Rise of the Tomb Raider is the sequel to 2013’s awesome Tomb Raider reboot. The Tomb Raider franchise has been around for more two decades, and its games have spanned many genres. The original game released back in 1996, was originally more focused on the gameplay and put the story in the backseat. Despite the wide variety of games that have been created for this franchise, the one thing that ties them together is the protagonist, a young woman named Lara Croft. Lara in most, if not in all of her games, is portrayed as a lone adventurer in search of ancient civilizations and any secrets that may be hidden within them. The development studio decided it was time to take a step back and explore Lara’s character in more detail. The “reboot” for the franchise, which basically goes by Tomb Raider, without any number or subtitle, which came out in 2013, focused on a more cinematic approach to the narrative. There was a huge focus on Lara’s growth throughout the game. Starting from scratch, she had never killed a person, or had to survive on her own before the game took place. The game was very well received the year it came out, thanks to its use of intricate set pieces, beautiful landscapes, and smooth and refined gameplay. Rise of the Tomb Raider continues to flesh out Lara’s character, and it also continues to deliver explosive action, stunning art direction, and a narrative intriguing enough to keep you playing until the end.
The Tomb Raider franchise is trying very hard to create a story that people can be invested in. This time around, you get to learn more about Lara’s father, and his quest for a thing called “The Divine Source.” Events transpire and Mr. Croft loses his life, and Lara sets out on a quest to figure out if her father was crazy or not. The story is all fine and dandy, the points make sense, there’s a few twists the writers tried to throw in there which work to some degree. The only problem that I found with the story is that it wasn’t that exciting. The villain’s motivation is a little unclear, or maybe just not strong enough. They sort of just throw it out there, and when it is revealed that he’s doing what he’s doing because of that motivation, you’re left wondering; really? The relationship with Lara and her father is developed cleverly through the use of her retelling stories of what she remembers about her father. There’s a returning character from the first game here, which is totally unnecessary. He is pretty much thrown into the game just so Lara wont appear to be a lone murdering maniac who’s trying to prove her daddy right. About the only thing that got me invested in the game in terms of narrative was Lara’s own character. Having played through the first game, the Lara that starts the game, is not the same Lara when the game is over. The same is true with Ride of the Tomb Raider. Lara’s character grows, she adapts to the situations she is put into. She makes mature decisions about her and what happens to characters around her. She knows the world is not a pretty place, and she’s willing to get her hands dirty to get things done. The gameplay truly stands out, and excels at showing Lara’s growing abilities throughout the game.
This game sticks to what worked in the original reboot and kept a very similar gameplay style. You still have a similar layout and arsenal compared to the previous title. However, your ability to craft different attachments and upgrades to your weapons is what really makes a difference here. There’s a few varieties to the arrows you can craft, all of them awesome. One of the things that really stands out is how much of a punch all the weapons have. When you shoot your bow and arrow you feel as if you’re really pulling back on that string with all your strength. When you sneak up on someone and stab them in the neck, you almost feel sorry for the poor sap who got in Lara’s way.
The environments in this game are as much a character as the other human enemies you face. Lara has a few new tricks up her sleeve when it comes to traversing the varied environments here. Some of them don’t make that much sense, and the physics seem to work a little too much in Lara’s favor, but I’m not complaining. This is the tale of a single 20 something year old taking on an army of bad guys with nothing but a bow and a few bandages. I’ll forgive the game telling me Lara is able to swing across a 50-foot crevice by throwing an axe tied to a rope. Each area of the game is divided up into larger sections. You usually arrive and have a specific goal to get to in order to advance the story, but that’s optional. You may want to hunt, or scavenge supplies. You could clear out caves, search for relics, or take on one of the many, many optional tomb challenges. Some of these challenges are amazing, and really should not be missed. Usually you have to traverse an exciting area before reaching the tomb, and at the tomb you have to solve one puzzle to get the reward. The rewards actually make a difference in your gameplay and can make life easier for you down the road, should you decide to take them on; however, like I said, they are 100% optional.
Gameplay and narrative aside, this is one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever laid my eyes on. The graphics are not the greatest but the attention to detail is what really makes this game stand out against all other triple A titles of recent years. The landscape is lush and full of detail. Beautiful textures await every inch of every landscape in this world. There are tombs, there are jungles, there’s even a desert area. Each environment felt completely distinct and alive in it’s own way. The lighting brought everything to life; the mood this game set was very clear and they succeeded in blurring the difference between a game you are meant to play, and a game you are meant to just walk around in to admire the view. Lastly, what would a game this big do without giving the player the proper perspective from which to view this world? Lara Croft is meticulously crafted and detailed, down to the pores on her skin. Her clothes get wet when she jumps in the water, her outfit gets more riddled with snow depending on how hard the snow is falling. She shivers and looks around as if she were a real person. Lara’s motion capture artist, Camilla Luddington, did an amazing job at giving Lara a relatable personality. The animation is simply amazing.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is not a perfect game, but it is a great example of a game that can leave you breathless. From its beautiful scenery, to it’s animation, and the excitement that bursts unto the screen, time and time again. This game is an experience, and the journey is definitely more exciting than the destination, but I cannot wait until I go back and find all the hidden treasures, and conquer all the tombs. Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind this rebooted franchise has done it again. This is a perfect example of a sequel that builds on concepts, and takes them to the next level.
I give this game a: 9/10.
Reviewed by: Edwin R.R.
Thanks for reading!
Ed Reviews All 