Normally I have no issues writing a Mini Game Review for a game, but this time, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I have just finished the the Single Player part of this game, and so far, I love this game so very much. Everything about it just feels right. All the way through, you feel in complete control of Lara, everything you do, everything you interact with just works, it’s a dream to play.
The story is very well written, it fits Lara Croft like a glove, someone (Rhianna Pratchett) knows who Lara really is and who she should be, and how best to show her grow as a living breathing person, even though she is just a video game character.
No Tomb Raider game would be complete without a selection of weapons, and whilst there might not be a huge selection, the way the game works by you collecting salvage lying around on the island, and using that salvage to upgrade your weapons, really makes you feel that these are YOUR weapons, they feel very personal, they grow, just as you do. They also feel right for someone stranded on an island.
Tomb Raider makes excellent use of the upgraded weapons, allowing you to revisit previously “out of reach” locations using the Fast Travel system and use your new upgraded weapons.
Lara fights like someone who is fighting for her life, struggling against all odds just to stay alive, when you dodge out of the way of the maniac with a shotgun, she scrambles on the ground, grabbing the dirt around her and sometimes even uses that dirt as a distraction. It feels intense, it feels like survival. I can see how a Survivor is Born.
The game has a brilliant cover system. When Lara is near the enemy, she will drop to crouching position and move slightly slower, and when you move behind a rook, or a wall, she’ll automatically move into cover. Someone has really thought about this and I don’t know how they did it, but they did. A lot of games could learn a lot from Tomb Raider.
The Puzzles are probably the only section of Tomb Raider that aren’t on top form. Most of them are very easy to solve, and they get easier if you use the “Instinct” button (which highlights all the items that you can interact with). I’m not a big puzzle fan myself, so I am personally not that disappointed that the puzzles have been simplified but anyone who was a fan of the original Tomb Raider might not approve of this change. But next time, add some more puzzles please.
I’m not sure of the re-playability value of the game, as once you have finished the island, collected all the collectables and finished the story, there doesn’t feel that much to do. Except maybe doing the whole thing all over again. Maybe that’s why they gave me 3 Save Slots. I like it. Thanks Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix this is game you should be VERY proud of.
Top marks all round 9/9
GAME REVIEWED: The XBOX360 version of the Game was purchased using my own funds, and a review copy was also kindly sent by Square-Enix.
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