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Lara
in the next generation game |
In the last couple of months some
readers have expressed concern regarding the next instalment of Tomb
Raider, the so called next generation Tomb Raider. Although
Core Design isn't prepared to release any more information regarding
this game until later this year, we've decided to make a status update
so that all the nonsense regarding the game will stop.
First, let us assure you that the game is being developed and will be
released late 2002. This game is in development for about two years now
and is being done by Core's largest development team so far. The game's
development is on schedule and "we're very happy with the
results so far," Susie Hamilton, Core's PR Manager, told The
Croft Times last week. "We can assure all TR fans that Lara will
still be the same in the fundamental beliefs/morals/style/looks etc...
just a whole lot better!!!" she added.
The latest official statements from Core were made at a press conference
last February. At this conference, Core hinted several details about the
game; perhaps the most interesting that it won't carry the Tomb Raider
title.
Certain rumours about the episodic nature of the game were also
addressed by Core, who stated that new episodes will not be distributed
on-line but that some game-related extras, like character bios and
portraits, will be.
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Next
generation Lara Croft |
Core also revealed some gameplay details, mainly that the game will
feature some light role-playing elements like character attribute
development. Rather than allowing the player to change or choose the
characters attributes; some actions, like sprinting and other special
movements, will become more effective the more they are used. This will
allow that certain areas in the game will only be accessible by
characters that have reached a certain proficiency level at certain
attributes.
A new male playable character, whose name is not yet confirmed, will be
introduced, although Core recently confirmed that this will not allow
for multiplayer gamming. Not much was revealed about him or his
relationship with Lara, but it was hinted that his motivations are
similar to Lara's.
Lara and her companion will be able to move through the environment in a
much more natural fashion; Core has moved away from the traditional
grid-based world and is trying to achieve a much more true to live
gamming environment, making it more fluid and organic. The game's
environment will be more exciting and interactive; the characters will
be able to explore it completely, accessing every place and doing
whatever they feel like doing. If any character (or should we say any
player?) feels like jumping trough a window, (s)he can do it.
The gameplay will not differ that much from traditional Tomb
Raider gameplay - which is good; after all we do love TR's
gameplay - and the style will range from stealth-based to traditional Tomb
Raider exploration.
Not much was revealed about the game's plot, although Core restated that
the game's themes will be much darker that the traditional TR
games, but again the company didn't went further into details.
The basic story goes something like this: While visiting a friend in
Paris, Lara is framed for a serious crime, forcing her to evade the law.
Paris will then be the first of several huge playable areas featured in
the game, and will have Lara breaking into, and possibly vandalizing,
the famous Musée du Louvre. No more was revealed...
Although we realize this is much less than what you want to know, this
is official information, all confirmed this week, not rumours, so we do
expect it will be enough to keep your spirits rested until more details
are revealed later this year, and also to stop all the nonsense and
rumours floating around.
Thanks to The Croft Times (www.ctimes.net) for all of this information
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