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Join Lara in her biggest adventure to date
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"Lara Croft is our kind of action hero!" Rolling Stone
1-800-942-0426
A year later, Eidos' superstar heroine, Lara
Croft, set out on her second adventure into
the ever-changing console market. And with a
score of tougher, more intricately designed
levels as well as a bevy of new moves and a
heavily action-skewed quest, the world was
deservedly still in awe of the woman and her
legendary abilities. But the new generation of
games and technology was creeping up fast.
With Legend of Zelda on the console
horizon for 1998 and PlayStation titles
like Gran Turismo and Metal Gear Solid showing off the unrealized
power of the system, what would Tomb Raider III be bringing to the
table?
Gameplay, level design and an incredible amount of control over the
main character were the main elements that first hooked Tomb
Raider devotees. Add to this mix a glamorous, gun-slinging
top-heavy brunette to stick onto the box and you have the series that
spawned countless clones. Through the evolution of the series, little
has changed in the gameplay, which both hurts and helps Tomb
Raider III. Despite new moves such as a crawl and a monkey bar
climb along with a few new vehicles (ATV, kayak, etc.), controlling
Lara in Tomb Raider III is identical to her first two adventures. Her
movements are no more fluid, nor is she anymore flexible than
before. The fact that the control was fairly spot-on at the start of the
series means that it works well throughout three whole games, but at
the same time the series feels a bit stunted in its growth. There is no
progress or evolution. But beyond the control scheme, the whole of
Tomb Raider III feels more like an expansion pack to the series than
a completely new game.
No single area of gameplay has been improved or changed enough
to warrant it as a leap in technology or game design. Subtle changes
include action and puzzles being carefully balanced to even out the
heavy dose of action that turned off some fans in the second title.
There are fewer enemies to deal with and the levels have become
more complicated in design. Core has even included branching paths
throughout some of the levels to keep the game from feeling too
linear. Often the difference between paths is the level of difficulty and
access to certain secrets. But they aren't implemented in a way to
really affect the game in any profound way.
The real meat of Core's attempt at moving away from an overly
linear pattern of progress is the player's ability to choose which level
he or she would like to play through after completing the first four
stages. From this point, you are able to choose from three different
regions to explore, but endgame remains the same. This touch adds
a nice feel, in that the player might not feel as limited to traveling
down a set track to the end.
But even with all of these clever new features and options, Tomb
Raider III remains roughly the same game as its predecessors. With
more stages, a higher level of difficulty and much more complex level
designs, this installment is clearly not aimed at the TR novice.
Puzzling dead ends and grueling action sequences will intimidate
even the most experienced Tomb Raiders. At many turns, you may
even find yourself trapped in a figurative corner, with seemingly no
way to get out or retry a move without having to start the level over
again. While some patient investigation and countless hours of
exploration make each situation surmountable, when you're
frustrated and stuck you'll be quick to blame the game's overly
confusing level design.
"Confusing level design" can in turn be blamed on the overuse of
dark and pixelly textures. With all the talk of "hi-resolution triangle
polygons" and expanded lighting effects in Tomb Raider III, the
results are nowhere near as impressive on the PlayStation as on a
3D accelerated PC. The PlayStation port suffers from unbearably
dark stages and an overflooding of rough textures that obscure
passages and make certain areas of gameplay more difficult than
they need be. When set next to the dark, moody ambience of Metal
Gear Solid, Tomb Raider III appears clumsy and visually rough
when the player is left stumbling through confusing alleyways fighting
unseen enemies in the dark.
Sometimes it may seem difficult to continue to praise the Tomb
Raider series in light of other games that seem to ambitiously use
untapped PlayStation powers (Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer 4) or
take gameplay to new heights of creativity (Metal Gear Solid). But
despite it's apparent shortcomings and signs of age, Tomb Raider III
does offer solid gameplay and a continuance of what some gamers
still cherish about the series.
While the game merits the title "Tomb Raider 2.5" rather than Tomb
Raider III, it still possesses enough of the original spark to challenge
devoted converts to join Lara Croft for one more journey before the
floodgates open for the next generation systems.
All Weapons, Medkits, Flares and Save Crystals
While playing press L2, R2x2, L2x4, R2, L2, R2x2, L2, R2x2, L2x2, R2,
L2x2, R2.
Find the Key in Lara's House
To find the key to Lara's race track you first need to lock the butler
in the freezer. Then go to your bed room and get the flairs
in the room next to her bed.
Next go down the hall and go into the attic and light a flair.
Find the green or blue box and push it forword twice. Leave the
attic and go to the library in the upstairs. On the bookshelf
on the wall on the right there is a book that you have to push.
After you push it the fire in the fire place will go out. Go into
the fire place and turn left you should be abel to climb the wall to
a secret passage follow the passage to a room.
In the room climb up onto the ledge and push the box from the attic
to the left. Then go to the other end of the ledge, light a
flair and pull the lever on the wall. While the door opening
scene runs press CIRCLE to turn around and run to the door under
the stairs.
Once down there find another green box and pull it back once and to
the right once. Jump up into the secret passage and into
the water. Swim around the tank to the other side but stay neer the
glass and you find the key in the water. You can find it by
looking around the fish tank in the basement.
Level Skip
While playing press L2, R2, L2x2, R2, L2, R2, L2, R2, L2x4, R2, L2,
R2x4, L2.
Racetrack Key
To get the racetrack key press R2, L2x3, R2, L2x6, R2, L2x5, R2, L2x2
while playing in Lara's manshion.
Secret Room in Lara's Mansion
When you enter the mansion go to her pool. Behind the diving board
there is a switch. Press it to open a door in the main room
with a switch behind it. Pull the switch and quickly turn around and
sprint for the room across the hall. Inside you'll find some of
the artifacts she's collected on her adventures.
Training Mode Glitch
Go to Lara's outdoor assault course and get to the point where you're
about to ride on the zip line. DON'T! Instead, walk to
the top right corner of the square you are standing in (assuming you
are facing toward the shooting range.)
Position yourself so that you are standing diagonally facing the perimeter
wall. Get as close to the corner as you can then jump
straight up and press the ACTION button. Do this until Lara leaps HIGH
into the air and winds up very high over the course.
Don't run around.
Now face the red square that's floating in the air and WALK to the edge.
Move Lara so she is directly facing the red square
and do a regular STANDING JUMP. When on the red square, move so that
she is facing the opposite way that she was facing
when you were in front of the zip line. Now walk to the corner facing
the back of the course.
Press back once then run and jump. If done correctly you should be on
the roof. From the roof you can jump into the area
where the quad bike is. NO KEY REQUIRED. Have fun!
