Actually I liked the Angel of Darkness, but it does feel like the first game out of new series, with quite some "child-diseases".
The biggest change with the previous five games, which is also the major <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/down.gif" alt="" /> in this game, are the controls: they're still easy to use, but Lara just reacts incredibly slow. When you're jumping and press spacebar to draw your weapon, it will take her literally two seconds to hit the ground first, stand still, and finally draw it. Moreover, even when you're just running, she's really running in slow motion. No, not bullet-time, just slow motion. Which feels kind of strange.
You get used to it though - but most people don't want to, and scream and hate and curse Core and Eidos <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Which is in their right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Something else which disappointed me was the level design - it's not bad, but it's nothing compared to the first game. They focused on graphics this time - and granted, they look very nice. But mostly it's from one room to the next room, solving a puzzle here and shooting a baddie there. It really feels much more like a try-out than a true Tomb Raider game.
The story is alright, there are interesting bits in it. Which is good for a game that tries to be a movie. And it doesn't do a bad job at that either. The atmosphere is very good. Different from any of the previous games, but I liked it very much. The music is very nice too (soundtrack performed by the London Symphony Orchestra!) and overall the game is pretty well directed. Some of the voice actors do an ok performance while the rest of the cast simply do horrible.
In short, I liked the game mostly for its atmosphere, but I missed impressing level design and original puzzles. If you don't expect to be overwhelmed, I think you'll find this game rather enjoyable. Nothing amazing but nothing incredibly lousy either.
Didn't see the second movie yet. The first one was an almost horrible movie, which didn't really feel very "Tomb Raider" to me. I liked it though, it's fun to watch, and Jolie is enjoying every minute of it, which makes up for quite a few things. I'm expecting the same from the second movie. (Only "more", of course, it's Hollywood afterall <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> ). And director Jan de Bont IS better with cameras than Croft has ever been in any of her games <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
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