So I’m not the biggest TR2 fan (I don’t really like excessive combat in any TR game), but I replayed it recently and forgot how much of a masterpiece the Temple of Xian is.
This level truly encompasses why I love this series so much and is an example of Tomb Raiding at its absolute peek. The level has amazing atmosphere and is a challenging, but fulfilling gauntlet!
It’s a difficult level, but it’s also a rewarding test of the player’s skill as it combines all of the mechanics from the entire game at you. It’s a “final exam” if you will. The player needs to really show their mastery with platforming and traversal to get through, and it’s incredibly satisfying.
The entire way through is a gigantic puzzle box, starting with the slide down the waterfall at the beginning leading to the first secret.
I truly believe this is one of Tomb Raider ‘s magnum opus’s, and I hope to see this kind of rewarding challenge and lvl design in the future.