Why Tomb Raider Failed as a Reboot

Lara is a vaguely established character in other games, and for this reboot we were told that this game would redefine her. But did it really?

[NewMonday]

the game is fantastic. it was a big surprise how good it is like the first Batman AA.

the big out of place issue is how a nerd girl becomes Rambo+Batman all of a sudden.

[princejb134]

i havent played the game but all i have heard is many positive things about this game
looking forward to buying it soon

[NewMonday]

the plot is hard to swallow but the gameplay is fantastic.

I have to wishes:

1) Edios to produce Final Fantasy.
2) Crystal Dynamics to make a Rambo game.

[ShinMaster]

It was a good game.
Just not that good of a Tomb Raider game.

[Gaming101]

I'll wait till it's cheap, a skinny little girl who looks like she can't life 15 pounds is somehow able to shoot guns and perform unbelievable athletic feats... lol you can tell the nerds who made this game have never once been on the inside of a gym. Strong girls don't look like skinny little chicks.

[NCAzrael]

I beg to differ, sir. I know more than a few women, and know of several more, who weigh no more than 120 lbs, if that, can lift twice their body weight, and would look amazing in cargo pants and a tight tank top. A woman doesn't have to be ripped to be able to kick ass.

[Dee_91]

Well I dont think she is doing unbelievable things.Because in teh story you can tell she had a history of doing most of the stuff she does throughout the game, such as rock climbing and shooting a bow& arrow.I mean most of the stuff she do is possible for someone with training and with that physique gaming101 but her stamina is the only thing unrealistic..
Its a long game but I think they couldve gave us a little more insight & playability prior to the original beginning

[shivvy24]

it didnt fail as a reboot , actually it was the best thing that could happen to the franchise

[Pxljunk]

What u waiting for, is worth every penny.

[Boody-Bandit]

@Gaming101

Thanks for sharing while not having a clue.

On topic:
I thought this was an excellent reboot. This is the most versatile Tomb Raider ever. I especially liked the finishing moves. They were excellent. When I would down the opposition I would switch weapons just to kill them a specific way.

My only gripe, but it's my problem and not the developers fault, was the action 3rd person camera gave me vertigo at times. Especially when I would run from one location to another and she would turn her head (camera perspective would follow) to hint at me I am passing something up. The more I played the game the less it affect me.

I can't wait for the next TR game as long as it stays on it's new path and expands it further. In other words, I couldn't disagree more with this opinion article.

[Pozzle]

Does it really matter what size Lara Croft is? Since when did games have to go for 100% realism anyway? Hell, just look at Nathan Drake. He isn't massively ripped. Yet he is able to do things that no human (ripped or not) could possibly do. Hurling one's body across chasms only to catch your bodyweight with your fingertips isn't exactly realistic. In fact, there was an article submitted on N4G the other day that was written by a rock-climber and it described why Nathan Drake's climbing style alone is inaccurate and would easily get him killed.

[grifter024]

I don't know I must be in the minority think this game was mediocre. The devs were up playing this so much as being gritty and dark but all it was is Lara being a bullet sponge, QTE's that you can take your time on without having to be in danger at any point during the QTE..and the story was boring.

Game series are really going downhill at the end of this generation.

[Baka-akaB]

the only thing that was subpar imo was the lack of a 3rd more challenging difficulties , and actual puzzles more in tunes with the old franchise (even if quite frankly , as someone who never liked the serie , i didnt care for it)

[sobekflakmonkey]

I have to agree with you, the game feels mediocre to me, I'm struggling to play through because I find myself bored often, not to mention QTE's really piss me off, I think they're absolutely unnecessary and just plain annoying, and this game is FULL of them, every thing you do theres always some type of lame QTE, the game has good game feel, but that's really about it, just my personal opinion.

[ginsunuva]

Don't worry I also thought this game was slightly boring with no soul to it. Seemed like a generic current-gen action adventure game: linear, tps, unreasonable mowing down of enemy waves, and linear climbing to waste time and bridge gameplay areas.
The tombs and puzzles were decent.

Character and plot was laughable.

[Dee_91]

I hate when someone make an opinion about a game and state how the devs or other people hyped the game, like that shouldnt have anything to do with how you feel about the game.
@ginsunuva the game was far from linear,towards the end I went all the way back to the first forest.Im assuming you just ran through because I snuck around most of the game and rarely "mowed down" enemies.Also I dont recall an actual wave of enemies unless we have a different definition of wave of enemies.

