Developer Crystal Dynamics returns Lara Croft to her classic gaming roots in this Tomb Raider reboot, but far from being the wisecracking action heroine from previous games, this is a vulnerable, relatable Lara – and that makes for a more engaging adventure.It's still Tomb Raider – an epic action platformer with treasure to hunt, locations to explore and wolves to slay. But there's a survival horror element here as well, crystallised in Lara's attempt to escape a mysterious island.
It does lack originality, the supporting characters are bland, and there's an incessant overuse of context-sensitive button pressing. These minor criticisms aside, however, Tomb Raider is a slick, visually impressive, action-packed adventure with a deep multiplayer mode. Most importantly, it's Lara's best game in more than a decade.