Tomb Raider II

About Tomb Raider II

Core Design released Tomb Raider II on November 21, 1997 as the direct sequel to the original hit. You play as Lara Croft across three continents in this action-adventure title that mixes platforming with puzzle solving and shooting. The game launched on PlayStation first before hitting PC, Mac, PS3, and PSP later. Your goal is simple enough on paper yet complex in execution. You hunt for the Dagger of Xian while stopping a Venetian crime lord from using it to become a dragon. The 3D environments here feel more expansive than the first game while keeping that classic exploration vibe players loved.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time running, jumping, and climbing through hazardous 3D levels. Lara moves with her signature athleticism as you cross ancient temples, snowy peaks, and underwater caverns. Combat feels much heavier here since you face numerous human enemies instead of just traps. You wield automatic pistols, an M16 rifle, a grenade launcher, and even a harpoon gun to take down foes. Solving environmental puzzles remains a daily task where you must find keys or manipulate mechanisms to progress. Each session involves careful navigation followed by tense shootouts or quick reflex checks. The controls are tight enough that precise jumps feel satisfying when executed correctly.

What Players Think

The PlayPile data shows this sequel holds strong with players. IGDB ratings sit at 80.2 out of 100 based on 318 community reviews while Metacritic lists it at 69. Average playtime for completionists stretches to 15 hours, though casual runners often clock in around 8. Community moods lean heavily toward nostalgic appreciation with 72 percent of recent reviews calling it a classic. Critics note the combat improvements over the predecessor as a major plus. Many users mention that the level design remains superior to most modern entries in the franchise despite the older graphics engine.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you want to see where the series evolved after its rocky start. The price point on retro bundles usually sits under fifteen dollars which makes it a steal for completionists. You have 30 achievements to track down including rare hidden items in later levels. Lara feels more capable here as she handles enemies with better weapons and fluid movement. Avoid this only if you strictly dislike third-person shooters from the late 90s era. The Dagger of Xian storyline gives you a clear reason to keep moving forward without needing modern narrative flair.

Storyline

The story begins one year after the events of Tomb Raider Unfinished Business. Lara Croft returns to discover the secret of the Dagger of Xian, a legendary weapon that was used by Chinese emperors to command their armies. It is said that a person can turn into a dragon by piercing his own heart with this dagger. When one of the emperors used it for that purpose, Tibetan monks manage to withdraw the dagger from his heart and return it to its resting place on the Great Wall. While investigating the legend, the archaeologist Lara Croft finds out that a powerful Venetian crime lord is hunting for the dagger, and must do everything in her power to prevent him from obtaining it.