[lilzay33311]

granted it's also explained that she was trained by her mentor for years hint why she was able to get through it.

[Reibooi]

alot of the stuff the guy in the article complains about seems like he didn't pay attention in the game. As you mentioned she was trained by Roth and the game makes that VERY clear so it's not like she magically knew everything to do she did have survival training.

The guy also complains about not really knowing about her background which is also something that is covered in the games Journals. For example he mentioned how was she in school or something. There is a entire Journal in which Sam talks about that and basically tells how Sam brought Lara out of her shell.

I mean what did the guy want a million flashback cut scenes or a lengthy opening sequence in which you play her at school? They put that stuff in there for those who cared to look for it. Is it deep or anything? Maybe not but should in be given the context of the game? I don't think so.

[Root]

For me it was a great game HOWEVER it was not Tomb Raider

It doesn't matter what kind of way you spin it, this game was just not Tomb Raider at heart. I kept thinking to myself in the game this would be fantastic as a new IP.

Plus I wasn't too keen on Laras voice actress, it was terrible. Normal conversation it was fine but when she's screaming, getting angry, yelling, scared etc she sounded horrible.

This is going to sound horrible and I'm sorry but I'm a little glad it failed as a reboot. It gets the message across to other developers that reboots don't always work. Hopefully in the far far future we'll see a new Tomb Raider game which actually plays like one

A reboot in the original timeline of the original Lara Croft from the PS1 days where a young Laras plane goes down in the Himalayas which kills her parents and Fiancée would be amazing. Battling your way across the Himalayas battling wild life and surviving through old tribes tombs left forgotten in the mountains.....if only. Least then you know THAT is the Lara Croft we all know and love

[-Superman-]

Its great game, but it´s not Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider never meant to be a shooter action game. I wanted puzzles, andventures, secrets like first 4 Tomb Raider games were...

[LocutusEstBorg]

You realise those kind of games are mind numbingly boring today?

[neoandrew]

So if some kid, Jason Brody from fc3 becomes super Rambo all of sudden then it is ok?

[TekoIie]

That's... actually a very good point :/

I think its because this was marketed as an origin story to show how she became the character we know today. If anything that criticism shows how much more she means to fans of the franchise.

[violents]

Lots of ppl complained about that too, how do you go from regular brotastic douche to super soldier, Majic tattoos!

[GREW50ME]

You obviously did not pay attention to the story. The characters explain that she was trained, and comes from a long line of adventuring types.... the line "You're a Croft" comes to mind. Jason Brody, on the other hand, makes no sense.....

[hano]

Wasn't a fan of TR before this game nor am I after, it sucked. All drawn out with bad character and trying to make it a movie but it feels like a b movie.

[showtimefolks]

It's an excellent game there are 2 main issues

Story is quite weak not for Lara but for all the side characters. Lara's characteris so developed yet everyone else didn't get the same treatment and this issue stands out

The way she goes from a weak Lara to all of the sudden perfect killer is so glaring and really feels out of place

One ther issue is this game didn't need any MP instead of having a 8HRS campaign maybe more resources should have gone towards making it 12-15 hours long. Not every game needs MP

[NewZealander]

im still playing but just don't want it to end, the game didn't fail in any way, sure the devs may have had totally unrealistic sales targets, but for what it is the new TR is a total success.

it amazes me how people complain about the game being too different, its a REBOOT, if they wanted it to be the same as past games they would have made yet another sequel, yes i wanted more tombs but this is only the beginning, im sure the next game will have more reason to focus on these things, i guess what the devs wanted to focus on was the fact she was a young girl with dreams of being an explorer, but something had to make her the tough, trained, skilled woman she is to become, she is a survivor, that seems to be the main focus in this new game.

[BinaryMind]

This guy talks about why Tomb Raider failed as an origin story, not why it failed to reboot the franchise - which it most certainly did not in terms of reinventing the gameplay and renewing interest in the franchise.

[Jaces]

I hear all these tiny complaints about how she went rambo in a matter of seconds or how she, a tiny girl of only 120 lbs, can perform amazing feats and fight off hoards of bad guys. When your life is on the line I can't imagine it'd be too hard to do whatever you had to do to preserve it.

