Gaming Target - Game Boy: Tomb Raider: The Prophecy

Written by Matt Swider on January 02, 2003

Review: While the GBA shrinks all of Lara Croft's aspects, the gameplay remains the one area that hasn't seen reduction.

Lara Croft has returned in her first portable expedition since a pair side-scrolling performances on the Game Boy Color. Serving as her initial entry onto the Game Boy Advance, Tomb Raider: The Prophecy takes on a fresh design with its pseudo-3D perspective and strictly focuses on completing a series of puzzles. To progress through each level, players are required to use trial-and-error tactics along with exploration of the environments. In effect, Ubi Soft captures many of the gameplay elements found in early Tomb Raider titles and recreates them in a similar likeness on the Game Boy Advance.

Although Lara still portrays that same sexy attitude, it's seen at a whole new altitude on the Game Boy Advance. The Prophecy features a fixed camera angle raised well above her head to give players the full view advantage of possible dangers lurking in the distance. The camera is also set on a slight tilt that allows the game to mimic a three-dimensional appearance. This works particularly well given the vast number of vertical leaps and bounds players must perform to accomplish certain tasks. Even when the threat of an enemy exists, Lara is always packing heat on her journeys. Along with the standard twin pistols that never run out of ammo, players can also shell out a couple of rounds with her Uzis or mystical Gold Guns.

Lara is not only well equipped with various weapons, but she is also complete with a number of smooth animations throughout the game. Her movement illustrates a well-rounded 3D character model whenever she runs, jumps, or shoots. Along with these ordinary moves, Lara's signature abilities make an appearance. When targeting an enemy, her impressive looking back flips and sidestepping hurdles can be performed to avoid danger. It not only looks good, but works well along with the seamless targeting system. The setup mimics previous Tomb Raider titles by making sure Lara's guns stay focused on nearby enemies no matter which direction her legs are moving.

Each level takes on the look of ancient ruins with structures rising high into the air. Thus, players will find themselves scaling new heights rather being limited to moving from side-to-side. In certain cases Lara will have to cross a bottomless chasm that spells death with every jump attempted. The key to avoiding this is finding a ledge to dangle from and slowly crossing to the other side of the gap. This serves as just one of an assortment of techniques used to overcome obstacles in the game. After completing a string of platform challenges, players can access switches that unlock sealed doors or turn off certain traps. This opens up new rooms within the elaborate stages and sums up the majority of what goes on within the game.

The prominent technical strength of The Prophecy comes with its shadow casting, which throws even more visual flair into the already impressive looking game. As if there is actual sunlight bearing down from the right side of the game screen, the surroundings feature shadows that cover any part of Lara's body behind tall pillars or wide platforms. While darkness exists behind every single elevated structure, the thing that has vanished without a trace is the game's music. Instead of providing a soundtrack with recurring tunes or dull drumbeats, the game simply relies on sound effects to fill its voids of silence. Naturally, most of what is heard comes from Lara and her reactions of jumping, landing, losing health, etc. The three different types of weapons emit distinct sounds, especially the Golden Guns that can be charged up for optimal blasts when the tone sounds. Like it's console counterparts, this version of Tomb Raider pulls off having no in-game music since all minds will be concentrating heavily on the reaching the end of each level more than anything else.