Lara, I never knew thee...

I am reviewing this game, however, let me make it clear from the outset that I never actually played this game. The reason is simple--I couldn't.

I purchased this game, used, a couple of months back. I was very excited about getting it because I had never played a Tomb Raider game before and I was especially excited because I was thrilled at the possibility of actually getting to play an adventurous female character with a long video gaming history.

Then reality set in. I came home with the game and attempted to play. I carefully read the instruction book like a good girl should and hunkered down with my controller. Then and only then did I realize that the control scheme on this game was unbearable. I could barely get Lara to turn around--forget about jumping over ledges or grabbing vines! The only way I was able to get through the tutorial level at all was to have my boyfriend play it for me and give me a couple control-scheme lessons as we went through. Even then, when left to my own devices after he went home, I could not make it work for me.

I could barely get the character to move, let alone raid a tomb--it was difficult to keep straight in my mind what I had to press to make her turn, to run, to grab, etc. Smooth game play was out of the question. Additionally, I found myself constantly trying to get Lara to interface with the Guide that's with her in the first level and no matter how many times I made Lara stand in front of him oh-so seductively, he wouldn't even give her a second glance (hmmph!)

In defense of this game, I admittedly am not the most patient person out there, so frustration set in for me a little sooner than for some; however, it was so bad for me that I resold the game back to the store and took about a $15 loss on it.

The one good thing that came out of this experience is that I learned to rent before I buy. If I had rented Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation first, I wouldn't have ever wasted my money or my time.

Why do you think the control schemes are made so obviously bad for a game that precision and control are key above all else? Well, looking at the other reviews this game got, I'm obviously preaching to the choir...