Secrets
Secrets are rewards that the player can pick up in most of the games in the Tomb Raider Series. They can be anything from a hidden cache of guns/ammunition/medipacks to artefacts that unlock bonus material in the game. Every game in the series except Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness has had secrets, though these have been implemented in different ways in each. Secrets are always additional and optional quests, sometimes quite elaborate ones, but not finding all or even any secrets in a game has no effect on the story or overall outcome. They exist simply to satisfy the urge to explore which forms a major part of the Tomb Raider experience.
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Secrets in Tomb Raider
In Tomb Raider, secrets are in their most basic form: hidden caches of guns/ammunition/medipacks. The number of secrets per level varies, and there is no reward for getting all the secrets in a level or the game.
Secrets in Tomb Raider II
The secrets system in Tomb Raider II is distinctly different from that of its predecessor. Each level in this game (except the last two) has exactly 3 secrets each, which take the form of small dragon statuettes, made of gold, silver/stone and jade respectively. Collecting only 1 or 2 secrets in a level has no reward - but collecting all 3 earns the player a bonus amount of guns/ammunition/medipacks.
Secrets in Tomb Raider III
The secrets in Tomb Raider III are basically in the same style as in the first game: small hidden caches of guns/ammunition/medipacks (and save/health crystals in this game only), and a varying number of secrets per level. But there is an additional feature: finding all the secrets in the game (or rather, at least 59 secrets of the total 60 - the discrepancy is due to the number of alternate paths in certain levels) earns the player a bonus level: All Hallows.
Secrets in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
This game too follows the now-familiar system of hidden caches of guns/ammunition/medipacks acting as secrets, and a varying number of secrets per level. Unlike its predecessor, there is no bonus level, and no reward for finding all the secrets in a level or the game (a total of 70).
However, the above is true only of the main part of the game, featuring adult Lara and set in Egypt. The 2 training levels at the beginning of the game, which feature a teenage Lara and are set in Cambodia, have a completely different system. There are 8 secrets in the form of golden skulls in the first level, Angkor Wat, and finding them all opens up an alternate path at the end of this level, and a much harder race in the next level, Race For The Iris.
Secrets in Tomb Raider Chronicles
For the first time in the series, the secrets systems breaks away completely from the caches of guns/ammunition/medipacks formula, and uses secrets as a method of unlocking extras. There are 36 Secrets in this game, in the form of golden roses. Collecting them all enables a "Special Features" section in the pause menu, which consists of storyboards for the FMVs in the game, as well as concept art for upcoming game, Angel of Darkness.
Secrets/Rewards in Tomb Raider Legend
Along with many other features of the series, the secrets system underwent a major change in Tomb Raider Legend. The secrets are now called "rewards", and collecting them all is essential for achieving 100% completion of the game (though this is purely statistical - the storyline or overall outcome are not affected). Collecting the rewards unlocks all sorts of extras, like outfits, concept art, biographies, etc.
The rewards themselves are in the form of artefacts in keeping with the theme of each level - for example, small Buddha statues in the Japan level, Prayer Wheels in Nepal, Crosses in England, etc. There are three types of rewards throughout the game: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The difference is in how difficult they are to find, and the kind of extras they unlock. There are a varying number of bronze and silver rewards in every level except Bolivia Redux (which has no rewards at all), and one gold per level.
Secrets/Rewards in Tomb Raider Anniversary
The secrets/rewards system in Tomb Raider Anniversary is a modified version of Legend's. Instead of 3 types of rewards, there are 2: Artefacts and Relics. There are a total of 44 Artefacts in the game, though the number of per area and per level varies; the number of Relics per area is 2 (therefore a total of 8 in the game), though their distribution across levels is not uniform. The Artefacts are little statuettes that very in shape according to are, much in the same way as in Legend. But each Relic is unique, and in case of the 3 "real" locations (Peru, Greece and Egypt), is based on genuine artefacts from those civilizations.
Collecting each Relic unlocks an outfit, and collecting all 8 unlocks yet another outfit. Collecting all Artefacts unlocks various miscellaneous extras like art galleries, biographies, etc. Collecting all the rewards in the game unlocks the Style Units level.
Secrets/Rewards in Tomb Raider Underworld
It is not yet confirmed whether Tomb Raider Underworld will have secrets/rewards, those there is no reason to suppose that it will not. Details will be updated as they come to be known.
