Figuring out the way to go is always rewarding and interesting, with a clever use of all types of journeying to a destination involved. Outside of combat, the traversal and puzzles are in series-best territory.

Slathering Lara with some muddy cover or stalking prey from the treetops while picking them off with a bow is still the most enjoyable way to navigate combat. The gunplay isn't great by any means, but it's a viable enough option if players botch a sneaky run through some bad guys. Stealth is a fun method, and the further unlocking of skills makes it feel rewarding while staying fresh. The gorgeous settings and gruesome ends would fly well into the frustrating side of the pie chart if the gameplay wasn't done well.īut it is. This isn't just droplets of water in a cave to your right immersing a player, it's the sharp shrill of an instrument when you make a risky jump or unexpectedly realize you're not alone out in the wild.Įidos Montreal had to walk a tricky tightrope here with gameplay. The attention to detail, especially with directional noises, defines the experience. In a game like this, sound design is almost as important as the graphics-something Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics clearly understand. And the stories behind the ultra-detailed environments are told (for those paying attention) via NPCs or collectable items. Woven deeper into the story than usual, the various set pieces Lara visits are more distinguishable from one another than ever before. We don't feel as bad about the beating she takes in this game thanks to smooth storytelling and character development, but the nasty ends will get a vocal reaction out of the player either way. It sounds weird, but the first game in the trilogy received some criticism for going over the top with her various ways of perishing. Lara's deaths are as memorable as the surroundings. You're going to hold your breath during tense underwater sequences right alongside Lara.įrom lush jungle areas filled with huntable wildlife, to mountainous regions with deadly drops and crumbling ledges, to underwater sequences with packs of piranha ready to tear Lara to pieces, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is one of the prettiest games ever released-and one of the most grisly for those who get lost in the facade. It's going to make you feel claustrophobic. Gems like the original Bioshock have made it happen, while few others-including the first two efforts in this trilogy-took environment interaction into a whole new level of immersion.īeautiful and deadly, Tomb Raider isn't a sightseeing expedition from the safety of a tour vehicle.

It's rare for a game to come along and have the perfect blend of graphics and gameplay interwoven into a truly immersive experience. Gamers know what they're getting with both the gameplay and the story-all Eidos Montreal had to do was be like Lara and keep jumping over the bar it originally set by Crystal Dynamics. It's fitting, then, that this journey experienced by one of gaming's most iconic franchises mirrors the story of Lara told over the course of this trilogy itself.

Shadow of the tomb raider review