Tomb Raider V: Chronicles

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 609 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles Game Cover
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Lara Croft is missing in Egypt - presumed dead. Those closest to her gather together at the Croft Estate on a grey, rainy day for a memorial service in her honour. Afterwards, the friends sit quietly together in the study of the Croft Mansion and reminisce about Lara's past exploits; exploits that have until now remained a secret..

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 609 reviews
story46 positive mentions
stability46 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic trip through Lara Croft’s past adventures, weaving together untold stories with familiar gameplay.
  • The game features clever puzzles, action, and exploration, providing fans with more of what they love.
  • The Rome and Ireland levels are particularly enjoyable, showcasing unique atmospheres and engaging gameplay.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, especially in the final level, which can make it unwinnable.
  • Level design is often criticized as uninspired and rushed, lacking the depth of previous entries.
  • The episodic nature of the game leads to a disjointed story that feels less cohesive compared to earlier titles.
  • story188 mentions

    The story of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is largely viewed as disjointed and lacking cohesion, consisting of four episodic adventures that feel more like a collection of mini-stories rather than a unified narrative. While some players appreciate the individual tales and character insights, many criticize the overall execution as rushed and uninspired, failing to advance the overarching plot of the series. The game is often described as a filler, with a lack of depth and connection between the episodes, making it less engaging compared to its predecessors.

    • “The game offers four different adventures, each with their own story.”
    • “Each story is quick and fun, and each reveals a bit more about Lara's past and character.”
    • “The original Tomb Raiders can really drag sometimes, but this one has good pacing, an interesting story, and there's just enough variety to keep you interested.”
    • “Since the game is basically just four different adventures loosely tied together, there's not much in terms of story; the levels themselves are also very rushed and mostly unoriginal.”
    • “This, combined with the nonexistent story, makes Chronicles rather boring in my opinion.”
    • “The game is set in several different sections and points in time as a retelling of some of Lara Croft's past adventures, and each section is disconnected from the others, making the story not very cohesive either.”
  • gameplay118 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is largely seen as a continuation of the previous titles, featuring familiar mechanics such as platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat, but with little innovation or improvement. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and new mechanics like tightrope walking and pole swinging, many criticize the frustrating puzzles and clunky combat, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game is described as short and episodic, appealing mainly to diehard fans of the series, but ultimately lacking the polish and creativity of earlier installments.

    • “Each episode explores a unique style of gameplay and recalls a different version of Lara from earlier installments in the series.”
    • “Similar to the previous Tomb Raider games, the gameplay is mostly focused around platforming, solving puzzles, and finding your way through the levels.”
    • “They added a few new game mechanics, for example walking on tightropes, somersaulting out of crawlspaces, swinging around horizontal bars, and the grappling hook.”
    • “To call the gameplay, game design, and level design of Tomb Raider: Chronicles atrocious would be an understatement.”
    • “The problem with Chronicles is that there was pretty much nothing left to do in this engine, and the devs themselves kinda knew it, because when the game goes fine, it's more of the same gameplay that clearly ran its course on the last game.”
    • “Much like in Last Revelation, the puzzles in this game try very hard to be complex, but in reality, they just ended up being cumbersome and frustrating to the point where I had to ask myself, 'How did anyone figure this out by themselves?' So most of the time I had to resort to guides and walkthroughs, meaning that what should have been 10 hours of gameplay turned into an extra 18 just because of how frustrating and tiring these puzzles were.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, showing minimal improvement over previous entries in the series and often feeling like a step back. Many reviewers noted that the visuals have aged poorly, with reused models and low-resolution textures detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm of the graphics, they are generally considered insufficient by modern standards, making the game feel more like a relic from the late 1990s.

    • “Tomb Raider Chronicles is another classic 3D action-adventure game with great level design, fantastic atmosphere, and lovely low-poly graphics.”
    • “Graphics: it looks amazing - the new engine for TR IV and TR V looks gorgeous, but it can look pretty bad mixed in with low-res textures as present in some levels.”
    • “I enjoyed the varied settings in the game's 13 levels, and I think the developers did a great job in creating a suspenseful atmosphere despite a dated graphics engine relative to that time period of PC gaming.”
    • “Tomb Raider V feels like a step back from every entry of the series in most ways I can find; even graphically, it aged worse than Tomb Raider I due to its art direction and how cramped the environments are.”
    • “The graphics actually remain the same bad patchwork from TR4 with a lot of degradation in design on the newer content; they are even reusing models from TR1 to save time. The 3D models of new Lara's outfit look like a stitched-up body parts model from TR2, yes, a degradation.”
    • “By today’s standards, the gameplay is extremely outdated, the controls are wonky, and the graphics are basically junk.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, particularly regarding the final level, which is described as a "buggy mess" that can prevent players from progressing. Many users recommend using multiple save slots due to frequent game-breaking glitches and visual issues, making the experience frustrating and often unplayable. While some players find enjoyment in certain aspects of the game, the overall consensus is that the stability issues significantly detract from the experience.

