The Weekly: Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider

New games every week; every week new, sweet, entertaining, brain-rotting video games. So many in fact, that we often forget those "gems" behind during our end-year deliberations. Not anymore. Each week, I'll be highlighting my favorite game released; this way: the commenters have a target to flame, I have some notes for end-year headaches, and we all have fun! 

This Tomb Raider reboot is not the game I hoped for but it's a pretty damn good effort otherwise - well, sort of. The narrative dissonance is painful with Lara possessing super-hero like abilities during gameplay yet remaining an insecure - and scared - brittle women during cutscenes. Otherwise, the game is a polished effort attempting to capture a mainstream audience.

It controls comfortably, runs smoothly, and - while not necessarily retaining the original formula to the greatest of Raider games - ties together light Tomb Raider troupes and a free-roaming open-world experience. Reboots are supposed to feel new and risky and this latest Tomb Raider is exactly that.

Sure, Lara's latest could have been something else but at least it's not a poor effort. Tomb Raider is still a game about climbing, puzzles, and shooting wolves in the face...just not quite like it was in its prime.

Needless to say, I've been playing Tomb Raider this week. And that's a Weekly...