After something like eight video games and two feature films, the Tomb Raider series has established itself as one of the most quintessential adventure game of all time, and it cemented Lara Croft as an icon comparable to Indiana Jones. The problem is, every game offers more of the same: Lara Croft was a virtually invincible killing machine who could climb and jump off of every impossible surface and survive every insurmountable challenge unscathed. It all made for good fun adventure, but much like Lara's figure, it was also rather unrealistic, exaggerated, and shallow.
Now, in 2013, Tomb Raider has been officially rebooted with a dramatically different twist. In this daring prequel, Lara Croft is not the invincible heroine as shown in previous games. The younger Lara has been designed to be vulnerable, inexperienced, perhaps even a little naive. She suffers a massive learning curve, as she suffers the wilderness and the full brunt of human cruelty. It's the experience that would toughen her and shape her into the tomb raider we all know and love, and it does make for one heck of a gaming experience.
Things start off really dire, as Lara is shipwrecked, and you spend the first few hours of the game going over the basics: finding shelter, getting warm, finding food, and escaping danger. There are a few quick-time events to get through at first, but after that initial area, the game opens up wonderfully. You're given mostly-free reign of the island of Yamatai: progression is still very linear, and if you follow the main path, you could finish the main story in a very short time (based on other gamers' remarks, probably within 10 - 20 hours). However, each area is big enough to harbor a number of challenges and collectables that can keep you exploring for hours more; it can be very rewarding to scour the island in search of treasures, salvage, GPS cashes, and hidden tombs. As with any Tomb Raider game, you can expect lots of climbing and acrobats as well; Lara handles these sections awkwardly at first, but as things go on, she becomes very fluid, agile, and she turns it into a satisfying challenge. When the combat hits, it's just as satisfying; whether using firearms, the classic bow and arrow, or simple melee, you can definitely feel empowered, but without being over or under challenged. There are some things that remain out of the player's control - you can't manually duck, crawl, take cover, or sprint - but the game automatically does these things in reaction to your movements and the environment, and it is extremely fluid. Between the exploration and combat, I never really wanted to quit this game at all; it really keeps you going.
A lot of the appeal, however, lies in the story. As mentioned above, this is the developer's chance to flesh out a more realistic and invoking character; Lara will often express pain, cry, hesitate, and turn every step of the journey into an epic struggle for survival. She also learns, grows, and becomes stronger with each passing chapter. She shows a strong will and determination to move on through the most dire of circumstances and survive. And that ultimately leads to her transformation into the Lara Croft we all know and love, and it is a strongly invoking journey.
It's made all the more invoking with its sheer cruelty. Easily the most brutal game of the series, Lara is pitted against some of the meanest and nastiest men ever rendered in a game; it almost comes across as misogynistic at times. This ultimately contributes to the experience, because every time Lara has a misstep or falls into a trap, it feels like a huge "holy crap!!!" moment. As the plot progresses, things get more crazier and outlandish, with even some supernatural elements coming out of the woodwork. There's still a semblance of a classic Tomb Raider adventure beneath the grimy, dirty surface, but it is a far more intense, more realistic, more pathos-driven story than any before it.
The game has some of the most impressive graphics I've seen in a while; the environments are beautifully-rendered, with thick and dense forests, mountains, ruins, and catacombs, all with phenomenal detail and particle effects. Characters are especially gorgeous; there are times when they look close to real. Voice-acting is pretty decent from the cast, and the game is quite well-written. The game is built with intricate depth and detail, and the levels are ingeniously-designed. Sound and music are good too.
While the previous games in this series have offered a fun bit of adventure, the 2013 Tomb Raider offers something more: an real and deep storytelling experience that really immerses the player in the action and danger, and brings Lara Croft to life in a brilliant and more invoking fashion. Highly recommended!
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Game: Very Good)
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