Tomb Raider II

Tomb Raider II
Developer(s)Core Design[a]
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive[b]
Producer(s)Troy Horton
Designer(s)
  • Neal Boyd
  • Heather Gibson
Programmer(s)Gavin Rummery
Artist(s)
  • Stuart Atkinson
  • Jocelyn Charmet
Writer(s)Vicky Arnold
Composer(s)Nathan McCree
SeriesTomb Raider
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation
Mac OS
iOS
Android
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation
  • NA: 21 November 1997
  • EU: 21 November 1997
Mac OS
  • NA: October 1998
iOS
3 December 2014
Android
28 October 2015
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Tomb Raider II (also known as Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft) is a 1997 action-adventure video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. It was first released on Windows and PlayStation. Later releases came for Mac OS (1998), iOS (2014) and Android (2015). It is the second entry in the Tomb Raider series, and follows archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft hunting the magical Dagger of Xian in competition with an Italian cult. Gameplay features Lara navigating levels split into multiple areas and room complexes while fighting enemies and solving puzzles to progress, with some areas allowing for or requiring the use of vehicles.

Production began in 1996 immediately after the success of the original Tomb Raider, being completed in between six and eight months, a short development period which was physically and emotionally stressful for the team. Original staff members Toby Gard and Paul Douglas left over creative differences with the publisher, though many remained including composer Nathan McCree. A Sega Saturn version was scrapped due to a console exclusivity deal signed between Eidos and Sony. Critics praised the game at release, with many noting its expanded gameplay and smoother graphics. It went on to sell nearly seven million copies worldwide.

An expansion pack entitled The Further Adventures of Lara Croft was in development in late 1997 but was cancelled. Some elements from the project were carried over to the 1998 sequel, Tomb Raider III.[1] An expansion entitled The Golden Mask was released the following year, containing new levels focused on Lara's quest to find a golden mask in Alaska. A remastered version of the game, alongside The Golden Mask, was included in Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024.


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  1. ^ Baxter, Daryl (2021). "Chapter 11, Home Sweet Home". The Making of Tomb Raider. White Owl. ISBN 978-1399002059.