almost sense what the levels are like - early evening with fresh air and a cool temperature. I know, this sounds so strange but it's true! The second section, Search For The Spear is a lot harder and complex. In this second section of Chronicles, Lara is seeking the Spear of Destiny, an age-old artefact currently lying in the ruins of a wrecked and abandoned U-boat. She is not alone in desiring possession of this mystical object, however - a mafioso boss has heard of its power and wishes to harness it for his own nefarious aims. He has bribed the admiral of a Russian submarine to take him to the resting place of the Spear. Lara decides to hitch a ride. The four levels in Search For The Spear are called Base, Submarine, Deep Sea Dive and Sinking Submarine. This section is my favourite of the four because it's very exciting and has the best storyline in the whole game...
The game continues with Black Isle. In this third chapter, Tomb Raider: Chronicles follows an early Lara Croft adventure. After Lara overhears a conversation about spooky occurences at a nearby island, she stows away on a boat chartered by Father Patrick as he heads to investigate. The three levels are called Gallows Tree, Labyrinth and Old Mill. Throughout these three levels, Lara is completely without weaponry. Only your wits will protect your beloved Lara from the devilish shandes that haunt the Black Isle. These levels are set somewhere in England, but I'm not sure where. Even though it's always raining and is very dark and damp, it makes for an interesting and refreshing change from the typical hot desert/jungle style levels of previous Tomb Raider games. The fourth and final chapter in Chronicles, VCI Headquarters, is large and very hard! In one of the sternest challenges ever faced in a Tomb Raider game, Lara must steal the Iris - an object of immense power. Mixing stealth with brute force, she has to negotiate complex corridors, fight crack troops and even survive an entire level without a gun. Fortunately, she has Zip - an American hacker - on hand to advise her as she progresses. The fourth section is set in a New York tower block and the three levels are called 13th Floor, Escape With The Iris and Red Alert. All levels are incredibly tough and deeply frustrating if you fail to achieve the required task to progress with the game. Some sections on these three levels are downright scary (echoing footsteps when there's no one there and the sound of invisible laser beams that get closer), yet you will experience an immense feeling of success and achievement once you complete these final levels!
OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
All in all, Tomb Raider: Chronicles is a fantastic game. It's not quite up there with the superior excellence of Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2 and Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, but it's still a superb game to play. The game isn't very long - it took me less than a week to complete over the Christmas 2000 period - a lot shorter than the time it usually takes for me to complete a Tomb Raider game, which is usually in the region of a year! Compared to a lot of other PlayStation games, however, Tomb Raider: Chronicles stands head and shoulders above the rest. Buy this now from Amazon to complete your Tomb Raider collection!
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