[i]Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend[/i] is officially in development for the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. Eidos Interactive said the game would deliver new gameplay and unbelievable visuals that fully utilize the new hardware system.

“Xbox 360 is the perfect partner to the ultimate video gaming heroine, Lara Croft,” said Matt Gorman, senior brand manager for [i]Tomb Raider: Legend.[/i] “It enables us to make the Tomb Raider experience realistic and immersive in next generation, high-definition worlds like never before.”

[i]Legend [/i] will support real-time per pixel lighting, shadows and normal-mapping, which promises to make the player?s exploration through organic environments and physics-based puzzles stunningly detailed. Lara herself will feature intricate animated expressions, fluid movement and realistic abilities, and state of the art tools and weaponry. [i](ed.- No mention was given as to whether or not the character?s anatomy would benefit from the engine?s advanced physics model, but gamers everywhere are doubtless holding their breath).[/i]

“The stunning graphics and scope of how Lara can move and interact with her surroundings will be astounding,” said senior designer at Crystal Dynamics, Toby Gard.

[i]Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend[/i] is scheduled to release simultaneously on both the Xbox and Xbox 360 in Spring 2006. For more details, see: http://www.tombraider.com/