Tomb Raider in Japan

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In Japan, Lara Croft didn't become as well known as she did in English-speaking countries. She was more known as being a supermodel rather than an archaeologist and adventurer.

Some of the most noticeable changes in the localized Japanese versions of the series is the difficulty rating being lowered, especially in the earlier Playstation versions. Prime examples being that an enemy's health was lowered, making them easier to kill, the medipacks cured her more and most of the manuals that came in the game casing, contained a walk-through. Other changes include the use of Japanese kana in the menus, and all in game dialogue was changed as well using a few famous Japanese Seiyuu (Voice Actors).

Tomb Raiders

Tomb Raiders
Tombraiders.jpg
Tomb Raiders * トゥームレイダーズ
Release Date January 24, 1997
Platforms PlayStation, DOS, Sega Saturn
Levels 15
Secrets 45
Developer Core Design, Victor Interactive Software
Publisher Eidos Interactive, Virgin Interactive Japan
Game Chronology:
Tomb Raiders Tomb Raider II

Tomb Raiders (トゥームレイダーズ) was the first Tomb Raider Series game to be localized into Japanese. Due to the Sega Saturn's popularity in Japan at the time, the most copies were sold on the Sega Saturn. Pre-release, most advertising was not of shots of the game itself, but rather Anime versions of the characters.

Most fans believe the title Tomb Raiders was just a translation error. The reason for the mis-translation has never been revealed.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 19th January 1997

PlayStation

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    Japan - 14th February 1997

Sega Saturn

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    Japan - 14th February 1997

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider page. All the information there is much the same.



Tomb Raider II

Tomb Raider II
TombraiderIIjp.jpg
Tomb Raider II * トゥームレイダー II
Release Date January 22, 1998
Platforms PlayStation, PC
Levels 18
Secrets 48
Developer Core Design, Victor Interactive Software
Publisher Eidos Interactive, Virgin Interactive Japan
Game Chronology:
Tomb Raiders Tomb Raider II Tomb Raider III

Tomb Raider II (トゥームレイダーII) was the second Tomb Raider Series game to be localized into Japanese. This edition was the first to include localized in game menu text in the Playstation Version only. It was also the first to contain obvious decreased gameplay difficulty.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 25th Febuary 1998

PlayStation

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    Japan - 22nd January 1998

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider II page. All the information there is much the same.

Screenshots

PlayStation Main Menu
PlayStation Inventory


Tomb Raider III

Tomb Raider III
TombraiderIIIjp.jpg
Tomb Raider III * トゥームレイダー III
Release Date 24 December, 1998
Platforms PlayStation, PC
Levels 18
Secrets 48
Developer Core Design, Victor Interactive Software
Publisher Eidos Interactive, Virgin Interactive Japan
Game Chronology:
Tomb Raider II Tomb Raider III Tomb Raider IV

Tomb Raider III (トゥームレイダーIII) was the third Tomb Raider Series game to be localized into Japanese. The Japanese version of TR3 also contained obvious gameplay changes to add simplicity. The Playstation release came with 2 disks. Disk 1 containing the Japanese edition and Disk 2 containing the original English edition.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 24th December 1998

PlayStation

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    Japan - 4th March 1999

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider III page. All the information there is much the same.

Screenshots

PlayStation Main Menu
PlayStation Inventory


Tomb Raider IV Last Revelation

Tomb Raider IV
TrIVjp.jpg
Tomb Raider IV Last Revelation * トゥームレイダーIVラスト・レべレーション
Release Date 24 December, 1999
Platforms PlayStation, PC, Dreamcast
Levels 35
Secrets 70
Developer Core Design, Capcom
Publisher Eidos Interactive Japan
Game Chronology:
Tomb Raider III Tomb Raider IV Tomb Raider Chronicles

Tomb Raider IV Last Revelation (トゥームレイダーIVラスト・レべレーション) was the fourth Tomb Raider Series game to be localized into Japanese. As the first 3 games, this one was also simplified for players and all ingame text and dialogue was localized.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 24th December 1999

PlayStation

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    Japan - 19th July 2000

Dreamcast

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    Japan - 19th July 2000

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider IV The Last Revelation page. All the information there is much the same.

Screenshots

PlayStation Pause Screen
PlayStation Inventory


Tomb Raider V Chronicles

Tomb Raider V
TrVjp.jpg
Tomb Raider V Chronicles * トゥームレイダーVクロニクル
Release Date 19 January, 2001
Platforms PlayStation, PC
Levels 13
Secrets 36
Developer Core Design, Capcom
Publisher Eidos Interactive Japan
Game Chronology:
The Last Revelation Tomb Raider V The Angel of Darkness

Tomb Raider V Chronicles (トゥームレイダーVクロニクル) was the fifth Tomb Raider Series game to be localized into Japanese. Changes this game we're the same as the changes made to The Last Revelation.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 19 January 2001

PlayStation

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    Japan - 31st May 2001

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider Chronicles page. All the information there is much the same.

Screenshots

PlayStation Main Menu
PlayStation Stats


Tomb Raider: The Pretty Fugitive

Tomb Raider VI
AodJP.jpg
The Pretty Fugitive * 美しき逃亡者
Release Date October 23, 2003
Platforms PlayStation 2, PC,
Levels 34
Secrets none
Developer Core Design, Electronic Arts
Publisher Eidos Interactive, Eidos Japan
Game Chronology:
Tomb Raider Chronicles Tomb Raider VI Tomb Raider Legend

Tomb Raider: The Pretty Fugitive (トゥームレイダー美しき逃亡者) is the sixth installment in the Tomb Raider game series, and also the sixth localized into Japanese.

Not much about this game is different to it's english counterpart, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. The only noticable exceptions are the implementation of Japanese language ingame text/subtitles, Japanese language audio, and noticable ingame changes to make the game easier. For example, lower health for enemies, making them easier to kill. This is quite common when it comes to games being localized for Japanese players.

This game was released in October, 2003 on the PlayStation 2 and PC platforms. The PS2 versions are rather easy to find and purchase online, yet the PC version is extremely rare now and not many foreigners can get their hands on it, let alone Japanese fans themselves.

Release Dates in Detail

PC

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    Japan - 23rd October 2003

PlayStation 2

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    Japan - 23rd October 2003

Cast

More Information

For more information on this game such as Plot, Gameplay etc... Please refer to the original Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness page. All the information there is much the same.

Screenshots

Cutscene Screenshot
Main Menu
Weapons Menu


Tomb Raider: Legend

More info coming soon.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

More info coming soon.

Tomb Raider: Underworld

More info coming soon.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

More info coming soon.