History YMMV / TombRaiderII

** The Oil Rig, where the first level is a NoGearLevel and both levels are huge, have a lot of key items to find, and also introduces mooks with flamethrowers.

** The first level, The Great Wall, is infamous for its ridiculous amount of timed runs and death traps in the latter part of the level (especially for first-time players). Oh, there's also the fact that [[spoiler: there are 2 T. rexes in one (optional) area]].

* ScrappyMechanic: The springboards found in the Ice Palace and the Temple of Xian. You'll only get a big jump forward if you're already running or jumping forward. Landing on the springboard completely straight will only launch you straight up and you'll take massive fall damage over and over until you die.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The main theme is extremely similar to the first game's theme, but just different enough that it counts as its own unique melody.

* DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound: The alarm bell in the final level. The security alarm in the offshore rig levels is less annoying- thankfully it can be turned off if you find the button.

* DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound: The alarm bell in the final level. The security beep in the offshore rig levels is less annoying- thankfully it can be turned off if you find the button.

* FridgeLogic: The Talion Guardian seems to be garuda, a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The garuda are enemies to the naga, a race of intelligent serpent- and dragon-like beings, whom they hunt. This has a relation with the Guardian of the Talion and the Dragon of Xian. The Garuda guards the Talion, which can open the way to the dagger, and thus, the dragon.

** The save system on the console version was copied from the PC version where players could save anytime and anywhere, unlike the first game where players could only save at designated save points. People complained that the save system removed all difficulty, so the developers combined the save system of the first two games for ''Tomb Raider III'', but [[UnpleasableFanbase everyone complained about that too.]]

* AwesomeMusic: The theme for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbV9onsW62E Venice level]] in ''TR II'', which sounds like it was composed in the 18th century by some powered-wigged, high-heels-wearing Italian.

* BrokenBase: This game was the start of the division among fans. Depending on who you ask, you'll either hear how the game is an EvenBetterSequel or hear that the game focuses too much on combat and action and not enough on the puzzles or exploration. This was also around the time that Toby Gard, who was the creator in the first game, had left the team after [[CreativeDifferences having a different view on how the games should proceed compared to what Edios wanted]], which may also explain the shift in the game's tone and style.

* HellIsThatNoise: The eerie ambient background soundtracks used in the early games can be this - ''especially'' the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Ah8L5f5kE unbelievably creepy one]] heard prominently in the ''Tomb Raider II'' level "Floating Islands".

* SlowPacedBeginning: The game really takes a while to properly pick up pace. Venice just ''drags'' and then there are the offshore rig levels. Each of those four levels takes roughly an hour to finish, nothing really interesting happens in them and ''then'' there are the levels inside of Maria Doria wreck. After finally be done with those, the game moves to Tibet and suddenly cranks up action on the overdrive, never slowing down even a bit, while introducing more and more of surreal elements.

** The first level, The Great Wall, is infamous for its ridiculous amount of timed runs and death traps in the latter part of the level (especially for first-time players). Oh, there's also the fact that [[spoiler: there are 2 T-rexes in one area]].

** Floating Islands is considered to be hell for many. The first half of the level takes place over a BottomlessPit and your only sources of safety are floating islands. Ancient warriors disguised as statues can come to life and ''fly'' to you, especially if you're on an island. The second half of the level is not much better since you are dealing with more of the warriors, lava pits everywhere, and tricky jumps.

* SlowPacedBeginning: The game really takes a while to properly pick up pace. Venice just ''drags'' and then there are the offshore rig levels. Each of those four levels takes roughtly an hour to finish, nothing really interesting happens in them and ''then'' there are the levels inside of Maria Doria wreck. After finally be done with those, the game moves to Tibet and suddenly cranks up action on the overdrive, never slowing down even a bit, while introducing more and more of surreal elements.

** Floating Islands is considered to be hell for many. The first half of the level takes place over a BottomlessPit and your only sources of safety are floating islands. Ancient warriors disguised as statues can come to life and ''fly'' to you, especially if you're on an island. The second half of the level is not much better since you are dealing with more of the warriors, lava pits everywhere, and tricky jumps.

* ThatOneLevel: The first level, The Great Wall, is infamous for its ridiculous amount of timed runs and death traps in the latter part of the level (especially for first-time players). Oh, there's also the fact that [[spoiler: there are 2 T-rexes in one area]].

** Don't forget the soothing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm-Hco0hXSo Main Menu]] music.