[Katie]

I haven't played Underworld so I can't make a vote, but based on the three games produced by Crystal, should there be a future for Tomb Raider? Has the series exhausted itself?

I recently did an interview for a gaming website with questions related to this (I'll let you know when it's out and on what site) so I wanted to see what everyone else thinks.

[Mikeyy]

I wouldn't say that the series has been exhausted it's just that there needs to be major improvements. I would say CD have done a bad job but actually Legend and Anniversary for the time were fantastic games. If Underworld was on the PS2 only in 2003 then I'd be saying it's a great game too. But it's not and it brang nothing new to the table compared to other fantastic games such as Uncharted.

CD & Eidos Square Enix - MAKE A TOMB RAIDER GAME WHICH IMPROVES EVERYTHING WE'RE BANGING ON ABOUT: COVER SYSTEM, BETTER COMBAT, BETTER AI, NEW STORY AND IT'LL BE GOOD!

[Mystery-King]

Interesting topic Katie. Truth be told and as much as i hate to say it, the tomb raiding franchise is growing old now and very unoriginal. There was a time when tomb raider was 'the' coolest thing to own but nowadays especially where I am, you have the micky taken out of you for admitting you even own the games. CD should stop churning out a new game every year because the game justs ends up like marmite. You either love it or hate it. If they want tomb raider to see the light of oooooooh... say 2012? Then FORGET releasing another one this year. We don't want another stupid trilogy or comeback characters or 'weapons that could lay waste to whole civilisation' WE WANT ORIGINALITY! Take your time, maybe even three years if needs be but pushing the consoles limits to the max, increase the game length and originality. (Maybe replaying TR4 would show them what being original was all about. Like the rotating octagon room and the large senet board. THAT was cool.) But release mini levels every couple of months or so. Nothing special or exclusive, maybe a level like the times exclusive. Something that might take you about an hour or whatever. But seriously, the idea is wearing thin now and old and at this rate you'll be seeing this message in a couple of months time
v
v
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R.I.P
TOMB RAIDER GAMES
STARTED OF GOOD, GOT A BIT BETTER, THEN DECLINED.

(I don't what it to end this way!)

[Raider126]

I personally don't want the series to end, it's awesome and to many people it has changed their lives. I now have a website and I have met so many people I wouldn't of met if Tomb Raider Legend hadn't grabbed my attension. I had followed the series since Tomb Raider III however I wasn't a fan as I am today. I really love CD work and I love TRL and I really don't want the series to just go.

[Hannahi]

I haven't played Underworld either, but I want to see more TRs in the future... So I voted yes. Obviously games have some improvements to make, but if they can overcome them, I see no problems.

[Mintra]

Well I guess so long as there's a storyline there can in theory be a game, and there's plenty more stories to be told from this particular genre, as you well know Katie

The problem is that TR doesn't stand out as being different any more - compared to 1996 (not that I knew anything about it then) it's become a bit... mediocre. Back then, 3D was new and female lead characters were new. So if TR is to be kept alive and well (not just alive... barely) there needs to be new innovations that keep it apart from other games. Easier said than done, but certainly the shiny graphics, dumbing down the puzzles and wasting time messing around with the size of her breasts isn't enough.

For once I won't say I could personally do a better job (I'm not creative enough), but there has to be someone who can. Eidos (I refuse to call 'em Square whatever) just has to find them

[gamerguy475]

well if CD keeps releasing crap like the ps2 version of underworld that takes half an hour to beat then no, let's end it before we look like idiots playing that junk.

if CD is going to put some actual effort into keeping the series aloft like with Legend then sure I'd be happpy to raid tombs once again!

in all honesty Eidos should give core a second chance, they were just down on their luck when they made chronicles and AoD. Just think of how awesome they were when they made the original 4 (and director's cuts). they were long, simple, orignal, FUN, and challenging games that made you proud (and happy) to own. if they were awesome back then just hink how spectacular they'd be with HD grapics and highly sophisticated AI.

[Mintra]

in all honesty Eidos should give core a second chance, they were just down on their luck when they made chronicles and AoD.

Shame it's a bit late for that, what with Core being dead an' all...

[Naids]

I'm really undecided. I own the PS2 version of Underworld, and comparing that to the next-gen versions was a nightmare for me. I loved the next gen versions (I played a bit of Underworld at a friend's house) and in my opinion, I don't see why people are complaining about the next gen version.
Over here in Aus if you have TR games you are not considered as a 'loser'. I just think it's stupid that people are stereotypical about what games people play and if they're cool or not. I think people should get over it and not judge people by the games they play, I mean, it's all a bit silly isn't it?
Yes, I do think Tomb Raider has a futre, but Crystal Dynamics really need to open up to large, dramatic changes. Sure they did in Legend and Anniversry, but it's all get a bit old isn't it? It can't be the same for to long.

[gamerguy475]

Shame it's a bit late for that, what with Core being dead an' all...

wah? they're not dead they were purchased by rebellion (allthough that would make it diffucult for eidos to aproach core with the proposition now that rebellion is in the way).

