Following Gamescom 2026, new hands-off previews of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis have offered a closer look at the Greece section. The footage focused on the Sword of Damocles puzzle room inside St. Francis Folly, a large vertical cavern filled with Greek mythology-inspired challenges. Lara must search these rooms for keys that open a locked door. Outlets that participated and saw the game in a hands-off preview revealed five notable details.
1. The Focus meter is returning
Legacy of Atlantis remakes the 1996 original Tomb Raider, which was previously reimagined in 2007 as Tomb Raider: Anniversary. That version introduced several mechanics absent from the first game, including a grappling hook for swinging and pulling objects, along with a combat Focus meter.
When enemies charged Lara in Anniversary, time slowed and she could line up a powerful headshot. The new game will also include a Focus meter, although the prominent red reticle that indicated an ideal shot does not appear to be returning.
2. Scanning will be optional
The crafting system from the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot is also coming back. Lara can prepare food and potions that provide stat boosts, protection from damage and health benefits. Gamesradar’s preview suggests the system is designed to explain modern survival mechanics within the early games’ historical setting, where finding medical kits inside sealed temples could feel out of place.
More controversial is Lara’s scanning device. It works in a similar way to the detective-mode scan in Arkham Asylum, highlighting puzzle elements that can be interacted with. The previews indicate that scanning for puzzle solutions is optional. The device can also reveal additional lore, giving players a reason to use it beyond straightforward puzzle assistance.
3. Enemies behave more dynamically
The preview’s focus on St. Francis Folly provided a useful comparison with earlier versions of the level. Bats no longer attack Lara individually; they swarm her, making it more difficult to defeat them with firearms alone. Lara can instead use the ice pick, another apparent connection to the 2013 reboot.
A leopard shown later in the section behaves more cautiously. It retreats from Lara, uses rocks and crevices to break line of sight, then attempts to attack from behind. The previews did not show how these improvements will affect later battles with Egyptian centaurs, but stronger enemy behaviour could make those encounters less predictable than they were in the original and Anniversary.
4. Skills can change puzzle solutions
The game’s RPG-style skill tree allows Lara to improve existing abilities and gain new ones. The Sword of Damocles room demonstrates that these upgrades may influence progression rather than simply improving combat.
In the original puzzle, Lara had to avoid falling swords from the ceiling. With a skill that extends the range of her shots, she can shoot the swords down before they drop. That changes the room into a sequence of jumps from sword to sword. This was the only example shown in the previews, so it remains unclear how frequently skills will offer alternate ways through puzzles.
5. Secret artefacts unlock outfits
Lara’s search for Atlantis is not her only reason to explore. Hidden cultural artefacts placed away from the main route can reward players with costume unlocks.
One preview example was the Athenian Owl, which unlocked Lara’s outfit from Tomb Raider: Legend. For more gaming and arcade-industry coverage, browse RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog, or compare options in the Arcade Machine Buying Guide. Players considering a dedicated home setup can also explore the available arcade machines.
Leave a Reply