Video Games : Tomb Raider III

Rating: - The Adventures of Lara Croft
Tomb Raider 3 isn't the best Tomb Raider game, but it definately is amongst the best. Tomb Raider 2 remains my favourite Tomb Raider game so far, but having said that Tomb Raider 3 does have some improvements.

Firstly the graphics have improved a bit (this is mostly noticeable when you see fire in the game) and the game features weather effects (snow and rain). Another improvement is that Lara has some new moves, which are the crawl, sprint and monkey swing. Plus she has a better arsenal of weapons. She still has the pistols, the shotgun, the uzies and the harpoon gun, but new weapons replace some of the weapons from Tomb Raider 2. You get an MP5, which replaces the M16, a desert eagle that replaces the automatic pistols, plus a new grenade launcher (this time the grenades roll along the floor before exploding). In addition, you get a rocket launcher in your inventory.

The secrets have gone back to the Tomb Raider 1 style (in Tomb Raider 2 the secrets were 3 dragon statues in the following colours; white, jade and gold; 3 in each level). Again the secrets are hidden areas, and you can get up to 6 secrets in each level (it's only 3 secrets in most levels). Saving your game is a combination of Tomb Raiders 1 and 2. You can save whenever you like, but you need save game crystals in order to do this. In Tomb Raider 1 you'd run up to one and save your game. This time they are no longer solid, but collectable. Don't waste them though.

Throughout the adventure you get a better variety of vehicles to use. Tomb Raider 2 only featured the speedboat and the snowmobile, but this game features the quadbike, the kayak, the underwater propulsion unit, a boat and a mine cart. Lara also has a bigger variety of outfits she wears throughout the game. She wears a different one in each section of levels

Lara's house is an improvement. She has got her gym back, so you can learn your moves (if you're new to the Tomb Raider series), as well as your new ones, and you can test them out at the assault course. The course ends better, as you get your pistols and get the pleasure of shooting the butler. You can't kill him, but you can still lock him in the freezer. Her house also has extra feautures. Her pointless maze from Tomb Raider 2 (that had a switch that opened a timed door, which lead to the most boring room) has been converted into a race track. You need to find the key before you can use it. Here you get to ride the quad bike. Plus there's an extra room, containing some of her artifacts from previous adventures, which features a gold idol (from Raiders of the Lost Arc), the Iris (Tomb Raiders 4 & 5 go into detail with this artifact), the dagger of Xian (from Tomb Raider 2) and pieces of the Scion (from Tomb Raider 1).

Plot of the story

In this game Lara begins her adventure in the jungles of India, in search of an artifact known as the Infada Stone. Having aquired this artifact she runs into a man, who introduces himself as Dr Willard. He's the head of a corporation called RX-Tech. From him she learns some interesting information about the artifact. First off, the Infada Stone wasn't originally from India, but an island near Antarctica. Dr Willard explains that it was carved by Polynesians from meteorite rock. He also reveals that there are 3 other artifacts like that. The Polynesians fled to Antarctica with the artifacts, but the artifacts were picked up in 1834 by a group of 5 sailors. One was killed by a wolf and the other 4 went their seperate ways; one went to India, another went to an island in the south pacific, one went to Nevada and the fourth remained in London. Dr Willard would very much like Lara to travel to these locations and aquire the remaining artifacts. Lara is willing to do so. Thus beggins her third adventure...

The levels are rather challenging in this game. The first 2 Tomb Raiders are dead easy in my opinion, but this one is tougher. The game isn't too tricky, but it's not THAT easy to complete either. It's still a brilliant game nonetheless. After completing the India levels, you get to pick the next set in any order you want. Once you've conquered them all, you have to complete the final set of levels. Antarctica. As a bonus, if you collect every secret in the game you unlock a bonus level, All Hallows. If you complete this level you get to replay every level with all weapons with unlimited ammo. The All Hallows level is rather easy and quick to complete.

India Levels

This is the easiest set, beggining with the easy jungle level, then onto the tougher level, Temple Ruins. The second level is tougher, what with the various traps and the occassional statues that come to life and attack you. The third level is easier and you have the pleasure of riding the quad bike, and you can take various routes. The fourth is short and easy, but the only challenge is finding the right path, as it's like a maze. In this section you get the Infada Stone artifact and this section consists of the following levels.

