If you?ve hated the earlier ones, you?ll love this one. After Tomb Raider 2, there were five progressively worse sequels. So, the new developers, Crystal Dynamics, spent a year researching the series and figure out what people love. Tomb Raider: Legend is the outcome. The fresh approach, design and execution and focus on smart puzzles and competent combat do the trick.

In the first flashback of the game, Lara and her mother are travelling in a small airplane that crash lands. Luckily, they are unharmed, but find themselves in an ancient land with mystical architecture. Lara activates an ancient artifact and her mother is sucked into a magic vortex, and with that Lara?s childhood comes to an end. The game proper starts in Bolivia with Lara Croft climbing cliffs.

The narrative proceeds through in-game dialogue, cut scenes and flashback sequences. Many cut scenes demand quick interactions to keep Lara alive. The dialogue is crisp and well edited. Lara is witty, but you seem to sense that she has a past that drives and haunts her.

Moving Lara around is not an issue any longer. Lara can still jump, swim, walk, run, climb poles, ladders, ropes, cliff sides and everything else. She can transform a normal jump into a silky smooth back-bend to make a perfect landing. She is nimble and athletic and is fun to manipulate. The swimming mechanics are also smooth.

This time, Lara?s been given more moves, and she is quick to respond. For instance, when in punching range, Lara can jump off an enemy?s chest or head, enter into ?focus? mode, and spring behind the enemy and shoot ? all in a swift set of motions. There is more. Her multi-purpose grappling hook hauls enemies into her clutches. Lara can wield two weapons simultaneously and her pistols never run out of bullets.

Lara still rides a handful of vehicles. The new vehicle is a motorcycle. The ride serves more to break up the action than to prove thrilling. Speaking of old ideas, the Croft Mansion is back.

Instead of a training ground, it?s Lara?s own tomb to raid, filled with an array of puzzles, outside of the story proper. Overall, there are eight huge missions stretching over Bolivia, Kazakhistan, Africa, England and the Himalayas.

Tomb Raider: Legend is an example of focused design, priorities and good mechanics, which win hands down over fancy cut scenes. If you?ve been pining for good adventure, Tomb Raider: Legend is just what you are looking for. The action is simple and effective. The best part is that the sense of discovery and adventure is captured with a fresh sensibility.

Minimum system requirements: Operating System: Windows 2000/XP, processor: 1.0 GHz or higher, RAM: 256 MB or higher, free hard disk space: 9.9 GB or higher, Modem: 56 KB or higher (multiplayer), Video card: 64 MB or higher with 3D acceleration