Tomb Raider: Legend

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 362 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 243 out of 362
  2. Mixed: 100 out of 362
  3. Negative: 19 out of 362
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  1. ChrisS.
    May 17, 2006
    6
    The control issues have been fixed and with "next gen" deactivated frame rates are fast even at the highest resolutions. With "next gen" turned on, forget about it. Combat plays too large a role in this game and is poorly implemented and hard to handle. The animal attacks are truly annoying and should be ditched alltogether. The puzzles are too few and too easy. What we have here is a The control issues have been fixed and with "next gen" deactivated frame rates are fast even at the highest resolutions. With "next gen" turned on, forget about it. Combat plays too large a role in this game and is poorly implemented and hard to handle. The animal attacks are truly annoying and should be ditched alltogether. The puzzles are too few and too easy. What we have here is a good foundation upon which can be built a much better game.… Expand
  2. RobertV.
    Apr 21, 2006
    6
    To me, by changing the controls to reflect the camara view, it has made it harder and more difficult to position laura. I also understand that she would not be able to do some of the jumps and other moves if not for this type of controls. I also liked the ability to save where i wanted and so fat playing this game i can only save at check points. It may be that i am apposed to change, but To me, by changing the controls to reflect the camara view, it has made it harder and more difficult to position laura. I also understand that she would not be able to do some of the jumps and other moves if not for this type of controls. I also liked the ability to save where i wanted and so fat playing this game i can only save at check points. It may be that i am apposed to change, but at least if i wanted to jump i knew what buttons to push and what direction she would go. Now i get confused and over half the time i jump the wrong direction. Thank you for the game. I have all the tomb raider games and hope to have more. This is the only pc game I play. … Expand
  3. JoshT.
    Jan 28, 2010
    6
    For the record, I love the Tomb Raider series. And I hate consoles. Being a port to the PC, the controls and camera are terrible. I've got a good machine that can run much more graphics intensive games just fine, yet the next generation content setting had all sorts of graphics errors that I'm 99% certain weren't my computer fault. The game is far too simple in its puzzles, For the record, I love the Tomb Raider series. And I hate consoles. Being a port to the PC, the controls and camera are terrible. I've got a good machine that can run much more graphics intensive games just fine, yet the next generation content setting had all sorts of graphics errors that I'm 99% certain weren't my computer fault. The game is far too simple in its puzzles, disappointingly short, and could have been much better if more time had been spent on polishing the PC version from the crap that was the console versions.… Expand
  4. Ben
    Jul 9, 2006
    5
    i think the graffics where alot better yes but im only giving it a 5 because the reasion i liked the tombraider games was the puzzles. what happend to the bloodly puzzles?
  5. OldaO.
    May 5, 2006
    6
    Having completed the game, my impression now is the same as when I first played it - the highly acclaimed controls in Legend are worse than in Angel of Darkness! Still waiting for a good new release in this series to follow up on the first one.
  6. JohnJ.
    Apr 6, 2006
    7
    Still has the console controls! Hate the W is forward, but A and D are not strafing,but turning you too look to the right and look to the left, where W will now send you in the direction she's facing. At least it has a free camera that can go all around, so it's "point the mouse where you want to go then push W"

    This means on PC, a game pad, or another stilted movement system    Still has the console controls! Hate the W is forward, but A and D are not strafing,but turning you too look to the right and look to the left, where W will now send you in the direction she's facing. At least it has a free camera that can go all around, so it's "point the mouse where you want to go then push W"

    This means on PC, a game pad, or another stilted movement system where there is a "placing" sort of thing needed, not as bad, but still like the last game. Certainly not as free-flowing as Prince Of Persia, for example.

    Nice only graphics and only good sound, but a brilliant opening theme tune and game intro. Reminded me of those 80's cop's shows like Starsky and Hutch, striking music and fast animations in silhouette and action movements.

    So better than the last game, but by not as much as I would have liked. This because of lazy console conversion - again! And by extension a crazy keyboard layout (H to fire gun?) Graphics not as good as they could be, now that we have seen Half Life 2 (which is 2 years old! Reminded me of the Freelancer graphics, if you've played that game) but they are good enough to do the job.

    Also have a feeling there will be bugs. When you cannot read the text box leading into a mission because the level loads too quickly and the box disappears before you can read all the text you know it hasn't been play-tested that well.