You guys realize your playing TOMB RAIDER...right? That's how it's always been, what makes it unbelievable now compared to past TR games? As for the plot, again that's typical for a TR game, always some mythical creature or event.

[OmegaSlayer]

Tomb Raider failed way less than DmC.

[asmith2306]

The setting for the game bored me to death eventually. The island is so dull and dreary. That they took out underwater gameplay as well annoyed me. Some of the best levels in the franchise are water levels.

[Pxljunk]

Indeed it was a great game, I enjoy every hr, min & sec of the game. Can't wait for the sequel

[NYC_Gamer]

Tomb Raider[2013] lacked what made the original games special in my opinion

[SugarSoSweet]

It was good but not like the 1st game when you first played the 1st tomb raider on the psx you were blown away

[EditorAtGNG]

Exactly. I think there was a bit too much shooting to be had in a game that's established itself as an action puzzle/platformer. Lara was meant to be a female Indiana Jones (finding treasures, exploring Tombs etc) though she feels way more cold blooded after blowing the head of the 100th mercenarie. Talk about modern Nazis...

[Soldierone]

I agree, and I hope they don't pull a Nolan's Batman mistake. Batman was/is a detective, not once during Nolans movies did they showcase that. Sure he did everything else okay, but he missed major assets to Batman.

However being this is a origin style story, I think it will help transform her. This is just the beginning aspect of her, after this she becomes the treasure hunter because of the experience. It has a lot of building grounds, and if they lead into the old Tomb Raider style, it will make a way bigger impact character wise.

[Why o why]

interesting soldierone. It may be true but what we have here is a better game that hasnt failed in its goal.

It may take someboy else to make something similar to the original tomb raiders like how the 1st dead space did for resident evil.

Problem was tomb raider was becoming stale prior to this reboot and something had to change. They used the influence of uncharted and made a more action/shooting type game with cinematics. Nobody is really complaining especially those who cant remember or never played the originals.

I never thought of batman as a detective. ....even though the adam west show was mainly about it. Nolan brainwashed me lol

[Pozzle]

"I never thought of batman as a detective. ....even though the adam west show was mainly about it. Nolan brainwashed me lol"

It's funny you say that. If I recall correctly, one of Batman's monikers in the comics is "the World's Greatest Detective" :D

[legionsoup]

The game is AWESOME. But it can really only be played once. The perfect rental. Too bad I bought the 100 dollar version. lol

[MakiSaad2]

I feel u bro the old tomb raiders ere the best for me

[Godmars290]

What. Just because it puts her in a situation which can't be readily repeated?

That is to say by the 3rd time she's struggling to survive while killing psychos intent on killing her and a diversified group of friends who've all gotten separated, it will have all gotten stale by the 2nd game.

[RazMaTaz0121]

I loved this game, and while its a different approach to the old Tomb Raiders, It certainly can lead Lara Croft into a badass character in latter titles. I would say this is a much better reboot to that of what DmC was as a reboot.

[Jek_Porkins]

I don't think it failed, I thought it was the best Tomb Raider ever, the story certainly was tops. I think perhaps they had unrealistic launch expectations, but I'm sure by the time the years up the game will have sold really well.

I remember how I felt when I played the first Tomb Raider on PS1, I had a similar feeling with this one, I didn't want to stop playing, and I did something I rarely do, which is continue playing a game after the main story is complete.

[gamer7804]

This game departed from the series roots more than any other in the past, it might as well be a different game with just the name lara croft attached to it.

[Jek_Porkins]

Who cares? I hadn't enjoyed a Tomb Raider game in over 10 years and I couldn't stop playing the new one.

Everyone is so concerned over "roots", games like everything else have to grow up a bit and evolve, you cant just have the same thing over and over again.

The game itself was pretty amazing, even if you think it strayed too far, the gameplay, graphics, story were all great.

[Baka-akaB]

at least the franchise had a whole decade and more to give more old fashioned tomb raider gaming .

Underworld was pretty much a standard tomb raider adventure an yet no one cared . it was time for a shake up

[gamer7804]

Some people do care about history, myself and other TR fans included. If no one cared, then why not make it a whole different game with a female protagonist?

[meganick]

I really enjoyed the new Tomb Raider, but it should have been called something else because it didn't feel like a Tomb Raider game. There were only a few tombs, and they were way too short, and they were only optional. Good game nonetheless.

