Tomb Raider

Lara Croft has made a crossover, a now 8-bit Lara finds herself jumping, swimming, and flipping her way across your Game Boy Color screen...sounds good right? On paper. This game is just missing something-you don't make meatballs without meat and that is what this game is missing...meat. The graphics are great(probaly the best for Game Boy so far), and it is nice to see Lara make her way over to Nintendo, but in crossing that street Lara has lost something-the charm that made her so popular. That great puzzle element has been taken out and replaced with an endless maze of platform jumping and back tracking. There is no longer that feeling of accomplishment-now only a feeling of sheer frustration. It become mindless and almost sadistic. Another real twisted idea is that NO background noise was included! In the Playstation versions you have those great "tomb" noises, and the bells and whistles when you find something fabulous-here you are left to your screams and curses. It is empty. I need something or else I'll go crazy! Another point to make is the controls. The Tomb Raider series is notourious for it's strange and sometimes awkward controls and this is no exception. Lara enjoys jumping up when you want her to move forward, not grabbing ledges, and even plunging to her death-so be warned. Like the other games it takes time. Now I will admit that for some strange reason the game is a bit fun...I am not sure why. Maybe it is because the Playstation editions are so cool that it spills over, or maybe it is just because I can play a Tomb Raider game just about anywhere...or maybe it is because while the game lost it's charm a new brand of fun took it's place. The game does have a lot of good points. The graphics are really well done, it is challenging(a big feat for Nintendo), and there are plenty of "power-ups" laying around just waiting to be swooped up. It is very inventive for the Game Boy format; it isn't just an ordinary jump 'n shoot game. The levels are expansive(a bad point-depending on your point of view). I would call it a "good" game-not a great game. Hard-core Tomb Raider fans probaly will find this adventure a little tame, although it is great for younger players who may love Lara's adventures but find her other expeditions on the tough side-the side scrolling format might be a easier for them. So the final verdict...give this game a whirl but build your library on Lara's 32(and soon 128)bit adventures.

Wow! Lara is back on a smaller platform but she is better than ever. My expectations for this were not high. I am happy to report the game delivers great gameplay. It is fun to experience Tomb Raider as a side scroller for the first time. Many of the elements and controls of the first 4 in the series are here. While there are many differences an experienced 'Tomb Raider' will not be disappointed. Graphics are great for the Game Boy. The cut scenes also look great. A must buy for Tomb Raider and Game Boy Color Fans!

The redoubtable Lara Croft rules the Gameboy! With guns blazing, the long-legged Lara once again undertakes a dangerous adventure, this time in an underground tomb in South America. This game has outstanding colorful graphics and cut scenes and is great fun to play. Lara's movements are very fluid and realistic. You almost feel the pain when the tiny Lara gets impaled on stalagmites.

The game is a 2D platformer with puzzle elements and lots of variety and many large areas to cover. Some professional reviewers have said the controls are a little difficult. I had no trouble with the controls after a brief learning period and feel the comment is unwarranted. I recommend this game highly.