was never big on the franchise, as I don't normally play action-platformers, but enjoyed this a surprising amount despite its qte-heavy nature (♥♥♥♥ that river section), and it ran really smoothly on my ancient hardware, unlike some other games from around the same time.

much like arkham asylum, it's just the right length (15-20 hours) and it nails the balance between linear and open-world. areas are of a moderate size, there aren't too many collectibles (I think I only skipped pointless dog tags) and most of the challenges aren't too bad. the bow is a lot of fun too.

the only content they cut out to sell separately was a 10-minute tomb. ironically, one of the very few puzzles in the game, a former trademark of the series. the rest of the dlc is cheats, skins and multiplayer crap, but since it's all sold together now, it doesn't matter much.

Tomb Raider --- 100% Complete

A fun and rewarding game to complete. The story keeps you hooked, exploration feels good, and combat stays enjoyable till the end. Collectibles take some time, but finishing everything feels worth it.

8.7/10
After more than a decade, revisiting this game still reveals its enduring charm. While viewed through today's lens, it retains some obvious flaws and immaturity as an action-adventure title, its role as the reboot of the Tomb Raider series remains commendable. It astonished many players, myself included, back in 2013.

First, the strengths. The game primarily follows a level-based structure, unlocking new map areas as the story progresses. While it allows players to freely revisit and explore previously unlocked regions, it essentially remains a linear level design. As the plot advances, players continually acquire new gear and weapons, using these tools to access previously inaccessible areas—a solid design approach that effectively sustains freshness and enthusiasm. Combined with its tightly paced narrative, packed with thrilling set pieces and immersive story moments, the game delivers a deeply engaging experience. The plot itself tells a complete, coherent story with a satisfying conclusion, complemented by well-crafted gameplay mechanics that collectively create a thrilling adventure. As the opening chapter of the reboot trilogy, it sets an exceptionally strong foundation.

Now for the shortcomings. As a 2013 action-adventure title, the character animations feel somewhat stiff and unnatural. Performance optimization on modern hardware is subpar, particularly noticeable during combat sequences and cutscenes. Furthermore, the combat system feels relatively monotonous with limited enemy variety, potentially leading to repetition in the game's latter stages. It's unfortunate that by the time of its release—and even years prior—numerous peer titles had already gained acclaim among players for superior action systems and gameplay design. Furthermore, while the map design is somewhat three-dimensional, the environments feel relatively monotonous and lack memorable elements. Unlocking all achievements requires tediously scouring these maps for various collectibles. This “collectibles everywhere” approach reminds me of the nightmare that is Assassin's Creed, a design Ubisoft continues to employ to this day. Furthermore, exploration rewards are disappointingly sparse—primarily consisting of inconsequential collectibles and upgrade parts—which significantly dampens the desire to explore. Resource allocation is clearly misguided. For instance, by the mid-to-late game, I had maxed out my level and fully upgraded all weapons. By completion, I'd amassed thousands of useless upgrade parts and had three surplus upgrade points. With exploration rewards proving useless and players already maxed out, motivation to thoroughly explore the map plummets. Worst of all, the game lacks a save-carryover feature for New Game+. If you aim to unlock all achievements, missing certain elements forces you to restart the entire game. Honestly, I have zero motivation to start over from scratch anytime soon. Incidentally, unlocking all achievements also requires playing a significant amount of multiplayer content, which takes far longer than the single-player campaign. The multiplayer mode currently suffers from unstable servers, low player counts, and overall lackluster fun factor.

In summary, viewed strictly through today's lens, this game still has its fair share of issues. But undeniably, it possesses a unique charm and distinct character. If you've never played the Tomb Raider series before, I personally highly recommend starting with this entry. It's an excellent gateway to dive deeper into the franchise. That said, Lara Croft's character design has undergone multiple iterations, and this reboot version essentially reimagines her entirely, endowing her with a very distinctive appeal. That said, it's hard not to notice that this 21-year-old rookie Lara possesses absurdly superhuman combat skills, acrobatic prowess, and damage resistance. Throughout the game, I often found myself thinking, “An ordinary person would've died a thousand times by now,” only to watch Lara dust herself off and bounce back within seconds... This is clearly entering the realm of superhero-level storytelling XDDD