Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics’ newest game coming out is the highly anticipated and revamped Tomb Raider.
[box type=”info” color=”#fff” bg=”#8c0000″ font=”helvetica” head=”Writer’s Thoughts”]I will be honest and say I have never played a single Tomb Raider game but I have been keeping my eye on this one and I am very excited about it. I recently sat down and watched a video of a specific level from the upcoming title and am blown away by what I saw. I wish I could play it now but all I can do is explain what I saw and expect from the new Tomb Raider.[/box]
What a lovely view
Opening the video we see Lara Croft hiding behind a stone wall staring at two enemies. Surrounded by the islands beautiful scenery. She appears to be on a stone staircase that leads down to a hut. The game mechanics automatically allow her to take cover behind any object that can protect her when near an enemy.
In this situation she can overhear the conversation between the enemies and gain information about the island or a specific area. Taking aim with her hunting bow she snipes the first guard and takes cover as the second guard flips a table over to defend him and a third guard rushes up the staircase at her tossing a Molotov at her. Sniping the second guard and ducking under the Molotov Lara fires an arrow into the chest of the third guard as he lights another one. This knocks him to the ground where she releases a final arrow into his head causing the cocktail to burst into flames around his body.
The AI is smart enough to notice where the player is and will take into account what movements she can do and will set up a defense allowing the player various battle scenarios.
WARNING: Content being reviewed and in the video link contains adult content only suitable for 18 years and over.
TAKE AIM
Traveling down the staircase, Lara shoots an arrow across a gap in the mountain creating a zip line to safely traverse across it. Pulling out her shotgun she blasts a hole in a wooden wall and enters inside starting a cut scene.
The scene focuses on a female character named Sam contacting Lara via radio explaining something about a fire ritual. Lara says she will rescue her as a man’s voice can be heard and Sam starts screaming until the radio goes quiet.
All the while Lara is looking out over a vast canyon with what looks to be a temple in the background. Turning around we are thrown back into gameplay as Lara jumps onto a zip line and heads further down the mountain. Landing on a wooden platform that breaks when she lands on it, a quick time event is triggered as Lara hangs from a ledge causing the player to hit X. Two more guards are heard talking about the sound and one moves closer to Lara. Turning back to his post Lara pulls herself up and crouches behind the him waiting for a clear moment to attack. Seeing a lantern between three guards she lets loose an arrow from her bow and watches as an explosion engulfs them. Finishing the final guard off with her shotgun she moves over to an area that allows her to climb above other guards who are coming to assess the explosion.
Jumping down from her location she fires the shotgun at some barrels that run down a pathway knocking down another guard that soon after is blown away by Lara’s shotgun. His pal following him also receives a new hole in his body as Lara is prompted to reload her shotgun. Then a third guard, I am seeing a trend of three here, runs to a corner and soon finds himself with a chest full of led.
HOLD ON! THIS IS TO INTENSE!
HOW LUCKY THIS IS HERE
DO SOMETHING PRESS THE BUTTONS NOW!
Continuing down the path another cut scene plays as Lara wades through waist deep water that is flowing with debris. Grabbing wooden posts, she pulls herself through the water and as she is almost across the path the pole she is holding onto snaps causing her to plummet down the rapids. The player then maneuvers her down this path but fails to choose the correct path and impales Lara’s neck with a sharp stick like object. Of course this isn’t the end as we load back up and continue our trek down the rapids. Using slow motion to blast away debris blocking her path Lara is thrown into the remnants of a crashed plane and tumbles down to the front of it smashing into what appears to be the cockpit viewing window. The camera switches to looking up at Lara’s present situation showing the rapids leading to a waterfall as the plane hangs over its edge. Seconds later we are back in view of Lara as the glass continues to shatter and metal shrieks. She grabs a conveniently placed parachute backpack and suddenly falls to her doom. Entering another quick time event the player must press X to pull the first chute out of the pack. This fails and Lara continues to freefall to certain death but the player then must press the circle button which frees a perfectly good chute from the pack and Lara then flies above the vast forest canopy. Once again thinking all is going to go well from this point Lara crashes into a tree and is flung downward into the forest barely catching herself on a limb before she hits the ground. Panning up from her legs we see she is carrying an ice climbers pick and is bleeding from her side. Showing signs that she has been through a lot already.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY!
Landing right outside of a shanty little town, Lara must find first aid to address her wounds. Above her is the temple we saw earlier where we believe Sam is being held. Limping her way towards a medical chopper, Lara must sneak through this town. Tumbling down another path she finds herself in waist deep water again. The water is stagnant and she is able to pull out a torch and trek on.
Taking a moment to overhear a guard torturing another man above her. She then continues onward through this pitch black sewage tunnel that is full of dead bodies and flies. A body flops down next to her as she nears the end and daylight shines through an opening where she wields her bow and comes into an area with two patrolling guards. She takes out one walking along a walkway above her and fires another arrow at a red barrel trying to get rid of the second. Failing this attempt she runs around the left side to get a better vantage point and is strung up by her foot in a trap, hanging upside down above the ground.
Pulling out a pistol she opens fire upon four guards that come from inside an area ahead of her. Taking down two of them she looks up and fires at the pulley system causing her to fall free from the trap. Taking cover behind a box she pulls out a semi automatic machine gun and kills the remaining guards making her way nearer the medical chopper. Running along a pathway on her left is a few bodies strung up by their necks while the vast canyon is to her right. Leaping to a lower ledge she grimaces and enters combat again killing the first enemy with an arrow and the next two with her shotgun. Reaching the crashed chopper she pulls down a wall with her rope arrow and gains access inside. In this final cut scene, Lara checks the First Aid box and finds nothing of use. Checking all around the chopper she comes across the dead pilot muttering, “I’m sorry” as she reaches inside of his pocket finding a lighter.
I’m sorry! but I really need a cig!
Having watched this 11 minute long gameplay trailer and analyzed it, I feel that I actually got to play Tomb Raider. If this is what we can expect from the end product then I am excited for this game. Fans of the Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry franchise will definitely find similarities in the new Tomb Raider. If you enjoy exploring areas, fighting with bows, and a strong female lead then this game is a definite must buy. The AI seems well managed and their mechanics well oiled, the graphics are superb and transfer smoothly from gameplay to cut scenes. I pre-ordered my copy a few weeks ago and will be ready to pick it up on March 5, 2013.
Will you be getting your copy?
