A Closer Look At The New Tomb Raider [E3 2011]
Of all the new announcements in the gaming industry so far with E3 this week, one has stuck out for me, so I decided it needed a bit more attention than just a little blurb. Crystal Dynamics has been hard at work, polishing up the new Tomb Raider reboot that we’ve all heard about. The more I look at this game, the less I actually think it’s a reboot, and more of a brand new title with a revamped character that we all know.
Seeing the gameplay footage of the new Tomb Raider really gripped me. The overall emphasis on danger has really brought this title into a light that I think it’s meant to have for years. Don’t get me wrong, I like the thought of a busty young woman searching for treasure and making it out alive, but with the new title it really brings that idea to life, only with Lara surviving by the enamel of her teeth.
In the gameplay shown at E3, which you can view below, we saw Lara Croft in a much more unsettling state of mind than we’re used to. She’s not as calm and collected as her former self was. She seems a bit insecure, wondering if she is making the right decisions for herself in this lifestyle she’s chosen. Before we know it, Lara’s thrown around the room when her ship capsizes in the middle of the ocean. Almost immediately the need to survive takes precedence, as we all see the water rapidly filling the ship. A few moments later Lara wakes up on a strange island, and she’s bandaging herself up. The one thing I like with what Crystal Dynamics is doing with the new Tomb Raider is the fact that this is not a game for the weak-willed. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill action game anymore, and you can see it clearly.
I am really pleased with what’s been shown about the title so far, and I look forward to seeing more of it in the coming months. Though the game isn’t supposed to release until next year, it’s already got me wanting to explore the tattered caves and desolate coves of that forsaken island. What do you think about the upcoming Tomb Raider title?
