Ben-DutkaAfter the relative success of the Tomb Raider reboot last year, Crystal Dynamics is now working on Lara's next adventure.
Or at least, we assume they are. It sucks that it took nearly nine months just to break even on the last project, but that sounds like some really poor budgeting and planning on Square Enix's part. I'm willing to bet it's at least part of the reason why we're seeing this Definitive Edition now.
But that's not the purpose of this piece; the question is simple- what should we expect next? What will Lara's next quest be like? Do you want it to be just like last year's well-received title? Or do you want the developer to do some things differently? Me, I'm usually a big proponent of moving forward and progressing and making things better. However, given the absolutely fantastic design of Tomb Raider , I really don't want Crystal Dynamics to change much of anything. The control was tight, the environment was splendidly engaging, and it was the perfect blend of linear and open-world components.
All I want is for the writers to further explore Lara's transformation from standard civilian to warrior. They just didn't do enough with it in last year's reboot. Granted, it's by far the best – and possibly the most defined – iteration we've seen to date, but it just had so much potential. Much of that potential was left in the wake of absurdly unrealistic action sequences, so I'd like a more believable narrative the next time around.
If they can do that and keep everything else relatively similar, I'll be quite happy. How about you?
I'm also hoping for a better story. It was kind of a poor impression of an Uncharted style narrative, but with excellent modern gameplay in a wider variety.
I'd also like to see a return to some beautiful scenery next time, this island with its storms is very dark and spooky and you can hardly see anything except the occasional pretty skyline vista. I'd like some more variety next time in a way that doesn't JUST check the boxes "jungle" "snow" "city" I mean, find a great way to implement them into the story like in Tomb Raider Legend.
I think the next one will be more open and be more about the survival aspect.
I really liked the first game more than I ever expected, so if they stay close to that I will be happy.
wont make any sense what so ever if its a sequel, but i wish they expanded on the survival im a scared vulnerable girl first hour or so of the game.
after her first kill everything just washes down to the same old action hollywood crap which has made this genre so stale and boring.
id love to see allot more history to the island, i was really disappointed how simplistic and thin the environmental storytelling and the puzzles were.
i was really expecting allot more especially from the environmental storytelling like the masks you find, it would of been nice to learn allot more about the natives of the land, and, well, that guy who attacks you at the start, and all the graphic ritualistic crap you find throughout the game.
hate it when developers do that, theres something in the game but its there just to look pretty theres really no meaning or depth to it.
especially the way they announced the game showing off the starting trailer, seeing all that taboo ritualistic cult crap, made me expect and crave something oh so different!
as crazy as this sounds too the series needs to become allot more like the movies.
the movies were allot more about the archeology, after all lara IS A ARCHEOLOGIST!
id be nice to see her skills used for their proper use, rather than just a convenient excuse to have her marooning in uncharted waters.
perfect way to separate this from uncharted, and all the other typical hollywood mindless crap out there.
I very much agree with your views on environmental storytelling. Too many designers are just making something that "looks cool" but turns out to be pure fillers, and I am always so disappointed to find that out.
i hope for some better gameplay,it was alright but could have been better: to easy,the Climbing and searching that makes tombraider so great was way to easy.
It doesn't have to be impossible difficult,just not so easy.
[and yes i have the game and i liked it but i would have liked it a lot more with some better gameplay]
i would like to see big impressive tombs, make us search long and hard, combined with a story that sucks us in…I think that is the only thing missing in this game.
I hope to see a better story-driven setting instead of feeling like its being a little rushed. Since she's no longer an 18 year old girl killing trained russian marines or whatever they were, hopefully it'll feel a little more realistic.
Also want to see more of the gorgeous scenery because wow, they do look amazing.