Jungle
Temple Ruins
The River Ganges
Caves of Kaliya

South Pacific Islands

This is a nice tropical environment, which is inhabbited with a tribe of cannibals. You deal with these guys in levels 1 and 4 (the ones that blow poison darts are a pain in the backside). Level 2 is annoying with the velociraptors roaming the area. In level 3 you ride the Kayak (which is hard to control) and level 4 again is a quick level, but you have to deal with the rolling blades trap, which is annoying. This section is the third toughest section in the game. In this section you get the Ora Dagger artifact and this section consists of the following levels

Coastal Village
Crash Site
Madubu Gorge
Temple of Puna

London

This section is the second toughest (in my opinion) but not too difficult. Set on a rainy night you begin on the rooftops, going in and out of buildings, then into the Aldwych train station, then into the factories owened by this section's villain, Miss Sophia Leigh (this level is a pain in a backside, especially the underwater tunnels, where you get the Underwater Propulsion Unit). And in the last level in this section you simply have to kill Miss Leigh. In this section you get the Eye of Isis artifact and this section consists of the follwing levels.

Thames Wharf
Aldwych
Lud's Gate
City

Nevada

First off I recommend you clear this section first, simply because you begin the second level of this section with all your weapons, ammo and medipacks (with the exception of one small medipack) removed. You begin in the hot desert of Nevada (my favourite level in the game) and it's the only other level in which you use the quadbike. The next 2 levels are different then the first and tougher, as you're in high secuity buildings. The laser traps are annoying. Some causes dammage and others instantly kills Lara. These are the red ones. The green ones trigger machine guns to fire at Lara. This section isn't too challenging, and although it may seem difficult at first, you might find if you play through them again, you'll find them easier. In this section you get the Element 115 artifact, and this section consists of the following levels.

Nevada Desert
High Security Compound
Area 51

Antarctica

The final and toughest section of the game. In the first 2 levels, avoid swimming if you can help it (although you have to at the end of the next level) as a temperature bar appears, and it goes down in seconds. once that's gone down, you have about 3 seconds to get out. The first level is easy enough, but the second can be annoying, simply because of the mine carts (you never know when you need to drop your speed and you may do this at the wrong time. If you go too fast, the mine cart will tip over and Lara will die. If you drop your speed at the wrong time, then the mine cart will drop into a pit you were supposed to jump). The third level is the toughest in the game, but interesting as you explore an ancient city once occupied by Polynesians, plus you have to get 4 masks, each protected by the powers of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. The final level is quick and easy (although it's very likely you may struggle with the boss. I recommend you use the desert eagle, as it takes 10 rounds each to stun him. Make sure you have at least 50 desert eagle clips, as it will be easier and quicker to beat him). This section consists of the following levels.

Antarctica
RX-Tech Mines
Lost City of Tinos
Meteorite Cavern

All in all, a fantastic game. Challenging, but brilliant, and worthy of all Tomb Raider fans. Awesome game, but not as good as Tomb Raider 2.

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Rating: - *The pinnacle of Tomb Raider.*
This game is a truly spectacular adventure leaving little room to complain. Its most distinguishing quality embodies the huge diversity of backgrounds that the levels encompass. These range from the lush forests of India, the enigmatic urban locale of London, the exotic finesse of Pacific Islands, the barren yet awe-inspiring canyons of Nevada Desert, the dubious A.I operations of Area 51, an exhilarating climax within the icy wastes of the Antarctic, a secret quad bike track in Lara's humble abode and an inconspicuous secret level: 'All Hallows' that can be unlocked should you obtain all of the in-game secrets.

The level mechanics are well thought out, involving some inventive and challenging puzzles that only the most intrepid of Tomb Raider explorers can successfully negotiate. Compared to the other Tomb Raider instalments (markedly Tomb Raider Legend), TRIII's game play is well nigh exhaustive and compelling; every emphatically extensive level contributes to a patchwork of suspense whereby Lara seeks to retrieve various nondescript meteorite articles, fuelled by a voracious resolve to unearth the truth concerning life's obtuse prehistoric origins (e.g. K-T Impact).