[nevin1]

Well it was a reboot. A reboot can go any direction.

A old school style TR may have not sold well.

[RememberThe357]

Old school style TR would not have sold well*

TR fanboys wont admit it, but there day people want to shoot sh*t. I wanted more puzzles and tombs too but they put a lot into this game and asking for more just seems greedy.

[Baka-akaB]

Old style TR had multiple game to prove itself relevant again . Even this Gen .

Underworld was no crap like angel of darkness
felt pretty much like the originals with a facelift and yet was mostly ignored . it did eventually met expected sales , but after 2-3 years on the market

[gamer7804]

THANK YOU, it shouldn't have been called tombraider, should have been a spinoff while they made another game more true to Tombraider.

[Dirtnapstor]

This game is by no means a failure. It was an awesome adventure. The beauty of TR is that the next journey won't have to be a rehash of this first reboot. I'm sure the developers will expand this new universe.

[noxeven]

I think its great as reboot. I really enjoyed it but to teach there own

[dafegamer]

the game hasnt failed

[Soldierone]

I think it was done correctly. For starters it had high praise on almost every single review out there. Fans are loving it as well. The only area it failed at was the outrageous sales expectation's the publishers had, and they are only saying it failed so their investors don't get all mad.

In terms of story its a reboot. During a reboot you don't want to tell the exact same story, you want to take a new approach. They did it correctly. They left Lara fundamentally the same, and the idea the same. They just changed the approach and told a new story. This one (like I said above) has deeper character's so the later games will have a larger impact. It's something DMC could have done, but didn't.

[KillrateOmega]

Except it didn't.

Normally, I read every linked article to every story that I read on this site, but I didn't even bother here. There is no point. The game was an undeniable success and was, in my opinion, the best TR game yet.

It showed us her origins and HOW she grew to become the badass that we know her to become. She's no longer a walking caricature of the female form and is instead beautiful, but in a natural way. However, the best part of the game was how it made her human and relatable. It showed us her emotional side. She's no longer an unstoppable, marine-like figure, but is now a real person who is unfamiliar to the concept of survival and killing.

It was honestly one of the most successful reboots to a franchise ever.

[RememberThe357]

I'll gladly spend my last bubble to say that comment was f*ckin great.

[KillrateOmega]

Thanks, man :)

[franko]

Failed??? gtfo. Game is great.

[tweet75]

its a great game really takes modern sensibilitys into the tomb raider games. In my opinion its the best tomb raider game ever.

[Jagsrock]

I don't think writers these days understand what "failed" means.

[Kingthrash360]

its dumb how some people believe that if they didn't like something it failed. regardless of its success.

[hano]

Yeah, if someone doesn't like something it failed for them.

Are you too stupid to get that point?

[Kingthrash360]

oh, I got the point. just didnt get the_ make an article about it_ point. for a game to sell a few million copies along with high ratings that came along with it....(I even give it a 8.9) ..thier are a few million that disagree...just look at the comments....or are you too stupid to get that point?

[DivineAssault]

This game sold a few million copies.. If thats a failure, then publishers are going to be hurting big time... All games dont sell 10 million units...

[Oh_Yeah]

but it didn't fail at all

[ger2396]

Just finished it last night, great game. I did think it lacked the character development that uncharted did.

[OmniSlashPT]

I somehow agree that it failed as a reboot, because it doesnt feel like a Tomb Raider game, its a fantastic game, but i lacks the indentity of the previous games.

Btw, hes not saying the game is bad, but that the reboot was as sucessful as he had wish.

[Omar91]

This game was fantastic. I remember buying tomb raider for the ps1 and never finished it. Maybe because I was to stupid to understand the game lol. Anyhow, this game really impressed me with its amazing environments, story, upgradable weapons etc. I do agree that it felt more of a action adventure then a puzzle adventure game but this is a reboot and like may people above me said, it can go in so many directions from here on out.

I hope for next installment they focus more of the tombs and actually exploring as oppose to the fighting mechanics. The game succeeded in my eyes.

[miyamoto]

Though the gameplay may be more varied rechnically, Next time Square Enix let seasoned gamers make the story and plot so they can integrate story and gameplay seamlessly together. For example Naughty Dog, and Mark Cerny for Jak and Daxter and Uncharted.

