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Tomb Raider II was just re-released on the Mac App Store and is a faithful port in many ways.  This includes an old-school hardcore difficulty as well as the original control scheme and handling–in other words, the game can be pretty difficult for new and old gamers alike who have become accustomed to the much more forgiving gameplay of games in recent years.  As such, we’ve put together a short list of tips and tricks for Tomb Raider II that will help ensure you play more efficiently and thus stay alive longer.

• Save often and in multiple slots.  The game does not autosave.

While many games today offer a variety of checkpoints and autosaves, this feature is not present in Tomb Raider II.  This means you should save often and in multiple slots.  Saving often will ensure you don’t have to go back and redo a particularly difficult section, and using multiple save slots means you won’t have to worry about getting stuck in an unwinnable situation.

• Use Lara’s Home to familiarize yourself with the controls.

Tomb Raider II may seem frustrating to control for gamers used to playing newer titles on modern day consoles, PCs, and Macs.  Fortunately, players can access Lara’s Home from the game’s main menu to help them get a better feel for the game mechanics.  Players can take on an obstacle course that incorporates many of the moves in Lara’s arsenal, and they can also explore Lara’s giant mansion on their own.  Getting a feel for the game’s controls is a crucial step in the path of surviving the threats that await Lara on her adventures.

• Walk (Shift key) to the edges of platforms and you won’t fall off.

There’s a fair bit of exploration and platforming present in Tomb Raider II, and that means a lot of long (and deadly, if not frustrating) drops.  To make sure Lara doesn’t accidentally go running headlong off of a cliff, hold down the shift key while moving to slow Lara down to a walk.  This simple move can be a lifesaver more times than you might think.

• Walk to the edge of a platform, then hop back once, and you’ll have enough room for a running jump.

Can’t quite figure out how much room you need for that extra boost that a running jump provides?  A simple way to always be on target is to walk to the edge (while holding the shift key) and then hop back once.  The space between where Lara lands and the edge of the platform should be just enough for a running jump which will help propel Lara across longer distances.

• Always keep your guns drawn so Lara can auto-target enemies you haven’t seen yet.

Lara’s pistols can be lifesavers in more than one way.  Of course they’ll shoot any enemy threats that Lara might stumble upon, but an added benefit is that the guns will auto-target threats as well.  Keeping Lara’s guns drawn means you won’t have to worry about any unseen threats sneaking up on you!

• To do a safety drop, back up to an edge, then press down and the action key.

Need to delicately get down from a ledge?  The safety drop move will ensure Lara descends at a much more slow and safe pace.  Few things are more frustrating than completing a series of difficult jumps, only walk off a ledge unintentionally.  Just remember to hold down the action key!

Have tips or tricks of your own?  Or are you stuck on a certain point and need some assistance?  Let us know in the comments!

Tags: Mac App, Tips, Tomb Raider II   Posted Classic Posts, Mac App Store, Mac Gaming, Special Feature |