    So I give it a 7. Getting better, but still not the Tomb Raider games we knew and loved 10 years ago, which after all, is what Crystal Dynamics promised us.    … Expand
  7. SamuelL.
    Jun 8, 2006
    7
    Crystal Dynamics' taking over of the Tomb Raider franchise has created some interesting and unique variations in the gameplay and engine. As with the previous reviews, the game seems too easy and too short, making the game seem like an interactive movie rather than a full-fledged adventure game. In some cases, in order to die, a player has to force him or herself to. The enemy AI in Crystal Dynamics' taking over of the Tomb Raider franchise has created some interesting and unique variations in the gameplay and engine. As with the previous reviews, the game seems too easy and too short, making the game seem like an interactive movie rather than a full-fledged adventure game. In some cases, in order to die, a player has to force him or herself to. The enemy AI in the game is rather weaktight and not very strategic, and the animals are surprisingly harder to kill than the humans. While the game has improved on Lara's ability (ability to jump from ledge to ledge while hanging, various martial arts stunts), it has also decreased it from the last editions (Lara holds her breath for approximately 30 seconds instead of 60, she can no longer sprint). The graphics are appealing, but nowhere near as advanced as they can possibly be (case in point, Halflife 2) without pushing the computer beyond its structural limitations via next-gen mode. The game also follows a linear plot, resulting in an unwanted "To be continued" ending, unlike the previous games which each had their own storyline. (A Tomb Raider Legend II would cause a lot of problems in the system) However, the positive issues about the game that save it from a flop is the intriguing storyline itself, and how it connects Lara's past to her present. The architecture in the levels are superb and show that a lot of effort has gone into the design of these levels. The movements of Lara are fluid, and her emotions and reactions are penultimately realistic than they were in the previous Core Design series. If Crystal Dynamics intends to make a sequel, a skill-building system should be placed in to make the game even more realistic and appealing to the public. In short, the game is hopefully a foreshadowing of the next improvement in the Tomb Raider product line.… Expand
  8. weevilk.
    May 2, 2007
    7
    Graphics great - controls great- cinematics great, controls like a dream - but it is just too easy. too many hints. fighting is easy. bosses are easy. puzzles are very linear and lots of hints everywhere - things glinting, stupid guys on the headset - HEY LARA WHATS THAT BIG LEVER FOR.....HEY LARA TRY TO CHARGE UP THE CORE WITH THE TESLA DEVICE....I started off thinking - wow, this is Graphics great - controls great- cinematics great, controls like a dream - but it is just too easy. too many hints. fighting is easy. bosses are easy. puzzles are very linear and lots of hints everywhere - things glinting, stupid guys on the headset - HEY LARA WHATS THAT BIG LEVER FOR.....HEY LARA TRY TO CHARGE UP THE CORE WITH THE TESLA DEVICE....I started off thinking - wow, this is awesome, but ended up feeling slightly cheated at how easy it is. even the binoculars have a built in ability to tell you what you do with objects on screen - AI binoculars? please..... little cut scenes which sort of guide you through a set piece - YOUI HAVE TO GO HERE......THEN HERE>>>>>THEN HERE......or big neon icons flashing up telling you where the grapple has to go, or whn to press down, up etc.....idiots guide, id say. They make a play on the fluid motion, but what that means is you can be very sloppy and still make the jumps etc - i suppose on balance, having to be too exact could get enraging, but its almost impossible to get it wrong with this one. 100000000 times better than the last effort mind. i guess nothing compares to the wonder of the very first TR 1 and 2 - they were so excellent in their day that they will not be beaten no matter how life like her outrageous ...ahem...boobies....become.… Expand
  9. JeremiahP
    Nov 21, 2008
    7
    Very refreshing change from the failings of "Angel of Darkness". Puzzles were challenging without being frustrating. Control needed work, but was playable. Frankly, my only serious complaint about the game is I was done with it in 7 hours.
  10. dinosauryoshi
    Jun 30, 2014
    7
    This one had me gripped, a far more action orientated take on a Tomb Raider game which didn't suit the by now slightly archaic combat controls however it's a lot of fun. I finished in well under 10 hours though which seems a little short, especially for a Tomb Raider game.
  11. Arshad_S
    Sep 16, 2010
    7
    Haha easy puzzles but getting the gold relic thing wasnt very easy for some stages. Fun game . Just never liked dying a million times to get to the other side.
  12. Speed4Runs
    Jan 3, 2013
    5
    This is the game that has changed the Tomb Raider saga. A nice game which, technically, isn't that good. Tomb Raider has always been a long game, and this one is really short. Tomb Raider has always got great performance and graphics, while the performance on this one sucks very much. The gameplay is fine, but not as good as old as the one of the old Tomb Raider (P.S.: I miss the very bigThis is the game that has changed the Tomb Raider saga. A nice game which, technically, isn't that good. Tomb Raider has always been a long game, and this one is really short. Tomb Raider has always got great performance and graphics, while the performance on this one sucks very much. The gameplay is fine, but not as good as old as the one of the old Tomb Raider (P.S.: I miss the very big jumps). The plot is very good. Also, the bad point is that you can carry on only 2 weapons. That's really sad, if you think that, in TR3, you could bring on really many weapons (such as pistols, uzis, assault riffles, shotguns, desert eagles, flares, water gun, etc.). Graphics and performance: 4; Longevity: 3; Gameplay: 6; Plot: 6+ (6.25). OVERALL SCORE: 5- [4.81] (4.75 out of 10 [Mediocre]).… Expand
  13. VAFranky
    Nov 4, 2010
    6
    The graphics in this game are very good. The game play can get a little monotonous after you see a lot of clones of the same monsters over and over. Some of the puzzles are fun, but a couple of them expect you to die over and over in order to figure them out. It doesn't take very long to re-spawn and take another crack at them but its still annoying seeing a loading screen four times toThe graphics in this game are very good. The game play can get a little monotonous after you see a lot of clones of the same monsters over and over. Some of the puzzles are fun, but a couple of them expect you to die over and over in order to figure them out. It doesn't take very long to re-spawn and take another crack at them but its still annoying seeing a loading screen four times to complete one puzzle that has a special stipulation or asks you to complete it very quickly. If you get this game cheaply like I did then I recommend it.… Expand
  14. MrSonicFan
    Apr 23, 2013
    7
    The game is perfectly fine on the PC but what sets it back from other versions is graphical glitches and annoying keyboard controls. Anniversary and underworld play fine on a keyboard but this game does not work well on a keyboard. And the most noticeable graphical glitch i can think of is the bridge at the end of the first level. Overall it is still a great game but it is not as good asThe game is perfectly fine on the PC but what sets it back from other versions is graphical glitches and annoying keyboard controls. Anniversary and underworld play fine on a keyboard but this game does not work well on a keyboard. And the most noticeable graphical glitch i can think of is the bridge at the end of the first level. Overall it is still a great game but it is not as good as other versions.… Expand
  15. DanHS
    Jan 5, 2014
    6
    I am a newcomer to the Tomb Raider franchise, having started with the 2013 reboot, I began going back and playing the old ones since I enjoyed the new one so much.

