Tomb Raider II is a classic action-adventure game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive in 1997.
It is the second installment in the legendary Tomb Raider series and continues the story of Lara Croft, the fearless archaeologist and adventurer.
Building on the success of the original game, Tomb Raider II expands the gameplay with improved graphics, more varied environments,
new weapons, and advanced acrobatic moves.
In this sequel, Lara embarks on a thrilling quest to uncover the secrets of the Dagger of Xian,
a mythical Chinese artifact said to grant its wielder the power of a dragon.
The adventure takes players across diverse locations around the globe — from the Great Wall of China to the canals of Venice,
the snow-covered mountains of Tibet, underwater shipwrecks, and even a secret base in the skies.
Each level is meticulously designed with intricate puzzles, hidden secrets, deadly traps, and a wide range of enemies,
including mercenaries, wild animals, and supernatural beings.
One of the standout features of Tomb Raider II is its expanded combat system.
Lara now has access to a broader arsenal, including dual pistols, shotguns, Uzis, an M16 rifle, and harpoon guns for underwater combat.
The controls and animations were refined, allowing for smoother platforming, swimming, climbing,
and the addition of vehicle segments such as driving a snowmobile or piloting a speedboat.
The game retains the atmospheric charm and challenge of the original, with a stronger emphasis on action,
tighter level design, and greater replayability thanks to hidden items and secrets.
Tomb Raider II solidified Lara Croft’s status as a gaming icon and remains a beloved entry in the franchise
for fans of classic 3D platformers and adventure games.
Technical Details:
- Developer: Core Design
- Publisher: Eidos Interactive
- Release Year: 1997
- Platform(s): PlayStation, PC (Windows), Macintosh
- Genre: Action-Adventure, Platformer
- Mode: Single-player
- Engine: Modified Tomb Raider engine
- Graphics: Early 3D polygonal graphics with pre-rendered cutscenes
- Camera: Third-person perspective
- Input: Keyboard + mouse (PC), gamepad (PlayStation)