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Tomb Raider II

Tomb Raider II Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
grinding, stability
85% User Score Based on 877 reviews

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Tomb Raider II Game Cover

About

Tomb Raider II is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Core Design and was released on November 27, 2012. It received positive reviews from players.

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.

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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 877 reviews
graphics24 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Tomb Raider II features improved graphics and level design compared to the first game, with a variety of unique locations such as Venice and Tibet.
  • The game introduces new mechanics, including vehicles and additional weapons, enhancing the gameplay experience.
  • The atmosphere and soundtrack are memorable, contributing to the overall enjoyment and nostalgia of the game.
  • The controls are clunky and can be frustrating, especially for modern players unfamiliar with tank controls.
  • The combat system is often criticized for being unbalanced, with too many enemies and hitscan mechanics that can lead to unfair deaths.
  • The Steam port has technical issues, including problems with fullscreen mode and missing health bars, which detract from the overall experience.
  • graphics
    136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many acknowledging significant improvements over the original title, particularly in character models and environmental design. However, players also note that the visuals are still dated by modern standards, often described as "janky" or "blocky," which can detract from the experience. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric quality of the graphics, emphasizing that the gameplay and story remain engaging regardless of visual limitations.

    • “I found the graphics to be very well-crafted for a PS1 game.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics have definitely improved with there actually being a skybox 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.”
    • “While the graphics aren't as good as the current games (obviously!) and some people might not be able to overcome this, I can't agree with the controls complaints.”
  • story
    126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 China and Venice. While some players find the narrative engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others criticize it for being incoherent or lacking depth, often viewing it as a mere backdrop for action and exploration. Overall, the story is seen as a continuation of the franchise's classic adventure themes, with mixed opinions on its execution and clarity.

    • “The game's story follows Lara Croft on another thrilling adventure as she travels the world to recover a mysterious artifact.”
    • “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 of Tomb Raider II surrounds the mythical 'Dagger of Xian', a weapon which was used by an emperor of China to command his army.”
    • “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 with the main antagonist of the game nor fully understand his motivation.”
    • “The story, while better in my opinion than the first, still suffers from a lack of real purpose other than having Lara track down the next artifact.”
  • gameplay
    121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Tomb Raider II is largely an evolution of its predecessor, featuring improved mechanics such as climbing, new weapons, and a greater emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving. While some players find the controls outdated and the combat frustrating, many appreciate the engaging level design and the challenge presented by the game's puzzles and exploration elements. Overall, the gameplay is considered solid and enjoyable, particularly for fans of classic adventure games, despite some criticisms regarding its difficulty and occasional awkward mechanics.

    • “The game's mechanics are well-designed, with a good balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat that kept the game engaging throughout.”
    • “Tomb Raider II is the sequel you'd expect, but it switches up both the pacing and overall gameplay to a more action-oriented focus.”
    • “While playing 43 hours of this game, I could barely notice that the graphics are not really up to date, but the gameplay is absolutely awesome.”
    • “The gameplay is largely the same as its predecessor from '96, with some added features such as vehicles.”
    • “Gameplay felt nearly identical to the first game.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its memorable themes and atmospheric quality, with standout tracks enhancing the overall experience, particularly in action sequences and exploration. However, some players note that the soundtrack is sparse, with music often muted during underwater segments and not utilized frequently enough, which detracts from the immersive experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a highlight, its inconsistent presence and occasional bugs have led to mixed feelings among players.

    • “To think that the original theme music for this game is composed of four simple notes really gives the game a memorable feel across the series, but this one takes it and puts a new spin.”
    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic thanks to the soundtrack and the interesting locations.”
    • “It is also missing music and sound effects.”
    • “My only gripe here is that the use of the soundtrack is much too sparse.”
    • “A lot of the incidental background music which gave it a lot of atmosphere has been lost, and some of the sound effects/voices are missing.”
  • atmosphere
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and varied environments, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and sound design that evoke feelings of tension, exploration, and nostalgia. While some players note the presence of cheap jump scares, the overall ambiance, particularly in memorable locations like the wreck of the Maria Doria and the Temple of Xian, is considered one of the game's standout features. Despite some criticisms regarding the evolution of settings from the original game, the atmospheric quality remains a significant draw for players.

    • “It's such a memorable set of locations with such a variety in atmosphere and ambience.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic thanks to the soundtrack and the interesting locations.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is amazing.”
    • “These levels do capture the atmosphere of claustrophobia and loneliness from the first game better than the rest of the levels though.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game often leads to a tedious experience, primarily due to excessive combat and backtracking, particularly in certain levels. Players find the combat mechanics frustrating, with issues like enemies shooting through walls, and many puzzles are criticized for being time-consuming and poorly structured. While some moments of accomplishment can be rewarding, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a significant drawback of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Some good points but too much combat action - making for a very tedious experience.”
    • “In the end, Tomb Raider II just feels like a tedious and boring version of the original.”
    • “Cluttered, glitchy, kind of a mess, good puzzles here and there but poorly structured like the monastery puzzle, it lacks direction and can be pretty confusing to newcomers, horrid combat of the first game is still present and in droves, the worst aspect of the game and enemies can shoot you through walls and even the floor.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with controller support and graphical anomalies. While some players find ways to navigate these problems, the overall experience is marred by frequent technical hiccups, particularly during swimming and interactions with the environment. Despite its nostalgic appeal, the game's stability issues may deter some players from fully enjoying it.

    • “Even the simplest tools I found either had game-breaking glitches or I could not get controller support right.”
    • “Although the game is old, the graphics are mid-1990's quality, and it's a bit buggy at times.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game to have high replayability, enhanced by community-created fixes and expansions that improve playability on modern systems and add new content. Overall, it is considered infinitely replayable and consistently enjoyable.

    • “I think it has high replay value and is always a good time!”
    • “It has great replay value.”
    • “ infinitely replayable”
    • “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.”
    • “- Replayability -”
    • “[h1]Replay Value[/h1]”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game is mixed, with some users reporting poor performance even on high-end hardware like the RTX 3090, while others note that it is better optimized than its predecessor, Tomb Raider. However, there are still complaints about inadequate PC optimization overall.

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

    The humor in the game is generally appreciated, with players noting its fun and pleasant tone, particularly in comparison to its predecessor. However, some players experienced game-breaking bugs that detracted from the overall enjoyment, despite the rewarding and humorous ending.

    • “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.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the character design in recent Tomb Raider releases is visually appealing, the games lack depth in dialogue and overall character development, resulting in a less engaging narrative experience.

    • “The character development in this game is truly impressive, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character backstories adds a rich layer to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “However, these games are rather short on dialogue, character development, and narrative.”
    • “I wish they had kept this more glamorous character design in the more recent Tomb Raider releases.”
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23h Median play time
22h Average play time
16h Main story
21h Completionist
1-43h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Tomb Raider II is a shooter game.

Tomb Raider II is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 3 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 16 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 21 hours to finish. On average players spend around 22 hours playing Tomb Raider II.

Tomb Raider II was released on November 27, 2012.

Tomb Raider II was developed by Core Design.

Tomb Raider II has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its grinding.

Tomb Raider II is a single player game.

Similar games include Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, Tomb Raider III (1998), Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation and others.