Core Design
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

On October 31, 16 years ago, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation was released. It was 1999, the dawn of the new millennium. The times when we used the lira, the Twin Towers were still standing, and video games didn't cost that much. As the world changes, we found ourselves holding increasingly stupid video games at ever higher prices. But that's another story. I'll conclude this introduction with my thought: I'm really sad for those born in the last decade. I am part of the generation that grew up with GTA Vice City, Super Mario, and Roller Coaster Tycoon. And I still fondly remember the pleasure of spending afternoons creating roller coasters and picking up prostitutes. It was a different time.

Everyone knows who Lara Croft is. And in my heart, I hope the name Lara Croft evokes the image of a sensual archaeologist with brown shorts and a teal top, who, also thanks to the contribution of the excellent Elda Olivieri, could enchant you with her voice and actions. The iconic dual pistols, the backpack, the red sunglasses, the long braid. A new generation woman, beautiful, sensual, intelligent, and athletic. The Last Revelation is perhaps one of the greatest video games in the history of video games. Without the "perhaps." The first Tomb Raider invented the genre, and this fourth installment perfected it.

The title begins with a short flashback in Cambodia. In the first two training levels, we are shown a young Lara on her first adventure, accompanied by Werner Von Croy, her mentor. The setting then shifts to Egypt, where we will visit a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, drive a jeep through the desert dunes, explore Karnak and its Sacred Lake, fight (an idea that will be revisited in many subsequent video games) on a moving train, and then Alexandria, Cairo, and Giza. There’s no shortage of coastal and urban landscapes, dark tombs, spirits, mummies, skeletons, and if that weren't enough, Seth himself.

What can Lara do? Practically everything imaginable (maybe not absolutely everything). She can jump, swim, climb ropes, poles, or ladders, shoot with 5 different weapons (upgradable with a laser sight), swim, and much more. The gameplay is enhanced compared to previous titles, and the graphics are fantastic (young people won't understand, but seeing Lara move her lips was something revolutionary).

However, I find it pointless to review what this title was like on a technical level. I could point out that it is very long (35 majestic levels) and much more challenging than today's titles, but I would still be talking about a heap of polygons with very dated textures. The new Lara has a long ponytail that seems to have a life of its own - technology has made great strides in 16 years - this Lara has a long "braid" made from a snake of polygons.

Instead, I hope that someone who experienced a similar childhood to mine might find a bit of nostalgia in my words, and those who perhaps were born too late to enjoy such masterpieces can understand that it's not the graphics or realism that convey emotions. Emotions can also be conveyed by an old heap of polygons. A fantastic old heap of polygons.