Tomb Raider II

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,804 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Tomb Raider II Game Cover
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In Tomb Raider II, embark on a global adventure as Lara Croft, hunting for the Dagger of Xian, a powerful artifact said to control dragons. Explore diverse environments, including the Great Wall of China and Tibetan monasteries, solving puzzles and battling foes. Experience improved graphics, gameplay mechanics, and a thrilling story, making this a timeless classic in the action-adventure genre.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • PSP
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,804 reviews
graphics52 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • Classic gameplay that combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and action.
  • Diverse and memorable level design, taking players through iconic locations like the Great Wall of China and Venice.
  • Improved mechanics and controls compared to the first game, with new weapons and vehicles.
  • Clunky controls and tank-like movement can be frustrating for modern players.
  • Combat is heavily emphasized, often leading to tedious encounters with numerous enemies.
  • Technical issues with the Steam port, including problems with fullscreen mode and controller support.
  • graphics280 mentions

    The graphics of the Tomb Raider series, particularly in its earlier titles, are often described as dated but charming, with many players appreciating the nostalgic low-poly aesthetic and atmospheric design that was groundbreaking for its time. While some remasters have improved visuals, many reviews note that the graphics still struggle to meet modern standards, with issues like poor lighting and occasional glitches. Overall, despite their age, the graphics contribute to the game's immersive experience, and players often emphasize that gameplay and story take precedence over visual fidelity.

    • “The game's graphics and sound design were groundbreaking for its time, with impressive environments and sound effects that helped bring the game's world to life.”
    • “Graphically, Tomb Raider II was impressive for its time.”
    • “The graphics have definitely improved with there actually being a sky box this time around and Lara's model has seen much improvement with her long hair intact.”
    • “Now, the graphics are so messed up, I cannot see the HP bar.”
    • “The graphics are bad, the controls are poor (that 360 rotational turning drives me crazy now - maybe it's just me) but functional, and the DOSBox that runs the game is downright terrible and makes it easy to accidentally crash the whole thing.”
    • “Graphics 4/10 - quite hideous”
  • story268 mentions

    The story of "Tomb Raider II" follows Lara Croft on her quest to find the mystical Dagger of Xian, leading her through various exotic locations like the Great Wall of China and Venice. While some reviewers found the narrative engaging and entertaining, others criticized it for being incoherent or lacking depth, often viewing it as a mere backdrop for gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as a fun adventure that complements the game's action and exploration, despite its occasional shortcomings in clarity and character development.

    • “In this sequel, you once again step into the boots of Lara Croft, a daring, smart-mouthed, yet classy archaeologist on a quest to find the Dagger of Xian, a powerful artifact rumored to grant its wielder immense power and control over any army.”
    • “The story is captivating, beginning with Lara's drop from a helicopter near the Great Wall of China.”
    • “Overall, Tomb Raider II is a must-play for fans of the franchise and anyone who loves adventure games with engaging gameplay and a well-crafted story.”
    • “The story is incoherent and basically impossible to follow, though I found it comical and very much in keeping with the time—not something to take seriously.”
    • “The story also was hard to follow for me and you barely interact out with the main antagonist of the game nor fully understand his motivation.”
    • “The story just isn't particularly clear or engaging.”
  • gameplay254 mentions

    The gameplay in Tomb Raider II builds upon its predecessor with significant improvements, introducing new mechanics such as climbing and vehicles while maintaining a balance between exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. While some players find the controls outdated and the combat frustrating, many appreciate the engaging level design and challenging puzzles that require careful observation and strategy. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic yet solid gameplay experience, appealing to both fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

    • “Tomb Raider II strikes a perfect balance between combat and exploration, keeping the gameplay engaging without becoming overwhelming.”
    • “The game's mechanics are well-designed, with a good balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat that kept the game engaging throughout.”
    • “Even better than the first one - I risk to say - with massive gameplay and intricate puzzles, Tomb Raider II startled me more than 10 years ago, being the first TR I've played.”
    • “I'm 40 and it's the first time I play this game, and the controls in the game are so outdated. I don't understand how a 3D game was released in 1997 when there were Quake and Quake II with excellent controls. Tomb Raider II is a nice and vintage-looking game, but its gameplay is a bit annoying for me.”
    • “I can't believe how hard it is to play this game; it's unbelievable how the gameplay sucks so hard!”
    • “The gameplay is too punishing for the inflexible mechanics it has. The designers could have done a better job with some minor details, like allowing you to roll in the air and underwater, and making it easier to interact with items on land.”
  • music174 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its memorable and atmospheric qualities, with many players noting its nostalgic impact and ability to enhance the overall experience. While the soundtrack features standout tracks that evoke a range of emotions, some users have criticized the sparse use of music during gameplay, particularly in quieter moments or underwater scenes. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its immersive atmosphere and iconic status within the series.

