Rebuilding a legend

Review

Played on: Xbox 360
Released: 2013

The Tomb Raider franchise and the main heroine, Lara Croft, are some of the gaming industry's biggest names. It's no shock that Crystal Dynamics wanted to make a new game in the series. Tomb Raider once again is rebooted, third time for the franchise, to breathe some fresh air into the concept. A reboot that perhaps will turn away some of the old fans but really it shouldn't.

After the first six titles, Core Design gave up the Tomb Raider franchise and a reboot was made with TR: Legend in 2006. This franchise reboot also gave way for two more titles, a remake of the very first TR in 2007 and TR: Underworld in 2008.

This previous reboot gave way for newcomers to the franchise with the easy and fairly forgiving Legend game, however, it quickly became like the old franchise again. I recall the opening level in Underworld as being a fairly harsh beginning and a steep learning curve. This of course, suited the old TR fans perfectly but it turned away newcomers. This second reboot then, tries to repair this, and it succeeds very well.

To begin with I was fairly sceptical to this game, due to the fact that I liked the freedom of exploring and the unforgiving nature of the older TR games. However, I decided to put away my prejudice and simply take Tomb Raider for what it is. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable games I have played in a long time.

TR looks incredible and is presented in such a cinematic way, you actually feel like your playing a movie. There are no loading screens after the initial load up at the beginning, you simply walk from one end of the game to the other. Loading is cleverly covered in claustrophobic cave crawling or cliff hanging segments. It helps it feel more real and hides away cumbersome HUD's, it's all about the cinematic visuals.

The game slowly begins to build the legend, the famous Lara Croft, through it's playthrough. It's perfect start for newcomers to get into what the franchise is all about. It shows how Lara as a vulnerable, yet a curious, young explorer getting thrown into a harsh situation she has to fight to survive in. Once again, like Far Cry 3, this game shows that fighting to survive is great concept.

Graphically, TR is truly beautiful and amazingly varied. It's perhaps one of the most visually stunning games created to date. The island opens up for tons of variation in it's landscape, from rocky, coastal mountainsides, battered by the rough sea surrounding the island, to torch-lit caves full of creepy skeletons and the remains of ancient civilisations, to snowy mountain tops with incredible heights and drops and all the way to undiscovered Chinese Imperial villages.

I love the fact, they've combined natural environments, primitive civilisations, World War 2 ruins and Asian temples all into one island. This variety in types of historical environments to explore, helps keep the tradition of TR games shifting locations multiple times through each game. Only this time, it's all located in one open world. Stunning!

The gameplay feels totally renewed and it is about time. Agreed, it's a little more forgiving in the climbing parts and leads you along a lighter path than the old TR games, which often left you completely alone. That doesn't take away the fact that this game plays fantastic though. The climbing and exploring of the luscious environments feels great and the gunplay is really good. Gone are the auto-aimed fighting mechanics of the old TR titles and in replacement is a cover-based, awesome third person shooter mechanic.

The game allows you to earn XP and upgrade your weapons and skills. XP is earned from killing enemies and animals, exploring and finding treasures. It gives a meaning to exploring, rather than just crossing them off on a list like the previous titles. Earning skill points gives you access to new abilities and weapons see real improvement when upgraded.

Speaking of weapons, it's actually one of the few games where I loved the bow and arrow. The bow lets you stealthy kill enemies and feels really powerful! This combination of adventure, action and small RPG elements, works perfect and truly proves that gaming genres can learn from each other and pick out the best parts. TR even has visual similarities to the early Silent Hill games in some of it's creepy, dark and rather occult locations.

The game is incredibly well paced. It will go from hectic gunfights to calm exploration within moments. Filling in story cutscenes and really breathtaking exploration too. I never had a dull moment in and felt like I always was doing, seeing and playing something new.

That's the key to my high review score here, Tomb Raider combines many gameplay elements, does each one really well and continues to introduce new elements and interesting plot twists throughout. It's a rare quality in a game lasting over 20 hours, if you plan on finding every secret. TR never lets your attention go and captivates you from beginning to end.

TR is beautifully presented with great gameplay all the way through. It's perhaps, a glimpse of what games will be like from now on. A seamless, cinematic and movie-like presentation, genre mixing and well paced game which consistently introduces new elements to keep you going.

It feels almost like a next generation title and shows that a franchise can be renewed and rebooted with complete success. I highly doubt this game will fall out of my top three games of 2013.

Without hesitation, pick up this game and play it. Lara is back.