RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER
The Lara Croft sequel from Crystal Dynamics.
As defining moments go, Yamatai was a big deal. Being stranded will change a person. Surviving leaves its scars. It’s safe to say there’s no going back from something like that…
Lara Croft has changed. She’s a little more seasoned, a little more sure of herself.
The biggest difference between 2013′s Tomb Raider and its sequel is our hero doesn’t stumble across trouble, she actively pursues it. She has her eye on a prize instead of just enduring something that has happened to her. I absolutely loved playing through Lara’s origins in the first game. It was a thing of beauty to see our hero realise her potential. There are lessons learned and they stay learned, which is always nice to see. The events of the first game matter because they continue to resonate in the aftermath. They have shaped Lara. She’s changed.
Tomb Raider is not Die Hard. Lara Croft is not John McClane. (Notorious for finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, over-and-over again.) Our hero chooses to be here…
Croft sees the world through a new lens, stories that were once myth might no longer be…
It seems our protagonist has gotten herself a bit of a reputation, not unlike her fathers.
Folks laughed at Lord Croft in the lead up to his death. He pursued things his peers dismissed as nonsensical. Lara did too. Now? She’s not so sure! Any thing seems possible after Yamatai.
Rise of the Tomb Raider opens with Lara’s new found obsession to redeem her father’s name.
We open on a sprawling mountain top deep in the Siberian wastes. This isn’t the start though.
There’s an impression that we’re well and truly into an expedition. Sherpas have abandoned us, but there’s no turning back — fellow Yamatai survivor Jonah can see that in Lara’s eyes. (It’s one of a steely determination. You know the kind, friend!) The two push on through the increasingly perilous conditions. All signs point to this being the place, the trail of the lost city of Kitezh. A lot of this doesn’t mean much to us at the moment. We don’t quite understand what’s going on in full or the stakes propelling this adventure. It doesn’t really matter though.
This is all about establishing Lara’s obsession, establishing Lara’s choice to be here…
Her instincts are proven right:
We catch a glimpse of the ancient ruins before an avalanche intervenes…
I loved the scale of the opening. There’s a whole lot of globe trotting that differentiates the game at the get go from its contained island predecessor. We jump from Siberia, London and Syria all in the first hour. It’s a whole lot of fun. Not unlike Uncharted 2. Structurally it’s a cool way to introduce the story, as well. It cuts back and forwards all cinematic like, while cleverly giving us some diverse environments before settling on the snowy Siberian wastes for the long haul. It feels good to be back in Lara’s shoes and the game feels like the return of an old friend.
It doesn’t take long before those survival instincts kick in once more…
For better or worse, Rise of the Tomb Raider doesn’t play too differently from the previous instalment. It’s often so familiar that muscle memory kicks in. You scavenge for supplies, upgrade your equipment, take out enemies, traverse dangerous terrain and the like. Lara still struggles and is put in many an unnerving situation, but just like us she’s done this before — there’s a confidence she carries herself with. She stoically presses on and knows what has to be done to get through this. Once again, it’s nice to see a more experienced Tomb Raider.
Experienced doesn’t mean Lara’s not vulnerable though…
Time and time again the story will give our hero opportunities to turn back or opt out if she wants. There’s no reason why she can’t. The first game was structured entirely around trying to find ways to leave and rightfully so. This time? She declines and proves once again she’s here because she wants to be here. I love the depth Lara Croft has gotten in the reboot series. There’s a complexity to the character that earlier incarnations lacked. She’s far from perfect. She has flaws. This Lara has demons and self-doubt. She’s lost people, but remains driven.
The gameplay is as fun as ever, but Lara and the story is why the Tomb Raider games are so good.
The story this time around is pretty damn interesting. Lara’s motivations are personal, but there’s all kinds of high stakes as well. I really enjoyed Rise of the Tomb Raider, but strangely enough all the plot points were a little predictable. You saw most of the big twists and revelations coming a mile away, but this never ruined the enjoyment. I guess it shows that the story doesn’t need to be surprising to be written well. It just felt like a little subtlety could have gone a long way when telegraphing upcoming twists or developments.
Lara continues to be driven by compassion, responsibility, and curiosity…
When her writing is good, that’s usually enough to keep you invested in what’s going on.
What about the other characters though?
Forget the villains. Forget the rivals. Forget the love interests.
The other big character in this series as important as Lara herself has always been the environments. How has that evolved from the last game? Yamatai is a tough act to follow!
The world of Rise of the Tomb Raider is thankfully a compelling one. The majority of the game takes place in Siberia. We have former soviet outposts, ancient temples, and the unique terrain itself to overcome — with the often cruel nature that comes with it. The setting is varied and beautiful and always so damn fun to explore. The biggest change is they’re far more sprawling this time too. I found the map way more necessary than the previous instalment, just to navigate the hub worlds. These remain interconnected too, encouraging backtracking.
The optional tombs are a thing of beauty, man. There’s a lot more of these this time around, all with insanely fun ‘hooks’ and puzzles to solve. Lara is at her best when she’s tomb raiding!
There’s no question that the events of Yamatai were important in shaping Lara Croft, but the events of the Siberian wastes are every bit as important. This game changes our protagonist too and sets the scene for her next adventure. The world of Tomb Raider opens up a whole lot more in this instalment and gives intriguing insights into where we’re heading next. I, for one, can’t wait. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a thing of beauty and a game that’s very easy to recommend if you’re into compelling characters, great gameplay, and fun action set pieces.
Written by Dan Clarke. February 26, 2016.
Originally published at dcpresents.tumblr.com.