[Mintra]

wah? they're not dead they were purchased by rebellion (allthough that would make it diffucult for eidos to aproach core with the proposition now that rebellion is in the way).

Way I see it, it's pretty much the same thing. You won't find any new games being released under the Core brand - it's all Rebellion, and most of the original TR team left before Core was even sold. So what I'm saying is there can't be a "second chance" for Core like a return to the good old days, because they just don't exist that way any more.

[Matt Freaking Miller :D]

It just needs another complete overhaul, it worked with Legend, but they totally ruined it with Underworld. COMPLETE OVER HAUL, locations, characters, storys, game engine and even Lara (apperance). They need more flowing gameplay, more focus on combat (although still keeping it level with exploration) and some kind of multiplayer element. Just look at Uncharted and see what I mean. It can only continue if they do just start from stratch with Lara.

[Joe_Von_Croy]

As much as I hate to say this. Just before I do, I love tomb raider more than any other game. But... Its getting old, the first games were just outstanding because it had everything. I hate to say it, but, the new games are the same theres nothing new. Shoot that bird, climb that ladder, jump on that rock.

Thats why I think tomb raider still hasn't turned into a next-gen game. I think it hasn't evolved as well as it should of done and also as well as other next-gen games. You just seem to able to do more things on different games on the xbox, ps3 or perhaps the wii. Tomb raider is pretty much the same.

This maybe to why they took that radical step with Angel of Darkness by turning Lara into a right weirdo wandering around Paris collecting silly paintings. Its because it was so incredibly different from the previous games. AOD lost tomb raider a lot of fans... its true, I know there a lot of people on this forum who love AOD but you've got to be honest, thats why people daren't buy the new tomb raider games cause they might be just as weird as AOD and they lost their faith in TR after AOD.

Legend and anniversary were fantastic I thought but everyone was expecting TRU to be bursting out of its Legend/anniversary format and be a completly different game! But it wasn't, that might be why people don't like Underworld very much. Because they may have been expecting something much more.

I think tomb raider can be revived, especially if CD/square enix sort out everything Mikeyy listed and also A much longer plot and Game something a bit like TRLR really really long, but you just can't stop playing it. Do you know what I mean?

Sorry for rambling.

[Katie]

It sounds like most of us still love TR and still want new games, but ones that are more like the classics.

[Naids]

It sounds like most of us still love TR and still want new games, but ones that are more like the classics.

Well said

[Matt Freaking Miller :D]

Well said

Not really, I speak for a few of us and thats the problem, being more like th classics will just make it worse, yes they were good for the time but at the moment you have to make a stellar game or it won't be accepted. Seriously they need to start from stratch, just keep lara, and make all the gameplay from the ground up of today's standard.

[gamerguy475]

take a look at how well complete overhalls worked for the spyro series.....

[Matt Freaking Miller :D]

take a look at how well complete overhalls worked for the spyro series.....

Well that was because it changed hands from insomniac to a random Vivendi studio (poo).

[gamerguy475]

actualy I ment the overhaul from hero's tail to a new begining. Poor spyro was hanging on by a thread before a new begining. but then the idiots at sierra had to come along and cut that thin line. now Spyro not only looks stupid with the weird character redesigns, but he has lousy games to match it that garner points like 5/10 from reviewers, and stupidest of all they rebooted the series, closing the connection to the one thing that got a people to buy it: the classics.

the point still remains though, a complete overhall is risky because the game might turn out to be utter junk when a decnt formula was used in the last game.
In my opinion they should just stick with the engines of their good games but touch it up so it isn't the exact same thing. it worked with anniversary and TR2

[Matt Freaking Miller :D]

actualy I ment the overhaul from hero's tail to a new begining. Poor spyro was hanging on by a thread before a new begining. but then the idiots at sierra had to come along and cut that thin line. now Spyro not only looks stupid with the weird character redesigns, but he has lousy games to match it that garner points like 5/10 from reviewers, and stupidest of all they rebooted the series, closing the connection to the one thing that got a people to buy it: the classics.

the point still remains though, a complete overhall is risky because the game might turn out to be utter junk when a decnt formula was used in the last game.
In my opinion they should just stick with the engines of their good games but touch it up so it isn't the exact same thing. it worked with anniversary and TR2

But Eidos don't need to think about the fans, they need to think about their revenue, sticking to an old formular for over 10 years is so boring! They need to shake it up abit, Eidos wants a bigger audience, becuase unfortunatly they aren't going to cater to the fans if they are losing money. Spyro is different, e.g. when has sierra ever made a decent game and theres only so much you can do with that character, partly why Isomniac gave up the franchise. Tomb Raider needs to get with the times e.g. online play and better network intergration (e.g. content for HOME and better more thought out acheivements/trophies). Also the engine that TR:U was running on was pretty awful, look at Uncharted's, its got such a solid engine that was built from the ground up.