Long ago there dwelled a strong and evil magic in the Deep South. Madame Paveau, the source of this dark power, had control over many followers, leading rituals of human sacrifice. Only when a band of rebels stormed her mansion was the magician finally overthrown. Her charred body was thrown from a cliff and shattered, but one of her surviving followers performed an ancient rite which captured the soul of Madame Paveau in a sacred container. By using the darkest of rituals, the remnants of the original cult has sought ancient artifacts, which, when collected, will give the sorceress power over a new body.

Unaware of this dark past, Lara Croft witnesses the theft of a powerful sword while visiting a museum of antiquities. In the attempt to recover the sword, Lara is cut by the blade. With her blood upon the sword, Lara unknowingly has become the body destined to receive the soul of Madame Paveau. As she seeks to recover the sword and prevent the dark priest from stealing other ritual objects, she is also on a quest to save her very soul.

In this side-scrolling action title, Lara must cross numerous obstacles on large, maze-like levels, acquiring her trademark pistols, new items and information. Only by solving the puzzles that have been set before her will she have a chance to recover the stolen ritual items and ultimately save herself.