Why You Should Play
- A touching and powerful narrative set in an expansive, vibrant jungle setting.
- Challenging tombs that test your puzzle-solving skills and coordination.
- Strong character development for the iconic Lara Croft as her saga concludes.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the final installment to the modern Tomb Raider trilogy, is an action-packed adventure that features challenging puzzles and heart-pumping action overlain with a touching narrative. The game brings a memorable end to the origin story of Lara Croft that was introduced back in 2013. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara makes one more attempt to thwart the efforts of the elusive Trinity organization, who has fled deep into the Peruvian jungle. The third installment is as exciting as it is ambitious, as Lara must traverse new territory and try to stop the Mayan apocalypse, all while exploring the depths of her own nature and family legacy.
Gameplay
Like its predecessors, Shadow of the Tomb Raider features adrenaline-filled action and satisfying puzzles that test your ingenuity. Players must pay attention to their surroundings and use the environment to their advantage to survive hostile encounters and trek through challenging tombs. There’s plenty of Indiana-Jones-style action to keep you on your toes as you uncover a mysterious civilization and unearth new details about Lara’s history.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider introduces some new traversal mechanics for players to learn, including a rappelling system that adds a new dynamic to the intense verticality of the game’s many platforming puzzles. You will need fast reflexes and coordination if you’re hoping to make it out of the unforgiving jungle alive. There is more of an emphasis on stealth this time around, as players are encouraged to hide in plant-covered walls and take a less boisterous approach to combat scenarios. The game also features one of the largest hub areas in any Tomb Raider game, giving players plenty of side excursions to enjoy during their time in the hidden city.
Visuals and Performance
If you’ve played the previous games in the modern Tomb Raider series, then it should come as no surprise that Shadow of the Tomb Raider contains stunning visuals and crisp, detailed graphics. Lara grapples, climbs, and swims her way through lush jungles and breathtaking environments that warrant the use of the game’s built-in photo mode.
Game of the Week
As the powerful conclusion to the origin story of one of the most iconic characters in gaming, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a must play for anyone who enjoys adrenaline-filled gameplay and challenging environmental puzzles, especially if you’ve been following Lara’s journey in the previous two installments. The gameplay is driven by an ambitious narrative that serves as a potent conclusion for the modern Tomb Raider series, which is why Shadow of the Tomb Raider deserves to be this week’s Prima Game of the Week.
