Tomb Raider: Legend
Lara Croft seeks the mythical sword Excalibur across the globe.
In 2006, Crystal Dynamics developed and Eidos Interactive published *Tomb Raider: Legend*, the seventh main game in the series. It was intended as a "reimagining" of both the franchise and its heroine, Lara Croft. The game launched on PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and mobile phones, with a PlayStation 3 version arriving in 2011 as part of *The Tomb Raider Trilogy*. The story follows Lara’s global race to find the mythical sword Excalibur, competing against her former friend Amanda Evert. Gameplay involves navigating linear levels, fighting enemies, and solving environmental puzzles. The DS and GBA versions keep the same story but adjust the gameplay to suit their hardware, while the mobile version turns locations into on-rails, command-based platforming and combat sequences.
Development moved to Crystal Dynamics after Core Design’s *Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness* was critically panned. Production began in 2004 with the goal of revitalizing the franchise, overhauling both the gameplay and Lara’s design. Lara’s original creator, Toby Gard, was brought in to help and played a major role. Composer Troels Brun Folmann designed the music to shift dynamically as players progressed through levels. Critics generally praised *Legend* as a return to form, earning it several award wins and nominations. The GBA and DS ports scored lower due to hardware limitations. Selling over six million copies worldwide, the game revived the *Tomb Raider* brand and cemented Lara Croft’s status as a gaming icon. It was followed by *Tomb Raider: Anniversary* in 2007 (a remake of the first game) and a direct sequel, *Tomb Raider: Underworld*, in 2008, both set in the same continuity.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tomb Raider: Legend
- Publisher
- Eidos InteractivePlayStation 3 version published by Square Enix Europe
- Producer
- Morgan Gray
- Programmer
- Rob Pavey
- Designer
- Riley Cooper / Doug Church
- Writer
- Eric Lindstrom / Aaron Vanian / Toby Gard
- Composer
- Troels Brun Folmann
- Series
- Tomb Raider
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2 · Windows · Xbox · Xbox 360 · PlayStation Portable · Game Boy Advance · Nintendo DS · GameCube · PlayStation 3
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Tomb Raider: Legend was developed following the critical failure of Core Design's Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. Eidos transferred development of the next Tomb Raider to American developer Crystal Dynamics, who began production in 2004 with the aim of revitalising the franchise. Both the gameplay and Lara herself were redesigned, with Lara's creator Toby Gard brought on board to assist and deeply involved with the project. Composer Troels Brun Folmann designed the music to change during levels as the player progresses. The game details Lara Croft's quest for the mythical sword Excalibur, racing across the world against her former friend Amanda Evert. Gameplay features Lara navigating linear levels, fighting enemies, and solving environmental puzzles to progress. The DS and GBA versions share the game's story while sporting gameplay adjusted for the platforms, and the mobile version adapts locations from the game into on-rails command-based platforming and combat scenarios.
Reader's Guide
Tomb Raider: Legend is significant as a successful reimagining of the Tomb Raider series after the critical failure of its predecessor. It re-established Lara Croft as a gaming icon and revitalised the brand, selling over six million copies worldwide. The game received generally positive reviews, with many praising it as a return to form for the series, and it either won or was nominated for multiple gaming awards. The GBA and DS ports received lower scores due to the impact of hardware limitations on the gameplay. Legend was followed by two further games set in the same continuity: Tomb Raider: Anniversary, a remake of the first game released in 2007, and a direct sequel, Tomb Raider: Underworld, which followed in 2008. The game's legacy includes its role in restoring the franchise's reputation and its influence on subsequent entries in the series.
Did You Know?
- Lara's creator Toby Gard was brought on board and deeply involved with the project.
- The game's music was designed by composer Troels Brun Folmann to change during levels as the player progresses.
- The PlayStation Portable version includes exclusive 'Tomb Trials' missions that can be played in single-player or multiplayer mode.
- The mobile version adapts three of the game's locations into on-rails command-based platforming and combat scenarios.
More in Adventure Games of the 2000s, Part 2 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced