[h1]Sights & Sounds[/h1]
[h3]Has it really been 10 years?[/h3]
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[*] Don't get me wrong; AAA games absolutely do look better now than they did in 2016 when [i]Rise of the Tomb Raider[/i] was released. And yes, having a modern graphics card that lets me crank up the settings to maximum on older games does have an appreciable effect. But it feels like we've long passed the point at which these marginal increases feel like they truly matter. It sort of feels like games don't really [i]look[/i] much better than they did. They just [i]perform[/i] better now
[*] At least hypothetically. When playing new releases, it often feels like increased GPU power is used as a crutch to bypass optimization that was necessary to hit smooth framerates on older hardware. Absence of limitation begets absence of innovation, after all. Even with all that power, I still feel like I have to wait for a few rounds of patches before new releases play like they should have on release
[*] But all of that is just to say that [i]Rise of the Tomb Raider[/i] is a good-looking game. Like, really good, even for a decade old title. It's quite comparable to [i]Tomb Raider[/i] (2013) visually, though with some improved environmental textures: better, but not a sea change. You have to look at side-by-side comparisons to really appreciate the differences
[*] I found myself liking the setting quite a bit more, though. The frigid Siberian surroundings offer a bit more visual variety even if tundra, forest, and snowcaps are just variations on a theme. It's a little more interesting than the rainforest, rainforest, and more rainforest seen in the prequel
[*] The VA work is once again stellar, with Camilla Luddington reprising her role as Lara Croft. It was nice to see a little development of the character with regards to Luddington's performance. [i]TR2013[/i] Lara sounded a bit more naive and vulnerable, while [i]Rise[/i] Lara is bit more mature and worldly. You can infer what effects the intervening years have had on her personality and outlook
[*] As for the soundtrack, it's fine. For an action game, it's totally competent and appropriate for what's on screen. Big booming percussion and hectic brass when the action ramps up. Strings when you're just wandering around and exploring. Don't expect anything to surprise your ears
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[h1]Story & Vibes[/h1]
[h3]Chasing a legacy[/h3]
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[*] [i]Rise of the Tomb Raider[/i] sees Lara once again following in her father's footsteps and trying to track down the locations and artifacts unearthed by his research. This time, she's pursuing one of his leads pertaining to something called the Prophet's Tomb. Despite being a site for housing a dead person, it's ironically a key piece of the puzzle for obtaining immortality
[*] Of course, it's not as simple as simply figuring out where it is and snagging what's inside. A shady organization known only as Trinity has been spending a lot of time and energy attempting to discredit her and her father's research. At the same time, however, they're covertly following the same trail as Lara to seize the secret of immortality for themselves
[*] This path leads Lara and her adversaries to the remote expanses of Siberia in search of the tomb. Unfortunately for the region's inhabitants, Trinity is hellbent on crushing anything that stands in their way. Despite some less-than-trusting initial contact, Lara will have to convince them she's on the level. With their knowledge of the terrain (and a suspicious amount of info on what she's looking for...), they'll be a key ally in the hunt for the Prophet's Tomb
[*] I'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers, but it's a pretty okay story overall. If you've played the first game, I'd recommend brushing up on the plot details before diving into [i]Rise[/i]. There's a surprising depth to the lore that the game doesn't spoon feed you. They just expect you to remember the people and events from the prequel (check the game's wiki if you don't believe me)
[*] Vibe-wise, it's very in line with [i]TR2013[/i]: full of action and plot twists that keep you on your toes. Exciting but not all that deep. If you enjoy action movies for what they are, your experience with the [i]Survivor[/i] series' narrative throughline will probably be a good one
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[h1]Playability & Replayability[/h1]
[h3]Eww, crafting[/h3]
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[*] I hope you enjoy climbing and shooting, because there sure is a lot of that going on here
[*] Let's start with the highlight. Vertical traversal in [i]Rise[/i] may not introduce anything all that new or exciting, but it does feel a bit more involved and interesting than some of its contemporaries (particularly the [i]Assassin's Creed[/i] franchise)
[*] Beyond merely mantling chest-high surfaces and jumping from ledge to ledge, Lara is capable of climbing sheer surfaces and making some daring leaps over gaps thanks to her trusty ice picks. It's far more engaging than the "hold trigger and up on the stick" gameplay sported by the [i]AC[/i] games that came out around the same time. Not only are the mechanics more fun, but you'll actually be tasked with the occasional climbing/physics puzzle in order to proceed
[*] While such puzzles do arise in the course of the plot-necessary sections, they're more creative and varied in the context of the challenge tombs that dot the maps. These were some of my favorite content in the game, and completing each one provides Lara with a multitude of useful skills
[*] Combat could be more easily filed under "serviceable". Bow and gunplay feel very similar to the prequel. I found myself predominantly using the contextual cover system to hide from enemies while surreptitiously doming them with arrows. If that wasnt't an option, switching to an AR or shotgun to deal with groups out of cover certainly was
[*] Unfortunately, should you find yourself in need of upgrades to your weapons, you'll have to engage with the worst system in the game: crafting. Unlike the streamlined gear progression system of its predecessor, [i]Rise[/i] forces you to go on wildlife culling tangents every few hours if you want to maximize your damage-dealing potential
[*] It is, at best, a tedious interruption to the flow of plot advancement and exploration. At worst, it's a frustrating speedbump that'll force you to scour the environment and backtrack to find some elusive pelt or tooth that can incomprehensibly be employed in the service of making your pistol more accurate or something
[*] Even if you don't wind up ever replaying the game, I'd at least recommend doing all of the challenge tombs and crypts. Not only do they provide some useful skills and gear, but also serve as some of the best content in the game
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[h1]Overall Impressions & Performance[/h1]
[h3]A lateral move[/h3]
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[*] All told, [i]Rise of the Tomb Raider[/i] feels like "more [i]Tomb Raider[/i]" and not necessarily "better [i]Tomb Raider[/i]". Yes, there are a handful of graphical upgrades. The setting is a bit more interesting, too. But the annoying crafting system sort of makes the comparison a wash
[*] After playing the first few hours on my PC, I switched over to the Steam Deck. Sure the performance and visuals aren't quite as good, but it ran and looked good enough to make it a worthwhile experience on that platform
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[h1]Final Verdict[/h1]
[b]6.5[/b]/10. If you enjoyed the prequel and want a fun but mindless action title to fill your time, you could do a whole lot worse than this. It'll run on basically any hardware that's been released in the past 10 years, and it tends to go on sale for 90% off during Steam sales (more if you buy the bundle). A cheap and entertaining way to fulfill your action game needs
