Tomb Raider

By Matt Richards Staff Writer

ore Design Ltd. has released another big hit into the computer gaming world. Their newest game is titled "Tomb Raider" and is revolutionizing the world of computer entertainment as we know it.

Game Fan magazine writes, "Tomb Raider takes 3D adventure gaming to the next level." Its texture mapped, high detail, 3D environment completely absorbs its audience.

"Tomb Raider" has been released for Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, and PC computers. The suggested configuration for a PC is 16 megabytes of RAM, a Pentium 100 mhz processor, a SVGA screen or greater, and both sound and graphics cards. It is a keyboard based, action/adventure game where the user navigates an elegant and athletic woman named Laura Croft through a series of lost civilizations. This is done while fighting bats, wolves, bears, raptors, lions, people, and other enemies throughout the game.

But, unlike Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem, and other shoot 'em up games, "Tomb Raider," captivates its audience and users with a stunningly realistic portrayal of its world. Its 3D real-time environment is created using a technique called "texture mapping." This method paints textures onto polygons to create the surrounding rocks, bridges, waterfalls, and living objects. The game also uses an intelligent third person camera viewing system. This provides the user with realistic camera angles which are constantly changing to give the best angle possible. The combination of "Tomb Raider's" superior texture mapping and realistic camera angles pull the user into the game.

Laura's world is truly incredible, and it's easier than you might imagine to become completely absorbed into it. It feels more "real" than any other digital environment I have ever experienced. But it's not just her world that captivates a user. Her movements are unlike any other 3D computer character I have encountered. Because of the third person camera angles, the user is not seeing out of Laura's eyes. We are often just behind her, close enough to be right in the action, but not so close that we can't control her well.

Basically, if you can imagine it, Laura can do it. There are keyboard strokes for forward, backward, left and right movement. Along with side stepping, walk and run options, jump, draw, and action keys. This set of commands seems relatively normal for an adventure game. But, in "Tomb Raider," these keyboard commands can be combined. You can jump forward, do a back flip, do a side flip, do a roll under, or you could just jump off a bridge backwards completing a full back flip and catch a ledge. She will also draw one of her many weapons (which include two pistols, two magnums, two uzis, and a shotgun) while completing any other command. One of Laura's most incredible features is her arm control. Unlike many other games, Laura has independent arm movement. This means that if she is looking forward and is approached from the right by an enemy, she will lift only her right arm and fire. So, if need be, you can jump off a ledge, do a roll under while drawing your two uzis, and fire in two opposite directions as you are approached by wolves from the left and right.

There is one more thing about "Tomb Raider" that separates it from all the other shoot 'em up games. It's not based on killing mutant monsters. It has combined the shooting action of "Doom" with the puzzle solving elements of "Myst." You will struggle to navigate Laura through her world, around and over objects, and deep under water through flooded tunnels.

"I'm in another world" is exactly what I was thinking as I sat down to play this for the first time. Laura's completely immersive environment is sure to draw you in, just as it has for me. "Tomb Raider" is taking its genre of games to an entirely different level.