Eidos released a bunch of Tomb Raider Legend screenshots, in all its next-gen glory. A couple of old-xbox images are also there, for those who won't be able to wait three more months for the 360 port.
The first are Xbox 360 yes, but the 2nd part are PC screenshots i think, because they are too big to be Xbox screenshots. It's not going to look nearly as clean on the Xbox as this screens are showing it.
Well, to be honest, this game looks like it could be genuinely good. It was on On The Spot, the Gamespot show, last week and it seems like they acknowledge the steps taken by Prince of Persia, in all the right ways.
The only thing that has me a little weary is the way levels look. They're all blocky and Tomb Raider 1-y but with added polish on top of course. It doesn't really matter too much, but seeing as both PoP and God of War pulled off awesome climbyness in locales that were utterly beautiful, I see no reason why the mother of this style of game in 3D should do anything less.
Also, shooting people seems like neccessary evil to keep today's mass audience happy. I think anything other than Lara VS giant bears and ANCIENT PUZZLES OF DEATH!1! feels out of place in a Tomb Raider game. Call me conservative and I'll call you tomorrow.
I must say that for a port it does have a visual advantage on the 360. The Tony Hawk and Gun game for the 360 were just unforgiving. I'm sure this game will be beautiful and fun at the same time, not to mention nostalgic. We've come a long way and now Lara finally looks like her box art.
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:59:11 In reply to Elliot_DOA4
Posted by Elliot_DOA4
I will play this game for the points.
MS have a pretty good thing going there. If something as small as gamer points can force people to spend £45 on a port then wow. Gamer points mean jack shit to me. All it means if you have more than someone else is that you play more xbox than them. Congratulations.
Hey, Slabs. Does your avatar exemplify your personality or do you really look like that guy. He looks pretty serious. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you who my avatar is.
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:08:14 In reply to omegaheat
Ok now i have an interesting quote about the 360 version of this game.
Lara's character features 24 MBs of textures alone and it contains 12 times the texture memory capable on the PS2.
She's comprised of 20,000 polygons -- so her model is entirely re-done from the ground up on Xbox 360. And I have to say, this version of Lara Croft is sexy.
For a character that lost her charm long ago, it's nice to see Ms. Croft looking so realistic in design, so carefully crafted, and as a result, so hot.
This is the best looking version of Lara Croft you've ever seen.
Looks good. After reading IGN's demo review, I can see what they meant when they mentioned self shadowing. I can see Lara's arm casting a shadow on her leg in the third image.
"the quality of the visuals, which appeared to be taking advantage of just about every graphical bell and whistle that Microsoft's new console can offer. The standout feature of the visuals was undoubtedly the normal-mapping techniques used to add detail and textures to what would otherwise be artificially smooth surfaces. This was evident not only on cave walls, ancient tiled floors, boulders, and such, but also on the delectable Lara Croft, who now boasts realistic skin textures that look good even when you give into temptation and zoom the camera in for a close look at her. Other eye candy that we found particularly tasty during our presentation included the realistic shadows being cast by each and every object, and the convincingly animated pools of water, which performed their reflecting and refracting duties with aplomb"
Geez, more ports, with no BC compatibility LOL. I'm starting to believe that MS and its 3rd party publishers have agreements not to make ports BC even though they've claim it's not the case. Yeah and you don't think GUN, Tony Hawk Wasteland, NFSMW can be emulated with the 360, when Half-life 2 (Sure it's only partially compatible) and Halo 2, two of the more graphically intensed shooters for the Xbox are playable. It's a conspiracy I tell you.
I have longed for a Tomb Raider game worthy of the title since TR3. I'm glad they are going back to their roots with a new creative development team. Port or not, I'm getting the 360 version. I just pray it plays as good as it looks.
Very disappointed with the 360 screens. Other than some AA, they do not look much better at all. The textures are horrendous - maybe it is just the compression of the pics -hopefully.
So far looks to be yet another quick port that will equal crap. (Madden, Tiger Woods, Quake4, Tony Hawk etc.)
I do not want to bash this game, I had some hope for it. I hope the screens do not do it justice because all us 360 owners need some new stuff.
Commented on 2006-02-09 18:01:21 In reply to syphon0928
Posted by syphon0928
Looks good. After reading IGN's demo review, I can see what they meant when they mentioned self shadowing. I can see Lara's arm casting a shadow on her leg in the third image.
I wouldn't mind casting a shadow on her if you catch my drift *wink* *wink*
Commented on 2006-02-09 18:51:51 In reply to FrostFox
Game looks pretty good, but is it just me - Does Lara look just a little too young? I know I'm getting on in years myself, but I think Lara should have a few years added to her appearence as she has been knocking about for a few years now!!
I think I'd feel a bit a bit guilty playing this game, for fear of the kiddle police knocking on my door!!
