How can Tomb Raider be saved?

[Lant_War]

Once one of the most revolutionary and unique game series, Tomb Raider lately has been pretty mediocre. They took every wrong lesson after the last reboot trying to chase after the Uncharted audience which translated into safe, uninteresting entries that completely lost the point of the franchise on its origins, and considering that Shadow of the Tomb Raider didn't seem to great, the series is likely going to go through yet another reboot. So, how do you think Tomb Raider can be saved?

Imo, I think a Breath of the Wild approach could really benefit the series. Offer a world (doesn't even have to be Open World, God of War size is fine) and give players total freedom to... just raid tombs with greatly designed puzzles, spooky aesthetics and a LOT of platforming. Doesn't even need to be the murderfest the 2013 onwards were, hell maybe don't have human enemies at all. Chasing after Uncharted will never work out for them I think, so a Hitman-style back to the roots would be amazing.

 

[Grapezard]

A Smash inclusion.

Spoiler

But seriously, bring back dual pistols no matter the direction they'd go with.

 

[MegaSackman]

I remember the early concepts for the 2013 reboot sounded like a survival horror on the island with Lara alone. I would want something like that and stop the military bullcrap but that's just me.

 

[adj_noun]

By completing the QTE

 

[Linus815]

most of tomb raider games are 7/10 games. The first 2 reboot games are actually the highest rated TR games aside maybe from 1.

they just need to do better than Shadow.

 

[Dust]

Something like Shadow of the Colossus but with Lara...and a jeep.
Ambient exploration with enviornment puzzles.

 

[Damn Silly]

By turning it into Mirror's Edge but in the jungle/rainforest/wherever

No, I'm not selfish or anything.

 

[Deleted member 8741]

I'd prefer less combat and more exploring. Possibly with some sort of camp building/survival element like Don't Starve.

 

[Angie]

Just go back to what worked on Rise.
That one was the best TR game for me.

 

[Shopolic]

 

[Rotobit]

I didn't mind the first two reboot games, have yet to play the third, but I think it's time for another reset

Make Lara more likeable with a more pulp-y story. Give her a design that's tasteful, but return to the cocky, confident attitude from the '90s.

Make the gameplay somewhat open but in enclosed zones, which you jet between from your hub of the Croft Manor. I loved the varied locales you visited in the first few games. Maybe have story missions alongside somewhat randomly generated tasks to give you a reason to go back, kinda like Hitman as you said. Oh and plenty of tombs, obviously.

Next to no human enemies would be a good start too - I always liked the wildlife essentially being a threat. Would be neat if you could avoid it, too, either by laying down traps or simply stealthing around them.

Also - dual pistols.

 

[Jangowuzhere]

I don't know. Get a new main character at this point.

The new Lara is completely awful, and I doubt they're going to reboot her again. So get someone else please.

 

[Dougieflesh]

More exploration and tomb raiding. Also, don't ever make a timed exclusive deal again to kneecap your popularity.

 

[Hzsn724]

Yea I just want dual pistols and bigger tombs. I enjoyed the reboot trilogy and thought Shadows was pretty awesome however, it was not as good as Rise.

The trilogy had a major identity crisis because of its fanbase. Tomb Raider didn't have enough tombs and too much gunplay... Rise of the Tomb Raider was better, but still not enough tombs... And Shadows had more tombs that were pretty well done, but the gunplay was practically left behind.

I just wish that Crystal went with their gut on this instead of trying to cater to everyone.

 

[Kupo Kupopo]

Something like Shadow of the Colossus but with Lara...and a jeep.
Ambient exploration with enviornment puzzles.

Click to shrink...

/thread...

 

[Kill3r7]

It doesn't need to be saved. Not the way you are thinking. The brand just doesn't have the same cache anymore. The most recent trilogy was pretty darn good and some of the best reviewed and best selling games in franchise history.

 

[TransEuropaExpress]

I really wish this franchise could take the feeling of wonder, isolation and dangerous traversal "puzzles" of the first game and translate it into a modern iteration successfully.

Tank controls or not, I still often revisit the first four TR games for the beautifully realized atmosphere and sense of solitude and wonder. Also, those soundtracks...

For me the series was about atmospheric exploration, challenging traversal and puzzles with the odd, what I would call environmental hazard enemies (bears etc.), here and there to break it up.

Edit: But yeah, I doubt that would save it commercially, but one can dream!

 

[Deleted member 16876]

-Demon's Souls level structure where every level has depth and with lots of verticality and platforming. Basically classic Tomb Raider levels mixed with DS.
-Combat should have lots of acrobatic movements and there should be less humans and more animals, mythical creatures like zombies/mummies and some cool stuff like dinos enemies. Also being back the dual weild pistols and ditch the survival elements.
-Lara needs to return into her original personality but with better character design. Bring back the braids please.
-Less cinematic story. Make the story function similiar to Hitman where rach level has a smaller story that ties into a bigger story. I would also say a "mega man" type of approach to the campaign where you chose the order of the levels could work well with the game.
-Levels should be all over the world and should have lots of cool locations like pyramids and atlantis. Lots of atmosphere is required.
-Freezer and the butler should return along with the Croft Manor.
-Platforming should be lore skill based and "puzzle like" instead of auto jumping like uncharted and the last games.

That basically it for me.

Edit: forgot to mention, do not bring in some parent legacy bullshit. Original Lara was disowned by her parents due to her doing what she wants to do (tomb raiding) and that to me is a much better feminist icon than the shit they did in the last two reboots.