    • “The final level of the game is such a buggy mess with multiple places where you can accidentally encounter a bug that makes the game impossible to complete.”
    • “I have to advise that the last phases are buggy to the point that sometimes we are unable to progress, so I recommend having backup saves because not even reloading the save will fix it.”
    • “The final level, Red Alert, was a buggy mess that I somehow managed to navigate without too much trouble, but I had multiple saves throughout in case some of the numerous bugs ruined my progress.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Tomb Raider Chronicles" is praised for its distinct and immersive qualities across diverse settings, such as Rome, Ireland, and a haunted island, creating a unique charm for each level. While the game effectively utilizes ambient sound and level design to evoke suspense, some players feel it lacks the epic scale found in earlier installments. Overall, the atmosphere is considered well-crafted and engaging, despite the game's shorter length and easier puzzles.

    • “Tomb Raider Chronicles, the fifth installment in the iconic franchise, doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does something equally compelling by delivering a collection of distinct, atmospheric tales that leave a lasting mark.”
    • “Each of those stories has its own atmospheric charm and the settings are vastly diverse: Rome, snowy Russia, a sunken submarine, a haunted deserted island, and a modern metropolis.”
    • “Tomb Raider Chronicles is another classic 3D action-adventure game with great level design, fantastic atmosphere, and lovely low-poly graphics.”
    • “At times, the atmosphere and tone do work, such as the occult horror of the gallows, but outside of these moments, Chronicles just isn't worth it.”
    • “So, while the atmosphere of Chronicles is overall still suspenseful and well-crafted, I felt that the game lacked that 'epic feeling' that certain levels of previous Tomb Raider games provided (I’m looking at you, Temple Ruins of Tomb Raider 3 and St. Francis’ Folly of Tomb Raider 1).”
    • “To support this atmosphere, there are plenty of varied puzzles (although they are nowhere near as difficult as Tomb Raider 3's puzzles), good use of ambient sound effects to set the mood, an emphasis on exploration, and for a number of levels, a fun avoidance/stealth-based mechanic where the clunky combat is non-existent.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in "Chronicles" by Peter Connelly receives mixed reviews; while many praise the soundtrack for its atmospheric and fitting qualities, it is often seen as lacking the brilliance of earlier installments. Critics note that the sound design is generally ambient and does not stand out, with some reused tracks from previous games, leading to a sense of disappointment. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's dark and gloomy vibe, even if it doesn't fully meet expectations.

    • “The soundtrack by Peter Connelly is amazing as always, and there's something about the dark, gloomy vibes of this game that I love and I can't explain why.”
    • “As always, beautiful design, music, amazing riddles, and story, with an iconic main character.”
    • “The soundtrack is just phenomenal and it will never cease to surprise me.”
    • “Connelly returns to do the score and the soundtrack is fitting to the game but sadly isn't a match for the brilliance of the first three.”
    • “Sound was another aspect of chronicles that was criticized, with it being viewed as mediocre; I personally slightly agree with this, the sound in chronicles doesn't exactly stand out, it is very ambient and takes the 'back seat' for the majority of the game, only in particular flybys or boss fights that there is distinctive music.”
    • “A lot of music has also been reused from the last revelation, which is slightly disappointing.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring a hilarious story and absurd moments that keep players entertained, particularly in its early levels. However, the humor is somewhat overshadowed by game-breaking bugs in later stages, which lead to frustrating experiences despite some comedic glitches. Overall, while the game starts strong with its comedic elements, technical issues detract from the enjoyment as players progress.

    • “It's a hilarious story, go check it out!”
    • “You'd be forgiven for thinking the game is going to be a corny comedy at first as the opening cutscene in Rome is so ridiculous that it quickly becomes funny.”
    • “Hardly a good looking game, but it has some hilariously bad looking character models that animate well enough.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with players noting its short length and the need for additional programs to enhance performance. While it can be enjoyable after overcoming initial technical issues, many reviewers feel it lacks the depth or content to warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “Is there a lot of replay value in the game?”
    • “I'll focus the remainder of this review on how to make the game more playable.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in older adventure games was often designed to be frustrating and tedious, serving to increase challenge and encourage strategic use of save games. However, some players note that the grinding in this particular game is less tedious compared to others, such as Tomb Raider 4.

    • “Younger gamers probably don't realize that devs designed adventure games very differently back then, and commonly made levels frustrating and tedious at times to increase the challenge and force you to use your save games strategically.”
    • “Definitely less tedious than TR4, though, I'll give it that.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews indicate a nostalgia for the character design in "Tomb Raider: Chronicles," highlighting its glamorous and polygonic graphics as a high point in the series. Many fans express disappointment that recent releases have moved away from this distinctive style, suggesting a longing for the character development that accompanied these earlier designs.

    • “I wish they had kept this more glamorous character design in the more recent Tomb Raider releases.”
    • “Chronicles was the last game to use polygonal graphics for character designs and levels, as well as a follow-up to Last Revelation.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users report poor optimization, noting that even high-end hardware like the **** 3090 struggles to deliver satisfactory performance.

    • “Bad PC performance using a high-end 3090.”
    • “Bad PC performance using a high-end 3090.”
    • “Bad PC performance using a high-end 3090.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game is described as heartfelt, reflecting the emotional struggles of its developers at Core, who were under pressure to produce annual installments of Tomb Raider. This emotional depth resonates with players, adding a layer of authenticity to the experience.

    • “I think it's a very heartfelt game from a team that was overworked at the time and set to produce a Tomb Raider every year since it started.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a cash grab, reflecting a lack of genuine effort from developers who appear to be burnt out from annual releases. This has led to a perception of the game being devoid of passion or quality.

    • “The game is a cash grab with no heart from developers who were burnt out making a game every year.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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