Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 37
  3. Negative: 15 out of 37
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  1. GamingWorld X
    48
    It lacks the polish and quality necessary to make it a memorable experience, and despite the developers sincerest efforts to shake the series’ stigma as cash-in games, this title is an unrewarding experience.
  2. Game Revolution
    42
    Despite its new look, fairly interesting storyline, and a bucket load of new moves and features, this game is fatally flawed by the completely revamped control system which makes it a nightmare of frustration.
  3. GMR Magazine
    40
    Controlling Lara is like a dream - that one where you simply can't get to where you want to go fast enough, no matter what you try. [Sept 2003, p.74]
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  5. Adrenaline Vault
    40
    The visuals, sound and even the gameplay itself hold potential, but almost every aspect of the latest Tomb Raider feels incomplete.
  6. Eurogamer
    40
    You're going to get stuck, regularly, without remorse. And the main reason you'll get stuck is the terribly unresponsive controls' unholy alliance with the drunken camera that render the proliferation of tediously precise jump puzzles much more of a challenge than they should be.
  7. G4 TV
    40
    An unfinished, bug-ridden game. Blame Core for being too ambitious. Blame Eidos for shipping it too soon. But don't blame us if you buy it.
  8. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    40
    Given the heritage, and the burden it carries as a flag-bearer for videogaming, it's appalling... The biggest issue I have with it is that the controls are atrocious. [Sept 2003, p.90]
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  9. All Game Guide
    40
    It is an absolute shame that the controls are such a beast, because there are many interesting elements in the game.
  10. Village Voice
    40
    The camera almost never points where you need it to, Lara moves erratically even as simple tasks like opening a drawer require precise maneuvering, stealth mode is buggy, and opponents are all too easily dispatched in crude combat. It's a real bust.
  11. Firing Squad
    35
    This is the sort of eternally frustrating bottom-barrel dreck that makes people break gamepads, monitors, and kneecaps (don’t ask).
  12. GameSpy
    34
    To top it all off, not only is AOD almost unplayable when it's working, it's also plagued by a host of glitches that will make you glad that you can save the game at any point... An early contender for "Worst Game of the Year."
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    33
    At times, maneuvering Lara is like steering a battered shopping cart; Lara often takes a half second to react to commands. [18 July 2003, p.82]
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  14. PSX Nation
    30
    This has got to be THE WORST CONTROL IN THE HISTORY OF THIRD-PERSON ACTION GAMES.
  15. Cheat Code Central
    20
    Eidos and Core Design have a debacle on their hands. Angel of Darkness is by far one of the worst games I have ever played. The control, slowdown and glitches are so crippling that the game is honestly, barely functional at times.
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  16. GameNow
    16
    The sloppiest major game release I've ever played... an inexcusable mess. [Sept 2003, p.50]
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
54
#54 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

User Reviews

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User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 149 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 149
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 149
  3. Negative: 40 out of 149
  1. Sarah_Hardy
    Sep 16, 2018
    10
    The best plot of the franchise, innovative for its time. The only problem is the constant bugs in the gameplay, but nothing to get in the way.
  2. Kadeemluvmusic
    Nov 24, 2012
    8
    It's really hard to criticize a Tomb Raider game, but I think Angel of Darkness is one of my favorite underrated PS2 games of all time. ThereIt's really hard to criticize a Tomb Raider game, but I think Angel of Darkness is one of my favorite underrated PS2 games of all time. There are a lot of problems including the glitchy graphics, messed up controls, and that really hurt them because of the bad feedback from fans and critics. However, since I'm still a fan of the series, I don't think it was either Core Design and Eidos' fault in the first place. Sometimes it needs a little more time to finish completing the whole game. But it was a good game and I hope critics should be really sorry about the frustrating things Lara admired in this game. Let's be bygone's be bygone's and call this a truce.… Full Review »
  3. David
    Jun 26, 2003
    9
    A very good game despite all of the criticism.
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