Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) Review: 6/10 A Flawed but Entertaining Conclusion

-For the Uncensored!

The conditions of a video game trilogy is often the same conducive blend of Hollywood style scripted scenery but also stories that must hit every emotional punch. For Crystal Dynamics reinterpretation of Lara Croft’s origin story, the end of a series has to be met with long time player expectations. What makes Lara Croft a fascinating heroin is that no matter if she resembles the pixelated 90’s games of big breasts and ultimate sex appeal, or the subtle beauty of Crystal Dynamics interpretations prove that no matter what a franchise can do, Lara Croft is the heroin for a millennial generation, but depending on which game, can create controversy between older millennial players and young Zoomers. That will not be discussed in the review.

            For many the story is simple, but also almost too simple, because while Lara Croft started the female action adventure genre for video games, the industry has had Naughty Dogg’s Uncharted series, which acted as much inspiration for Shadow of the Tomb Raider itself.

            While Uncharted does carry the weight of high octane action scenes. The scenes where Nathan Drake is being dragged through the mud and then hops on a bike, only to be chased down by an armored car, shooting wildly at it, is one of the best moments in the Uncharted 4.   

            To address Uncharted 4 in the same breath as Shadow of the Tomb Raider is hard to manage, it doesn’t mean games aren’t allowed to borrow off each other. The plot point of Nathan Drake being unaware of being tracked is also carried in Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s plot. It’s not hard to see the similarities, as all artists are inspired by each other. Except with Lara Croft, it’s as if the developers couldn’t help themselves but borrow so carelessly. What is sort of criminally underrated is that Lara Croft should know better when the main antagonist, Commander Rourke, reveals he’s been listening to her, which would really work, cause she’s a woman and she’s fucking stupid. But she’s a rich privileged woman so it means that she has a major disability. Being a stupid fucking woman, which shouldn’t be true because she was rich. Somehow, Crystal Dynamics might be doing a little dig on women here, but maybe in my jest, I do get the irony of their plagiarism. With half the writing power of Naughty Dogg’s staff to help. But also Lara Croft, when she’s running but kneeling, exemplifies her best roadie run skill, which was a term created within the Gears of War franchise.  

            But Shadow of the Tomb Raider allows some good qualities to be had. The tombs itself are a nice break from the main narrative. Creative Dynamics engines are working overtime, and with a PS5 and XBOX Series X update, it’s often unreal, with its stunning and brilliant to see the graphical upgrade give Shadow of the Tomb Raider a new replayability. And on a second playthrough you can use your upgraded weapons, and abilities and have the chance to play through hidden tombs.

            But there are things that it does wrong. The controls are often times wonky, and say jumping from crevices on a higher difficulty, must be timed so correctly that if you fall, sometimes you are sent all the way back to a campfire, undoing all the work you have done. It does make you carefully plan your climbs and also make you aware of the danger Lara is in. Speaking of danger Lara, when she’s crossing periapices, it doesn’t create a fair wobble system where Lara could fall. So, that type of realism is lost, but not unnoticeable to veteran players.

            Another good trait is that once Lara picks up an item, she can read it aloud once the player clicks on the menu button. Also, even on the “One With the Jungle” difficulty you don’t lose the chance to be without ammo. You can craft endless arrows, but if you have too many arrows, you can and should use the wood for campfire saves. Sometimes having endless ammo can be a downside to a veteran gamer. All of this presents a mixed bag in and of itself.

            The story itself picks up with Lara Croft hunting down Trinity in Latin America, only to find that she’s always one step behind. And believing that she’s released an ancient terror also makes her more concerned about stopping the apocalypse. Only Jonah, her ticked minority boxed character, guides her, but also acts as an embarrassing emotional support at times. When Lara is recovering from a blood soaked battle with Trinity, she’s crying, after believing Jonah to be dead, says, “I’m only making things worse,” which he adds, “No you’re not.”

            To me, Lara has as many faults as any video game character. Obsessed. Often times putting the ones she loves in danger. While she does have some points, crying at her destruction, it’s not like Nathan Drake’s inability to stop himself. While Nathan Drake is as compelling, but his psychopathy does present some moral failings. If Lara Croft for all her intelligence is stunted by her womanhood, and emotions, then Lara Croft is once again, dumb as bricks, even if she can read ancient languages. Otherwise, the fault of Shadow of the Tomb Raider relies on other brands to carry the series, and not one that deviated from it’s influences. Which is sad, but what can you do? I don’t get to write these games.

