So, with that introduction, let's dive into the review. I'll avoid as many spoilers as possible while still fleshing out the game. Lara's graduated from university at age twenty-one, so this is the youngest we've seen her in the series. Keep in mind that this isn't the Lara from the 90s. She's young, inexperienced, and scared. Relying on her keen sense of survival, she quickly gets her bearings in order to survive. We jump into an Assassin's Creed III style of hunting for food. While it's not as in-depth as Connor tracking and taking down his prey, the bow-and-arrow mechanics work well enough especially with the later upgrades and modifications.
Skill points are earned through actions completed in-game. Hunting, scoring headshots, picking up collectibles, etc. The usual fair for action-adventure games. Use the skill points to better Lara's abilities. Salvage plays like Dead Space 3 with weapon upgrades. While just a small notice, you can actually see each mod on the weapons which is pretty neat (like in Bioshock, if you will). With the bow, pistol, shotgun, and submachine gun/assault rifle to choose from, you can either save up salvage for that one particular upgrade or dump everything into one weapon.
Graphics are fantastic. Weather dynamics take you from stormy seas, sunny tropical skies, windy tombs, to snow-capped mountains. Each scene is as stunning as the last. Climbing to the top of the peak only to look down is both frightening and aesthetically astounding. Crystal Dynamics put their all into level design. Looking at a burning village from afar right after coming from an intense firefight puts the scope into perspective. For the most part, the game-play in non-linear allowing you to explore Yamatai at your pleasure. Just watch out for the wild-life, traps, sudden drops, raging rapids with the spike-o-death, etc.
We get to watch Lara develop from the innocent young adult at the very beginning to the tough-as-nails raider from earlier games. The phrase "first kill is always the hardest" rings true to the point. The hundred plus kills after are a walk in the park, though. While this may seem a tad bit unrealistic (not having a shred of remorse after tearing through droves of mercs), how would you react after knowing you saved your own life and possibly your friends as well?
I wouldn't cry after every bad guy I kill. Survival of the fittest, right? Might just go a little like this:
Except with a bit more bad guys dying. I've really used Seth MacFarlane's humor to make my points lately, haven't I? Why would anyone cry over the opportunity to act like a bad-ass? Hey, there, kiddo! How'd you like a chance to be like Indiana Jones or Nathan Drake?
Oh, really? Can I? Sure, why not! Put a gun in my hand and hundreds of Nazis/evil mercenaries/weird magical shit in front of me and stand back!
Getting back to the review, I feel comfortable awarding Tomb Raider the Crashed Moose Award.
Because blowing shit up makes you feel like this
Tomb Raider earns the "get the f*ck off the couch and buy this f*cking game now" rating. Get the collector's edition if you can. The Play Arts Kai figurine of Lara is pretty schweet.
Bioshock: Infinite will be the next collector's edition I'll be reviewing. God of War: Ascension's demo didn't really show anything promising except new enemies and story. The statue of Kratos looks cool, but there's no way in f*ck I'm pulling another Colonial Marines. Spend the $80 if you feel good. Don't complain about the same old gameplay they've used since the first.
Find yourself back here in a few weeks for America in the skies. Bioshock: Infinite hits stores Tuesday, 26 March.
Get some, raiders!
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