Rise of the Tomb Raider: it’s not that lost

Well, Jonah didn’t last long. Trinity had the atlas which meant they looked to see where the Divine Source was, and discovered it was under a glacier. A shootout saw Jonah badly injured, and Jacob demonstrated his marvellous healing skills. Turns out he’s a bit special. This set up the thrilling climax of the game – our objective is in the Lost City; I’m going in through the secret entrance, and Trinity’s going to try going in by force through the glacier. It’s a race against time.

Well, except it’s not, because the next urgent thing doesn’t happen until you reach the next checkpoint. But still.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: a battle and a discovery

I journeyed through the mountain and found the geothermal valley, where Jacob’s people live. This was a large area to explore, with some parts barricaded off with obtrusive spiked gates. After running some varied errands, including helping to reinforce guard towers, a big battle occurred with helicopters dropping waves of enemies, none of whom seemed to be able to kill Lara. They killed many others, it seems, but that was a pre-ordained conclusion, and I felt no sense of urgency while pushing through the linear path. Indeed, I knew there’d be no progress in action until I reached the next checkpoint, so with the sounds of gunfire and screams of torture around me I frequently went looking for coins or relics I’d passed, or spend time reading random documents left on the path.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: through the icy wastes

In my previous post I noted that there had been a limited number of human casualties up to that point, which was more fitting with Lara Croft’s background than the first of the 2010s trilogy. That’s changed quite a bit over the last few game sessions, but it still feels a little more restrained – and Lara certainly seems less bloodthirsty overall. There is a remarkable sense of exploration throughout the game, both in terms of finding new areas (and returning to old ones from unexpected directions) and also discovering centuries-old ruins and excavations. The story helps here; in some areas, you are exploring abandoned Soviet excavations which had uncovered ancient tombs or passages. We are on the trail of the lost city founded by the prophet, and it feels close.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: killing the bear

Ten years ago in 2014 I played and completed the 2013 game called Tomb Raider, which is different from the 1996 game called Tomb Raider which I completed in 1998. I’ve done this joke before. I enjoyed the last game in the series, and picked up the sequel in a sale quite soon after its 2015 launch on Xbox 360. I didn’t play it. I then bought it for the PS4 in a sale a couple of years later, when they announced a free DLC which enabled a limited VR mode. I then also didn’t play that. In 2020 Sony gave the game away on PS Plus, which I claimed, and downloaded, and again didn’t play. I can’t recall if I have it on the Xbox One as well, but that wouldn’t surprise me.

I’ve played some of it now. It’s good.

Shadow of the Colossus: bringing down the knight

I have owned this on the PS2, in a lovely art set with postcards, and twice on the PS3: once on a disc alongside Ico, and once digitally.  I have owned this on the PS4 on disc, bought for a birthday.  I also acquired it when it was given away with PS+.

There are some games I own many copies of because they are classics that I wish to enjoy in many places.  Sonic and Sonic 2 are the obvious examples; Populous the Beginning on PS, PC CD-ROM, and now GOG; Journey; Peggle.  This is not one of those games.  I own this many times because I keep promising myself that I will play it.

And now I have.

Rocket League: not good for the heart

I have tried to play a number of PS4 games, but I find it difficult since as soon as I turn on my PS4 the Rocket League icon is sitting there.  To play anything else, I have to scroll past it.  I frequently don’t.

It’s a tense, exciting, thrilling game, played in short ten-minute installments, and I think I’m getting better at it, albeit slowly.  Last night there were a couple of games which I was particularly pleased with – including this one.

Rocket League: an epic match

Yes, I have a PS4.  I’ve not played on it too much yet – this three-month-old baby is less accommodating to gaming than the last one – but what I have played has been largely split between FIFA 16 and Rocket League.  The latter is a sort of football game, or maybe more hockey, where you use cars to hit a ball into your opponents’ goal.  Your cars can jump, boost, and even fly if you use the booster rockets right.