![]() ![]() The Tomb Raider is also a herbologist this time around, gathering and consuming plants and herbs that can grant her special abilities. Lara also gets lure arrows that can poison or explode, and can craft smoke bombs, nail bombs, and even Molotovs on-the-go from environmental objects. Like a certain Caped Crusader, she can now grapple enemies and hang them off trees. Lara’s combat abilities are already quite competent, and she gets even more potent as you invest in her abilities and unlock new ones by completing challenge tombs. Long grass, mud-covered walls, and the many climbable trees are all ideal to separate and conquer unsuspecting adversaries. There is more incentive for you to take the stealthier route, and it is obvious that is the prefered direction the game would rather you take based on the arena designs. Armoured foes are hardier, while thermal imaging goggles will force you to utilise the new mud mechanic to avoid detection. It would be too simple for Lara if Trinity (and other surprises) is not there every step of the way to impede your progress, with several enemy types that will force you to mix it up. The lip-syncing can still be improved (even after the Day-1 patch), but everything else looks superb. From the forests full of wildlife to cities bustling with activity, it is always a sight to behold as you make your way around the world designed by Eidos Montréal. Visually, every area you come to is detailed and feels alive. ![]() The sidequests, while not mandatory, do offer some decent XP and gear to make it worth your time. ![]() Simple fetch quests and enemy clearing can only go so far before becoming tedious, while the more engaging ones task Lara to investigate and dig for the truth behind certain events. While the sidequests do often reveal more about the many ancient civilizations that surround you, they are not as fleshed out. In such hubs, Lara can explore and search for secrets, collectables, and even side quests as you engage the locals in conversation. Thankfully, the controls are tight and responsive enough to not be unfair, but always beware of the very annoying piranhas that are swimming about!Ĭhunks of exploration will also lead you to intricate, sprawling hub areas like the Hidden City of Paititi, which bring their own flavours to both the people and architecture. There is also a surprisingly large amount of swimming sequences, which are often tense as the game really conveys the fear of drowning perfectly. Upgraded gear gives the Tomb Raider more options, and makes Shadow of The Tomb Raider a more vertical experience than before.īoth the rappelling and new overhanging climbing mechanics will bring you and Lara through a swirl of movement that is a testament to the developers’ ability to link everything together flawlessly. Such design directions extend to much of the game as well, as Lara finds herself in dangerous terrain that will test her skills as a survivor. Puzzles are a breath of fresh air every single time, and most importantly, they can be tough to crack but a delight to solve. You could be figuring out how to manipulate howling winds, or directing mirrors to solve a light puzzle. Often capacious and imposing, they present different obstacles that are unique aside from the platforming required to overcome them. Not only are there more tombs and crypts to explore this time, but the mechanics and traversal designs of these ancient puzzles are also brilliantly done. There is a conscious move away from the more firefight heavy formula of the previous two games, and that is a positive change in our books. ![]() It is akin to a rollercoaster where the ups are great, and the downs are a preview for what is to come. Starting from her close shave with Trinity that kickstarts a whole apocalypse waiting to happen, to her eventual triumph against the evil organization, it is a story that threads on the familiar with occasional narrative gaps, but with enough to keep propelling you forward.īlockbuster set pieces are punctuated with precarious tomb raiding, poignant story moments, and a few brushes with death that pumps up the adrenaline. For the entirety of this 20-odd hour journey, Shadow of The Tomb Raider is undoubtedly the most impressive, most ambitious, and most fun entry we have had, and barring some hiccups here and there, Lara’s story comes full circle in an extremely satisfying way. ![]()
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