[bluetoto]

Except it didn't fail as a reboot.

[Brian1rr]

The game was amazing stop comparing it with Uncharted and the old Tomb Raider

[Belking]

This game along with bios hock has GOTY potential.

[Anomander]

For me it was a better game than Bioshock Infinite. The only thing I thought it was missing was puzzles. it had too few puzzles. When you did get a puzzle it was pretty easily solved. I did enjoy the combat part of the game and thought it was damn good reboot. Looking forward to the next one!

[_LarZen_]

One of the best games I have played in years....

[whamlollypop7]

There is alot of strange disdain about this game.

[stage88]

Not a touch on Uncharted which it was trying to be with all those set pieces.

[thirtyandnerdy]

Think so? I recently played through Uncharted 3 for the first time, and played a bit of UC2 again for the umpteenth time, and actually feel that Tomb Raider is overall, well, better.

[4lc4pon3]

failed my ass. Tomb Raider was fantastic.

[pop-voxuli]

Um, no it didn't. It ruled ass, hell double ass even!!

[fsfsxii]

If it was a standalone game, it would've been nice, but its seriously lacking the thing that made the first games awesome.

[Haules]

This game will be a bad reboot, if the sequel fails to achieve simialr results. Until then, i had fun playing it, although the last part was typically Tomb Raider-esque and to some extent anti-climatic. Compared to that PS2 installment, Darkness sumtin? this one is definitely a great "reboot"... next one though, should have more exploring, adventure and less "blabla" about nonsense. Wonder why noone does a Indiana Jones remake, open world, 1001 treasure to find, caves to explore, non linear....

[squallcloud9]

Failed?? The new lara is the only lara imo.

[ybadr]

The reboot was an awesome game. I played Tomb raider since the first one on PS, this title is giving a new breath the serie. It DID NOT FAIL. It's more than 3 million copies sold and the game was released only 2 or 3 months ago !

[BuffMordecai]

Tomb Raider was the right way to do a reboot, if anything failed as a reboot, it would be DmC.

[ybadr]

The rebbot was an awesome game. I played Tomb raider sicne the first one on PS, this title isgiving a new breath o the serie. It DID NOT FAIL. It's more than 3 million copies sold and the game was released only 2 or 3 months ago !

[prettyboy12]

amen

[level 360]

People who were expecting it to be the same as previous Tomb Raider games I think were the ones who got disappointed the most..

..they simply couldn't let go of the past.

These are the same bunch of nitwits who put the franchise at an all time low simply by getting stuck with the same old formula.

Then there are also those who think taking tips from Uncharted was the wrong way to go.

Think these types are the sort of selfish prats who doesn't like to share.

The majority I believe ( me included ) do love this rebooted version.

[SOULJER]

HEY. They can take from uncharted, and gow all they want. Why did they take her DDs and the booty. Made her look like a dirty meth head.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

Come on people why cant you realize that this game has set the stage for an amazing sequel. I dont want to spoil anything for those that havent completed it yet so i will keep my comments vague. At the end the wording she uses hints at her directly going out to continue/really begin her life as a tomb raider. So i fully expect the sequel to have more ...tombs and more raiding than this game had.
I think after that everyone will look back at this game and say "..oh that makes perfect sense now" just be patient. the game as it is now is great and they made it really fun. if they made a carbon copy when they rebooted every game then it wouldn't be a reboot but just a HD remake and that would be horrendous.

[abzdine]

sorry but i just watched the GT review of the game and i think it looks like shit it has nothing of a TR except the name.
After Resident Evil, now TR lost identity. Too bad i think oldschool gamers race is in extinction since everything has to be TPS or FPS

[PersonMan]

If you want old school... play old school...

It's time to grow up and accept that things change in the industry.

You can't seriously expect a franchise that started on the PS1 to continue to look and play like a PS1 game.

Get with the times or simply play the old Tomb Raider games until your nostalgia meter is full.

[abzdine]

i dont know why you answer like this, do you have something to do with this game? Did you make it and you earn salary from SquareEnix?

I am free to say what i feel like it as long as there is arguments and i can defend my ideas. Since the first gameplay scene they showed at E3 this game is nothing but an Uncharted clone with all extreme stuff happening to Lara just like Drake.
They wanna reboot a legendary franchise like Tomb Raider, at least they could have done it the right way and give it its own identity just like they did in 1996.

