When I run a PC game for the first time, I’m always eager to turn up all of its graphic settings assuming I meet the requirements to do so. This is what makes the PC version of a game superior to its console ports: eye candy. There is a feature called “Next Generation Content” which puts the graphical icing on an already good looking cake. Though I was running this game with a GeForce 7800 GT and other specs above the suggested ones, I could barely handle the “Next Generation Content” option. I could in some areas, and it certainly was awesome, but in the end I had to turn it off. Even if you don’t have a beast of a system to run this on its absolute top settings, don’t worry, because the game still looks great without it.

I thought previous Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia games had tired me out on jumping puzzles. Luckily, the ones in TR: Legend are actually fun and creative. Lara comes equipped with a magnetic grappling hook that can be used to swing from or pull metallic objects. The best part about these puzzles is that there is a liberal amount of “Checkpoints” between areas, so that even if you’re like me and end up making Lara fall a lot, you won’t pull your hair out in frustration with having to start over. Your last checkpoint is never that far behind.

This is the first Tomb Raider where it feels like Lara is actually very agile and fluid in her movements. Her animations are very well done and the controls make it easy to direct her. Besides hopping and swinging from platform to platform, she can also roll and dodge in combat. If you’re close enough to an enemy, you can kick them or do a slide attack to knock them down. The only issue I have with the combat system is a small one, and that’s the auto-target feature. Most of the time it’s great, but every now and then it swaps to an out of range target or is slow to focus in on the only enemy present. This didn’t happen that often, and I don’t think it’s something that really affects the enjoyment of the game, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyhow.

Not all of the puzzles require dexterous finger movements. To figure some of them out, you might have to use Lara’s high-tech binoculars. Not only do they help you look around and zoom in on areas, they can also examine and tell you the purpose of certain objects, such as if they can move or be broken. Knowing the characteristics of every object in the room will help you figure out what you must do to pass the area. They did a great job planning and implementing the various obstacles.

Another variation in the gameplay is something akin to a cinematic-action sequence. Basically, Lara moves by herself, but you have to press the corresponding direction key at the right moment to help her move along. Failure to press the key at the right moment results in a dead Lara. Some of the death animations are pretty humorous, though. I do feel bad watching her fall off a motorcycle and slam her head into a garage door because I didn’t press “up” in time. There are also fast-paced action scenes where you have to fully control her and move her past an area as quickly as possible.

I would talk a little bit about the story, but I think you will enjoy it more if I don’t. From the beginning, the story might have you thinking “What the heck!?”, but once you play through it, I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Part of the fun of this game is figuring out the mystery of the artifacts yourself. That brings me to my favorite aspect of the game: the level designs. They vary from ancient temples in Bolivia, cityscapes in Japan, rain forests in Africa, and my personal favorite, an abandoned museum dedicated to the fabled King Arthur with an incredible underground tomb to explore. I think I enjoyed the artwork of the game as much as the gameplay itself. Throughout the missions, you will earn/find bonus content such as pistol upgrades, cinematics, concept art, and character profiles.

My only real dispute with the game as a whole was the fact I thought it was too short. I think it could have used at least a couple more stages. However, the game is not over once you have completed the story. You can also explore Croft Manor. It contains more advanced puzzles to figure your way through. They are fun and inventive, but definitely tougher than the ones you will encounter in the actual story missions. You can also unlock additional bonus content here. If you go through all of the effort to solve every puzzle and unlock every feature, there are even more hours of entertainment outside of the core missions.

If you like adventure games even just a little bit, I would have to recommend Tomb Raider: Legend. All the awkward movement problems and annoying combat in the previous installments of the series are long gone. Crystal Dynamics has picked up this franchise and resurrected it from its slump. The superb atmospheres by the artists coupled with the fun puzzles/combat of the gameplay makes for one enjoyable and memorable gaming experience.