This 2006 port of Tomb Raider: Legend transforms the adventure into a side-scrolling platformer for legacy mobile devices, featuring polygonal 3D graphics. You navigate Tokyo, jumping, rolling, and swinging with a grappling hook to avoid obstacles like lasers while battling Yakuza members using only a handgun. The core mission involves securing a piece of Excalibur from a local crime boss. This version offers a focused, traversal-heavy challenge distinct from the main console experience.
The adventure is set exclusively within Tokyo. The protagonist's objective is the retrieval of one of the three shattered pieces of Excalibur, King Arthur's legendary sword. This specific shard is believed to be in the possession of Takamoto, a high-ranking boss within the local Yakuza organization, setting the stage for confrontations with organized crime figures.
This version functions primarily as a 2D platformer, demanding precise timing for movement and combat. The fundamental loop involves running left and right, executing jumps between platforms, and engaging enemies.
Traversal is a key component. Players must navigate environmental hazards such as electric cables and laser defense systems, often requiring precise jumps or rolls to avoid damage. Mobility is supplemented by specific tools: Lara can swing around poles or employ her grappling hook to reach distant platforms. The grappling hook also serves a combat function, allowing players to swing into and incapacitate enemies.
Gunfights are kept simple, restricted to Lara's standard handgun. While players can dodge incoming fire by crouching, enemies possess the same defensive capability, requiring players to time their attacks and movements carefully.
As a port designed for Legacy Mobile Devices, this release offers a distilled, focused challenge. It is important to note that this specific version contains no subsequent downloadable content, expansions, or remasters; the content released in 2006 represents the complete experience for this platform.
The value proposition lies in its compact nature: a self-contained, focused platforming challenge centered on traversal, obstacle avoidance, and basic combat mechanics, all within the established narrative framework of the larger adventure.