It's nothing but an action game with very little exploration. I'm sorry but if you played the old ones you'd expect something else than this type of reboot. It's just another TPS to me no matter what you say

[punisher99]

+bubbles to you. In my opnion, they should take the Tomb Raider name off of this game and just rename it "action hero girl" because this game really has nothing to do with the real games. The Lara in this game is absoultely nothing like classic Lara (doesn't have her patented hair style, doesnt talk like her, doesn't act like her, and doesn't have classic Lara's swagger). Its like they are just trying to make money off of the "Tomb Raider" name.

[PirateThom]

I don't think it failed, I think it was fantastic but, my goodness, the combat was just weak. It should have just focused on the adventure and exploration and tombs.... I dreaded every single combat situations, not because it was difficult, but because it was dull.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

I enjoyed the combat, i found myself replaying certain areas numerous times to see how i could take out the bad guys with different weapons and strategies.

[GREW50ME]

I hated the original. It was like a game made by 13 year olds, for 13 year olds. Even Lara's body proportions were made by a little kid. This new version is mature and fantastic. Amazing reboot! 5 stars!

[MikeyDucati1]

But honestly Tomb Raider did well. It's just that Square overstepped their boundaries IMO or better yet, set their bar WAY too high. If you look at the records, it sold very well. Just not good in Square eye's. I read an article discussing that. The author suggest that if Square dialed down a little on their marketing campaign, they would have made reasonable profit. Or something of that nature.

I'm even planning to trade in Bioshock Infinite to get this game.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

Agreed, Many of todays games need to tone down the markting. they spend way way waaaay to much money on marketing and it just takes away from the profit they get later on.

[STEWIE_PLAY_PS4]

I don't care, Tomb Raider very good game and sexy than Tomb Raider classic suck. This my GF smile

[jollygoodchap8]

Yes...It didn't sell 10 million the first week...Complete total fail

/s

This game was great...I don't see the fail.

[kamakaz3md]

just reminded me of uncharted and batman, nothing new to the game world if you ask me. been there done that

[PersonMan]

What's wrong with more games that are like Uncharted and Batman?

Are you saying that you're satisfied with just having Uncharted and Batman and other similar games shouldn't exist because it's been done already?

[NaAsAr]

one of the better games so far this year. it has definitely not failed as a reboot.

[mrhrcks]

Whist I completely agree with the writer of this article about the narrative of Tomb Raider, the title is completely misleading. The gameplay was for the most part wholly enjoyable until the latter stages of the game relied too heavily on gun combat which marred the games pacing quite a lot for me. Whilst I liked the reboot, I wouldn't say it entirely succeeded for me as a player at rebooting the franchise but it did set a very strong blueprint in which I hope the developer builds upon. To title the piece the way the author has, they've left themselves open to criticism. The only one's that can call TR a failure are Square Enix, and thats merely because of their unnecessarily high sales expectations. This game is succeeding critically and commercially, which should be obvious to everyone at this stage.

[PersonMan]

I thought it was a great game! I like the old Tomb Raiders as well, but this one raised the bar way higher.

Tomb Raider is growing up. I like it!

[DOOMZ]

Very successful!

[punisher99]

Like I said. Its a good overall game. But not a good Tomb Raider game. Those of us who have played every Tomb Raider game from the beginning and loved them, know what Im talking about. Personally I much rather play the original PSone games.

[Bigkdog81]

I enjoyed tomb raider more than bioshock infinite. Just my opinion. I absolutely loved tomb raider.

[andjudunno]

Once you get to Shanti Town and notice exactly how much Platforming you've been doing it kinda hits you that its a Tomb Raider game, just with a 2013 slab of paint on it. Which is why it was A GOOD REBOOT, because it took a great franchise that had died a few HORRIBLE deaths and made it current again, all though be it with a few....I guess "questionable" game play mechanics. And enough with the Barbie to Rambo comments, Jason Brody did the same damng thing in Far Cry 3, its a video game RELAX. Really though, I kinda understand what the writer is saying with the action taking away from story, but the comparison from movie to game is silly, in a movie you have no choice but to explain, people pay money 15 bucks to sit for 2 hours and be fed information, games are different, you pay 60 bucks, shit better be fun.

