Tomb Raider V: Chronicles

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 304 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles Game Cover
Starting at $1.50Buy now
Get on Steam

PRE-ORDER TOMB RAIDER I-III REMASTERED About the GameLara 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 304 reviews
story23 positive mentions
stability23 negative mentions
  • Chronicles offers a nostalgic trip through Lara Croft's past adventures, providing fans with familiar gameplay elements like clever puzzles, action, and exploration.
  • The game features diverse settings and unique storylines, with some levels, particularly in Rome and Ireland, being well-received for their atmosphere and design.
  • Despite its flaws, the game retains the classic Tomb Raider charm and is enjoyable for die-hard fans of the series.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, particularly in the final levels, which can lead to game-breaking issues and frustration for players.
  • Many players found the level design to be uninspired and linear, lacking the depth and complexity of earlier titles in the series.
  • The episodic nature of the game and the disjointed storyline detracted from the overall experience, making it feel more like a collection of mini-stories rather than a cohesive adventure.
  • story94 mentions

    The story of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is primarily composed of four disconnected episodes that recount Lara Croft's past adventures, leading to a fragmented narrative that lacks cohesion and depth. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the unique storytelling style, many criticize the overall execution as rushed and uninspired, with little to no advancement of the overarching plot from previous games. Despite its shortcomings, the episodic format offers glimpses into Lara's character, though it often feels more like a collection of scrapped ideas than a fully realized story.

    • “The game offers four different adventures, each with their own story.”
    • “Each act tells a story of one of Lara's many past adventures, reminisced by her butler and past friends.”
    • “In another mission, you're in some hi-tech facility with mission impossible type gear trying to steal back the 'iris' artifact from one of your old rivals.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The way the story is set out and plays very much makes the game feel more like an expansion pack to the last revelation than a fully fledged new game.”
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay in "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is largely seen as a continuation of the mechanics from previous titles, featuring familiar platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat elements, but with few innovative additions. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the episodic exploration of Lara's past, many criticize the game for its frustrating puzzles, lack of new gameplay features, and overall feeling of stagnation in design. Despite its shortcomings, the game retains a solid core experience for diehard fans, though it is often regarded as one of the weaker entries in the series.

    • “A nostalgic trip through Lara Croft’s past adventures, weaving together untold stories with familiar gameplay.”
    • “Each episode explores a unique style of gameplay and recalls a different version of Lara from earlier installments in the series.”
    • “The gameplay of Tomb Raider Chronicles is closely tied to that of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.”
    • “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.”
    • “It's the illogical puzzles that really are the main drawback of the gameplay experience.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they have not significantly improved since previous entries in the series, often feeling like a step back. While some appreciate the nostalgic low-poly aesthetic, others criticize the reused models and lack of visual refinement, leading to a perception of poor graphical quality by modern standards. Overall, the game is seen as visually dated, with a mix of acceptable and disappointing elements that fail to meet contemporary expectations.

    • “Tomb Raider Chronicles is another classic 3D action-adventure game with great level design, fantastic atmosphere, and lovely low-poly graphics.”
    • “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.”
    • “Wonderful collection of mini-adventures, good graphics for its time - being made in 2000.”
    • “The graphics have improved slightly over the previous entries to the series, but already in 2000, when this installment was released, it was showing its age.”
    • “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 back to TR2 style stitched-up body parts 3D model, yes, a degradation.”
    • “By today’s standards, the gameplay is extremely outdated, the controls are wonky, and the graphics are basically junk.”
  • stability23 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, particularly regarding the final level, which is described as "buggy" and "glitchy," often preventing players from progressing. Many users recommend using multiple save slots to mitigate the risk of game-breaking glitches, and while some enjoy aspects of the game, the overall experience is marred by technical issues that detract from gameplay.

    • “So yeah, for the first time ever, I could not beat a Tomb Raider level, and it wasn't even my fault. The last level was just so buggy and glitchy that it prevented me from being able to beat it, so I had to resort to downloading a save file online. I'm not proud, but it was either this or simply never beating the game.”
    • “The final level 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.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere14 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, each contributing unique atmospheric charm. While the game effectively creates suspenseful environments with good use of ambient sound and level design, some players feel it lacks the epic feeling found in earlier installments of the franchise. Overall, the atmosphere is considered well-crafted and engaging, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some limitations.

    • “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.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in "Chronicles" by Peter Connelly receives mixed reviews; while many praise the soundtrack for its atmospheric and fitting qualities, some feel it doesn't reach the heights of earlier installments. Critics note that the sound design is generally mediocre and often takes a back seat, with reused tracks from previous games being a point of disappointment. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's dark ambiance, despite some shortcomings.

    • “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 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.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, with players finding the story and character designs amusingly absurd, particularly in the opening cutscene. However, the experience is marred by game-breaking bugs that lead to frustrating moments, which some players found humor in due to their ridiculousness. Overall, while the humor is a highlight, technical issues detract from the enjoyment.

    • “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.”
    • “Packed with humor and action.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, with users noting that while it can be enjoyable, it is relatively short and lacks compelling reasons to revisit after completion. Technical issues also detract from the experience, making it less appealing for repeated playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a lot of replay value, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “I found myself coming back to the game multiple times, discovering new strategies and outcomes each time.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths available really enhances the replayability, allowing for different experiences with each playthrough.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding2 mentions

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

    • “Younger gamers probably don't realize that developers designed adventure games very differently back then, often making levels frustrating and tedious 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 development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate a desire for the more glamorous character designs seen in earlier Tomb Raider games, particularly in "Chronicles," which utilized polygonic graphics effectively. Players feel that recent releases have not maintained the same level of character development and visual appeal.

    • “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.”
  • optimization1 mentions

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

    • “Bad PC performance using a RTX 3090.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end hardware.”
    • “Optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent stuttering and long load times.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game is perceived as deeply heartfelt, reflecting the emotional struggles of its developers at Core, who faced intense pressure to produce annual Tomb Raider titles. This context adds a layer of emotional depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “I think it's a very heartfelt game from a team that was overworked at the time and was set to produce a Tomb Raider every year since it started.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, reflecting a lack of genuine effort from developers who appear to be fatigued from annual releases.

    • “The game feels like a cash grab from developers who seem burnt out from releasing a new title every year.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player experience, leading to a frustrating gameplay environment.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Tomb Raider V: Chronicles

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games