4/5 ★ – PigParty's review of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.

Beaten: 2/15/2025 Playtime: 15 hours "We have worked our hardest to bring you the best game we could possibly make." Oh, Crystal Dynamics. Your passion is oozing out of every pore of this game from beginning to end. The message at the beginning of the end-game credits only proves this. The credits themselves provide pictures of many of the developers that worked on the game. These are tiny things that many people won't appreciate but it shows me how much this team cared about this game. To revolutionize Tomb Raider into a modern action-adventure game is quite a monumental task. Tomb Raider feels akin to Batman: Arkham Asylum in how it redefines what a Tomb Raider game is. This is a narrative-first action-adventure game. Lots of cool lore to collect and hidden collectibles to find off the beaten path. This story is also one of survival. It's brutal in every challenge Lara Croft faces. This isn't puzzle solving to uncover the secrets of a tomb. This is a fight to live; to make it off the island with as many of Lara's friends and family as she can keep alive. It's a great introductory game for the character. I love seeing ways in which this franchise can (and hopefully does) expand over the next two games, Rise and Shadow. The tombs in the first game are very small and simple - but they're fun! The characters are great. The setting is fantastic. Exploring The Dragon's Triangle (the Bermuda Triangle) is a great concept. Adding some bits of fantasy and magic adds a really cool element to an already infamous phenomenon. (Slight spoilers) The entire story was awesome but the ending area was next level. The Japanese samurai were awe-inspiring and terrifying. The weather events were really cool and overall the production of the ending sequence was top notch. Love everything about it. That's how you bring a story to a climax. Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is such a special game. With a great cast of characters, phenomenal protagonist, beautiful and expansive setting, incredible story, and tons of things to explore - this game is a true gem.