Tomb Raider II
Lara Croft hunts the Dagger of Xian across global locations.
Tomb Raider II (also called Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft) is an action-adventure game from 1997, built by Core Design and put out by Eidos Interactive. It landed first on Windows and PlayStation, then later on Mac OS in 1998, iOS in 2014, and Android in 2015. This is the second game in the Tomb Raider series. The story has Lara Croft, an archaeologist and adventurer, chasing the magical Dagger of Xian while going up against an Italian cult. Players guide Lara through levels split into several areas and room complexes, fighting enemies and solving puzzles to move forward. Some sections let you or even require you to use vehicles. Work on the game started in 1996, right after the first Tomb Raider did well, and wrapped up in six to nine months. That short timeline put a lot of physical and emotional strain on the team. Original staff members Toby Gard and Paul Douglas left because they disagreed creatively with Eidos, but many others stayed, including composer Nathan McCree. A version for the Sega Saturn got scrapped due to technical limits and a deal between Eidos and Sony that made the game a console exclusive. Critics liked Tomb Raider II when it came out, pointing out its bigger gameplay and smoother visuals. It sold almost seven million copies around the world. An expansion called The Further Adventures of Lara Croft was being made in late 1997 but got canceled. Some ideas from that project ended up in the 1998 follow-up, Tomb Raider III. Another expansion, The Golden Mask, came out the next year and added new levels about Lara hunting a golden mask in Alaska. A remastered version of the game, along with The Golden Mask, showed up in Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tomb Raider II
- Developer
- Core DesignPorted to Mac OS by Westlake Interactive.
- Publisher
- Eidos InteractiveMac OS release published by Aspyr.
- Producer
- Troy Horton
- Designer
- Neal Boyd · Heather Gibson
- Programmer
- Gavin Rummery
- Artist
- Stuart Atkinson · Jocelyn Charmet
- Writer
- Vicky Arnold
- Composer
- Nathan McCree
- Series
- Tomb Raider
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation / Mac OS / iOS / Android
- Released
- Windows, PlayStationNA · 21 November 1997 · EU · 21 November 1997Mac OSNA · October 1998iOS / 3 December 2014 / Android / 28 October 2015
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Tomb Raider II was produced immediately after the success of the original Tomb Raider, with production beginning in 1996 and completed in between six and nine months. This short development period was physically and emotionally stressful for the team. Original staff members Toby Gard and Paul Douglas left over creative differences with Eidos, though many remained including composer Nathan McCree. A Sega Saturn version was scrapped due to technical limitations and a console exclusivity deal signed between Eidos and Sony.
The game is split into levels set in the Great Wall of China, Venice, an oil rig and shipwreck in an unspecified ocean area, and the foothills of Tibet. Lara's home of Croft Manor can be accessed as a training area and is used in the final level. Gameplay carries over much from the original, with third-person perspective, grid-based movement, tank controls, and puzzles involving keys and platforming. New additions include the ability to walk through shallow water, climb ladders, use zip lines, and drive a speedboat and snowmobile in certain levels. Weapons include infinite-ammo pistols and limited-ammo shotgun, dual automatic pistols, dual Uzis, M16 rifle, grenade launcher, and harpoon gun.
The plot follows Lara Croft tracking the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon that can transform its bearer into a dragon. She pursues the Fiamma Nera cult and its leader Marco Bartoli through Venice, an oil rig, the wreck of the Maria Doria, and the Barkhang Monastery in Tibet. After retrieving the Seraph key and navigating the Dagger's chamber, Lara confronts Bartoli as he transforms into a dragon, defeats him, and escapes as the area collapses. The Fiamma Nera launch a final attack at Croft Manor, and the game ends with Lara breaking the fourth wall by shooting at the camera.
Reader's Guide
Tomb Raider II was well-received by critics upon its release, with many noting its expanded gameplay and smoother graphics. It sold nearly seven million copies worldwide, cementing the series' commercial success. An expansion pack entitled The Further Adventures of Lara Croft was in development in late 1997 but was cancelled, though some elements were carried over to the 1998 sequel Tomb Raider III. A separate expansion, The Golden Mask, was released the following year, containing new levels focused on Lara's quest to find a golden mask in Alaska. A remastered version of the game, alongside The Golden Mask, was included in Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024. The game's legacy includes its influence on the action-adventure genre and its role in establishing Lara Croft as a prominent video game character.
Did You Know?
- Tomb Raider II was developed in between six and nine months, a short period that was physically and emotionally stressful for the team.
- A Sega Saturn version was cancelled due to technical limitations and a console exclusivity deal between Eidos and Sony.
- The game sold nearly seven million copies worldwide.
More in Adventure Games of the 1990s 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced