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Initial Release: November 1997
Metacritic Score: Original game - 85 (details), Remaster - 76 (details)
ESRB/PEGI Rating: Original - Teen/12, Remaster - Teen (ESRB), Mature/18+ (PEGI)
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation. Later: Macintosh, PlayStation 3 and PSP (via PlayStation Network), Mac OS X, iOS and Android. Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games.
Spoiler-free Synopsis: Legend has it that when you drive the Dagger of Xian into your heart, you acquire the power of the dragon. Literally. In Ancient China, the Emperor was the holder of this power and with his army alongside him, he was a force to be reckoned with. Thus he staked claim to the vast lands that are China. His final battle, however, ended in defeat. While people fell into submission all around him, the warrior monks of Tibet would not relent and courageously fought against his evil. Knowing the power of the dagger, they succeeded in removing it from the Dragon Emperor's heart, reducing him and his army to carnage. The dagger was returned to its resting place within The Great Wall and locked up for all time.
Now three parties hold the dagger close to their heart. And all for entirely different reasons. Lara, forever the adventurer, is one of these. In her travels, she will encounter the other two.
Gameplay is still a combination of action and adventure, but the sequel includes quite a bit more combat and bloodshed than the original. This time there are 16 full-size levels plus two shorter levels at the end. Lara's journey takes her from the Great Wall of China to the canals of Venice, then to an offshore oil rig and a sunken shipwreck. From there journeys to the foothills of the Himalayas and, finally, back to the Great Wall.
What's New Since TR1: In addition to the pistols, shotgun, and Uzis from the original game, Lara adds a harpoon gun, M-16 assault rifle and grenade launcher to her arsenal. (Automatic pistols replace the Magnums from TR1.) Lara can now use flares to light her way in dark places, as well as drive vehicles: a speedboat in Venice and a snowmobile in Tibet. New moves include ladder climbing and additional acrobatic maneuvers.
Saving Your Game: Unlimited saves at any point on all platforms. (PC and Macintosh savegame files are available in case you make a bad save, want to skip a level, etc.)
Secrets: In TR2, the secrets for each level consist of three dragon statues—silver, jade and gold. Sometimes they're well hidden, sometimes in plain sight. A chime sounds when you locate a secret, and the stopwatch in the main inventory ring indicates how many you've found so far. This also appears on the statistics screen at the end of each level. When you pick up all three, you are rewarded with bonus items, usually ammo but occasonally a weapon or medipak. There is no bonus for finding all secrets in the game. And, as always, my walkthrough includes the locations of all secrets.
Bonus Levels: The original PC and Macintosh games received a five-level expansion called The Golden Mask. If you own the classic version, you can downloaded The Golden Mask free. They're also part of the Remastered collection (below).
Classic Tomb Raider Games on New Systems: Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered (link to blog post) is the best way to play TR2 on modern computers and consoles, but if you need help with a legacy version, check out my classic TR2 Downloads page and/or visit Core-Design.com, a fantastic fansite dedicated to the original games.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft launched February 14, 2024, for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games.
Becoming an Expert Raider
If you've never played a Tomb Raider game before—or even if you have—I encourage you to check out my TR2 Controls and Gameplay Tips & Strategy pages. They include pointers on moving Lara through her environment, conserving health and ammo, using the menu and inventory systems, and much more.
If you prefer a video walkthrough to text with screenshots, I encourage you to check out my friend Eldincy's Complete Tomb Raider 2 Remastered Video Walkthrough and Classic TR2 (PS1) Video Walkthrough.
Tomb Raider 2 Walkthrough/Strategy Guide
china (INTRO)
Venice
Level 2: Venice
Level 3: Bartoli's Hideout
Level 4: Opera House
Offshore & Sunken Ship
Level 5: Offshore Rig
Level 6: Diving Area
Level 7: 40 Fathoms
Level 8: Wreck of the Maria Doria
Level 9: Living Quarters
Level 10: The Deck
Tibet
Level 11: Tibetan Foothills
Level 12: Barkhang Monastery
Level 13: Catacombs of the
Talion
Level 14: Ice Palace
China (Revisit)
Level 15: Temple of Xian
Level 16: Floating Islands
Level 17: The Dragon's Lair
Croft Manor
Epilogue: Home Sweet Home
Some screenshots courtesy of Katie's Tomb Raider Site.