Tomb Raider 2 iPhone Review

One issue that has plagued console-to-mobile has been translating the controls to touch-screen while maintaining their fidelity. While RPG's are fairly easily ported, action games haven't faired so well. Tomb Raider 2 exemplifies this. As a game that requires delicate and precise response as you take Lara on her second adventure, the touch screen just isn't up to snuff. However, if you have a controller the game is very fun and an excellent iOS point that runs very smoothly.

The Good

The game is actually a port of the PC version, so not only are the graphics better than the PlayStation version (though still dated), but players also get the extra levels from the Golden Mask expansion. The game has a whole host of Game Center achievements, and the game itself is full of secrets for players to discover.

The Bad

The virtual controls are god awful. Most of the latter levels will be nearly impossible to complete without a controller as they require precision acrobatics that just can't be pulled off easily with the on-screen controls. The graphics are dated, even for a mobile title, everything is quite blocky and the textures are low-res. There is a ton of content for a mobile game and it contributes greatly to a genre that doesn't appear on iOS very often.

The Verdict

I admire what Square Enix tried to do with this release, and I believe they did the best they could do with the controls. However, when porting a game this complex, there's not a lot of room for change, and action-adventure is just not a genre that translates well to touch screens. Although it is very enjoyable with a controller, trying to play on the touch screen made me want to rip my hair out. Honestly, with the wide availability of this game of Steam and PlayStation Network, those versions are much better choices.