Tomb Raider

The Muse is back!!"

 

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Modern Action Adventure




Lara Croft has always been considered the great muse of video games. Since her first appearance, this tough-as-nails bombshell exuded sensuality while facing challenges that can scare even the bravest of the big guys. However, time has made the well-known heroine lose much of its shine and has not been as iconic since the days her first game graced the PlayStation.



However, this may be about to change. The announcement of a new Tomb Raider wowed fans of the series, especially after confirming the exploring the character’s past and with a much more human personality. More than that, Crystal Dynamics has promised to restart the franchise history and bring a younger Lara, but with all the features that made her so iconic and loved - that is, the way we like her to be. As you know, the next Tomb Raider is not a sequel per se, but a reboot of the whole story seen so far. In other words, it is a beginning for the saga of the heroine and her adventurous life.

 

The proposal, according to project manager, Karl Stewart, is to get people to see the girl gamers with a new perspective. Steward said that the time has transformed Lara to be seen merely as a sexual icon, without any depth or compelling attributes. Because of this, recounting their origin should help make her more human and interesting character. With a more realistic proposal than its predecessors, the title gives us a 21 year old girl fresh out of college. A passionate archeologist, she ventures into an expedition to Japan in search of lost treasures. However, the picture changes when the ship enters a storm, stranding the vessel in a supposedly deserted island. It is precisely from this point we come to know the history of Lara Croft and realize that she was not always so confident and tough as we were accustomed to seeing her. The new Tomb Raider should feature a young girl lost and frightened in the midst of great hazards in a completely unknown and threatening place.


Similar to what Casino Royale did with James Bond, we find a protagonist still fragile and completely unprepared, but gaining confidence and strength to become the female gaming icon we identify her to be. Even her classic skills have to be learned over time and she will definitely need for survival. According to the project manager of Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider will be completely focused on the fight to stay alive. Proof of this are the few pictures released so far. It seems they’re always putting Lara in a moment of extreme danger and making do with what she has at her disposal.

 

The very opening scene should make very clear on that focus on survival. Soon after the sinking, Lara wakes up hung upside down inside a cave lit only by a torch. To escape this predicament, the player must swing the rope and to make the jump before the flames consume our terrified vixen. Tomb Raider will also focus a large part of gameplay in the scenario exploration and the use of various resources to complete various puzzles. Interestingly, there is no single solution, since it is possible to find different ones to each challenge, making each player try out different results in ways they want them to be solved.


In addition, the developer promised enhanced physics for this Tomb Raider exactly because of the existence of puzzles scattered throughout this game. In the example shown by the page, Lara can use gunpowder to cause an explosion and start a chain reaction, so that various objects fall on enemies. The idea is to use real-time calculation to create a more reliable experience.

Although weaker, Lara Croft will not be completely helpless in Tomb Raider. Although the studio has promised an unprepared hero, all the images released so far show the character wielding weapons such as guns and bows. In other words, Lara will still see plenty of action. The big news for this equipment is the new manual targeting system, similar to what has already been seen in Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise. Instead of making the character set on just one target, the player can control the marksmanship and have more freedom to shoot wherever they want - something that can help in certain strategies.

 

Furthermore, the fighting may also be made into physical confrontations. While details about the brawl were not disclosed, we believe that we can use objects around the scene to extend the power. That's because the game should bring an alternative view mode, similar to that used in Assassin's Creed or Batman: Arkham Asylum. The idea is to give that extra adrenaline to improve awareness of the environment, emphasizing interactive elements around them. Thus, Lara knows exactly where to go and what to do.


The action will also be felt during the actual operation. Several times require the gamer to press certain buttons at the right time to save the skin of the daring protagonist. These small quick time events are present in many parts of the adventure, especially when the timing is essential for her survival. A great feature of this Tomb Raider game is the open world exploration. Unlike the linearity of its predecessors, the game will let the player know every corner of the island. Interestingly, some areas can only be accessed after obtaining certain skills.


Crystal Dynamics does not see Tomb Raider as a simple reboot of the game, but as a new chance for the entire series in general, which also includes the film market. Let's hope that Tomb Raider comes back with all the prestige and prominence it deserves. Tomb Raider will arrive on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year.




Marco Cecilio, NoobFeed