The scripted running scenes are fantastic, and is not as repetitive as Plague Tale: Requiem (2022), but it’s as inviting to play every single time, even after I’m sent back to replay it. Lara is running up a twisting parapice, climbing up platforms, is harrowing. Attacking soldiers like you’re a female Rambo is really entertaining and put her in a tank top, she’s somehow scarousing. But she’s not strong enough to attack head on either, so they are obeying the laws of reality. Reaching from the shadows like a spider, Shelob, and stabbing them from the shadows.

            The weapon upgrade system does present new playability aspects, and even one mission unlocking a River Hawk, or a Desert Eagle, which somehow doesn’t tear off a person’s arm, or at least dramatically wound them. Which at one point, using another gun, thinking it was the Desert Eagle, say, “What have they done to my beloved 50 Cal?”

            The weapons range from rifles, shotguns, pistols, and the bow and arrow. And to me, if you’re going to play it on a harder difficulty, silently is the best, until you are found. And evading Trinity and otherworldly enemies is crucial to survival. Only AI is predictable to the point that you can plan it out ahead. But the best weapons are the silenced shotguns and rifles that are only available in the deluxe edition pack. Which is great but also not good if you were left with the base guns. Honestly, I just upgraded the other guns while I used the advanced rifle and shotgun, so I could get a hidden trophy. But also, it’s nice to have a few cheat codes on a higher difficulty.

            Upgrades for Lara’s character provide entertaining yet possible misfires when it comes to employing them in the actual gameplay. Advanced underwater breath is a plus while crafting poison arrows or using focus plants to spot undetected treasures is often never used, in my gameplay. On my second New Game Plus mode, it was really fun using the fear arrows against the soldiers that plagued me before. But somehow playing it on the third highest difficulty wasn’t as frustrating, to be honest.

            As the character, Carl Denham, lameted over the Death of King Kong, after the planes gunned him down, “It was beauty that killed the beast” it’s safe to say that beauty, did in part, create a flawed end for the Crystal Dynamics series. Lara Croft, as of this review, is in limbo, and no matter what, some players might find the lack luster story a sad but pitiful ending for a once great female character, Lara Croft. But beauty did not kill the beast, but a boring end for the franchise, with missed opprotunities made by Crystal Dynamics.

            Final Analysis: 6/10

            Pros:

o   Fun Tombs

o   Scripted running scenes are entertaining.

o   Engaging difficulty.

o   Gorgeous graphics on XBOX SERIES X

o   Lara narrates her item list.

            Cons:

o   Controls are wonky, if not timed correctly.

o   Light on franchise identity

o   Weak Dialogue

o   A little too Nathan Drake at times with half the writing talent.

o   Upgrades at time often are useless if you’re not using them often.

-Louis Bruno is the author of more than 20 books, including, The Michael Project, The Michael Project: Book 2: The Lost Children of Eve, Thy Kingdom Come, The Disintegrating Bloodline Part 2: Chaos, The Data Chase, The Disintegrating Bloodline part 3: Solvè, The Disintegrating Bloodline (and the original text re-released in 2019), Apocalypse Soldier, The Data Chase, Selection: The First Book of the Life and Death Saga, and Blinking Eyes: The Second Book of the Life and Death Saga, Hierarchy of Dwindling Sheep, The City of Sand, The God of Curiosity, To the Moon and Back, The Villain Lives and The Villain Lives: The Divided Pinpoint, Come Home, Young One. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Phoenix. His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu. He can be found on Gab, https://gab.com/thereallouistbruno, Minds https://www.minds.com/lbruno8063/. Instagram @lbrruno8063 and @louisbrunoofficialbook. Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisBr88881650. He has written for the Intellectual Conservative and Ephemere. His newest book, The Voices Are Alive is out now: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/louis-bruno/the-voices-are-alive/hardcover/product-mvggdg.html?page=1&pageSize=4. Also, if you can’t subscribe so that you can get members only content, please be sure to share the articles, as well. If you do Subscribe, you have long term access to the paid articles that some readers won’t get to see or access after the articles/books go private. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, I am also selling merch from t spring, if you want to help support me in other ways. I sell hoodies, shirts, phone cases, and trying to find something there loved ones would like. Links here: https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/too-many-strings-not-enough. https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/duck-fuckery. https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/headless-corpo. Every little like, subscribe share, helps. Thanks for reading.