    Legend was a fun game, but it was nearly ruined by some of the gameplay mechanics that I found just terrible. This was on PC, and I'm sure the porting process is at fault for much of that. The storyline wasn't bad, but at    I am a newcomer to the Tomb Raider franchise, having started with the 2013 reboot, I began going back and playing the old ones since I enjoyed the new one so much.

    Legend was a fun game, but it was nearly ruined by some of the gameplay mechanics that I found just terrible. This was on PC, and I'm sure the porting process is at fault for much of that.

    The storyline wasn't bad, but at the end I couldn't have helped thinking that wouldn't the main antagonist have at some point said something to Lora to explain what was going on, rather than just fight her the whole time?

    The puzzles were fun but simple, everything was very linear, which isn't always terrible but it started to feel too structured and gets a bit stale.

    It really consisted mostly of some combination of platform>combat>puzzle>boss battle, where combat was usually easy, puzzles were quite simple, and boss battles were tedious and painful. A couple boss battles were actually fairly simple and quick once you found the trick, a couple others were miserable. Combine that with two human bosses having three lines that they repeated every few seconds, it was no fun at all, just an obstacle to enjoying the game.

    One boss battle (in England) was exceptionally difficult, clumsy and poorly designed. Between having been started with a reduced amount of rifle ammo, having very little time to switch from shooting to grappling to pulling, having to dodge every second, and having actions sometimes not occur on the first press of the key, I just couldn't do everything fast enough to survive. After an hour of miserable frustration, I discovered that I couldn't even complete it due to a glitch that made one of the four items that I had to utilize not even work, imagine my frustration at finally surviving that long only to get stuck there anyway! I had to download a savegame to continue at the next mission. Apparently some others have suffered this glitch, while most who managed to struggle through that battle did not.

