Combat is a particular joy thanks to how fast Lara moves around, and the absolute chonker of a weapon that is the shotgun. They’re brutal, fast-paced, action-packed and so stuffed with setpieces that they’re a constant joyride from start to finish. It’s closer to Uncharted than it is the other Tomb Raiders, but that’s no bad thing. Despite what you might think of the Survival Era’s comical approach to violence, it certainly likes up to its namesake and is more memorable as a result.īeyond its storytelling and reinvention of character, another key strength of the Survivor trilogy is the gameplay. There are times when it comes across like a dirty modern horror, like Wrong Turn or something equally gratuitous. Lara gets absolutely battered across the trilogy, getting stabbed, punched, thrown down cliffs, and going through the worst gap year in living memory. It’s not just the storytelling that’s more focused, there’s a concentrated effort on having a singular theme spread throughout the three games - survival. Did you even know what a climbing hook looked like until 2013? That’s what I thought.
Katniss Everdeen? Clint Barton? Nah, it was Lara. Who dragged a bow and arrow back into the 21st century? Lara did. In fact, she managed to add her own lasting identity to the character. It’s remarkable to me that even without iconic elements of her character like the sunglasses and dual pistols, this Lara is still just as recognisable as other iterations. Looking at you there, The Last Revelation.
There’s just no competition in the story department, and you certainly won’t see Lara’s death getting randomly retconned. It’s a lot of the same beats we’ve seen in the past, but more refined, told with more nuance, and thanks to the combination of increased technology and having more time dedicated to the narrative, better performed too. Instead of backflipping over dinosaurs and cheekily shooting the camera, Survivor Lara Croft has far more emotional depth and a focus on telling her story. We get to see a Lara much more focused on her intelligence, and less about quips and badassery, although there are a few of those chucked in for good measure too. As an origin story, this is a different version of the character than we’ve seen before, with less confidence, no experience raiding tombs, and no casual affiliation with murder. Let’s start with the Tomb Raider herself - Lara Croft. Hey, every trilogy has its Angel of Darkness moment, alright. Shadow might not add a whole lot, but it’s still a decent bookend to the whole thing. Related: Meet The People Who Traveled The World Because Of Tomb RaiderĪnd yet, because of the might of Tomb Raider (2013) and Rise of the Tomb Raider, the Survivor Trilogy still manages to rise (seriously, these names are killing me) above the rest. Thanks, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, you’re not doing me any favours here. At least two of them are the best of the series, but thanks to how powerful Lara’s early legacy has become, they’re often overshadowed. Anyway.ĭespite consisting of two fantastic games and one decent one, the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy doesn’t get the respect it deserves, barely coming up in conversation when people mention the series’ best. Don’t listen to all that, because Tomb Raider’s best years are the Survivor Era. Earlier this week, you might’ve seen or evergreen editor Helen Ashcroft trying to convince you that the Original Era of Lara Croft is the best, or our editor-in-chief Stacey Henley betting her money on the Legend Era.
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