Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Is 'Reimagining' The Series' Original Game With a Focus Meter, Skill Tree, and Herb Brewing

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will include an RPG-like skill tree, herb brewing, and a new chargeable focus meter in its reimagining of the series' first game.

The remake, which is in development at Trek to Yomi studio Flying Wild Hog, in collaboration with the series' lead studio Crystal Dynamics, updates the franchise's iconic original adventure with snazzy new visuals and gameplay more familiar to modern audiences.

A new video detailing Legacy of Atlantis' combat and progression has now gone into detail on this gameplay, which includes elements inspired by the more recent Tomb Raider reboot trilogy. For example, a skill tree has been revealed that shows how players will redeem in-game artifacts for skill points, which unlock a web of weapon upgrades and ability improvements. These include reduced damage and improved healing. You can also collect and brew herbs for various buffs.

"When I played the Survivor series and I could suddenly affect and increase Lara's power in the game, I felt much more engaged," design director Jason Epps said. Another new system, Focus, will allow players to pull off some of Lara Croft's more acrobatic manoeuvers and also go into a kind of bullet time, game director Raul Siqueira revealed.

"We're introducing a system called Focus," Siqueira said. "The idea behind it is that when you're doing actions in combat, when you're taking damage, dealing damage, dodging attacks, you're building your Focus meter. Focus allows you to slow down time around you and showcase some the things that Lara used to do in 1996. The acrobatic component of Lara Croft is really important for the character, so we wanted to make sure there was a way on the sticks for this to be celebrated."

While video game remakes take different approaches to modernizing their source material, these new systems have raised the eyebrows of some veteran Tomb Raider fans who had seen Legacy of Atlantis as a return to the franchise's more traditional routes, away from the more RPG-like reboot trilogy.

Exactly how it will all feel on the sticks remains to be seen, however. Following a recent delay, the game will now launch on February 12, 2027. Crystal Dynamics' all-new Tomb Raider: Catalyst will then follow in 2028.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social