Tomb Raider

Lara Croft returns in this franchise reboot, which juggles different gameplay elements, all well-executed and superbly balanced. The visuals and audio are top-notch and Lara is very well realized as a character. Long story short: a great game you should definitely pick up.

Crystal Dynamics has nailed a pitch-perfect new vision for one of gaming’s most recognizable characters, and revitalizes her for what I hope will be many more installments.

It is a superb action game that brings a new emotional dimension to one of gaming's most enduring icons, and repositions her alongside Nathan Drake at the top of gaming's action-hero heirachy.

This reboot of the series not only surpassed my expectations, but it is easily one of the best games I have played in a long time. If you're like me and love story driven games that offer a great gaming experience then Tomb Raider is definitely for you.

There’s no denying Tomb Raider is a heavily influenced work, both mechanically and aesthetically (its nods to Neil Marshall’s The Descent are so happy to be there at one point Lara even re-enacts the “girlrising-out-of-sea-of-blood” scene). While it offers nothing wholly original, its salvaged parts combine to produce an experience that is consistently better than anything its own heroes have produced. [April 2013, p70]

Despite occasional dissonance between narrative and game mechanics, Tomb Raider is a highly polished, highly accomplished reboot. Kudos, Crystal Dynamics. [Issue#235]

Mature, thought-provoking and great fun, Tomb Raider is an outstanding introduction to the new Lara Croft. It play well, it looks wonderful. [Issue#229, p.58]

Definitely worth the price of admission and is definitely worth playing.

The remarkable thing here is that Crystal Dynamics have rebooted the Tomb Raider series, told an origin story of how the globe-trotting archaeological action figure came to be, all wrapped up in a contemporised package delivering examples of all that is good about games today, all whilst making it feel like a Lara Croft game.

Tomb Raider is an exceptional game. Break-neck set pieces and quality combat help make the action exceedingly enjoyable, even if it does stray from the themes of the narrative at times. Impressive visuals and a lively environment brimming with distractions will encourage you to explore, while a solid if unspectacular multiplayer component provides some replayability. Nathan Drake may want to watch his back, because the queen of adventure's gunning for his crown.

Crystal Dynamics did a great job with methodically thinking everything through before releasing the new Tomb Raider to the world. The story, gameplay mechanics, depth and visuals all make for an unforgettable experience, sans the multiplayer side of things.

On the merits of the campaign alone, Crystal Dynamics has delivered a stunning and compelling adventure worthy of the brand name.

It is a symbiosis of elements from the old titles and a lot of Uncharted. As such, free-form exploration, puzzles and tombs to raid meet big-screen action and frenzied shootouts. It could be a great way into the future for Lara, one you couldn't really picture before. For now, this really works.

Lara Croft has returned and she's not looking back, but this time she will be displaying all the features we are used to seeing in modern action and adventure games. This reboot is as big as the original Tomb Raider was back in the day, but with a distinct personality, something essential if she wants to become a staple within the same genre she dominated for years.

If you never cared about the character Lara Croft, this game will change that. The way Camilla Luddington portrays her is very believable and you'd need to have a hart of stone not to flinch every time Lara gets a beating. [March 2013, p.62]

It's exactly what this franchise needed: A modern-day wake-up call that revamps an outdated character and gives us a role model of whom this industry can be proud. Our pride - however misplaced it may have been before - no longer resides in Lara Croft's chest. The setting is excellent, the character's transformation is emotional and effective, the control and combat is rock solid, and the pacing and variety is top-notch. They could've done more with the ideas they present and the multiplayer is lacking but beyond that, this one is a can't-miss for all serious gamers out there.

Too bad Lara isn't actually all alone on this gorgeous mystery island. Instead, she drags a bunch of wholly unlikeable characters around with her, which lessens the fun to be had in exploring and finding secrets. Apart from that, Tomb Raider is one almost flawlessly-executed action blockbuster with more than just a hint of Uncharted to it.

An exhilarating action adventure that serves as a terrific origin story for the iconic Lara Croft.

It sets the character up for an amazing sequel and improved multiplayer on next-gen platforms. There’s a whole lot of island to cover and tons of killer action on the way. Set-pieces are astounding and really push the player forward with intense visuals.

Tomb Raider is a frantic and largely enjoyable rollercoaster ride. Crystal Dynamics has clearly learned the Uncharted lesson, giving birth to a brand new Lara. Maybe a tad easy and not so deep, but thrilling and exciting nonetheless.

The reboot is a complete success. I enjoyed every second of the single-player campaign, from the huge sequences to the little moments that are integrated perfectly with the gameplay.

Despite stepping away from the tone and play style of its forbears, Tomb Raider is an entertaining adventure and a great jumping off point for the new direction Crystal Dynamics wants to take.

Tomb Raider is a reboot that's mostly done right. The lack of the franchise's trademark puzzles is unfortunate, but everything else captures the feel of the original games with a more modern twist.

This is a rollicking and hugely enjoyable adventure, filled with spectacular set-pieces, emotional highs and lows, and – thankfully – not an oversized sports bra in sight. Crystal Dynamics has set a shining example of what can be done when reimagining a franchise from the ground up, and all of the elements on show have been well-conceived and well-crafted, and they come together to form a cohesive whole.

Lara matured from sex symbol to a person with character and feels more authentic as an archaeologist. But unfortunately Crystal Dynamics wasn’t courageous enough to incorporate real survival with hunger, lack of ammunition and desperation. They let you dive into a colorful, varied adventure filled with action, though. In the end with this Lara Croft not another “Survivor” is born, but rather another “Soldier”.