For awhile it
seemed like the awful Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness was going
to be Lady Croft’s last adventure. It would have been sad to end the series on
such a sour note but thankfully a new team took control of our favorite leading
lady and turned things around with Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend on
three consoles including the new Xbox 360. At that was left was to bring Lara to
the handheld and as if listening to our prayers Eidos has done just that with
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend for the PSP. Grab your passport
because this adventure plays a lot like the console versions.
The last time we
saw Lara Croft she was sought after by Paris authorities for a murder she didn’t
commit and her adventure took her away from the very tombs she was famous for
exploring. Legend, on the other hand, is a return to the old form, going
back to the bosomy explorer’s roots. The story takes us into Lara’s past as she
begins to unravel a mystery that has haunted her since she was a child. We
witness Lara as a child who survives a plane crash with her mother and then the
painful loss during an expedition in search of a rare artifact. Several years
later, on a similar expedition in search of the same artifact, a violent
encounter in the tomb leads to the sudden disappearance of Lara’s colleague, who
then resurfaces as her nemesis. Lara’s quest for the truth as well as the same
artifact takes her around the globe in an adventure that connects these
mysteries with that of the King Arthur legend.
If you’ve played
the console version you will be pleasantly surprised that most of what you find
on the PS2 and Xbox can be found in the PSP version as well. You’ll still be
able to explore the interior of Lara’s mansion and you’ll still be able to
locate hidden items inside. There’s even a multiplayer mode that the console
versions don’t have but we will get into that a bit later. The main game is much
like the console version only small bits are taken out to make the levels a bit
shorter but not by very much. You will still find the same area layout and all
the same puzzles. For example, the balance beam puzzle in Bolivia is there as
well as the trap door puzzles in the Peruvian level. Aside from the same
platform acrobatics, shoot outs and puzzle-solving, the game includes some great
action sequences. For example, in Peru you’ll be able to chase down the enemies
on a motorcycle while in another level you’ll be high above the streets of
Tokyo.
The story
unfolds wonderfully enough and many of the game’s best sequences do offer more
variety. There are even hidden items to collect in order to unlock extras so
there is no shortage of things to do in each level. Unfortunately, even with the
main game intact, the limitation of the PSP become evident the first time you
jump from a pole to grab that vine. The camera in this game is not your friend
and you will quickly start wishing for a second analog stick to help things. You
will die often in the game and mainly it’s a result of not being able to see a
vine or see that steep drop right in front of you thanks to a bad camera
position. Worse yet there are moments when you think that ledge looked a lot
closer when it’s actually not and you plunge to your death. Combat is another
weak spot in this version of the game. While you have unlimited ammo for your
trademark twin pistols and you can pick up any weapon an enemy drops, you’ll
have a hard time killing your enemy. You’ll find that some enemies require a lot
of lead to permanently stop them in their tracks and that also includes the
dangerous wildlife as well.
Lara also has a
number of new toys in her utility belt including a grappling device that can be
used to as a swing when vines aren’t around, to pick up distant items or to
bring an enemy closer for a close-ranged attack. You’ll also have a personal
light source and binoculars that can be used to identify things you can
manipulate. Also new is the game’s multiplayer mode. Two players can play
against each another using the Ad Hoc connection to play three different game
modes: Master System, Treasure Hunt and Raid N’ Seek. Master System is basically
a race that has you racing against a friend through an area complete with
checkpoints. Treasure Hunt has you in a race to collect a hidden artifact before
the timer runs out while Raid N’ Seek has you hiding your artifact and then
seeking out your opponent’s hidden artifact before your friend finds yours.
As for the
game’s graphics you will be blown away by how close it looks like the PS2
version of the game in almost every way. The locales are rendered beautifully
and they look nicely detailed from afar as well as up close. Even the character
models look good and our Lara looks more natural these days. The cutscenes look
good and the visual effects and lighting are perfect. Overall, this is one
seriously beautiful-looking game with some graphical glitches like awful
clipping and bad camera angles.
The sound is
also another major highlight that includes the stellar soundtrack that plays
throughout the game as well as the solid voice acting. Lara’s lines are true to
her character and her cheesy lines seem less cheesy thanks to the great
delivery. There are some great sound effects but in order to really get the most
out of the sound I highly suggest you play this one using earphones. It’s the
only way you’ll hear the incredibly detailed sound effects like squeaking bats,
water drips and the wind passing through the corridors of a tomb.
Lara Croft
Tomb Raider: Legend
for the PSP is an impressive attempt to bring the great console
game to portable form and, for the most part, it’s a job well done.
Unfortunately, the technical flaws are too obvious to ignore and play a hand in
keeping gamers from enjoying a fun adventure and one of Lady Croft’s finest
moments. If you’re able to put up with the poor controls and awful camera, this
is a game you might just want to buy if you loved the console version.
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Gameplay: 7.2
You’ll start
wishing the PSP had a second analog stick once you start the platform jumping
and classic Tomb Raider-styled vine swinging. Even combat becomes an
annoyance and even more so on the PSP thanks to questionable targeting
mechanics. The adventure you embark on, though, is worth the price of admission.
Graphics: 7.5
Holy cow, the
game looks just like the PS2 version of the game. The backgrounds come to life
on the PSP widescreen and even the character models – especially our more
natural-looking Lara – looks amazing. Now if only the camera gave us a better
view of the action this would be a truly visually stunning PSP game.
Sound: 9.0
The soundtrack
from the console version is completely intact in this portable version and it
still sets the mood just right during exploration and the action sequences. Lara
Croft is also voiced wonderfully and so are the secondary characters. There are
some nicely detailed sound effects that are more evident using earphones.
Difficulty:
Medium
You would
think the hardest part is solving some of the game’s various puzzles but in this
version the biggest challenge comes from wrestling with the annoying camera that
will often play a hand in killing you more often than an enemy or a trap. The
targeting system also makes combat a real chore. Oh, and is that jaguar in
Bolivia wearing Kevlar because I swear I wasted two entire ammo clips to kill
it.
Concept: 7.5
It’s the
entire console experience shrunk into the PSP with the fun Croft Manor
exploration, unlockable extras (like new outfits for Lara) and the addition of a
multiplayer mode. While some of the levels feel a bit shorter, you’ll be
pleasantly surprised to find most of the game’s best moments completely intact.
Multiplayer:
7.5
Two players
can go up against each another in a PSP exclusive head-to-head multiplayer game
that basically has you racing against a friend through environments found in the
main game. The best of the three modes is Raid N‘ Seek that‘s a mix between hide
and seek and capture the flag. While it doesn’t seem like much the three
multiplayer modes are fun and we thank Eidos for including them.
Overall: 7.0
Tomb
Raider: Legend
for the PSP is riddled with technical problems but it still
managed to cram in all the great things we loved about the console version. Lara
Croft’s return is a good one and even on the PSP the game is able to offer up an
adventure well worth playing. While the console version is still the best
version of the game, this portable version isn’t completely bad.
