I also just finished Shadow of the Tomb Raider today. I thought the reboot series of this game was getting worse due to Metacritic ratings but its the opposite. This is probably my favorite Tomb Raider game out of the three that I played. I liked that I only got the original disc edition and the definition version was given for free in the update. The graphics look great. To me, if a game look as good as this, its worth it to play just to see the environment, the cutscenes and the work put in the visuals. Similar to Rise, my favorite locations in the game are those hubs with lots of npcs and there are three locations. It kinda reminded me of the early AC games but in Peru. I liked that they used MeXico and Peru as the locations. I don't think I've played a game before set in those countries.
The gameplay is very similar to the reboot and Rise, so I didn't need to get used to the controls. The difference is this seems more hardcore. The new options for stealth, the piranhas and those zombie like creatures. I like that they added a photo mode, I don't remember Rise having one. The gears have extra features and I can just change the boots or the top if I want to.
For me the weirdest thing about these Tomb Raider games, is everytime I hear Lara's voice or see her face, I'm always reminded that I'm watching Camilla Luddington on Grey's Anatomy for more than 5 years.
Even though I don't really like the story and characters of these 3 recent Tomb Raider games - the more TR games I played, the more I liked it. I wish Square EniX is releasing a Tomb Raider game this year or neXt year since this game is going to turn 3 this year. I've read the sales of Shadow weren't very good similar to Just Cause 4. I'm assuming its why a sequel announcement hasn't been made yet. Best case scenario, a new game comes out in 2023, 5 years after Shadow.
For the sequel
- I want less backtracking because looking at the map and seeing my incomplete percentage. I don't have the energy to backtrack in those secluded locations and look for every piece of treasure/statue/file just to get a 100%. Uncharted is better at collectibles, they are many but they aren't as tedious as the collectibles in Tomb Raider.
- The optional tombs and crypts are creative and well designed but the ones I've went to, the rewards aren't really useful for me. I don't think they made any difference. I wish they could incorporate those tombs in the main story. It always felt random that there's this big story and Lara will suddenly go inside these tombs and caves. Those sections take at least 10 minutes. It doesn't really affect the story and her journey at all. The tombs are there just to make the game longer imo and it doesn't advance the story. I prefer the side quests that let you interact with npcs because there's at least some story there.
- I don't want to hunt and kill animals. I feel like hunting animals to upgrade the gear/weapon get tiring after I've done it a couple of times in franchises like Assassin's Creed and Tomb Raider.
- I want a much smaller skill tree and smaller variety of upgrading materials. Looking at Shadow's menu and seeing all the items there, there are just too many for such a short game. Basically, they should simplify things.
For the locations, I want Africa or Australia or maybe in a vibrant city if they could do that. Something that looks different from the last 3 games. I don't want to see a forest, a jungle, trees to climb, snow and a body of water to swim in the next Tomb Raider. I know they are going to combine the original games and the newer games but I hope its a Tomb Raider 4. I want them to keep this metroid vania formula and grounded adventure feel, but I also want a more story driven game and side quests that don't feel like an obligation/check list. The last three Tomb Raider games are also quite short especially if I didn't side track to tombs, challenges, collectibles and grinding for upgrades. I want a longer main story and less padding when it comes to side quests.
I enjoyed Shadow. I feel like out of the three games this felt like a more complete eXperience and I hope they improve more for the next game.
