by Wayne K. Wilkins

Created on: February 15, 2013

The Tomb Raider reboot is set to hit stores on March 5th and now, finally, there are more details than ever about the game. The reboot does away with all of Lara Croft’s history and now, a young Lara sets out on what is actually her first adventure. Stranded on an island, Lara has to survive and do what she can to try and escape. With vast tombs to explore, a massive island map and some truly awe inspiring visuals and music can all be expected. Here is everything you need to know about Tomb Raider 2013 in time for its March 5th release date.

Tomb Raider is a brand new adventure for Lara Croft. When her ship is wrecked on a strange island, Lara has to fend off enemies in the early stages of the game while her mind comes to grips with the very concept of scavenging to survive. Before long, the character becomes the familiar Lara Croft that the world knows and loves. In her first adventure, Lara must scavenge for survival equipment, craft gear and explore the island in search of her friends and of course, in order to find a means of attracting rescue or escaping. The secrets of the island soon become a storyline objective as well as becoming of interest to Lara herself.

The game mechanics are completely brand new, but players will see many similarities between this game, Lara’s last adventure, “Underworld,” and the “Uncharted” video game series. However, running on its own engine, the gameplay aspect of Tomb Raider is like nothing that has been seen before. The island map is absolutely huge and with it being visually stunning to look at, it is impossible to get bored exploring. In fact, the game actually encourages exploration and often depends on it.

Exploration is vital in Tomb Raider. If you visit one area of the island that you are unable to explore but it looks like you should be able to, then chances are, you are not a high enough level to explore it yet. In order to gain access to hidden areas, Lara has to gain experience and salvage items. Resting at “base camps” around the island, Lara can level up here and gain access to new items, skills and equipment. With these new additions to her inventory, the character should then re-explore old areas to gain access to hidden areas that they may not have before. For example, arrows can shoot down rope bridges and ladders, axes can chop trees to create bridges and fire arrows can burn down large barricades. These new areas not only unlock new equipment, but they also often hold many of the island’s secrets and treasures, a returning feature that old school Tomb Raider fans will be happy with.

Tomb Raider 2013 is driven both by an amazing storyline, incredibly flawless visuals and music and some of the most innovative survival exploration and adventure gameplay that has ever been seen. While a step out of convention for the Tomb Raider series, it is a step in the right direction and it not only contributes to bringing the escapades of Lara Croft to a new generation, but it also re-writes history in the best possible way; by giving the world a masterful adventure. Players will have to explore, salvage equipment, re-visit old areas, level up and do what they can to survive including hunting and foraging.  On top of that, they will have to literally raid ancient tombs all over the island again to both aid survival and further the storyline.

As the most story-driven and most accessible and customizable Tomb Raider adventure to date, Lara Croft’s latest endeavour may just be her very best. Already receiving countless awards and nominated for even more, be sure to go out and purchase Tomb Raider when it hits stores across the world on March 5, 2013.

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