Summary
A new revival of theTomb Raiderfranchise is imminent, as Crystal Dynamics is bringing Lara Croft back into the spotlight for another adventure.Tomb Raiderhas been a major name in gaming since it was introduced in 1996, and it will be intriguing to see how Crystal Dynamics brings a new chapter starring Lara Croft to life.
Apart from there being confirmation that a newTomb Raider, currently known asTomb Raider Next, is currently in development, there is very little known about the project. Back in February, Crystal Dynamics revealedLara Croft’s new look, which appears to be an exciting throwback to the character’s original roots. The last entry in theTomb Raiderfranchise was 2018’sShadow of the Tomb Raider, and although that was only six years ago, the action-adventure title is being revamped once more. Although it will be exciting to see Lara Croft again, Crystal Dynamics needs to come out swinging with the game.
The Next Tomb Raider Needs to Break the Mold
With there being such a short amount of time between the lastTomb Raidergame and this new revival, Crystal Dynamics really needs to make sure this new iteration of Lara Croft and her adventures is something completely fresh. Since the character is such an iconic face in gaming,the nextTomb Raidergameneeds to make sure the revival does her story justice in a way that doesn’t make this new series feel like recycled content.
Taking Lara Croft’s Story to the Next Level
Lara Croft, and theTomb Raiderfranchise in general, has done a lot for the action-adventure genre. From the belovedUnchartedseries tothe upcomingIndiana Jonesgame,Tomb Raiderarguably helped solidify the mechanics that have become synonymous with these types of action-adventure platformers. Being inspired byIndiana Jones, Lara Croft and Nathan Drake find themselves in some harrowing situations that require some serious survival skills, and the nextTomb Raiderneeds to up the ante on the character’s intense encounters.
Through the years,Tomb Raiderhas become well-known for its locations, and a new game in the series needs to introduce a setting that offers something completely different from the other games. Lara Croft’s occupation as an archaeologist has taken her all over the world, and with recent rumors claiming that the next game will be set in India, Crystal Dynamics will need to showcase this location to its full potential. India is a massive country filled with many possibilities for aTomb Raidersetting, and if the game does indeed take place in the country, it needs to be a historical area that offers something the other games never have.
The upcomingTomb Raideris being developed with Unreal Engine 5, which is already an exciting upgrade for the franchise.
Making a New Tomb Raider Count
It’s unclear how this newTomb Raiderwill tie into the previous trilogy, if at all. Either way, Crystal Dynamics has a heavy order on its hands since the developer needs to keep the essence of the games intact, but with a fresh approach.Tomb Raideris known for its puzzles and combat, so reworking this to feel like something new and exciting while also remaining familiar is a tricky task to balance.
Based on the first and only image revealed by Crystal Dynamics, it does seem like this newTomb Raidergame will be combining attributes from both the newest trilogy and the original trilogy, which is an exciting prospect. There are rumors thatthe upcomingTomb Raidergame will be open-world, which would definitely be a step in the right direction if the developers want to offer a completely new experience. An open-world environment lends itself to some great archaeological exploration while still maintaining the survival and combat that helps make the series so thrilling. If thisTomb Raiderjust recycles old formulas, a new revival runs the risk of feeling pointless.
