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| Tomb Raider |
| .: By: Michael Walker :: Device used: iPAQ 3835 :: July 17th, 2002 :. |
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| When I read the PocketGamer announcement from about 6 months ago saying there was going to be a Tomb Raider game for the Pocket PC, I knew I'd have to get it. 3D graphics, great gameplay, and Lara Croft together on a mobile device just seemed like a dream come true. Well, that dream HAS come true thanks to Eidos' first attempt to sell to the Pocket PC market, a port of the first Tomb Raider game. But is this title a magical relic or does it deserve to be locked away in an ancient temple? Keep reading to find out... |
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| After getting my copy of Tomb Raider (NOTE: If you ever want to contact Eidos regarding their PocketPC games, you'd better be ready to fight to the finish), the first logical step was obviously to install it. THe install program works just like any other, letting you choose the install directory, yada yada yada. Strangely enough, Eidos and Ideaworks have included a separate program to install Tomb Raider on your iPAQ, appropriately labeled "Install Tomb Raider for iPAQ". When you run it, you are prompted to enter your registration code. After it has been verified that your code is in fact valid, it prompts you with a rather wordy question which I find quite amusing: |
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| "Do you want to unlock Tomb Raider on this PocketPC? You cannot unlock Tomb Raider on another PocketPC afterwards. If you want to unlock Tomb Raider on another PocketPC, hit No. To unlock Tomb Raider on this PocketPC, hit yes." |
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| I guess they want to make sure that you understand that the game is Tomb Raider and it's the Pocket PC version, though it's probably a bit too late if you didn't know that by this point. Anyway, after it sets that serial code to your device (assuming you chose Yes), ActiveSync opens and installation proceeds just like any other PocketPC program. However, it does check your Hardware ID before installing, so if you own any device other than an iPAQ, you're out of luck. Tomb Raider takes up 10mb of storage space, so I'd highly recommend using a storage card if you have one. |
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| After reading the help file to learn the controls, I loaded up Tomb Raider for the first time. The menu was pretty clear-cut, complete with nice 3D models representing the choices. Selecting the glasses lets you adjust the brightness, choosing the rotating iPAQ shows you the control configuration screen, etc. Though I'd read the readme file and knew the controls, I first went to Lara's Home, which is basically an in-game tutorial. You walk around Lara's house, learning a new move in each room. This feature was very useful and it helped me get acquainted with the game. However, the first thing I noticed when I started up this tutorial of sorts was not Ms. Croft's instructions, but rather the graphics. Though considered quite mediocre by PC standards, I've yet to see better graphics running at playable speeds on a Pocket PC. Our heroine, though a bit blocky, moves smoothly and fluidly. I've found that the display occasionally gets pixely for no real reason, but most of the time everything is quite sharp. |
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| After I got over the somewhat stellar graphics, I started worrying about the game's "fun factor". In the gaming industry, there's generally been a downward spiral in the quality department lately. Developers have been slacking off in the gameplay area due to the fact that graphics are getting better and better. I was afraid that since these graphics are some of the best currently available on a Pocket PC, the gameplay would be lacking, to say the least. Fortunately, Tomb Raider really shines in this area. Though I would prefer a bit more action, the game has lots of fun puzzles to solve and a fair amount of enemies to shoot. |
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| As much as I enjoyed this game, one of my only complaints is sound. There is unfortunately no music, which I think could have been a great addition to the game. There are a few sound effects such as guns firing. These few clips sound great, but they are far and few between. |
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| Conclusion |
| After such a great game like this, I hope Eidos continues to develop for the PocketPC platform. If you look past marketing flaws such as the iPAQ-only restriction and the only demo being one only playable through Internet Explorer on a desktop PC, this game is a true masterpiece. If you own an iPAQ and have enjoyed any other Tomb Raider game, I would suggest that you buy this title. You won't regret it. |
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| Pros |
Cons |
- Real 3D graphics
- Seamless transition between tough puzzles and fast-paced action
- Perfect port of the original
- Lara Croft!
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- Minor graphics glitches
- No music
- Only runs on the iPAQ
- High space requirement
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