The game begins at Lara's memorial service and Jean Yves, Winston, and
a priest retire to the Croft mansion and remember Lara Croft. Tomb
Raider Chronicles will have 4 adventures that explore Lara's past. The
adventures will take place in Rome, a German U-boat, a small Irish
Island and a hi-tech tower block. Each episode has a unique
focus and requires the player to adopt a different strategy. The Irish
levels (played as the 16-year-old Lara) depend on the use of cunning
and guile rather than weaponry to deal with their many puzzles and
traps. The U-boat has a 'X-files' feel, filled with action, whilst the
Rome levels comprise classic Tomb Raiding adventuring. Finally, the
Tower Block features hi-tech systems that require stealth, strategy
and continual guidance from your companion, ZIP.
Objectives are
clear and the linear nature of each adventure enables goals to be
easily identified. The game engine is modified for graphical
improvement and the smoothest gameplay yet. Environments feature
increased detail, improved lighting, a greater number of characters
and objects plus greater levels of interaction with characters and
objects. Greater use is made of the inventory system and more items
may be collected to allow greater variation on the 'combine' option.
New features
include additional moves and miscellaneous animations for Lara plus a
wider variety of enemy animations. A 'search' option for Lara is
included, enabling her to look through files, drawers etc. and take
any items of use. New weapons include a sniper rifle and a grappling
hook gun. New moves make use of tightropes, suspended bars (Lara may
swing from bar to bar) and grappling ropes. The combination of bars
and ropes requires the player to traverse areas in a wider variety of
ways than previously seen.
Enemy AI is
extensively overhauled and Lara's opponents now react to sound,
allowing a 'stealth' option to be implemented. Hand-to-hand combat
features where Lara creeps up behind enemies and uses either a cosh or
chloroform to disable them. Line of sight issues are re-addressed so
that enemies are able to hide more effectively - Lara will not lock on
until the enemy is clearly visible to the player.
