I decided to give the TR reboot another shot, since I didn't finish it when it was new. I got to maybe 25% of the way, and never continued. I was actually never a big fan of the original games. I never ever finished any of them. Not because of what they represented, I was the first to embrace the idea of a female action hero, among my school friends. But the game had too much jumping trial/error for my liking. And it was too difficult for primary school me.

Giving a second chance to the new game however, turned out to be a good idea, as I enjoyed it much more this time, even the parts that I managed to beat in 2013.

My biggest problem with the game back then was QTEs, and I'm not saying they're not a problem anymore, but I've seen worse, much worse since then, so it didn't bother me all that much, since the QTEs in TR are actually quite relaxed compared to some shit I encountered. They can actually be successfully completed on a first try. Most QTEs on other games can only be finished by memorizing when the QTE will happen, and what you have to do.

Still even if they're not badly done here, QTEs are a cheap way to get out of creating actual dynamic game mechanics. And to force the player onto a single path, that you can't deviate from. Which is very apparent in this game. It's completely linear apart from some extra optional explorable "tombs", and every problem has only a singular solution.

So you're not really battling the environment in the game, but trying to figure out what the hell was the level designer thinking at this particular point in the game. So even if a solution to a problem is completely logical and should work, it won't unless it is the solution set in stone by the designer of the game. It would've been so much better if the game was a sandbox environment, where every solution would work for any particular problem that is allowed by the game mechanics.

Anyway that's about the only bad thing about the gameplay that I can think of. Apart from that it's very engaging, fast paced, and well balanced (not too easy, but not overly challenging either) The ranged combat is pretty good, the close quarters combat is not so much.

The story while not ground breaking, provides a pretty OK background. I actually found the scattered logs and the ruins on the island much more interesting. Who built all those contraptions and when and how.

Another interesting thing about the game is that you, the player, as Lara Croft seem to find the hardest possible ways to get from point A to point B in the game. This is even acknowledged by the game at one point, which could be considered kind of a fourth wall break. Because sometimes it doesn't make sense, that seemingly the only way to your destination is doing a ton of actobatics, rock climbing, and heavy lifting. Yet when you get there the place is crawling with enemies. "They must've found an easier way"

This immediately brings me to the next immersion breaking element of the game for me. That in order to do the shit that is being done by Lara during the game, she must be a professional rock climber, sharp shooter, artistic gymnast, weightlifter, and a bunch of other things to be able to pull off these stunts. Yet she's portrayed as a while pretty but completely average girl physique wise. This just makes me mad. Just make her look the part is what I mean. That alone would make me look past many of the game's other flaws. But this "average girl beats down dozens of men, breaks down doors, and easily moves bells and other contraptions that seem to weigh hundreds of pounds" shit is got to go.

Anyway getting side tracked here a bit. Back to immersion breaking elements. One other thing I noticed in the game, that there are these old ruins in the game, that stood for centuries, or even millennia, but all of them decide to fall apart at the exact same time when you arrive. It's OK if it seems like a random occurence, But to have hundreds of things collapse exactly at the moment you finished using them, is a bit too much for me, and makes me think theatrics. That I'm not in a living breathing world, but in a fake world built only for my benefit.

The graphics of the game sometimes looks very good, but there as some neglected parts as well. What I noticed however. Is the that regardless being an older game, and having a hi-end GPU, the fps regularly dips into the unpleasant domain. It's not unplayable, but I expected to play a 2 year old game maxed out on a 980TI with the FPS never dipping under 50. Yet by the looks of it I barely average 30.

+

  • Environment, and I'm a sucker      for the hints about the history of the island, my favorite are the WW2      bunkers and radio tower ruins, but the shipwreck beach is quite something      too
  • Jumping and climbing everywhere      is fun
  • breaking down doors and other      obstructions by pulling on it with a rope is strangely empowering.
  • continuously escalating action      and having to do more and more demanding stuff
  • weapon and ability upgrades


-

  • QTEs
  • Linear maps
  • single solution problems
  • making you waste skill points      on useless low tier skills to open up higher tier skills
  • lower fps than expected
  • there is no problem with making      a female action hero do hardcore stuff, but please also make her look the      part, otherwise it's like casting Gal Gadot as wonder woman. Wait, that      actually happened The entertainment industry still      has a long way to go
  • only 10 hours to finish


Scoring card:

graphics/realization: 8/10
story/atmosphere: 7/10
gameplay/controls: 7/10

overall impression: 7/10

So it's quite an enjoyable game, if you can pick it up on sale go for it. It's actually very much like Mad Max, minus the driving part, so if you liked that you'll most certainly enjoy this too.