The raider returns

She's had more dodgy comebacks than Oasis, but since US developer Crystal Dynamics took over the Tomb Raider series, Lara Croft seems to have been on a solidly upward career trajectory. Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first instalment to be specifically designed for the current consoles - and it could well be her greatest adventure since the legendary first two outings.

With an explosive opening that sees Croft Manor going up in flames, the Tomb Raider: Underworld plot is apparently a conclusion to the storyline explored in Legend. Lara must now set out to discover the mythical Hammer Of Thor, capable of destroying mountains, and even gods. On the way she'll face giant spiders, bats, tigers and mythical beasts as she trots the globe, dual pistols at the ready.

Evolve or die

One thing's immediately clear. Instead of making wholesale changes to the recipe, Crystal Dynamics has opted for important tweaks to the core gameplay. In Tomb Raiding: Underworld, Lara can now shoot a gun while clinging on to a cliff-face, for example, which adds considerably to the natural flow of the action.

Her movements are also more lithe and realistic - the result of exhaustive motion-capturing sessions with gymnast Heidi Moneymaker. You'll now be able to free-climb on cliffs rather than just go up, down or across, adding realism but also, potentially, more exploration opportunities. Lara can also 'wall jump' between two narrow cliff faces, leaping from one to the other to reach new platforms. It seems Tomb Raider: Underworld represents a bridge between the stiff, laboured exploration of the old games and the free-running athleticism of Prince Of Persia.

What the series has always been famous for is its wonderfully atmospheric environments, and Tomb Raider: Underworld looks set to take this to a new dimension. Exploiting current console technology to the full, the developers have produced a series of beautifully complex locations, from lush tropical jungles to frozen wastelands, and, of course, deep lagoons, all dripping with detail and possibility.

Shoot first, take photos later

The Thailand stage is classic stuff, filled with lush vegetation, drooping vines and intricate ancient architecture (apparently based on-real-life Cambodian temples). There's a greater openness to the design in Tomb Raider: Underworld, allowing players to explore at their own pace rather than trudging along a linear path. Lara can even take photos, which players can apparently upload to the web. She's a tourist as well these days.

A key advance is the environmental realism. Lara leaves footprints while wandering down muddy paths, providing a useful navigation tool - unless it rains of course, in which case the evidence is washed away. Any felled enemies or damaged objects are also remembered and retained in the game world, providing a real feeling of having a lasting impact on your surroundings. Animation, too, provides authentic visual feedback, via context-sensitive movement - so if Lara is traversing rocky ground, she'll clamber and stumble; if she's darting through the jungle, her arms will reach out to part the foliage. The aim with Tomb Raider: Underworld is to create a truly immersive, truly living Tomb Raider universe.

And within it, is the familiar Tomb Raider experience we all love. Tomb Raider: Underworld is a vast puzzle box filled with switches, hidden passages and brain-teasing conundrums. Take the entrance to the Thailand temple - a vast structure filled with weighing machines, ropes, lifts and ancient mechanisms that all have to be teased into life if progress is to be made. But there's combat too, and Lara will have a couple of new weapons to add to her armoury, including a sticky grenade that adheres to an enemy until it explodes, and a tranquiliser gun, enabling you to bypass those pesky tigers without enraging the World Wildlife Fund.

The real Lara

It seems like evolution is the name of the game here, with a solid Tomb Raider structure embellished with amazingly rich and natural locations. Uncharted Drake's Fortune hinted at what an Indiana Jones-style action adventure could look like on the shiny new consoles, but Tomb Raider: Underworld could well be the next step forward. Lara is back to reclaim her crown. All may be forgiven.

Preview by: Keith 'Shorts and a Vest' Stuart
Preview Published: 24.10.08