Review: Tomb Raider
by ted2112 HSM team writer
The latest self titled Tomb Raider game is the eleventh in a series that dates back to 1996. When I first met Laura Croft, I was immediately smitten by the 3D game play and exotic environments where the game took us. From then on, I was hooked on the series.
Most of the catalog’s history portrays Laura Croft as a kind of superhero, a self-assured and sexy millionaire with a sprawling mansion and seemingly unlimited resources to travel the world. The game has spawned blockbuster movies and made its way into our cultural identity. The latest game, simply titled Tomb Raider, however, is a drastic departure from Laura’s confident opulence and instead focuses on her humble beginnings as a young girl, shipwrecked on a strange island, forced to fight for her very survival.
One of the things I like most about the latest addition to the series is the flowing narrative Laura shares with us during the game. This intimate look into her thoughts reinforces our connection with her as the protagonist and draws us in deeper to the game, and makes the game very personal as we assume the role of a young and inexperienced Laura Croft.
The graphics in the game portray a realistic dark and gritty environment, where everything is an obstacle to survival. You start with no weapons, lost in a totally alien place, forced to improvise and learn as you go. The dirty and vulnerable Laura Croft is a far cry from the iconic heroine of games past, and that’s one of the things that make this game work.
The game play is smooth and well thought out, done in a third-person shooter perspective. I found the open environment to be a great blend of exploration and the game putting you on tracks. The environment created on the Crystal Engine looks realistic, and the soggy environments especially came to life. The game also took full advantage of the dual shock controller, with vibration feedback and a comfortable button assignment.
This game doesn’t focus on solving puzzles as much as the earlier versions; instead the emphasis is on keeping the pace of the game fast and flowing. Most of the puzzles are offered in optional tombs away from the main story line. The automatic save system works by finding campsites where you can upgrade skills and weapons, or quickly revisit past areas in the game, or simply call it a day and save your progress. The campsites are plentiful and about fifteen minutes of game play apart, so if you’re trying to squeeze in a few extra minutes, this makes it easy.
The down side of Tomb Raider might be that the game has a contemporary shooter feel to it, and it seems to have more in common with Resident Evil or Call of Duty than its own past installments. The game focus way too much on shooting and the body count grind than is necessary in my opinion, and gives us that weapons upgrade busy work that derails the flow of the game’s narrative. The game’s very graphic cut scenes can be a bit grizzly, watching Laura getting impaled or her throat slashed over and over while you are trying figure out a particularly hard part of the game. Be prepared to do a lot of killing, and if that kind of violence in gaming offends you, this is not the game for you.
I am surprised at the level of violence in Tomb Raider, and felt that the game didn’t necessarily need it, but if I have to put it into gaming perspective I would say it’s a representation of a worst-case scenario where medals or glory aren’t the rewards, rather simple survival. The game also opens the door wide open for the inevitable sequel, and with its multi-player option the game can be played over and over in a Call of Duty style combat mode. This mode is also where all the downloadable content is, so you know that’s where Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have their priorities.
Overall, Tomb Raider was very fun with just the right amount of challenge. The game felt familiar and yet new at the same time, and the prequel element of the story was a great way to see how Laura Croft turned into the character we all know and love. The game is rated M for mature, and is available for download from the store with bonus features and in disc format at your local retailer.
- Fun, fast paced
- Beautifully rendered environments
- Great Narrative
- Violent
- Busy Work Upgrade System
- Grizzly cut scenes
April 13th, 2013 by ted2112 | 4 comments
ted2112 is a writer and a Bass player that has been both inspired and takes to heart Kurt Vonnegut words...."we are here on planet Earth to fart around, and don't let anyone tell you different."
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Nice review Ted. About the violence; I can see a trend setting in where violence in games is taking a much more personal role than the usual “bang, bang, you’re dead” tag matches of the same old CoDs etc. The Last of Us is one such game that will give you a good example of what I mean there, also, The Walking Dead sseries of games. I won’t elaborate too much on this but in my mind, it’s actually a good thing. For us to properly understand a hero’s motivation, we must be subjected to the same injustices as them.
As for (young) Miss Croft, I like to see origins. I really enjoy stories of how and why people become what they are. This new game, seems to set that up nicely -- I’ve yet to properly play it.
