Gamescom 2026 is over, and the trickle of news about Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis has begun. Those lucky enough to attend hands-off previews got an early look at the game, focusing on a portion of the Greece section. The Sword of Damocles puzzle room, part of the larger St. Francis Folly level, was showcased, revealing how Lara must explore a vast, vertical cavern searching for Greek mythology–themed puzzle rooms and keys to unlock a door. Here are five key takeaways from those previews.
The Return of Focus
Legacy of Atlantis is a remake of the original Tomb Raider, released in 1996. While that game was previously rebooted with Tomb Raider: Anniversary in 2007, which added mechanics like a grappling hook and a combat focus meter (where time slows down to line up headshots), this new iteration also features a focus meter. However, it seems the iconic red “shoot here” reticle might be absent.
Scanning: A Necessary Evil?
Some fans are already lamenting the return of crafting from the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot (a separate title from this remake). According to Gamesradar’s preview, Lara can craft food and potions for stat boosts and damage protection. While I understand the need to address anachronisms in the early games, the addition of scanning is a more significant concern. Apparently, Lara will have a tech device similar to Arkham Asylum’s detective mode, highlighting puzzle features. Ugh.
I realize this is likely necessary for new players, and previews state that scanning for puzzle progress is optional, with the device also used to glean lore. But, I can’t stress enough: ugh!
Enhanced Enemy Behaviors
I was pleased to see this preview cover Greece. St. Francis Folly is my favorite level, and I know it by heart. When previews discussed improved enemy behavior, specifically the bats, I remembered that encounter. Now, instead of attacking one at a time, bats swarm Lara, making it harder to take them out with guns, requiring her to use the ice pick from the 2013 reboot.
In later encounters, a leopard will run from Lara, breaking line-of-sight by hiding behind rocks or disappearing into crevices. This will make fights more dynamic than the rote encounters with centaur creatures in the original and Anniversary.
Skills Impact Puzzle Progression
Legacy of Atlantis features an RPG-like skill tree, allowing Lara to enhance her abilities. In the original Sword of Damocles puzzle room, the eponymous swords would fall if Lara wasn’t careful. In Legacy of Atlantis, Lara can avoid this by using a skill that increases shot range to shoot down the swords before they fall, turning traversal into a function of hopping from sword to sword. This is the only example in the preview of a skill circumventing a puzzle, so we don’t know how often this opportunity will arise.
Secrets Unlock Costume Changes
Beyond the main quest, Lara is always on the lookout for cultural artifacts. In Legacy of Atlantis, finding secrets will reward players with unlockable outfits. The preview showed that finding the Athenian Owl earned Lara her outfit from Tomb Raider: Legend.
Comments
Be the first to comment.