Not much was told about the story, but what we did get to see showcased some surprising elements of what will be Laras darkest adventure yet. Both Eidos and Core were adamant that the new Lara has become Darker, Harder, and less tolerant. Helping to create a new attitude and personality for Lara, The Angel of Darkness will present the player with many choices on who to trust, or who to help in given situations.

Like the story, not much was revealed about the gameplay, but there were a few things worth noting in the trailer. In a scene reminiscent of Metal Gear, Ms. Croft sneaks up on an unsuspecting guard, and snaps his neck with ease. In another scene, shes being pursued by dogs as well as armed guards. This is noteworthy because it showcases improved AI that will actively hunt Lara down, and not just give up if she enters another room. Of course, old gameplay elements such as jumping across pillars, and clearing out a room with dual guns blazing were also shown in the trailer, so people need not worry about the style of game changing too much.

Its hard to judge the games graphics at such an early stage in development, and by seeing so little, but there are some things worth noting. All of the cut-scenes seemed to utilize the in-game engine, and showed off the standard array of effects that one would expect to see on the PS2. As for the actual gameplay, it didnt look to be a great leap over what was done on the Dreamcast, but theres lots of time left.

All in all, things are looking up for Lady Croft. A new game engine, new controls, and many other refinements will make the games November 15th release date a big day for fans of the series, and Eidos hopes for people that are looking to get back into the series. Heres a copy of the press release for those that want to scour it for hidden messages.

Press Release: A new Lara Croft for a new generation. Eidos Interactive and Core Design announce the return of the worlds most famous video game character in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. The game will be released on PlayStation 2 and PC towards the end of 2002.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is classic Lara as both hunter and hunted relying on her ingenuity, athleticism and a new edge that has arisen from her dark inner demons. However, this time she faces more evolved characters and situations, calling for more involved decision-making. Lara now has the ability to interact with characters and the choice of which path to take. Upgrading her trademark style and look and dropping her into a bombshell scenario calls for a new resourcefulness making her a stronger and more complex heroine.

Adrian Smith, Operations Director at Core Design says, Our vision is to take the player somewhere dark, a place they might not necessarily wish to go, but a place they will have to venture if they are to bring Lara back. Lara will have some tough moral choices to make. Its no longer a clear-cut case of good versus evil - this is a more complex tale, which will ask more complex questions of the player. It will be a new experience for people who have played Tomb Raider in the past.

The game employs a brand new engine built from the ground up to fully utilize the power of PlayStation 2 and the latest PC graphics cards. Lara is now made up of over 5,000 polygons as opposed to just 500 in previous Tomb Raider games. She must traverse an intricately detailed world, which takes her from the back streets of Paris to the hellish depths of Prague.

Lara has changed since her experiences in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. She has become darker, harder, less tolerant and her tomb raiding days are a distant memory. A desperate phone call from her former mentor Von Croy leads her to Paris. Von Croy has been asked by a sinister client, Eckhardt, to track down one of five 14th century artworks - the Obscura Paintings. She arrives in Paris to find a city in fear. Von Croy has been the victim of a horrific murder and framed for the crime, Lara has no option but to go on the run.

During her exploits Lara encounters a kindred spirit in Kurtis Trent, a hardened adventurer like herself, who is in pursuit of Eckhardt. In her struggle to unravel the trail left by Von Croy, Lara becomes involved in underworld deals, grotesque murders, the dark side of an advanced form of alchemy and a history of blood, betrayal and vengeance spanning across hundreds of years.