Game info

• Title Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
• Developer [Core Design Aspyr]
• Publisher [Eidos Interactive Aspyr]
• Year 1999
• Platform Playstation 5
• Genre Action

Set entirely in Egyptian locations, Last Revelation's plot revolves around ancient mythology and the alignment of the stars at the millennium. Finding herself in a serious predicament, Lara Croft has a clear objective from the outset: she must escape a terrifying destiny and rectify a situation that threatens to destroy humanity. The storyline is driven seamlessly through advanced engine technology. New programming routines allow gameplay to dissolve into cut-scenes and FMV. Also, loading screens are eliminated, allowing the adventure to become a continuous experience.

Player Select

It’s no secret that I’m a big Tomb Raider fan - lots of memories and nostalgia associated with this, but actually, when I drill down into it, I don’t know that much about the early games. I went big on Tomb Raider 2, and then nothing until The Angel of Darkness. So, obviously I snapped up the previous Remastered bundle of I, II and III, but haven’t actually had time to get stuck in with them. And now, the second Remastered bundle of Last Revelation, Chronicles and Angel of Darkness has been released. I managed to play a few minutes of Angel before being strong-armed into Last Revelation, and oh boy, I’m glad that happened!

It’s in the Game

For the most part, it feels like this is everything Tomb Raider should be. Incredible locations to start with, great ideas - pyramids and trains and sphinxes and more. The game mechanics have moved on a little since the early games, but the block system is still there, so you know what you’re doing when you’re jumping and there are hints when you look around and see flat topped blocks just right for a running jump and grab.

The story is engaging, and actually having had a sneak peak of Angel of Darkness which begins with Lara being unable to forgive Werner Von Croy for what happened in Egypt… we dive right back into that actual adventure and are about to find out what was so unforgiveable. The early levels ease you in gently with a training level and a few puzzles here and there, but then you get to the big stuff.

The levels in Karnak and Alexandria are huge and sprawling and you just run round and revisit places and you have to map it in your head and figure out the right order to do things. There are some enemies but they aren’t too onerous (although the ninja assassins are a pain), and the real focus is on puzzles and figuring out what to do in each level. It’s fantastic and a great way to while away the hours.

I thought this was going to be a completely glowing review, but then we played on a bit more and the level in Cairo undid some of the good work of the previous two. It’s the same idea of a sprawling level but it’s harder and nowhere near as much fun, and some of the things, I can’t imagine ever finding the solution by myself (thank you so much Stella!). So not perfect, but the good outweighs the bad so far.

Thoughts

Usually I play enough of a game to get a good feeling for the review and then will come back and update if and when I complete it. That doesn’t happen very often, but it will be happening this time. In fact, I’m almost at the end anyway, the percentage completed just keeps ramping up. Other forms of entertainment like films and TV have taken a back seat as Tomb Raider once again takes over my life, and it’s no wonder, this game is almost perfect.

End of level boss - Mar 25

Wahey, finished this one but I have to admit there was liberal use of Stella’s walkthroughs for this because the last couple of levels were… I don’t even know how to describe them. Very repetitive, and it feels like if you didn’t have the beautiful Stella to guide you through, you would be going round and round and getting it wrong and resetting and going again and oh my god, who has the patience for all this? But it was super satisfying to finish the game, and as I said above, the good definitely outweighs the bad when you look at it overall.

Rating: 5 / 5