Game Review: Tomb Raider

     "A Survivor is born." That is the tagline for Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix's well executed re-imagining of one of video games' most iconic heroines of all time; providing gamers with a compelling plot, a beautifully rendered open-world environment and an easy to follow gameplay system.

     Tomb Raider is a complete reboot of the franchise and therefore the previous installments are not considered canon to this reboot's universe. The game follows a young, naive and fresh out of college Lara Croft as she attempts to make her "mark" on the world of exploration and archaeology. On her first expedition aboard the Endurance, Lara and her fellow crew are in search of the ancient Japanese kingdom of Yamatai when their vessel is struck by a storm and ultimately shipwrecked on the island. Stranded, alone and inexperienced; Lara must find a way home, rescue her friends and learn to survive from the elements, the savage wildlife and the mysterious, hostile inhabitants of the island.

     The initial gameplay is a mix of exploration, platforming and combat implemented with a system to upgrade Lara's skills and abilities in Survival, Hunting and Brawling. Lara's arsenal which consists of a bow, a climbing axe, a shotgun, an assault rifle and a pistol can also be upgraded to help her in combat and exploration. Traversing the open world island of Yamatai is so fleshed out that it requires players to be quick on their feet, utilizing all of Lara's tools and abilities, otherwise she could be plunging to her death by sharp rocks in rough waters, just to name at least one brutal death sequence. Also for those players who absolutely despise "Quick-Time Events", it should be noted that there is a fair amount of that throughout the game however most of those sequences are in the opening chapters while the rest are merely for combat and platforming purposes such as counter killing.


     The game is so beautifully rendered; with the peaking sunlight through a coastal forest or the ominous sight of a shipwrecked cove, players should not be surprised if they find themselves enjoying the scenery and taking screenshots. The set pieces provide some very impressive awe-inspiring moments that, without a doubt, rival another certain game franchise about an adventurer, that is well known for it's wonderful set pieces. The story, while can be predictable, is so engaging  that it's hard for players to put their controllers down for those 12-15 hours worth of gameplay, offering many twists, turns and character development rounded off with excellent portrayals by the voice and motion capture actors, especially Camilla Luddington (Californication, Grey's Anatomy) who is the new voice of Miss Croft.

     Tomb Raider is a fresh, new start for the long time video game franchise, breaking down the character of Lara Croft into a vulnerable, naive and a realistic young woman who, while perfectly proportioned unlike her other incarnations, is still very sexy in her own right. Older fans of the original series might feel alienated due to the lack of over the top gymnastics and the grittiness, brutality and realism of the story but it should be noted that this is merely the start for Lara and there is no doubt we will eventually see her become the heroine we know and love, albeit with several differences in order to fit this new reboot. Watch out Nathan Drake, Lara Croft is back...