Plot, intrigue and engaging game play render this instalment, in my estimation, to be head and shoulders above the other Tomb Raider games. There are various distinctive and unique qualities assigned helping to heighten its triumphant originality e.g. being able to dash and dive, crawl, monkey-swing and back flip in the air. These manoeuvres enable gamers to command Lara's movement patterns with far greater aplomb, adding greater fluidity to Lara's somewhat cumbersome and mechanical movement in Tomb Raider I+II. There are also new weapons e.g. desert eagle, MP5, and also vehicular contraptions to aid Lara in her quest, e.g. underwater propulsion unit, kayak, quad bike etc.

Admittedly I had to use a guide to complete this game fully. The difficulty levels of both combat and puzzle-solving stratagem are extremely demanding, which is why gamers previously unacquainted with TR are well advised to tackle the first two games beforehand.

Memorable highlights include: kayaking along the treacherous rapids of a waterfall, infiltrating the esoteric grounds of Area 51's high security compounds and experimenting labs (my favourite bit), battling with pernicious raptors and an imposing girth of a T-REX (have I lost myself in Isla Nubla - Jurassic Park?!), swimming in the dire, murky depths of Lud's gate for what seemed an eternity (I almost gave up here). Enough said. Even in 2008 - a revolutionary era of videogame advancement (e.g. PS3), its timeless appeal marks this as a noteworthy component of an iconic saga.

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Rating: - Incredibly difficult, but rewarding
There's something I really, really like about Tomb Raider III. This game has my favourite storyline out of all the TR games. I'm a big fan of the series but I have to admit, the storylines aren't exactly very engaging. However this game did intruige me and there are some interesting twists in the plot. The reason most people play TR though is for its addictive gameplay. TR3 is a very long game and takes you to a variety of interesting locations, though sadly no tombs which I found disappointing. There's a bit too much combat for my liking, when TR should be about puzzle-solving in quiet locations with the occasional bit of gunplay. While in the original TR, enemies showing up was often a surprise, in this game you really need to be constantly alert and keep a gun drawn wherever you go, so the fights became routine and a bit predictable. The areas where you need to use stealth make an interesting change although aren't anywhere near as advanced as many other adventure games of its era. TR is not Metal Gear Solid and I think the designers should really stick to what they know best. Also, I'm not sure I like what they turned Lara into. Why is she breaking into the Natural History Museum and shooting guards? Surely this makes her a cold-blooded murdering thief... ahem... She does seem like a compassionate albeit determined person in the cutscenes, but her in-game actions don't exactly back that up...
Anyways, this is still an addictive game, but it's EXTREMELY difficult. The hardest of the series in my opininon, and that's saying something as the other games aren't exactly easy. You'll need a walkthrough constantly available because it seems pretty much impossible without one, the puzzles are mercilessly hard.
Anyways, I like TR3 for its intruiging storyline, interesting levels and compelling gameplay. Buy it but be prepared for a huge challenge!

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Rating: - Lara's Best On The PS1
The best one on the PS1 TR Anniversary is the best on the PS2 this game great she gtes to go to london on the rooftops to india and nevada and if you get all the secrets in the game you unlock a secret level great gameplay very hard the way i like it 10/10 Must Buy If You Don't Go And Die!

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Rating: - Great but Difficult and confusing.
Right i love this tombraider game but its far too hard i mean i managed to pass Level: 1 2 3 4 In the Jungle. South Pacific: 1 2 3 4
Nevada: 1 2 3 London 1 2 and STOPED it was a Level Called Luds gate thats where i started having to look up the walkthrouh but still couldn't figure out what to do or where to go i havent played Tomb raider 3 in a while im thinking of playing it today.
The levels are good but long i mean the 2nd level in the jungle Temple Ruins took me 3 hours to complete and i was getting really stressed on that level saying when is this going to be completed i loved the level it was just TOO LONG!
An hour and a half is all ill do on a tombraider level Probs but i managed to keep it together.
The graphics are Ok! The gameplay is good but hard lol.
Overall if you are new to Tomb raider dont get this game if you want a good Tomb raider game id advise you to Go for Tr2 its peoples Favorites.
Comes 2nd Favorite in my list also if you want this game so badly Tomb raider fans you just need to be patient with it the second you get it.