    Shooting was one of the worst problems in my opinion. The auto aim had no idea what was going on and randomly aimed at different things. An enemy would be shooting me and Lora would be pointing at some interactive item or another enemy. At one point I'm surrounded and auto aim has me shooting up at the ceiling! Manual aim with a first person view was mostly useless because you could not move. Being unable to manually aim and move at the same time was extremely frustrating, and pretty much ruined the game for me. Auto aim is nice when driving or handling a couple enemies, but trying to fight a large group was nearly impossible, there was no way of strategically engaging targets and utilizing cover. When you tried to shoot from behind cover, your gunfire struck whatever was next to you even though your view showed a clear shot, you had to be pretty much out from behind cover to shoot. Grenades were also thrown a few steps in front of you without the ability to aim, so throwing grenades out from behind cover was impossible.

    The actual platforming, exploring, puzzle solving, and trap avoiding parts were fun, easily played, and quite enjoyable. If the game had totally eliminated combat and had just continuous exploration, I would have enjoyed it more, even though it would have made the game a little less interesting. If they had replaced combat with more and better puzzles, or made combat good instead of terrible, it would have been a much better game.

    The graphics were fair for 2006, they looked a little better with next gen graphics enabled, but there were so many glitches and game crashes with next gen graphics, that about 3/4 through I had to switch them off. The music was ok, in some parts it helped make the atmosphere very well, in others it was entirely forgettable. Lora looked good and her movements were pretty fluid and intuitive, but the camera often game me very useless views and moved around very quickly and jerky, if you were in a confined space the camera was a problem.

    Overall, I enjoyed the game, but I definitely wouldn't play it again. It wasn't interesting enough, and the miserable combat is a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge. It is interesting to see how Crystal Dynamics progressed from something so rough, to something that is much more refined in the 2013 game.    … Expand
  16. Captain_Chaos
    Jun 22, 2016
    7
    Alright for a Tomb Raider. The only other ones I've played were the original and the 2013 reboot. I'd put this one in the middle of those two. I enjoyed the plot, but the wonky camera angles fouled up a number of my jumps. At any rate, it was a freebie for pre-ordering Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which I much preferred.
  17. bskierys
    Dec 18, 2020
    6
    A really good action-adventure game.
    Pluses:
    + Enjoyable environmental puzzles + Adventurous and not-to-serious tone of the game + Fun story following mysteries of the ancient artefact through tombs with puzzles and action + Variety of location: snow, desert, jungle, tombs Minuses: - Shooting and platforming feels clunky for todays standards - The stunts that Lara pulls in this    A really good action-adventure game.
    Pluses:
    + Enjoyable environmental puzzles
    + Adventurous and not-to-serious tone of the game
    + Fun story following mysteries of the ancient artefact through tombs with puzzles and action
    + Variety of location: snow, desert, jungle, tombs
    Minuses:
    - Shooting and platforming feels clunky for todays standards
    - The stunts that Lara pulls in this game are ridiculous. Often commented with one-liners that will force you to facepalm. If you want to enjoy this game, don't take it too serious.
    - Some boss fights are annoying.    … Expand
  18. Gelaos
    Jul 12, 2021
    7
    Tomb Raider: Legend improves some things from the original games, yet at the same time over-simplifies other things. The biggest difference, apart from new engine and control scheme, is the heavy orientation on story and Lara's personal motivation for tomb-raiding. Unfortunately while the tombs and levels themselves are nicely designed, they're too linear and puzzles are too easy. Same canTomb Raider: Legend improves some things from the original games, yet at the same time over-simplifies other things. The biggest difference, apart from new engine and control scheme, is the heavy orientation on story and Lara's personal motivation for tomb-raiding. Unfortunately while the tombs and levels themselves are nicely designed, they're too linear and puzzles are too easy. Same can be said about combat - it's "just" fine.

    Voice acting is great and I like the cinematic approach in storytelling. Tomb Raider: Legend is overall a decent, although too linear and easy, modernization of original Tomb Raider formula.    … Expand
  19. kndr
    May 21, 2021
    7
    Great locations, okay gunplay and graphics.

    Checkpoint system is between good and bad. Those vehicle sections are unnecessarily long.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best PC Game of 2006
30
#30 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
60
#60 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. IGN
    82
    The cliffhanger story is well put together. The action is simple and effective. The controls not only work, they're fun...Best of all, the sense of discovery and adventure is captured with a fresh sensibility.
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  2. ActionTrip
    90
    A solid title from the ground up. It has a nicely written story, with lively characters and a charismatic and sexy protagonist in Lara Croft. It has great voice acting and music, and the artists have done a marvelous job of creating beautiful and diverse locations for the game's backdrop.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer 2.0
    83
    The changes Crystal Dynamics have affected means it’s easily the most polished, well-rounded package of the seven.
    Read full review
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