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12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
 The Best PlayStation Game Of All Time!Sep 26, 2002
By Busy Body
Tomb Raider 2 is my absolute favourite PlayStation game of all-time! I bought the game in December 1997, around the same time I got my PlayStation. But I never really liked Tomb Raider 2 and only managed to get halfway through the first level, before forgetting about it for a while. Four years later, in the summer of 2001, I dug it out again and decided to give it a go with the help of a strategy guide. What a shock I got!
After the phenomenal, worldwide success of the original Tomb Raider in November 1996, the Eidos Interactive guys put together the sequel, which, in a rare case, surpasses the original with flying colours. To save the game in the first, you had to find a crystal before continuing, wheras in Tomb Raider 2 you have the ability to save the game whenever you feel like. This comes as a great help, especially before taking off into a running jump over deep caverns and steep slopes. Lara also has much greater weaponary comapred to the last game. The first game featured Pistols, Shotgun and Uzis - that was about it. But with this game, you get weapons such as the Grenade Launcher and an M-16 Assault Rifle. While Tomb Raider 1 focused more on enemies in animal form, Tomb Raider 2 has a more worldly feel because the foes are mostly human. But the most notable change on Tomb Raider 2 is the welcome addition of vehicles. Tomb Raider featured none what so ever, but Tomb Raider 2 has a wide variety from the enjoyable speedboat in Venice and the snowmobile in Tibetian Foothills. Lara also took advantage of a make-over. The graphics where background scenery is concerned is still the same as the first game, but Lara herself has changed a lot; her hair is no longer tied in a bun, but flows freely down her back in a pony tail. The reason this wasn't featured in the first game is because the technology wasn't good enough for her hair to be in a pony tail - they couldn't get it to move in motion with her body (rather silly when you think about it now). Lara also possesses the ability to climb certain surfaces. The improved engine also served better lighting facilities, which allowed Ms Croft the ability to wield flares whenever she finds herself in dark areas. When it comes to the levels, the highlights are Venice, Offshore Rig, Tibetian Foothills (short but sweet - involves driving to one end of a road over pits to find a key, before driving all the way back to open a door that allows you to exit and begin the next level), Barkhang Monastery (HINT: Whatever you do, DON'T shoot the monks, they are here to help! They will dispatch any henchmen who try to kill you so you don't have to kill them! Accidently shoot one, and you'll have hundreds of monks trying to kill you!) and Temple of Xian.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
Tomb Raider 2 is, in my opinion, the greatest PlayStation game there has ever been. Yes, the graphics are laughable now because they have come so far since - especially on the PlayStation 2 and X-Box, but it all boils down to how enjoyable the game is. And in that category, it is still the most enjoyable and exciting game ever. Hundreds of titles try to replicate the suspense and adventure that is seen in the Tomb Raider games and fail miserably. Buy this now from Amazon - it'd be a shame not to and to ignore it would be missing out on one of the most classic video games of all time...
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Still holds upFeb 18, 2003
By mr_bunghole
The first Tomb Raider was a classic in terms of its 3D gameplay, sense of exploration through massive levels, and a unique main character. The 2nd installment in the TR series is not much different. The levels are still HUGE, and exploration is still the name of the game. But this time around, the environments and enemies are more varied, there are more action-based enemy sequences than the first, and the difficulty level has been approriately increased. In terms of the level of challenge, I feel that this is the best in the series. The later Tomb Raider series felt frustrating and downright cheap at times. This one is definitely not a cakewalk, but is very possible without a strategy guide. You don't feel as though you have to play for half an hour just to get into the next room. Progress is slow, but steady, and you don't ever need 6 or 7 different items to move on. Progress is more based on actually getting where you want to go rather than finding the right items or hitting the right combination of switches. Some of the level designs are incredible, such as the Venice-based levels, the Opera House, the beastly Barkhang Monestary and the massive Temple Of Xian. This is the key strength of the first two TR installments, and why the more recent ones have been less inspiring. Resourcefulness and attention to the environment is extremely key, as medipacks are in light supply in this game. Also, every level has 3 secrets in the form of dragons. You do not receive the bonus items unless you find all 3 dragons in the level, making exploration even more vital in building your inventory. Finding at least 2 of the dragons in every level should be quite easy, but some levels have one especially well-hidden dragon. The gold dragons in the first two levels are remarkably difficult, but the reward of finding them (especially the first one) is worth it. If you didn't like the first Tomb Raider, this game won't change your mind. If you were blown away by the first installment (or even the 3rd, 4th or 5th) then this game is a real treat.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
The Best AdventureJun 20, 2004
Of all the Tomb Raiders, this has to be my favorite, for gameplay and technical reasons. This backdrop of adventure is interesting and the closer you get to the "big Boss" the more eerie the game feels in music, puzzles, and adversaries. It was extremely well constructed. Of the series, I compare this to the other games. It seems like the designer was very careful in making this feel complete from the beginning and it flowed well to a dramatic finish. It had a great story and movie feel to the adventure. Technically as a PS player, I liked the ability to save multiple times to get some of the tricky moves down (being new to TR) and it gave me the chance to replay levels that were fun after all was said and done. Enjoy!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The Best Tomb Raider Game Ever!Mar 14, 2004
I started out with TR1 and got stuck when I got to level 5 "St. Francis' Folly," so I tried TR2 and found it the best (with some help from a friend)! The levels are long and the enmies are not too challenging. I'm only in the level 4 "Oprea House," but so far it is 'da best. I only have TR1, Tr2,and TR3, but TR2 is by far my personal favorite. Sure I'm only 11, but I am intitled to my opinion and here's what I have to say. BUY THIS GAME OR YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A TRUE TASTE OF THE TOMB RAIDER SERIES!!!!!!!!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Tomb Raider II (1997)Jan 22, 2006
The original TOMB RAIDER was a great game. Yes, the graphics weren't excellent, but it was a very fun, ground-breaking game. And yet the absoloutely fabulous sequel, TOMB RAIDER II, is even better.
This time, the famous Lara Croft goes in search of the Dagger of Zion, although again there is someone else trying to beat her to it. The dagger is said to give those that owns it 'the power of the dragon.' (SPOILER:) At the end of the game, the sinister man beats Lara to the knife, and when he turns into a huge dragon, you are forced to battle him in a breath-taking finale.
Lara has some new moves in this game - she can even climb ladders - and she has new costumes and even vehicles too. You can drive in a speedboat in Venice and a snowmobile among icy mountains.
The film is alot of fun, very addictive. You could play the game every day. Infact, I believe that TOMB RAIDER II is the best installment in the TOMB RAIDER series that has been available on PLaystation for several years.
Once again, the graphics are disappointing, with little detail. However, Lara this time has a ponytail that moves in the wind!
So, enjoy the game, because I can't see how you can't. Many complain that it has too much action and loses the 'feel' and 'soul' of the original game, but isn't it action that makes these kind of games so great!
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Overrall: 5/5
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based on 26 reviews
