5 ways the new Lara Croft keeps the Tomb Raider spirit

No other game truly personifies adventure/exploration platforming like Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series. With these key gameplay elements taken into consideration, it was to great surprise when Crystal Dynamics and Eidos announced the isometric, digital-only title Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Were the core elements that defined the Tomb Raider series to be dropped along with the Tomb Raider title? What about the crazy new, arcade style gameplay? Thanks to a closed-doors preview of the game with Crystal Dynamics during GDC, all of our pressing questions were answered.

Tomb Raider and Lara Croft have an interesting place in the video game and pop culture world. While unarguably one of the most iconic characters and IPs to grace the video gaming scene, Tomb Raider titles have a shaky track record. That being said, hardcore and casual fans alike of Tomb Raider were shocked at Crystal Dynamics’ bold new direction with Lara Croft.

Walking us through the preview, Karl Steward, Brand Director, and Darrell Gallagher, head of studio, demoed two levels of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light demonstrating why fans should not only feel comforted, but get excited for the new direction of the series.

Blazing through both an outdoor jungle and an indoor temple, Steward and Gallagher highlighted the first-ever two player co-op Lara Croft experience, pairing Lara with the ancient deity “Toltec.” After watching several of the puzzle, action, and platforming dynamics along with the impressive display of classic Tomb Raider-esque artistic level design, I feel confident enough to say that this new direction breathes fresh air into the series while keeping the soul that made Tomb Raider such a successful IP in several ways:

Adventure/exploration:

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Tomb Raider series, many fans feared an isometric camera angle would hinder Lara’s usage of mobility during the puzzles. Fortunately, Steward made it incredibly clear that the 3D environments were fully explorable and were not pre-rendered backdrops. According to him, the game’s levels are filled with hidden areas and surprises for those who seek them. Steward stressed the vast number of optional artifacts and puzzles to find and solve via exploration.

Platforming:  

Platforming elements are here to stay and work surprisingly well in a fixed, co-op isometric view. The screenshots do not do the game justice. Upon watching Lara in action, it became apparent that the levels were indeed alive, organic, and intractable. Lara can jump, climb, swing, wall run… you name it. Most impressively, the levels work almost like an interconnected spiral. Instead of simply seeing an ancient looking platform in a cave’s background, you’ll actually be able to continue down and reach that very platform. If you see it, you can get to it.

Puzzles:

The puzzles are based predominantly around the game’s new physics engine. Gallagher noted that these were the “most physical puzzles” the Tomb Raider series has had, leading to multiple and creative solutions for each.  Gamers in play-tests of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light solved puzzles in ways the designers didn’t even consider, thanks to the very robust physics engine.  Furthermore, with the emphasis on co-op play, intricate teamwork is required to solve puzzles utilizing both players’ differing abilities and physical attributes.

Action:

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is by no means a slow-paced game. Imagine a frantic, Gauntlet styled hack and slash, but with dual pistols. Hordes of exotic enemies rushed Lara and Toltec at once, while the two protagonists tore through the waves using spears, bombs, and assault rifles. This is truly a gameplay style not available to Lara Croft before and really takes advantage of the bird’s-eye camera angle.

Artistic style and feel:

Using games like Baldur’s Gate and Diablo for isometric inspiration, and downloadable titles like Trine and Rez HD for content inspiration, Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light finds itself combining the best of many worlds.  Still, though a totally new style of game, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light embodies the heart and spirit of Tomb Raider. Gallagher and Steward made it clear that “The Tomb Raider franchise is in our blood,” and that the 14 years supporting their own portfolio is what really drove many of the artistic choices in the game.

Overall, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light really seems to be keeping up with Gallagher and Steward’s goal of tailoring a new experience specifically for their audience while keeping the series fresh.  By incorporating the new gameplay style, co-op play, and a $15 price point, Lara Croft and Guardian of Light will hopefully bring a broader and new audience while staying true to fans of old. Strongly hinting at DLC and RPGish elements, Crystal Dynamics plans to reveal a great deal of more info at E3, so stay tuned!

The game will be released in Summer 2010 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace.

Written by: Alex Simon