The rise of the Tomb Raider Lara’s Voyage of Discovery

The Rise of the Tomb Raider is an immersive, action-packed adventure bursting at the seams with life. Graced with glorious visuals, strong exploration value and a deeply woven narrative, there is no doubt in my mind. Lara’s back, and in what style. Better still, it’s hard to recall a time when Lara has bossed the main stage, quite like she does here.

 

Of course, the developer’s Crystal Dynamics are on a role and indeed show a return to form of late, what with the positive reception from the initial reboot. In what was Lara’s compelling origin story. In contrast to this entry, the previous title in the series focused more on survival elements. Rather than its story, perhaps anyway.

Those gritty-natured themes went down a treat for many and played out well considering Lara’s rookie nature. Perhaps for others though, the story suffered collaterally as a direct consequence. However, there was an absolute purity to it. With that in mind, Lara’s genesis story acted as the perfect angle to take at the time. So then, something drastic was needed to rekindle the famed heroine, and they executed that slant to perfection. Considerably, things have moved on since then, and so has Lara’s character.

As a result, the new Lara is a touch cleverer and a tad more mature. Nevertheless, she still possesses a natural yearning for adventure, has an insatiable appetite for artifacts and displays plenty of that never-say-die, nerves of steel act we all wish we had. No? Oh, just me then. On top of that, this strong-willed butt-kicker has an equally butch best friend named Jonas.

Now then, one of many highlights to the plot of The Rise of the Tomb Raider is the dynamic between Jonas and Lara. Without wishing to get the world’s smallest violin out, it pulls at the heartstrings. I mean, the story of an ancient and elusive sect known only as Trinity and the key to everlasting life, both play second fiddle to the poignant relationship going on between the pair. All in all, the story is a highly cinematic treat for the senses. Only to be capped off by top voice-acting and awe-inspiring visuals.

Gameplay wise The Rise of the Tomb Raider plays out much like original titles in the series canon, whereby exploration and atmosphere act as the driving forces. Much like the games of old, immersion is no illusion here.

 

Additionally, the inclusion of vast tombs to explore lost cities to loot and countless artifacts to uncover makes for a mouth-watering prospect. That said, revealing the secret treasures of past kings or the dying words of a despotic ruler has never been so engaging.

 

Not only that but each environment holds within it, a rich array of animals to hunt, hidden collectibles to find and special abilities to obtain. Interestingly, the survival factor still plays a significant part. Elsewhere, hunting and story progression grant experience points which are used to tot up any three of the main skill sets. Mostly, these involve lethal finishers as well as a gamut of weapon upgrades. Such as improvements to accuracy and damage rates.

 

Lara’s bow remains the go-to gadget much like it was in the prior game, but there’s room for freedom of expression. The game doesn’t force you down a set path. So, the choice is yours. Lara’s destiny is yours to shape.

 

Lara’s quest to follow in her father’s footsteps leads her on a grand voyage of personal discovery. One full of risk and consequence that explores themes of love, loss, and betrayal. Furthermore, the rich role-playing elements go hand-in-hand with the seemingly infinite amount of content on offer. The culmination of all this is an emotional, action-packed thrill-ride that’s impossible to put down, and even harder to forget. A truly brilliant game, this is one action title you cannot afford to miss out on in life. Not least so, for all those Lara-loving tomb robbers.

 

What do you think? Have Crystal Dynamics delivered the goods with The Rise of the Tomb Raider? Feel free to get in touch and leave a comment below.