Why Shadow Of The Tomb Raider Deserves A Second Chance

Although Shadow of the Tomb Raider released back in 2018, many fans may have not given it the chance the game deserves. The conclusion to the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, this title finished off Lara Croft’s origin story. The first of these games, Tomb Raider (2013), was incredibly successful. The sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, released two years later, which was also very well received. With such popular predecessors, Shadow of the Tomb Raider should have done well, too. However, its launch week sales fell considerably and Shadow of the Tomb Raider received mixed reviews.

One of the reasons for this disappointment may be because the game was up against extremely popular and long-anticipated titles like Marvel’s Spider-man, which was dominating the charts at the time. Since then, the game has sold well, but it continues to be overlooked. Now in 2021, it is the 25th anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise, and it’s the perfect time for fans to give Shadow of the Tomb Raider a second chance.

The story of Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes the series to a place it hasn’t gone before. The main storyline is well paced and stays interesting the entire time. The stakes have never been higher for Lara, and players can truly feel it. Alongside the main plot is several side missions and DLC – all included in the Definitive Edition. These extra missions help make the world of Shadow of the Tomb Raider feel more alive. A change from other Tomb Raider games, there are a few hubs for the player to explore in between the action, where they can find relics, buy from merchants, and learn more about the cultures Lara is surrounded by.

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider Is The Perfect End To Lara Croft’s Origin Story

Shadow of the Tomb Raider keeps the same gameplay style as the other reboot titles. However, this time, the emphasis is clearly on stealth and exploration. Now Lara can disguise herself with mud and swing around the tree-tops of the South American jungle to sneak up on her enemies. The puzzles also make a comeback in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. While challenge tombs were introduced from the beginning of the trilogy, their frequency and difficulty definitely increased in this game and add quite a bit of fun.

The game’s graphics also don’t get enough attention. The title’s setting in South and Central America means that there is an abundance of lush vegetation and wildlife. There are some moments when players could confuse the game with a real-life photo, and Lara Craft’s character model is gorgeous. This is in no small part due to Lara’s actress Camilla Luddington, but it is also due the wonderful work of the development team.

Another fantastic feature of Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the attention to detail. As there are multiple cultures being represented throughout the game, the team had a lot of world-building to do, and they pulled it off perfectly. Players will come across artifacts and murals that tell the story of these cultures and the people that came before Lara. And while certain parts of the lore are based on the actual practices and myths of Ancient South and Central American cultures, this is a fictional scenario.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the perfect ending to Lara Croft’s origin story. As this is the final game of Lara’s transformation into the Tomb Raider, players have access to even more exciting and daring skills. Even though this title was over shadowed by other AAA games at the time of its release, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is more than deserving of a second look.

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