I've played Tomb Raider 2013 three times. Not because I love it or even like it. I played it once on PS3 when it launched, then again on Xbox One when it became free on Games with Gold. (Yes, I was one of the rare people who switched from PS3 to Xbox One) And now on PC. Why is that?
The story kept going over my head. Each time, if you asked me what the game was about, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Now that I've replayed it, I understand why now that I'm a bit older and can retain it better. It's a below-average Indiana Jones plot mixed with a D-list crash survivor flick plot held up by mediocre writing. Lara herself is written well, but her friends aren't - and it feels like the writers really wanted to kill most of them off since they didn't enjoy writing for them. Roth was one of the more interesting side characters but they didn't really use him as much as I wanted.
But on a third replay, I've grown to love this take on Lara way more than I used to. See, playing the OG Tomb Raider trilogy made me see Lara as a badass. A staple of video game badasses. So I was originally disappointed in this take on Lara since it felt like she was living in the shadow of a cooler, more interesting Lara. However, with the timelines intended to be unified now, this Lara IS that Lara now. 2013 Lara is the same Lara that has always existed since the 90s. This is her origin story, and it works so well with that in mind, retroactively giving this game a boost in its story. The adventures and trauma Lara goes through are now part of a bigger whole, and she no longer feels like she's living up to insurmountable expectations from the audience. Lara is perfectly characterized with the notion of a unified timeline in mind.
Tomb Raider 2013 got flak at the time for QTEs, but on a replay they're not as overbearing as I thought. I did crank the game down to easy to focus on the story since I've already played the game twice before. I know how Tomb Raider plays already. I just wanted the story and characterization this time and that was my goal with a third replay.
Speaking of gameplay, the level design and systems are pretty solid. Nothing too crazy but it's not 100% polished, and it's easy to tell. There was a few hit detection issues with latching onto walls at times, as well as in combat. Many times I felt like my arrows were hitting an enemy directly and I was whiffing it. I also get that Lara is inexperienced with guns, but does every gun's spread have to be as big as the moon?
It's a pretty good game. And no, I don't intend on playing it again. Not anytime soon at least. But I do like it more than I originally did.
Score: 83
The story kept going over my head. Each time, if you asked me what the game was about, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Now that I've replayed it, I understand why now that I'm a bit older and can retain it better. It's a below-average Indiana Jones plot mixed with a D-list crash survivor flick plot held up by mediocre writing. Lara herself is written well, but her friends aren't - and it feels like the writers really wanted to kill most of them off since they didn't enjoy writing for them. Roth was one of the more interesting side characters but they didn't really use him as much as I wanted.
But on a third replay, I've grown to love this take on Lara way more than I used to. See, playing the OG Tomb Raider trilogy made me see Lara as a badass. A staple of video game badasses. So I was originally disappointed in this take on Lara since it felt like she was living in the shadow of a cooler, more interesting Lara. However, with the timelines intended to be unified now, this Lara IS that Lara now. 2013 Lara is the same Lara that has always existed since the 90s. This is her origin story, and it works so well with that in mind, retroactively giving this game a boost in its story. The adventures and trauma Lara goes through are now part of a bigger whole, and she no longer feels like she's living up to insurmountable expectations from the audience. Lara is perfectly characterized with the notion of a unified timeline in mind.
Tomb Raider 2013 got flak at the time for QTEs, but on a replay they're not as overbearing as I thought. I did crank the game down to easy to focus on the story since I've already played the game twice before. I know how Tomb Raider plays already. I just wanted the story and characterization this time and that was my goal with a third replay.
Speaking of gameplay, the level design and systems are pretty solid. Nothing too crazy but it's not 100% polished, and it's easy to tell. There was a few hit detection issues with latching onto walls at times, as well as in combat. Many times I felt like my arrows were hitting an enemy directly and I was whiffing it. I also get that Lara is inexperienced with guns, but does every gun's spread have to be as big as the moon?
It's a pretty good game. And no, I don't intend on playing it again. Not anytime soon at least. But I do like it more than I originally did.
Score: 83