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CHOICE PICK
9.0
The Good
Fixed isometric camera angle allows players to perceive a bigger and better picture of the environment, making puzzle-solving more intuitive * Many significantly different ways to play the game * Interesting and satisfying gunplay * Puzzles make use of weapons in creative ways * 2 player co-op play makes puzzles more fun * Incredibly value for money
The Bad
Minor inconsistencies in single-player puzzle design * Lack of online co-op at launch
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The downloadable nature of Lara Croft’s latest adventure may mean that it has the misfortune of inheriting the suggestion of a lesser Tomb Raider game but that impression is quickly dispelled when you realize that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is the result of one of the greatest reinvigorations the established franchise has seen in recent years. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light takes the successful series in a new and interesting direction yet perhaps counter-intuitively, manages to remain enticingly familiar to anyone who has played prior Tomb Raider games with the series’ unique brand of puzzle-solving, exploration and gunplay. By the time you wrap up the last treasure from this archeological hike, you’ll feel that you’ve just played one of the most, if not the most, impressive game Xbox Live Arcade has to offer.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light treads many new grounds but none more prevalent than the fixed isometric camera angle on which the entire foundation of the gameplay is laid upon. Such close resemblance to a typical downloadable title may elicit more than a few gasps from those who are used to the conventional third-person view adopted by previous games in the series but this bold new take on gameplay really is about bringing a host of benefits which revivify the franchise in their own exciting ways. Perhaps one of the more significant ways in which the game has profited from this new isometric perspective is how the drawn-backed view gives players a bigger and better picture of each environment from the get-go, making puzzle-solving more intuitive than previously possible. This works neatly to the advantage of the whole package as this new Tomb Raider really is about building up a comfortable momentum by seamlessly transiting between one gameplay moment and the next.
Primarily, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is about racking up as many points as possible so that you can post your high score on the online leaderboards but there’re so many significantly different ways to play the game. Those familiar with arcade offerings will like the score boosting gems and chaining score multipliers by consistently killing demons without getting hit. On the other hand, those struck with nostalgia may prefer the traditional Tomb Raider approach and explore the self-contained tombs to figure out ways to overcome the dangerous traps and challenging puzzles for their elusive rewards. Likewise, those who relish greater incentives may undertake the many demanding tasks present in each chapter. For the curious minds, the lush environments beckon them to go on the off-beaten track to discover alternative paths and hidden treasures. Achieving a speed run and high score, and spending time to think about how you could best navigate a trap to get a reward are very different ways to play the game. Even if each level takes no longer than an hour to complete, there’re varying categories of objectives to return to, each accompanied with a substantial prize.
One aspect of the game which greatly benefits from this kind of replayability is the combat. Lara’s basic tools of trade like the pistol, rifle, shotgun, sub-machine gun, chaingun, grenade launcher and RPG are unlocked progressively but since advanced editions of the aforesaid weapons can only be had by completing challenges, the only way to enjoy a more fully realized gunplay experience would be to replay levels and try to achieve the more difficult objectives to land the bigger guns. Besides unlocking weapons, completing challenges would also net you artifacts and relics. Artifacts can be equipped to slightly boost Lara’s attributes but since only a pair of which can only be equipped, there’s a need to strategically choose from the wide array of defensive and offensive orientated artifacts to tailor your style of play. When Lara deals damage and doesn’t sustain any damage herself, a meter builds up and eventually becomes full. Depending on the equipped relic, Lara is granted a power-up that lasts as long as the meter stays full. The power-ups range from regenerating health and ammo to a wider damage radius from Lara’s weapons to an increase in Lara’s movement speed. Experimenting with the varying combinations and finding the most effective load-out of artifacts and relic is interesting and satisfying.
Perhaps one of the greater highlights of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is the puzzle-solving. Those who have played previous games in the series would find themselves right at home here as this new entry in the franchise brings about a similar mix of platforming, trap navigation and puzzles which permeate just about every moment of the entire game. The puzzles start with simple boulder pushes to switch flicking but soon evolves into multistage challenges and puzzles which require agility, precision and timing to execute. It's welcoming to see that developer Crystal Dynamics has designed a gradually increasing difficulty so it’s easier for players new to the series to get into the game. I also like how some of the puzzles use your weapons like the remote-detonated bombs and spear in creative ways.
As a single-player game, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light serves as a very engaging piece of entertainment but like many games these days, Lara’s newest adventure sports 2 player co-op play. While many games may have included this increasingly popular feature for the sake of keeping up with the times, the seamless blend of puzzle-solving, exploration and gunplay here actually places the game at a very attractive position to take advantage of what 2 player co-op play could possibly achieve. With some slight alterations to the single-player puzzles, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light shows that there’re a few clever tricks that can be enjoyed when a buddy joins you in your adventure. Here, your buddy gets to play as the Guardian of Light, Totec. In co-op play, Totec repossesses the spear from Lara and carries a shield. Both Lara and Totec complement each other’s abilities: Totec can throw the spear but only Lara can climb onto the spear to reach higher grounds while Lara can use her grappling hook to form a walking line over huge gaps for Totec to cross over. Additionally, Totec’s shield can function as a platform for Lara. When going co-op, both players are reliant on each other to continue so it’s a relatively different brand of play from the single-player game. There’re some puzzles which are easier or harder to solve in the single-player game and there are some puzzles which are clearly designed to be played in co-op but such inconsistencies experienced during the otherwise brilliant single-player game can only be minor gripes.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light can be completed in 7 hours but with such high replayability value, the game could last you quite a while even after you have arrived at the credits the first time around. At 1200 Microsoft Points, or US$15, Lara’s newest adventure offers incredible value considering that it’s one of the longest games on Xbox Live Arcade. It’s supported by visuals and a soundtrack which share an impeccable attention to details, as well as beautifully produced cut-scenes which punctuate the game at every chapter. The co-op play is icing on the cake.
Final comments
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light hardly appears convincing at first glance with a fixed isometric camera angle that seems to suggest a smaller, perhaps more casual Tomb Raider game. Hardly. This new iteration in the established franchise is a surprisingly fresh take on the conventional Tomb Raider formula, making itself highly accessible on multiple fronts. The different categories of objectives provide different ways from which you can approach the gameplay and are good reasons for you to return to the game even after you have completed it the first time around. The combat is interesting and satisfying but the puzzles are equally so. The later is a valid reason for getting 2 player co-op play in but it’s unfortunate that online co-op could only be available from September 28. The whole package is wrapped up in high production values. All things said, Lara’s new adventure will be the best Xbox Live Arcade game for a while.
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