See cracks in case in photos. Wear on case over time
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft is a 1998 action-adventure game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive for the PlayStation 1. It is the third installment in the iconic franchise, known for significantly increasing the series' difficulty, expanding level layouts, and introducing non-linear gameplay.
The Plot
The story centers on Lara Croft's quest to find four ancient artifacts forged from the heart of a meteorite that crashed into Antarctica millions of years ago. A research company called RX Tech accidentally unearths the impact site, unleashing strange mutations. Lara travels the globe to secure the artifacts before the company's leader can use their evolutionary powers for dangerous experimentation.
Key Gameplay Mechanics
- Non-Linear Progression: After completing the opening level in India, you can choose the order in which you play the next three locations (Nevada, South Pacific, and London) before heading to the final chapter in Antarctica.
- New Technical Movements: Lara gains the ability to sprint (with a limited stamina bar), crawl through tight spaces, and monkey-swing across overhead bars or vines.
- Vehicles: The game introduces a wide variety of controllable vehicles, including a quad bike, a kayak, an underwater propulsion unit, and a hydrofoil boat.
- Environmental Hazards: New deadly elements are introduced, such as quicksand, piranha-infested waters, and freezing cold water that triggers a hypothermia meter.
Level Design and Atmosphere
The levels are massive, intricate, and often unforgivingly complex labyrinths. Unlike the previous games, which relied heavily on orthogonal, blocky grid systems, Tomb Raider III introduces triangular polygons, allowing for smoother, more organic geometry like sloped cave ceilings and realistic rock formations. The atmosphere is dense and atmospheric, utilizing dynamic lighting, weather effects like rain and snow, and a critically acclaimed, cinematic musical score that swells during moments of discovery or danger.
Save System (PS1 Specific)
On the PlayStation 1 version, the game utilizes a strict save system. Players must find and collect Save Game Crystals hidden throughout the levels to save their progress. Because these crystals are finite, managing when and where to save adds an extra layer of tension and difficulty compared to the PC version, which allows saving anywhere.
