Mini-Review: Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Video Game)

[image error] Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_WbvIDAcA4

This mini-review is going to be a departure from the norm–I normally reserve mini-reviews for movies and I do video games either standalone or with the Video Game Log posts. However, I actually finished this game about a month ago this time (has it really been that long ago? Wow, time flies when I’m not actually blogging). I wanted to make sure I got my thoughts out on this game as 1) I have some issues with it and 2) Tomb Raider is one of my favorite “franchises” and it spans multiple mediums.

The Good

Surprisingly, there are some things that I liked about this game. Out of the “trilogy” of rebooted games, I think Rise of the Tomb Raider is the best, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the 2nd best, and the rebooted Tomb Raider is the worst of the lot. I’m glad they didn’t do the “living world” story as they did in the first game, but they did do an apocalyptic story-line in this last game and, while I thought it could have been done slightly better, I still felt this was a compelling plot device to get the story moving and to continue the tension throughout the game. I liked most of the characters and the hub worlds. I liked the graphics and some of the game-play elements (although some I did not like–which I’ll touch on in a moment). I feel like they development studio (which is different from the previous 2 games) tried hard and I could see what they were going for and, while I didn’t think that they ultimately reached their goal, I could at least see what they were trying to do.

The Bad

Ultimately, the first 2 games used the “real world” mythology as a jumping off point to set up a fantastical story which involves Lara Croft and her adventures, but it doesn’t necessarily stay in the “real world.” I felt that Shadow tried too hard to stick with the Mayan mythology that they used as they used it in pretty much every aspect of the game. From the story, the creation myth, the apocalyptic story arc driving the game, to the treasures and artifacts, to the conquistador story running throughout out the narrative, all of it was Mayan overload. The other two games knew when to leave Japanese and Judaeo-Christian myth and veer into fantasy, but because we know so much about the Mayan culture, I feel this was detriment to the creation of the story, rather than an aid to it as they stick to the various myths and gods rather than using them to tell an interesting story of redemption–which is what I feel they were trying to do.

I also didn’t really care for the way in they created a new character to act as a “love interest” for Jonah, Lara’s best friend. I’m not sure of how the original development studio intended it, but the long dramatic pauses of Rise and the bickering in both Rise and Shadow seemed to indicate Jonah (at least) has feeling for Lara. However, it felt like the way the new developers introduced the “forced” love interest, they couldn’t imagine Lara and Jonah together in any other context but “friends” because they are of two different races. Or to be more blunt, Lara would only date someone of her own race, not someone who’s stood by her again and again, and who (in the context of the stories the creators have told) would literally give his life to save her as his race doesn’t match hers. A grim bit of (probably unintentional) meta-commentary there on diversity in storytelling, and the limits thereof.

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The Ugly

While the “ugly” should have probably been reserved for the above observation on the trilogy’s lackluster response to diversity, what really hindered my enjoyment of the game were some of the game play mechanics that this installment introduced. They were really annoying and frustrating; it was almost as if they were designed to hamper the game play experience.

Tomb Raider is known for its underwater sequences, but I have to say that I found the piranhas in this game to be an especially aggravating game play element. They swim around in packs and circle endlessly (never deviating from their scripted paths). The goal (as the player) is to hide in tall underwater grass (conveniently placed) as they pass and then to “sprint” away to the next clump of underwater grass–a sort of underwater stealth run. This is so boring, however. There’s no excitement and the only tension comes from the camera and not being able to see exactly where they are when they swim “behind” you. I hated this sequence so much that I didn’t do several optional missions because I saw that it involved piranhas.

Another game play mechanic that irked me was the fact that even though one earned high powered guns (shotguns, uzis, etc.) through the game’s in-game currency, there were a couple of optional (and story) missions that wouldn’t let you use them. They gave you a rationale in the story that was an off-handed comment that the people of this fairly sophisticated hidden town (many of whom had come there from the outside world) shouldn’t have to know about firearms.

I’m sorry–what? The vendors in this location are selling me the very weapons that they should never have to see or hear about to maintain their “innocence?” It doesn’t make any sense storywise, but more importantly, it let them craft fights that would have been fairly simple with guns that were nigh impossible with bow weapons. For example, one fight (which I knew was coming having played it and died once already), I equipped the maximum amount of arrows that I could carry, went in, survived 3 or 4 waves (maybe 5), but ran out of arrows and another wave came in and I was dead. As this was an optional mission, I just reloaded the save, left the area, and headed back to the main mission which was the final mission to end the game. Normally, I like to do as many side missions that I can before finishing the game to get my character as ready as possible (experience, weapons, gear, money/currency, whatever). I was so weary of this game and all of its annoyances, that I didn’t even bother to with this mission–I just went on to the final mission just so I could finish it and play something else.

Overall Rating: 75 (C)

Rating: 3 out of 5.

While I didn’t like the first Tomb Raider game (the reboot), I have to say this one is better–but not by much. This was a mediocre game with some really good elements, brought down by a lot of questionable game play mechanics and an insistence on realism in a game that isn’t about realism, but fantasy and adventure. The idea that Jonah was not an “appropriate” love interest for Lara was something that I feel was unfortunate, if unintentional, but sent the wrong message unfortunately about the way in which the character is ultimately viewed by her creators. All of these issues really affected my time with the game and ultimately, made me weary of the game and glad when it was over (and not in that excited glad way as I am for most games). This was more of a chore than a game, something that needs to be addressed before I purchase another one in the series.

Sidney

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Currently Working On (10/2020):



Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
Out to MarketStarlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
Out to MarketThe Independent (Science Fiction Story)
Out to MarketKnightWatch Graphic Novel (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
Drafting: 1st Draft (Issue 1)