Tomb Raider V: Chronicles

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 305 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles Game Cover
Starting at $1.50Buy now
Get on Steam

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 305 reviews
story23 positive mentions
stability23 negative mentions
  • Tomb Raider Chronicles offers a nostalgic trip through Lara Croft's past adventures, featuring varied gameplay styles and settings that keep the experience fresh.
  • The game introduces new mechanics like walking on tightropes and swinging on bars, adding some fun elements to the classic Tomb Raider formula.
  • Despite its flaws, the game has memorable moments and interesting levels, particularly the eerie atmosphere of the Ireland section.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, especially in the final levels, which can lead to frustrating experiences and even game-breaking situations.
  • Chronicles is significantly shorter than previous entries in the series, making it feel less substantial and more like a collection of mini-stories rather than a cohesive adventure.
  • The level design is often criticized for being uninspired and linear, lacking the exploration and depth that fans expect from a Tomb Raider game.
  • story94 mentions

    The story of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is largely viewed as disjointed and lacking depth, consisting of four episodic adventures that feel more like a collection of mini-stories rather than a cohesive narrative. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and character development, many criticize the overall execution, describing it as rushed and uninspired, with little connection to the overarching plot of the series. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers glimpses of interesting storytelling and character exploration, particularly in its retelling of Lara Croft's past adventures.

    • “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.”
    • “This feels more to me as a filler story, while the others had stories that followed Lara in a logical order, with a start, middle, and end.”
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is largely seen as a continuation of previous titles, featuring familiar mechanics such as platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat, but with few innovative additions. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the episodic exploration of Lara Croft's past, many criticize the game for its frustrating puzzles, lack of new gameplay features, and overall feeling of stagnation in design. Despite some improvements in mechanics, the game is often regarded as one of the weaker entries in the series, with a mix of enjoyable moments overshadowed by cumbersome gameplay experiences.

    • “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 is pretty much what you can expect from the Tomb Raider games at that point.”
    • “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 in 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 design and cramped environments. Overall, the graphics are seen as acceptable for their time but fail to meet modern standards, leaving players eager for a more visually appealing experience in newer titles.

    • “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, as these issues can significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players found enjoyment in certain aspects of the game, the pervasive technical problems overshadowed these positives for many.

    • “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 distinctiveness and charm across diverse settings, such as Rome, snowy Russia, and a haunted island, creating a suspenseful and immersive experience. While some levels, like the gallows tree and submarine, stand out for their atmospheric depth, the game overall lacks the epic feeling found in earlier installments. Despite its dated graphics, the combination of varied puzzles, ambient sound effects, and exploration elements contribute to a well-crafted atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “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 lacks the brilliance of earlier installments and is often overshadowed by ambient sound. Critics note that the score enhances the game's dark vibes, but the reuse of tracks from previous games and the overall mediocrity of sound design detract from the experience. Despite these criticisms, the music remains a highlight for many players, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “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 feels short and lacks compelling reasons to revisit after completion. Technical issues also detract from the experience, making it less appealing for multiple 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, keeping the experience exciting.”
    • “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 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.

    • “Poor PC performance even with a high-end 3090 graphics card.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “Optimization issues lead to frequent crashes and long loading 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 installments of the Tomb Raider series.

    • “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.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel incredibly real.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story; it left a lasting impact on my perspective about loss and resilience.”
  • 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 hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It’s frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
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