Side note: I wish they explored that dodge mechanic more, and made you like dodge and punch, or dodge and kick, maybe dodge and push( off high ledges lol) Not just dodge and throw dirt.

[Dfooster]

Lara's motivation is in saving her friends after it was her idea to sail in the direction that ultimately got them shipwrecked and also for fulfilling her potential described by Conrad Roth.

The motivation is quite obviously described in the flashbacks, batman begins did the same thing and didnt lay it all out in the first five minutes. Pointless article

[MelonSaurus]

And there you have it folks...... game journalism...

[CaulkSlap]

Oh yes they totally botched the character. But otherwise this game was a pleasant surprise. Extremely well done in most areas that matter. And man is it gorgeous maxed out on PC.

[Knightofelemia]

I thought the game was great and fun to play.

[Automatic79]

Tomb Raider was a fantastic game. Look out for my review I will be posting it soon.

[FAT MAN GO BOOM]

In now way this game failed Square Enix Just thought it would sell 5million when it sold 3in a half million.

They forget that the last few Tomb Raiders has tarnished the brand name..
This game was a great game and sold excellent.

In no way this game failed..

[bigfish]

tomb raider didnt fail, it was bloody awesome

[drakratos92]

loved this game, one of my favorite games of all time!
did not fail in any way

[stuntman_mike]

you don't raid many tombs and the ones you do ain't big or that challenging. the game is towards the shooting and the combat and luckily this is the best thing about the game. the controls are excellent and the weapons feel really good. the story is a load of old crap but the island its self is brilliantly realised.

all round good game i recommend it, but the multi-player is pants.

[Totoro17]

Failed? Hardly. But it wasn't the opus that Square Enix was hoping for. The game did not feel at all organic and the besides Lara, the supporting characters were so annoying and one-dimensional.

That being said, I sincerely hope that SE fix these issues to have a truly outstanding rebirth of the series. Let's focus more on Lara and her evolution rather than pit her against a cast of nuisances riddled with shaky gameplay and a stronger story line.

[jc48573]

Now, compare this with DmC. Before you go on and attack, I just want to say that Tomb Raider does most things that makes it an interesting game. It definitely took me by surprise and creating a game that makes you feel like Rambo is most definitely an "improved" experience. Yes, people may be disappointed with the lack of tomb raiding (in comparison with past games), but maybe it will come back in the next game just how they added more to Arkham City. DmC just DOESN'T do more and it is not as well executed as Tomb Raider did. It takes a few steps backward. You think that a lot of people accept this kind of accessibility in DmC, but sales show otherwise.

[T3MPL3TON]

"Why Tomb Raider Failed as a Reboot"

Because people like the guy who wrote this are morons.

[just-joe]

As a reboot, it didn't fail; the game sold very well and generally loved by critics and gamers. Commercially, it failed because it had a high production as well as advertising cost and have yet to make that money back. Hopefully in time it will, but who knows?

[Trekster_Gamer]

This is the first Tomb Raider game I've ever played I've had a blast!

I have had as much fun if not more than I ever had with uncharted.

kudos... I would buy the sequel in a heartbeat.

[Blacklash93]

I don't agree with the article.

Yeah, Lara's endurance, instant-badassness in mowing down hordes of cultists, and an arrow firing completely straight over a chasm is unrealistic, but that can be applied to any videogame. Far Cry 3 did the same thing and it was also a story of character growth, yet that was still an excellent game.

The new Lara is very likable and relatable, the shooting is rock-solid with an excellent cover system and relatively smart and reactive enemies. The action and pacing are fantastic. The platforming feels versatile and responsive even if it is somewhat simplistic compared to previous games. The new abilities and tools you get via the plot and XP makes playing through feel very frequently rewarding. The added exploration, collectibles, and side-tombs are fun and add an extra sense of depth to the world most TPS's of this type do not usually have. The game wasn't open world, but the "hub" areas really did offer a sense of genuine openness. To top it all off the graphics are gorgeous and the production values are top-notch for a multi-plat game.

It has some flaws like the overuse of QTEs in the first hour or so and there could be more and deeper puzzles, among some others gripes I have, but in my opinion this franchise couldn't have asked for a better reboot. I enjoyed it enough to 100% it and that says a lot. I thought the game was fantastic and fun as hell.