Tomb Raider: Chronicles

As the fifth main installment, this 2000 action-adventure game focuses on platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat, structured around flashbacks to Lara Croft's untold past. Gameplay enhances traversal with new skills like tightrope walking, bar swinging, forward somersaults, and a grappling hook. Uniquely, this title includes a level editor for custom stage creation. It has seen various re-releases, including a remaster.

This 2000 release is the fifth main installment in the celebrated action-adventure series, following the events of its predecessor. Set shortly after a perilous expedition in Egypt, the narrative unfolds as those closest to the famed adventurer gather to commemorate her presumed loss. During a somber memorial service, friends begin recounting several previously untold exploits from her past, forming the structure of the game's episodic adventure. This title maintains the established formula of intense action combined with intricate environmental puzzle-solving and demanding platforming challenges.

Core Gameplay and Mechanics

The fundamental gameplay loop centers on navigating complex, often ancient, environments, utilizing acrobatic maneuvers to traverse obstacles, and engaging in combat when necessary. While retaining the core feel of previous entries, this installment introduces several notable mechanical additions to the protagonist's repertoire.

New Traversal Abilities

Players can now utilize new skills to overcome environmental hurdles. These additions include the ability to walk across tightropes, swing from horizontal bars, and perform a forward somersault when dropping from a ledge while crouched. Furthermore, a grappling hook has been added to the inventory, opening up new possibilities for reaching distant ledges and securing traversal routes.

What makes this game unique in the series?

Beyond the mechanical updates, a significant feature included with this main game is a level editor. This tool allows players to design and construct their own custom stages and challenges for the protagonist to explore, offering extended replayability beyond the main narrative experience.

Platform Availability and Content

Originally launched for PC and Dreamcast, this adventure has since seen ports across various generations of hardware, including releases on PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Portable, and the original PlayStation, as well as Mac versions. As a main title, it does not feature any official downloadable content (DLC) or standalone expansions released after its initial launch.

It is worth noting that this title has received at least one remaster, updating the experience for modern systems.