System Reboot [Part 2]

What are you looking at?!? >__>

Don't stare too deep into these eyes, they'll possess you and lure you into her world of danger survival and despair o_O Alright I'll stop talking rubbish =] so yes we return to the reboot of series article, we spoke about MK yesterday and today we'll finish with the almost dead Tomb Raider series.

Yes I'll be cynical in the approach towards this series. Apologies in advance to Lara fans, I haven't got too much of an issue with the character, it's just ever since that abomination 'Tomb-Raider: Angel of Darkness' back on Sony's Playstation 2.

I honesty began to lose my interest, It was terrible and not only that, it was voted the Christmas turkey by many gaming websites and magazines.

Not stating that the later instalments on the Xbox360 and Playstation 3 hadn't improved. Titles such as Tomb Raider Underworld were actually alright. Not great but it had nice water effects, until *cough* Uncharted :/

Right I'll stop being such a critical *ahem* ( I'll let the haters make up the word =]) however honestly I'm making a point here and at the end of this post I think you guys might even agree with me and leave with happy face ^__^ 

Behold the line of lara's o_O

For over a decade the Tomb Raider series has been around and honestly I think the series was at it's prime when it was on the original Playstation. However as soon as it set on the newer console such as the PS2, it went down hill.

It did soon move back up a bit when the series hit the next generation of games consoles such as the Xbox360, the water effects, and the gameplay did improve, however the series struggled to really keep that consistency since the series just felt like losing its touch and more of a lets adjust the bust size of Lara from game to game, seriously! Check out the picture above! 


I mean a certain title from Naughty-Dog 'Uncharted 2' which yes did get inspiration from the Tomb Raider series has gained incredible praise in terms of reviews and reaching game of the year status and in all honestly in comparison to a game series that has lasted over a decade, Uncharted 2 has just seemed a lot more, I suppose you could say a 'satisfying thrill ride of epic fun, humour, character and just complete entertainment.'

Honestly this game is epic!

I admit that I am being pretty harsh on the Tomb Raider franchise however the series has lost that magic about it. However the arcade title on the Marketplace and Playstation network store 'Lara Croft Guardian of the Light' did really well and was enjoyable.

What I'm trying to get as is that, the series is going towards a more positive approach and this year the series is going for a whole reboot.

It's to say this whole decade of the gaming franchise 'Tomb-Raider' never happened. The developers Crystal Dynamics are doing a total system restore of the series and starting a whole new Tomb Raider. New looks, basically the whole game is going to be made from the ground up! A fresh new start to reclaim that positive image that Tomb Raider is good live and kicking!

Your eyes do not fool you. This is new Tomb Raider! (I know old news!)

First off all thank you Game-Informer for providing the images that I will be using within this post. I gained the information from the preview that I read off one of the game magazine's I read(GamesMaster). And honestly from what I've seen the new Tomb Raider is not just looking great, but in terms of gameplay very interesting but fun and entertaining at the same time, which is what you'd want =]

Mysteries of the Island

According to what I've read, the sole purpose of the new Lara Croft who has a totally different appearance, and is 21 years young. The developers have given her a far more down to earth look, she seems more vulnerable, delicate and a lot more human, who seems totally inexperienced to a combat scenario.

The Gamesmaster magazine stated that Crystal Dynamics the developers had said their main goal was to "not create a heroin that can overcome any obstacle with sutra pout and a witty quip but a younger, less experienced lead with an inner strength who must overcome overwhelming fear and emotion". 

That small quote from the developers alone shows what the new Lara Croft is about; this reboot is like the birth of a new character and a new fresh start for the Tomb Raider franchise.

Oh noos she's hurt =[

The new Tomb Raider is said to be set on a remote island, she and other passengers who were in a ship wreck had been captured and taken away by the native people who live on this island filled with mysterious, suspense and danger.

Captured by the bad Island People? O_O

This new Lara's goal is survival! She will not have the cunning attributes that the previous Lara Croft possessed. She's inexperienced and has not dealt with such situations. It is you the player who must keep her alive. And without the weapons and any other thing that may have come granted in previous titles.

In this game, your alone, just you on an island of danger where you will have to use anything that is at hand, scavenge for anything useful and according to the ‘Gamesmasters’ magazines article, perhaps even design your own weaponry or anything else that could come in handy such as finding an axe to use as leverage to climb a small hill or mountain cliff.

You could say this is like a mixture of lost, castaway anything that comes close. However I don't think Lara is going to become insane and become friends with a football. o_O

So this new Tomb Raider could be said to be hybrid of an action/adventure, survivor, horror game. The story and tone will be far darker and this game from the looks of it seems to be taking Tomb Raider to lengths the series has never come close to reaching, where the main protagonist of the game, can be stabbed or crushed by a rock, there seems to not be any limits towards the brutality and survival atmosphere that this new IP should bring.

Running back to what I said earlier about the Tomb Raider losing its magic and just being a dead series. I'll stick with that comment. However this new reboot of the game franchise. A new Lara, a new persona and honestly I will be forgetting the previous games even existed. To me this is not a new Tomb Raider, but a whole new franchise that will come to home consoles and PC hopefully sometime this year in 2011. My guess, it's near Christmas time. 

The gritty new look of Lara really brings out the character and survival antics of what this game will hold.

Hope this post didn't seem too cynical and I agree I did bad-mouth the Tomb Raider series, however like I said before the arcade title did well, and with this new title I see a bright future for Lara Croft and honestly I’m actually quite excited to hear more about this game. Yes I cannot wait and once I find a release date, this might even go on the pre-order list of must have games of 2011 ;) 

Oh yes and sorry for being an angry (gamenerd) like the one from Gametrailers o_O Not trying to be unprofessional just stating how much of an improvement this new Tomb Raider seems to be in comparison to what was brought to the table in the previous instalments.  

Alright <3 you guys take care ^__^