Lara gets a little more history - her own. Far, far back in the mists of time, when Lara was only 16, she was tutored in archaeology by Professor Werner Von Croy, a world-famous archaeologist. Skip forward now, to find Lara in Egypt, minding her own business until a pool of sinking sand pulls her underground, deep into an ancient tomb.

Here she unwittingly releases the evil god Set, and for the rest of the game her ultimate aim is to recapture him and return him to his prison. The game follows her quest through 43 levels, all set in the same underground world, so the story moves seamlessly and effortlessly - as does Lara. For the first time, she is able to climb ropes and scale walls.

The new inventory management system allows you to combine weapons and artefacts, and there are additions to her usual arsenal. Apparently she made it through the last three adventures without a flashlight, so it's good to know she's finally got one.

With its compelling, atmospheric storyline, and a complex range of puzzles to solve in between the nail-biting action sequences, this is Tomb Raider on a return to true excellence.