Customer Reviews

Tomb Raider: The Lost Artifact

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Tomb Raider is a good one. I had some problems at first, but I still find it to be a lot of fun and really beautiful enviroments. For some reason this game didn't come with an instrution booklet and the games wouldn't seem to save at first. What's fun is there are a lot of lil' hidden things. So far I've seen two. In the second level there are Tomb Raider 2: Gold games at the computers and in the sub level there are Lara Croft pictures near the lockers. It's not the best game but it's still good.

Yes, I went out and bought this new TR installment, and I have to admit that it isn't that great. Although titled TR: The Lost Artifact, it is in fact the equivalent of TRIII Gold; however, since this installment doesn't include the original TRIII levels, Eidos has simply marketed this offering as an expansion pack to the TR series.

The choice not to release TLA as part of the Gold series is a flaw, to be honest. New gamers who are perhaps unfamiliar with the TR series are forced to purchase BOTH TRIII and TLA. For gamers familiar with TR, there is (as of yet) no rebate offer available to owners of TRIII and rumors abound that the TLA levels will not be available for future free download (such as with TR Gold). Put simply, Eidos's marketing strategy for TLA is awful strange.

All this would be moot, of course, if TLA was a blast to play. Sadly, however, it has the feel of leftover levels rather than new crucial levels. I had no problems completing this game. I was never once stumped by any of the puzzles. In truth, I finished the six levels in breathtaking time. I admit, however, that I did a pathetic job at finding all the secrets. So, possibly, I may have missed some treasured gameplaying nuggets. Secrets aside, though, the levels should still be fun, challenging, and involving. A classic TR level, with challenging puzzles, should take HOURS to complete. None of the levels in TLA took me more than a single hour.

So, unless your a TR fanatic, I'd stay away from this one. Or I'd at least wait until the price dramatically drops.

I will review the game -- not the price. This is a great game and for those of you who tire of the length and breadth of other Tomb Raider games will love the quick pace of this game.

It is really up to you wheather or not you want to pay money for what is basically a weekend's worth of gaming, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in quality. Every level feels different and has different kinds of challenges you have to meet. You will undoubtedly miss most of the secrets the first time through which will make it a fun game to replay, and since it is so short, a replay doesn't mean sacrificing an entire week of your life just to do some extra exploring. The secrets I encountered were HUGE by the way and in some cases comprised major sections of the level, so anyone who played this game and missed all the secrets really doesn't have a good idea of what this game is like.

I do wish that they had packaged TRIII with TRLA, but like I said, I think it was worth the money I spent on it.

There are some good moments in Tomb Raider: TLA. Having a good look at Nessie was interesting. It's a good thing they included Lara's ever-popular mansion in here. Other wise people would be lost with the controls. I do, however have a though to give on Eidos' marketing strategy. It would have been nice to have Tomb Raider 3 and Tomb Raider: TLA packaged together as part of the Gold series. I would have liked TLA to have been cheaper, too. What say, <$15? I think that their packaging method is also strange. You'll have to be careful taking the gamedisc out of the sleeve without toughing the back. Whatever happened to the classic jewel CD casings?

This version of Tomb Raider has excellent gameplay and takes Lara to new and exciting places, including the a World War II relic submarine and the home of the Loch Ness monster. It is a great addition to the Tomb Raider series, and I strongly recommend it to any Tomb Raider fan.

This game, however, is only five levels and could actually be described as Tomb Raider III Gold. Though the levels are fun, it is frustrating to pay full price for only one third of a game. Furthermore, the game actually has the same weapons and features as Tomb Raider III. I highly recommend it, but it is a bit expensive for only a few levels.

If you love the Tomb Raider series, I highly recommend this game. However, if you are wishing to sample the series, I recommend another full version, such as the original or Tomb Raider II. Don't get me wrong, it certainly is fun, especially when you are face to face with nessie!

Tomb Raider: The Lost Artifact was one of the first TR games I played, so of course the plot didn't make much sense to me. But even though it didn't make much sense, I still loved playing it. The Lost Artifact has (now that I've played all the other games) an interesting plot, good graphics, and a good assortment of weapons. It's a must have, of course, but I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you've played the other games (or at least TR 3).

the story doesn't make much sense.. i don't like that there isn't many cutscenes, and frankly i think it's too short. but i really like all the levels and it's as fun as the third one.

i think they shoulda added this to the first one, but you don't always get what you want, right?

i'm sure if you liked tomb raider 3 you'll like this.

Now, I love Tomb Raider. Of anything, I love Tomb Raider 3. It was nice to see Lara Croft in 6 new levels, bringing back two of her TR3 costumes (Nevada and London). But I'm a big dis-believer in these "Gold" games. All of them have fallen flat, but not so much as The Lost Artifact.

Before you go off on "WTF? You're reviewing The Lost Artifact, not TR3," The Lost Artifact is a basic spin-off on TR3. Like Tomb Raider Gold: Unfinished Business. Well, this just happens to be Tomb Raider 3 Gold: The Lost Artifact.

Now, I'll begin. First, the game is glitched. Now, The Lost Artifact is on the PC only, which was their first mistake. Honestly, if you ask me, they should have a CD for Playstation with all of the Gold levels from all of the Gold games. That would make it a hellufalot easier. But you probably think that has nothing to do with the game being glitched, and you're right about that with the second comment. But with the first one, my CD has many things wrong with it. I've never had any trouble with TR games for the Playstation, but the computer ones always boggle me. The Lost Artifact for me would freeze on the load screen, but when I'd press the drive open button, the game would suddenly continue, only the music would be stuck in a continuous loop, playing the same note-and-a-half over and over and over again. When I'd beat the level, I'd have to put the disk back in, and then take it out again at the next load screen button. Talk about screwed up.

Second, it was too short, too disappointing. The graphics were horrible as well. The levels were poorly constructed in my opinion. Core could have SORED with this game, but their wings must be broken or something because this one fell flat on its rectum.

But, I am one of the biggest Tomb Raider fans on the planet, so no matter how bad I thought this game was, I still redidly enjoyed it. Besides, I beat the first level (cheat codes for all the rest), which means it was relatively easy. Whoo, rock on me. I was glad to see the return of Sofia. She deserved to get burned twice. Not only that, but Tomb Raider 3 did fall rather flat. The Lost Artifact was able to pick it up from there, but in order to really enjoy the game and not find it too short, you have to think of it in that perspective.

So unless you're a hardcore Tomb Raider fan and strive to complete the collection (I don't blame you, I have all of them too), don't get The Lost Artifact. If Tomb Raider 3 just wasn't doing it for you, then by all means, purchase the gold version. It just might not be worth the trouble.