New details on Eidos' next Tomb Raider instalment

Eidos have given IGN the green light to unveil new game features that will appear in the latest addition to the Tomb Raider franchise, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.

We saw the game at this year's E3 behind closed doors and, according to the Core team, the brains behind the other Tomb Raider titles, the game will star Lara Croft and will take place in the far reaches of Egypt. Lara was a much younger, teenage explorer in the version we saw and her loyal butler was gone; in his stead was an experienced explorer who acted as Lara's mentor. Lara sported two pigtails and her body textures were far more...telling, as soft-skin textures replaced the usual simple texture-wraps.

Core have also said they've found a new way to program FMV sequences. In-game levels will now seamlessly dissolve into full-motion video cut scenes, and the load screens have been removed, providing some relief from those annoying 20-30 second pauses.

Although the game still looks and plays similarly to its predecessors, Core have changed the gameplay focus in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, with the emphasis on more puzzle solving and less running and jumping. In fact, Core have said they want to go back to their roots, making Tomb Raider IV more like the very first game, which received universal applause from critics and gamers alike.

In yet another addition, Core have redesigned the inventory system. Gamers can not only stock up on items, but now they can combine them. Core explained that this new feature adds more depth to the game and has increased the difficulty in the game's riddles and puzzles.

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation is scheduled for a November release.

Courtesy of IGN.com