Brings back memories of the first one, leaping off a cliff to grab onto the tinyest of tiny ledges 100 feet away. (only to slip and plumet to your death and end in a mangled heap in the floor)
Gamespot is full of crap if they think this game "takes advantage of the graphical bells and whistles" of the 360. This game looks just a tiny bit better than the reg version, and she doesnt look that "realistic in design". I'm completely underwhelmed and dissapointed. Croft is not even on the level of the DOA4 characters, and they werent even supposed to be realistic looking. So far the best graphical games have been PGR3 & Madden, in their own respect. Fight Night will show that this system is capable of much more, and Tomb Raider will be another crappy port, atleast visualy. And that annoys me because people are saying the 360 isnt all that better graphically, and thats only because developers are only releasing crappy ports and not truly exploring the possibility of the system, and it wont be till the ps3 comes out that developers go more next-gen, and ms' being out first wouldnt have had that much affect.
We wont be getting the proper experience until we see this running on our 360, but rest assured that this game will be a graphical powerhouse :)
This tomb raider will bring the game back to its roots as the guy that worked on the original is now back on board for this one.
Also the textures are by no means horrendous... Just try for a second to imagine how great that first screen would look in motion... it'll be one beautiful sight. Not only that check the reflections and lara's stomach area looks great :)
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All comments (43)
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:04:14
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:15:36
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:17:06
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:17:53 In reply to skyform
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:20:07 In reply to Elliot_DOA4
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:35:00Well, to be honest, this game looks like it could be genuinely good. It was on On The Spot, the Gamespot show, last week and it seems like they acknowledge the steps taken by Prince of Persia, in all the right ways.
The only thing that has me a little weary is the way levels look. They're all blocky and Tomb Raider 1-y but with added polish on top of course. It doesn't really matter too much, but seeing as both PoP and God of War pulled off awesome climbyness in locales that were utterly beautiful, I see no reason why the mother of this style of game in 3D should do anything less.
Also, shooting people seems like neccessary evil to keep today's mass audience happy. I think anything other than Lara VS giant bears and ANCIENT PUZZLES OF DEATH!1! feels out of place in a Tomb Raider game. Call me conservative and I'll call you tomorrow.
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:59:02
Commented on 2006-02-09 14:59:11 In reply to Elliot_DOA4
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:04:37
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:08:14 In reply to omegaheatShe's comprised of 20,000 polygons -- so her model is entirely re-done from the ground up on Xbox 360. And I have to say, this version of Lara Croft is sexy.
For a character that lost her charm long ago, it's nice to see Ms. Croft looking so realistic in design, so carefully crafted, and as a result, so hot.
This is the best looking version of Lara Croft you've ever seen.
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:11:42This is gonna be a good game.
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:20:58Eidos said the Xbox and PS2 versions will be out April 7th with the 360 version following "shortly after".
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:22:54"the quality of the visuals, which appeared to be taking advantage of just about every graphical bell and whistle that Microsoft's new console can offer. The standout feature of the visuals was undoubtedly the normal-mapping techniques used to add detail and textures to what would otherwise be artificially smooth surfaces. This was evident not only on cave walls, ancient tiled floors, boulders, and such, but also on the delectable Lara Croft, who now boasts realistic skin textures that look good even when you give into temptation and zoom the camera in for a close look at her. Other eye candy that we found particularly tasty during our presentation included the realistic shadows being cast by each and every object, and the convincingly animated pools of water, which performed their reflecting and refracting duties with aplomb"
Sounds great. I am definately getting this one!
Commented on 2006-02-09 15:50:25
Commented on 2006-02-09 16:00:42 In reply to foreignerThis is the best looking version of Lara Croft you've ever seen.
why didn't they captare jolies face & body for this game? ok, they would have needed some extra 2000-5000 polys for her lips, but who cares? :-D
Commented on 2006-02-09 16:14:20I have longed for a Tomb Raider game worthy of the title since TR3. I'm glad they are going back to their roots with a new creative development team. Port or not, I'm getting the 360 version. I just pray it plays as good as it looks.
Commented on 2006-02-09 16:43:16So far looks to be yet another quick port that will equal crap. (Madden, Tiger Woods, Quake4, Tony Hawk etc.)
I do not want to bash this game, I had some hope for it. I hope the screens do not do it justice because all us 360 owners need some new stuff.
Commented on 2006-02-09 16:49:39
Commented on 2006-02-09 17:51:17
Commented on 2006-02-09 18:01:21 In reply to syphon0928
Commented on 2006-02-09 18:03:33isnt i cant wait to try this .....
Commented on 2006-02-09 18:51:51 In reply to FrostFoxI think I'd feel a bit a bit guilty playing this game, for fear of the kiddle police knocking on my door!!
Commented on 2006-02-09 19:01:41Ahhhh such fun!! (^-^)
Commented on 2006-02-09 19:19:30
Commented on 2006-02-09 19:23:25This tomb raider will bring the game back to its roots as the guy that worked on the original is now back on board for this one.
Also the textures are by no means horrendous... Just try for a second to imagine how great that first screen would look in motion... it'll be one beautiful sight. Not only that check the reflections and lara's stomach area looks great :)