Shadow of the Tomb Raider Reviews
The stealth mechanics and fun world traversal in Shadow of the Tomb Raider make it a great game. Whether Lara is smothering herself in mud to shank enemies and return to the shadows, rappelling down into gloomy caves, or blasting creatures with her powerful shotgun, this game has a grimy edge that makes it well worth playing.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is excellent, and so well balanced; from the combat, to exploring, to solving puzzles. It’s rare to have this balance that even the final boss is evenly constructed, and no difficulty spikes are present at any point during the game. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is constantly challenging Lara, forcing her to survive another harsh location. There are so many great moments, but the stealth is fantastic and so satisfying. With more tombs, more ways to explore and connect with the game world, and less of the junk that soiled prior entries, it’s everything you’d want. This final chapter in Lara Croft’s origin story comes to a close with maturity in tune with the character and the series. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the quintessential action adventure, compounded by human emotion tying it all together to be at the top of its class.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is definitely darker than its predecessor but that doesn't hurt its awe-inspiring setting, fun stealthy combat, oodles of rewarding collectibles, and suspenseful action that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider has ultimately achieved the potential of a modern Tomb Raider experience after the series lost its identity with the reboot.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider ends the reboot trilogy on a high note. It gives the fans what they want, as well as hope for what comes next. And I really hope there will be a next, because when it's this good, it'd be criminal to have Lara sat twiddling her thumbs.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider's prioritization of exploration and stealth coupled with a more reflective plot ends Lara's origin story on a more human note, which is strengthened by the remarkable presentation.
With Shadow of the Tomb Raider, we get one of the best episodes of the whole franchise. It doesn't intend to revolutionize the formula the reboot put in place in 2013, but it has a quite interesting story and a dashing setting, offers a well balanced experience and has a huge amount of challenges that will surely please a lot of virtual explorers.
Review in French | Read full review
Even if largely predictable, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an engrossing and enjoyable adventure, full of things to do.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Minor nuisances aside, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a great way to end Lara's origin story.
With Crystal Dynamics taking a backseat for the 3rd outing of the rebooted Tomb Raider, Eidos Montréal has stepped in. No stranger to the Tomb Raider world, they have managed to take everything that worked so well for the rebooted series and has perfected it. Perhaps the best title in the series, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a shining example of taking the best of the rebooted series, improving on it and letting it speak for itself. Talk about going out with a bang.
There's still a ton to love within Shadow of the Tomb Raider and if you enjoyed the previous two games in this new era of Lara Croft, then I absolutely expect that you'll dig what's found here. While I find this to be Lara's weakest adventure of the bunch, I'm still excited to see what lies in store next time around for one of gaming's most prominent characters.
A greater focus on raiding tombs, and massively improved stealth combat, make this one of Lara Croft's best modern adventures.
Building on the foundations of Rise of the Tomb Raider, there's more depth to the actual tomb raiding, more flexibility in the combat, and the city of Paititi is a hub that you can easily get lost in as you explore it and the surrounding jungle. So, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider's story lacks some of the meaning and impact that it sets out to, this is another action packed romp for fans of the series.
Playing more like a massive expansion to Rise of the Tomb Raider rather than a new entry in the series, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is still a solid, if derivative, game.
Were it not for a lack of polish, Shadow of the Tomb Raider would stand right alongside the other action-adventure giants in truly defining the genre. It has a lot of heart, all of the pulsating set pieces that series has become known for and a primal Lara Croft at the height of her powers. As it stands, Shadow is still one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I've come across as it respects what it has always done best rather than muddy the waters with needless gimmicks.
There is a noticeable emphasis on the narrative. Although Shadow of the Tomb Raider modifies what we've grown accustomed to within the franchise, the change of pace is welcomed. You'll find pockets of open-world to explore, with tons of side-quests and interactions with NPCs. Don't expect guns-a-blazin', but do expect getting more than you bargained for from this Tomb Raider experience.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider isn't a bad game . . . But Shadow of the Tomb Raider isn't much more than competent
A reassuringly solid trilogy third act, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will certainly prove familiar. Nevertheless with better tombs to raid, improved underwater exploration and a more brutally framed narrative, enough adjustments have been made to underscore everything that fans have loved about the series for years.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider succeeds in giving Lara the character growth she needed and also brings the reboot trilogy to a satisfying closure. It does so mostly by refining the strong gameplay foundation set with the previous installments while delivering a great action/adventure experience in terms of storytelling and audiovisual spectacle.
The ability to play your way, no matter what, make Lara Croft's latest journey worth taking.