Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis brings back everything that made Lara Croft an icon

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Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis seems to be a fantastic return to the classic style of Lara Croft’s adventure games.

Lara is making a big comeback in February 2027 with another remake of the first game in the Tomb Raider series. 

It’s been almost 20 years since Lara Croft first searched for the Scion of Atlantis in a video game back in 1996. After playing a preview of the new ‘Legacy of Atlantis’ game at Summer Game Fest, it’s obvious this version is aiming to be the best and most complete reimagining of her original adventure.

Legacy of Atlantis promises to be a breathtakingly beautiful adventure

While playing the demo, I explored the jungles of Peru as Lara Croft, solving puzzles and navigating ancient ruins. I also collected various artifacts along the way.

The first thing I noticed was the brilliant sound design; with every muddy step, each rush of birdsong, and every tumbling waterfall, it truly felt like Lara was stamping through the underbrush of a humid, isolated jungle.

Visually, Legacy of Atlantis is a massive step up for Tom Raider. Crisp, high-definition graphics, combined with nice details like lens splashes when Lara swims, make exploration a true feast for the eyes. It’s nothing short of breathtaking, and left me hungry to see the other environments the game has to offer down the line.

Lara goes back to her campy action roots

Unlike the recent trilogy, Legacy of Atlantis returns to the series’ classic, over-the-top action style. Lara Croft once again uses her incredible agility – leaping across huge gaps, dodging spikes, and performing acrobatic moves in fights.

She’s back with her reliable crowbar and grappling hook, letting her swing effortlessly between platforms. This makes getting around feel lively and is a welcome change from the more grounded movement in the recent trilogy.

I also got the pleasure of fighting a few overly-curious raptors during my demo; taking on enemies with Lara’s dual pistols felt extremely satisfying, especially with the PlayStation 5 controller’s adaptive triggers.

Lara can briefly slow down time – a ‘bullet time’ effect – to get extra shots in. You activate this by dodging attacks, which fills up a meter. Once full, pressing a button triggers the slow-motion. It’s easier to use than requiring perfect timing on dodges, but you can’t use it constantly. The ability has a limited number of uses before you need to recharge the meter, which can be tricky when you’re surrounded by enemies.

We can’t wait to play more Tomb Raider

Legacy of Atlantis features exciting, movie-like moments, such as a thrilling encounter with a giant T-Rex, just like in the original game. Players must escape the dinosaur by thinking fast and dodging obstacles – or risk being eaten! It’s a challenging sequence, so pay close attention to where you need to climb and swing to survive.

The Legacy of Atlantis demo was incredibly exciting! Though brief, it shows Crystal Dynamics is heading in the right direction with a reimagined version of the original game. This new take offers a welcome departure from the more serious and realistic tone of Lara Croft’s recent adventures.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis releases on February 12, 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

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2026-06-11 16:26