They wanted to end it — and were told it must continue.
By the year 2000, Core Design had made a Tomb Raider game every single year for five years straight. The team was tired. They tried to kill off Lara Croft in The Last Revelation — a deliberate ending — but the publisher refused to let the series stop. Chronicles was the result: a game the veteran team built to earn a living, not from passion. Designer Andy Sandham later called it the hardest Tomb Raider he'd ever worked on, the worst title of his career. Yet they finished it. They didn't walk away — they delivered. Sometimes professionalism isn't about loving the work. It's about finishing what you started, even when every reason to care has run dry.
About this game
Released in 2000 for Dreamcast, PlayStation, Windows, and Mac, Tomb Raider: Chronicles concluded the original Tomb Raider era before The Angel of Darkness. The game is framed as flashbacks told by Lara Croft's friends at her memorial service following the events of The Last Revelation, each recounting a different adventure from her past. Composer Peter Connelly returned from the previous game to provide a darker musical tone. The game's narrative structure — four independent episodes rather than a continuous storyline — reflected the realities of a weary development team stretched by years of annual releases.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Chronicles was developed under difficult circumstances. Core Design had produced Tomb Raider games annually since 1996, and by 2000 the team was creatively exhausted. They had attempted to end Lara's story in The Last Revelation, but publisher Eidos insisted the series continue. Core split into two teams: one began work on The Angel of Darkness for PlayStation 2, while a veteran team created Chronicles. Morale was low. Designer Andy Sandham later called it the hardest Tomb Raider he worked on, saying the team made it to earn a living rather than from passion. The flashback structure allowed the team to create independent levels without the burden of a cohesive overarching narrative — a practical solution born from fatigue rather than creative vision.
Tricks & Tales
Chronicles marked the end of the original Tomb Raider technology and storyline era before The Angel of Darkness introduced a new engine. The game was released on Dreamcast, PlayStation, Windows, and Mac in 2000, with the Mac version following in 2001. Composer Peter Connelly returned from The Last Revelation and crafted a darker musical palette while retaining established Tomb Raider motifs. The Dreamcast version featured improved lighting over the PlayStation release, though character models were simplified. The narrative continues from The Last Revelation with Lara presumed dead, while gameplay consists of flashbacks to earlier adventures — making it simultaneously a sequel in plot and a prequel in content.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Dreamcast enforces a regional lockout by software, with discs manufactured for Japan (NTSC-J), North America (NTSC-U), and Europe (PAL) each restricted to their respective consoles. Most Japanese Dreamcast games output at 60 Hz over composite or S-Video, which works on NTSC televisions worldwide; VGA output bypasses the TV standard entirely and is supported by the majority of titles, making a VGA box or HDMI adapter a practical solution for overseas buyers. PAL-specific titles are the exception: a minority of PAL games do not support VGA or force 50 Hz, so checking compatibility lists before purchasing PAL software for use on a Japanese console is advisable.
Maintenance Tips
The GD-ROM drive is the Dreamcast's most common point of failure — the laser lens wears out faster than those in most contemporaneous CD players. If games freeze, fail to load, or the drive makes repeated seeking sounds, the lens is the first thing to check. Clean it gently with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; do not press hard or use high-speed cleaning discs, which can scratch the lens. Compressed air is useful for blowing dust out of the drive bay and the fan area. The console's internal clock is maintained by a rechargeable ML2032 coin cell — the correct replacement type is ML2032 (not CR2032, which is non-rechargeable and can be damaged by the console's charging circuit).
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Tomb Raider: Chronicles copies regularly.
How does the Dreamcast version of Tomb Raider Chronicles save?
It saves to a Dreamcast VMU — the small Visual Memory Unit that slots into the controller — so you will want one with free blocks before you start. If a listing does not mention a memory card, budget for one separately.
Is Chronicles a good place to start the Tomb Raider series?
Not really. It is the last of the original Core Design Tomb Raiders, built as a memorial-flashback coda to The Last Revelation. The team was worn down after five straight yearly releases, and designer Andy Sandham later called it his worst work. It rewards players who already love classic Lara rather than newcomers meeting her for the first time.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Tomb Raider: Chronicles
A short checklist for buying a used Dreamcast disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Dreamcast GD-ROM. The Dreamcast is region-locked, so a Japanese disc generally needs a Japanese console.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a VMU — no disc battery
Dreamcast games save to a VMU memory card; the disc itself has no battery.
Make sure you have a VMU with a working battery and free blocks.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Tomb Raider: Chronicles sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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