Tomb Raider: Chronicles

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 289 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tomb Raider: Chronicles Game Cover
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"Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is the fifth game in the series, following "The Last Revelation." It features Lara Croft in a variety of global locales, from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, as she explores tombs and solves puzzles. New skills, such as tightrope walking and grappling hooks, add to the gameplay, and a level editor allows players to create their own stages.

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

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 289 reviews
story22 positive mentions
stability20 negative mentions
  • The four distinct episodes represent some of the best storytelling within the original Core Designs series, exploring unique gameplay styles and recalling different versions of Lara from earlier installments.
  • The game features clever level design that can be enjoyable once players understand the secrets and logic behind the puzzles.
  • The nostalgic elements and familiar gameplay mechanics provide a sense of familiarity for fans of the earlier titles in the series.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, particularly in the final levels, which can lead to frustrating experiences and game-breaking issues.
  • The default Steam version has poor graphics and lacks native controller support, making it difficult to play without extensive patching and configuration.
  • The episodic nature of the game leads to a disjointed narrative, and some levels are overly difficult due to obscure puzzles and unfair traps.
  • story92 mentions

    The story of "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" is presented as a series of four episodic adventures that delve into Lara Croft's past, but many players find the narrative disjointed and lacking cohesion, with each episode feeling disconnected from the others. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and character development, others criticize the overall execution as rushed and underwhelming, leading to a perception of the game as a filler rather than a substantial continuation of the series' lore. Despite its shortcomings, the storytelling quality is noted to be better than previous installments, offering enjoyable moments amidst its flaws.

    • “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.”
    • “The storyline consists of four separate adventures each recalled by a mourner following Lara’s funeral.”
    • “In terms of story, Tomb Raider IV-VI are connected, but this game does nothing to advance the overarching plot in the slightest.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay in this installment of Tomb Raider is largely consistent with previous entries, focusing on platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat, though many players find the combat mechanics lacking and the puzzles illogical. While some appreciate the episodic structure and the introduction of new mechanics like tightrope walking and grappling, others feel the gameplay is repetitive and less polished compared to earlier titles. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience for diehard fans, but lacks innovation and depth, leading to mixed reviews on its execution.

    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay isn't that interesting based on the last revelation.”
    • “It's the illogical puzzles that really are the main drawback of the gameplay experience.”
    • “Gameplay gets interrupted a lot by cutscenes which doesn't really help the flow of the game, even if the cutscenes are fun to watch.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble those from late 1990s titles and show minimal improvement over previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the nostalgic low-poly aesthetic, others criticize the reused models and lack of visual enhancements, leading to a perception that the graphics have aged poorly. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as acceptable for their time but fall short by modern standards, leaving players eager for more contemporary graphics in future installments.

    • “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.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, particularly in the final level, which is described as a "buggy mess" with numerous game-breaking glitches that can hinder progress. Players recommend using multiple save slots to mitigate these issues, as many glitches can prevent completion of the game. While some levels are noted to be less problematic, the overall experience is marred by persistent bugs and visual glitches.

    • “To put it nicely without saying any naughty words (I'm a sweetie, I promise... really :D), everything after that just gets continually worse, culminating in the most buggy, horrendous final act I've ever seen in any Tomb Raider game.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    Tomb Raider Chronicles offers a diverse range of atmospheric settings across its self-contained stories, from haunted islands to sunken submarines, each contributing to a unique charm. While the game excels in creating suspenseful environments and effective use of ambient sound, some players feel it lacks the epic scale found in earlier installments. Overall, the atmosphere is well-crafted and engaging, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessors.

    • “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.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its beautiful design and fitting soundtrack, though some feel it doesn't quite match the brilliance of earlier installments. While the score by Connelly is appreciated, it is noted that the sound design can be mediocre and often takes a back seat, only becoming prominent during specific moments. Additionally, the reuse of music from previous games has left some players feeling disappointed.

    • “As always, beautiful design, music, amazing riddles, and story, with an iconic main character.”
    • “I love the music, sounds, gameplay, story, and cutscenes.”
    • “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.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurdity and charm, with players finding the opening cutscene and character models amusingly ridiculous. While the game starts off funny, it becomes overshadowed by frustrating bugs that lead to a mix of comedic and exasperating moments. Overall, the humor is a highlight, though it is often intertwined with technical issues that can detract from the experience.

    • “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, TRC has some hilariously bad looking character models that animate well enough.”
    • “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 may also detract from the experience, further impacting its long-term playability.

    • “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 ensures that no two playthroughs are the same.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in older adventure games can be frustrating and tedious, often requiring significant time investment and strategic use of save games. However, some players note that the grinding experience in these games is less tedious compared to others, like Tomb Raider 4.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Younger gamers probably don't realize that developers 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 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 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.”
  • 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

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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