The great thing about Lara though, is the reactions to her from either gender. In the 90’s when she was first pushed into mainstream (she was in a lot of comics/graphic novels previous) she gained respect from the female sector because she was strong, a refreshing break from the damsel in distress. The reaction from the male sector (strangely enough) was more complex; guys wanted her (yeah, this is when pixel-perving really began) but they also wanted to protect her, to see her through her adventure till the end. Then there was the fact it was just a pretty good shooter for the time.
Personally, I’ve always had a problem with the TR games. Right up until they made Legend, when they changed the control mechanics and environmental interaction. THEN I wanted to play. This latest game borrows heavily from the Drake’s Fortune series, and that’s no bad thing, because for once Lara is fluid in movement, easy to operate and the whole flow of the game feels much more natural to the player.
And I’m gonna shut up now before I accidentally write another review in these comment boxes…
…
15 years ago my daughter had her 13th birthday and and got her first PlayStation 1. It was then, that I became ADDICTED to Tomb Raider.
As the years went by, I waited with anticipation for the next Tomb Raider to come out. It was the only game I played. I bought them all, played them all.
Then, they came out with the PlayStation 2. I again waited patiently, every 2 or 3 years, for the next Tomb Raider to come out. It was still the only game I played. I bought them all, played them all.
Then one year they released a new Tomb Raider that was for download only. I had to wait an additional 6 months after the release date for them to burn them on disc and release for purchase.
Tomb Raider 1 -- Tomb Raider 2 -- Tomb Raider 3 -- Last Revelation -- Chronicles -- Angel of Darkness – Legend – Anniversary – Underworld -- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light -- Tomb Raider 2013.
Then, they came out with the PlayStation 3. I was so bummed for I only still owned the PlayStation 2 and was not able to play the new game on it. At that time I was not able to go purchase the new PlayStation 3 just for the one game that I wait for and play. I had to wait. It wasn’t until 2 years after the PlayStation 3 came out that I went to purchase the unit so I could play my game. That is when I discovered HOME. That is when I discovered that there are a lot of OTHER video games than JUST Tomb Raider.
I won’t get into detail about Edios and Crystal Dynamics, but everything changes with the times and so does modern technology. Therefore, so do our video games. We have come a long way from playing DOOM on the computer.
The new TOMB RAIDER 2013 has pros and cons as far as I am concerned. When I first started playing it I was like MAN! It has changed so much it made me mad. It seemed like it was more of a combat battle than a strategy game. Where is the jungle and the tiger that Lara would kill every now and then? Where are the puzzles? Where is Lara’s sarcastic attitude that we love so much? Where is Lara? I wasn’t crazy about the theme as far as the rituals. BUT… as I played through it I found myself falling in love with my game…once again. I love the new menu and the new options to be able to go back to previous played levels to catch up or pick up undiscovered items. I love how you can chose to upgrade your weapons and skills. I found that if you take the time to go back and hunt, so you can upgrade your weapons and skill, it makes the next level a lot easier
I DO love the new Tomb Raider and look forward to the next…even though things change throughout time.
Great review. i have never played the Tomb Raider games but after reading your review on it what its all about, I would love to try it out. In general I love games that have sequels or prequels, and Tomb Raider sounds like a lot of fun even though I don’t always like shooting and blood. I definitely want to try this game out!
Great review Ted. I have to be honest and admit I’m one of the few ‘die-hards’ that was completely deflated and jarred by the direction the reboot took.
The emphasis on violence and upgrades reached a level of “slamming-controller-against-chair” moments I’ve not experienced since playing Nintendo games! I agree that the implementation of tools often found in shooters completely negated any potential immersion.
What I also found interesting was how small the environments seemed. I know that sounds strange, but I thought about how in games’ past, every wall, boulder, pillar, pedestal and doorway became a carefully choreographed exploration, rife with hidden treasures, alternate paths, and puzzles that could at times completely transform the environment. In this game, every tomb was linear and unchanging, reaching the same dead end with the same ‘reward,’ and asking Lara to simply turn around and go all of the way back instead of progressing.
In thinking about the tone of this game compared to previous installments, the words: tense, methodical and chaotic come to mind. I miss the calm, curious, and thoughtful tone present in past games.
I am hopeful that future installments will remove much of the hand-holding, violence-centric, and simplified exploration.