About this game
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation is a 1999 action-adventure game for the dreamcast, developed by Core Design, with music by Peter Connelly. It belongs to the Tomb Raider series.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation was originally released for PlayStation and Windows in November 1999, with the Dreamcast port following in 2000. Core Design's Tomb Raider series had been exclusive to Sony's PlayStation following a 1997 exclusivity deal during Tomb Raider II's production. With that deal's end in 1999, Core brought the series to Sega's new Dreamcast. The Dreamcast version targeted 60 frames per second and incorporated improved lighting alongside graphical features from the PC version. Peter Connelly composed the music in his first major work on the series, drawing inspiration from Nathan McCree's original Tomb Raider scores as well as the music of John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Hans Zimmer. Due to the game's Egyptian setting, Connelly wrote it with Egyptian-style themes and motifs.
Tricks & Tales
The Dreamcast version included several exclusive features. Lara casts a dynamic shadow affected by light sources — a feature created exclusively for this version. The Dreamcast release also included an exclusive music track created by British DJ Paul Oakenfold, which played in a bonus art gallery accessed through the Options menu containing 32 pieces of concept art and renders unlocked by playing the game. The game's controls were modified to suit the Dreamcast controller's additional analog stick and its lack of secondary triggers and a Select button.
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: The Last Revelation copies regularly.
Does the Dreamcast version of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation save to the disc?
No. Dreamcast games save to the Visual Memory Unit (VMU) — the small removable card that slots into the controller. If you don't have a VMU inserted, the game will warn you that it cannot save progress. VMUs use a CR2032 coin battery to retain saves when disconnected from the controller; if that battery dies, saved data is lost the moment the VMU loses power. Check the VMU's battery before starting a long session, or back up saves to a PC using a Dreamcast SD card adapter if you want permanent preservation.
Will a Japanese Dreamcast game work on a North American or European console?
Not directly. The Dreamcast enforces region locking in both hardware and software — a Japanese GD-ROM will refuse to boot on a Western console without modification. Playing Japanese Dreamcast games on Western hardware requires either a boot disc workaround or a hardware region mod. Most collectors who want to play imports keep a Japanese Dreamcast console.
How should I clean a Dreamcast GD-ROM?
Handle the disc only by its edges or center hole — fingerprints on the data surface cause read errors. For light dust, wipe gently from the center outward (never in circles) with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. For stubborn smudges, dampen the cloth very slightly with distilled water or 90%-or-higher isopropyl alcohol. Let the disc dry completely before inserting it into the console. Never use paper towels, which can scratch the protective layer.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
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: The Last Revelation 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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