    • “The soundtrack is ingrained in my brain from my childhood and is an absolute banger.”
    • “The soundtrack is just so good, there are moments that the game gives you the right track to convey a feeling of panic, and surprisingly, of pure serenity.”
    • “A nice storyline, great environments, incredible atmosphere and amazing music, this game has it all!!”
    • “It is also missing music and sound effects.”
    • “For a first time playthrough, it took me a while to figure my way from place to place, and music tends to only happen briefly once every few rooms leaving the game generally quiet.”
    • “My only gripe here is that the use of the soundtrack is much too sparse.”
  • atmosphere94 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and varied environments, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack and sound design that evoke feelings of adventure, tension, and nostalgia. Players appreciate the level design, which ranges from eerie tombs to urban settings, creating memorable experiences that contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and certain design choices, the atmospheric elements remain a standout feature, making it a beloved classic in the series.

    • “Unbeatable atmosphere and ambiance, the lower render distance and the black fog really help sell the dark and mysterious feelings of ancient abandoned ruins.”
    • “Overall, Tomb Raider II is an improvement over the first game in almost every way, with smoother controls, more weapons, bigger levels, visual improvements all around, a bigger variety of locations to go venturing in, and still maintains the fantastic atmosphere created through the visual and sound design of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic thanks to the soundtrack and the interesting locations.”
    • “The gameplay is a little stale, but the atmosphere, sense of exploration, and challenging (at times slightly too obtuse) puzzles are all top notch.”
    • “This is the worst part of the core series; only the levels and atmosphere really stand out.”
    • “In-game designs and atmosphere weren't as good as Tomb Raider III, in my opinion.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, with repetitive combat and backtracking contributing to a frustrating experience. Many puzzles are time-consuming and poorly structured, leading to confusion, especially for newcomers. While some players find satisfaction in overcoming challenging obstacles, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding aspect being a significant drawback.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Some levels, like the Temple of Xian, suffer from a lot of backtracking, so it can be rather tedious.”
    • “In the end, Tomb Raider II just feels like a tedious and boring version of the original.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The game's stability is generally described as inconsistent, with frequent bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly during loading and swimming mechanics. While some players experienced game-breaking issues, others found workarounds or minor graphical glitches that did not significantly hinder their enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience, but players should be prepared for occasional instability.

    • “It completely met my expectations; it did all the things I wanted it to with no glitches—amazing purchase!”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I haven't encountered any bugs or issues, which really enhances my enjoyment of the game.”
    • “Even the simplest tools I found either had game-breaking glitches or I could not get controller support right.”
    • “I only have a big problem with some of the gameplay - almost every time I swim and I want to get out of the water, Lara suddenly turns around inside the water. There were 4 times where I thought my playthrough was over because I had no health packs anymore, and in all of those times I luckily found glitches and bugs to avoid damage.”
    • “First off, a few words about this particular version of the game: unless you are willing to search a bit for mods, the game will look downright horrible. Another problem is that it has some graphical glitches from time to time, like being able to see interactive objects behind walls, but nothing game-breaking.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable enough to experience multiple times, others note that it isn't highly replayable. However, enhancements like the Tomb Raider II automated fix and the T2Gold expansion, which adds extra levels, can improve the experience for those looking to revisit the game. Overall, it offers decent replay value, particularly for fans of the series.

    • “I think it has high replay value and is always a good time!”
    • “It has great replay value.”
    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “While the game is not super replayable, it is a really cool title to experience again.”
    • “Look in the guides here on Steam to pick up the Tomb Raider II automated fix; it offers several improvements to make the game more playable on modern machines, as well as adding the T2Gold expansion, which adds a bonus four levels.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting poor performance even on high-end hardware like the RTX 3090. However, others note that the sequel, Tomb Raider 2 Gold, shows significant improvements in optimization compared to the first game. Overall, while there are instances of good optimization, many players feel that the game is not fully optimized for PC.

    • “If TR1 is peak Tomb Raider performance, then TR2 Gold is peak Tomb Raider experience.”
    • “Not optimized for PC at all”
    • “Bad PC performance using a **** 3090”
    • “Tomb Raider is optimized much better than the first game.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players noting its pleasant and funny elements, particularly in the rewarding and almost pastiche ending. However, some users experienced frustration due to game-breaking bugs, which slightly detracted from their overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game's charm and humor stand out, especially when compared to more modern AAA titles.

    • “It's funny to see how few people had worked on it compared to today's AAA games, even if in popularity it was huge back in the day, even in Hungary.”
    • “Great game overall, demands a lot of commitment to complete, but felt quite rewarding when you got there with a rather funny, almost pastiche ending.”
    • “I would have given a few percentage points more to this one just because it's a little more funny and pleasant than the first.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that recent Tomb Raider games lack depth in character development, dialogue, and narrative, with some players expressing a desire for a return to more glamorous character designs from earlier titles.

    • “However, these games are rather short on dialogue, character development, and narrative.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the character of the butler in Lara's mansion, recalling how his relentless pursuit evoked feelings of fear and sadness during their childhood. This experience highlights the game's ability to elicit strong emotional responses through its storytelling and character dynamics.

    • “The butler in Lara's mansion made me cry as a child because I could not understand how he could find me wherever I hid.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

23hMedian play time
22hAverage play time
15hMain story
21hCompletionist
1-43hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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