Rise of the Tomb Raider is a videogame that Crystal Dynamics created in 2015. The game was then produced by an associate of Square Enix in Europe. The game was made shortly after an earlier game in the tomb raider series created in 2013. The game was initially released for Xbox one and 360. Two years after the first release, it was then released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. In 2018, the game was released for Mac and Linux OS and Google Stadia in 2019. The latest releases were for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in March 2021.

About the Game

Rise of the Tomb Raider is packed with action and suspense. The game is also filled with adventurous missions that will keep its players on their feet. The graphics, as well as the gameplay, are intriguing. Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of many exciting games in the tomb raider series (the eleventh game in the series). Rise of the Tomb Raider is much bigger, with more tasks and missions to be accomplished. Rise of the tomb raider is the second part of the Reboot trilogy in the series. 

Storyline

This time around, Lara Croft (the major character in the game) takes her adventures to Siberia as she searches for a city called Kitezh. She is on a quest to uncover the immortality claims in the land. Her desire for immortality was aroused by her encounter with the sun queen in the first part of the trilogy.  

After hearing about an invincible city in mythology, Lara Croft was determined to uncover the mysteries and get an answer to the many questions she had. Just like other tomb raider series, Lara’s adventurous journey is not a smooth one. It is a game of survival, where Lara has to conquer many enemies, overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, create weapons, etc., all in a bid to unravel the mysteries of immortality.

Rise of the Tomb Raider does not only dwell on Lara’s present mission but also carries the players along by explaining some of the circumstances surrounding Lara’s mission and her past. Throughout the game, there are a series of flashbacks about Lara’s life, her father, and her family. You will also learn about the history of Kitezh and the immortality myth.

Levels in the Game

The earlier levels in Rise of the Tomb Raiders began with Lara’s journey through the Syrian desert. Her mission in this desert was to locate a tomb mentioned in research by her father. This tomb is said to house some ancient artifacts that Lara would need as the game progresses. The game has different levels, and the tasks become challenging as you progress. Throughout the game, you should expect to discover and raid lots of tombs and solve different complex puzzles. Some of the tombs featured in the game include the lost tomb, the prophet’s tomb, etc. Each tomb has different challenges, traps, and puzzles. 

However, you will not just raid tombs all through the game. The levels Also consist of other aspects, including walking through the wilderness, visiting some abandoned mines, going through the geothermal valley, some historical buildings, etc. There is also the deathless path that would finally lead you to the lost city (my favorite part of the game).

Side Missions and Quests

Although each level of the game has its mission and objectives, there are many mini-tasks throughout the game. These side missions are commonly situated in some open areas of the game. You will find some optional challenge tombs in these open areas. While these tombs are not made compulsory to raid, you don’t want to miss out on the thrills they offer. In these tombs, you will find some complex puzzles, which in my opinion, are more complex than the puzzles given at the main quest. 

However, with each optional challenge tomb raided, you get awarded with an additional skill. The major skills you can acquire include Brawler skills, hunter skills, and survival skills. Apart from acquiring new skills, some major benefits of embarking on these side missions are that you will equip yourself with more ammunition, get different items that will help you progress in the task, and also help you to travel faster. By completing side missions, you will also get to upgrade your weapons, making it easier to combat your enemies.

Weapons

The weapons used in Rise of the Tomb Raider are very similar to the weapons used in earlier versions of the game, including the climbing ax, bow, and arrow. However, there are many improvements or upgrades on the previous weapons, while new weapons were introduced in the game.

Types of Collectibles Available

While playing the game, you will have the opportunity to uncover and acquire several collectibles. These collectibles are mainly divided into six different kinds, which include relics and documents. These two collectibles are my favorite because they give players a deeper understanding of the game by telling stories of the past. Other collectibles include plants, cloths, and hides, metals and minerals, etc. Each collectible is helpful in its unique ways, in helping you to achieve different objectives and complete your tasks and missions. 

When you have good survival skills, you will find that locating and acquiring the collectibles are pretty straightforward. This is because the survival instincts will help you discover each collectible quickly by highlighting them each time you are close by. 

Geography of the Game

Rise of the Tomb Raider has a lot of beautiful scenery. While the environment and the general overview of the sight may simply look ravishing to someone just viewing the game, the players would know better. There are different geographical views in the game, including mountains, rocks, valleys, hills, desserts, rivers, ice peaks, forests, etc. Passing through each area poses different challenges and difficulty levels.  

Conclusion

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a game that is perfect for new players, as well as experienced players. A noticeable improvement from the previous games is that Lara can now swim or climb trees, which gives an advantage when trying to hide from enemies. The side missions are also a bonus point to the game. However, one of the major weaknesses of this game is the fact that the developers made a minimal effort in improving the roles of the supporting characters. Also, combating the enemies is not as complex or as challenging as it should be.