 

[Zaied]

Imo, I think a Breath of the Wild approach could really benefit the series. Offer a world (doesn't even have to be Open World, God of War size is fine) and give players total freedom to... just raid tombs with greatly designed puzzles, spooky aesthetics and a LOT of platforming. Doesn't even need to be the murderfest the 2013 onwards were, hell maybe don't have human enemies at all. Chasing after Uncharted will never work out for them I think, so a Hitman-style back to the roots would be amazing.

Click to shrink...

This is what Shadow of the Tomb Raider was. They toned down the enemy encounters and gave me the freedom to run around an exceptionally large world with plenty of tombs and other explorable areas to find, which is why it was one of my favorite games of 2018. The puzzles were pretty good as well, especially some of the ones in the DLC. Aesthetically, it wasn't as 'spooky' as the first game, but it definitely had a grittier TR: Underworld vibe to it (TRU's Mexico level in particular).

 

[Dr.Phibes]

Remake TR 2 and then build up on that.

 

[chirt]

Tomb Raider 2013 and Rise were alright, have yet to play Shadow though I will by the end of the year.

I do agree a more open world-y, tomb explore-y, puzzle romp would be a lot more up my alley than its current Uncharted-lite iteration.
Give Laura a bit more personality, too, please. She's pretty bland and unrelatable atm.

Focus on movement and exploration and MUCH less on shooting things.

 

[Duxxy3]

The 2013 reboot sold over 11 million copies. People like action Lara. Shadow sold poorly because it lacked action.

I don't know why the default response is to reboot everything and make it open world.

 

[Hey Please]

FrozenLetItGo.gif

Seriously though, after playing Rise of the Tomb Raider and rolling my eyes hard at the utterly banal story-line and the general ludonarrative dissonance (given how seriously LC takes herself) and the overall sense of 'meh' which surprisingly was less on an issue with the reboot, I'd say they need to refocus their priorities and be their own thing. It is where I dropped the series altogether.

Also, from what I have read, they need to tone down her saviour-complex issues.

Personally, it would be intriguing if they went back to a more puzzle and exploration focused direction. So, in that regard a BoTW-esque world would definitely help.

In any event, they need better writers, less melodrama, less predictability.

 

[Pilgrimzero]

Go back to the Legends formula. Or do more remakes. The TR1 remake was fantastic.

 

[Semfry]

There was a thread like this a bit ago, so I guess my feelings are pretty much the same:

My full ideas would be much more specific, but to keep it as simple as possible; make an engaging, non-automated platform/exploration system the absolute top priority that the game is focused around. Make Lara actually enjoy herself again (also, as one specific, never make her parents the plot focus again). Minimal Human interaction in both the story and gameplay sense (note this doesn't mean what's there can't be interesting; implying otherwise is just a lack of imagination). Introduce subtle supernatural aspects early and gradually escalate throughout, rather than treating their presence in itself as a "twist".

 

[c0Zm1c]

Remake TR 2 and then build up on that.

Click to shrink...

I was disappointed we never got that. I loved the first remake (I know some people didn't but they are wrong).

 

[TransEuropaExpress]

TR4: The Last Revelation would be an amazing candidate for a remake. The level design in that was super good and exploration was killer.

 

[Hybrid Rainbow]

How about they go back to what made the original games memorable instead of making Tomb Raider: Uncharted Edition? Plus they need to tone down the story immensely. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was narratively all over the place and while they tried to humanize her, she still comes across like this Mary Sue with a savior complex.

 

[Fiery Phoenix]

I love the rebooted series, as do many others. So I don't know what people are talking about when they say it needs 'saving'.

I have yet to play Shadow but I read that it's closer to classic TR than the other two. Less action, more tomb raiding.

 

[Duxxy3]

How about they go back to what made the original games memorable instead of making Tomb Raider: Uncharted Edition? Plus they need to tone down the story immensely. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was narratively all over the place and while they tried to humanize her, she still comes across like this Mary Sue with a savior complex.

Click to shrink...

Because the two best selling Tomb Raider games are from the recent trilogy.

 

[Secretofmateria]

i liked shadow, so id like to see that story continue with a better written lara

 

[CHC]

Something like Shadow of the Colossus but with Lara...and a jeep.
Ambient exploration with enviornment puzzles.

Click to shrink...

Great idea!

And make the character fun again. She used to be badass until they made her a weird gore-porn model and vessel for trauma. Kind of creeped me.

 

[PucePikmin]

Just make it more fun. Enough beating up on Lara -- make her a sexy, in-charge, James Bond type. Maybe a little morally ambiguous, but in a fun rogue-ish kind of way, not a "oh God, this woman is a psychopath" way.

In terms of design -- probably go open world. Non-linear. Make exploration, puzzle solving, and dungeon crawling more of a focus than straight action. I'm kind of imagining something similar to Hitman's stages, but bigger, with proper tombs/dungeons. Give Lara a base/house she can build up with the money she makes from her plundering. Give her a ton of outfits so players can have dress up fun. Bring back dinosaurs.

 

[Techno]

Go back to basics.

I did enjoy the reboot series though.

 

[TheCrackedJack]

I've liked the new games so far. But I would like the games tone to be less serious. There's not a lot of fun Uncharted/Indiana Jones esque banter and moments that make those series a lot of fun to watch.

 

[krae_man]

Shadow already kind of is an open world with a fuck ton of side stuff to do.

With the DLC there's a boat load of tombs as well.

The gameplay is fine, they just need to make the story and characters better. Keep the supernatural through. That's the one good story decision they have made.

 

[jelly]

A better sandbox and if you're going to have enemies, the encounters and sandbox need to be way better. It's just dull, competent and nice to look at but kinda dull. Something fun, bit more light hearted. Maybe a bit more of a challenge or a higher ceiling for traversal etc. If you can make a game look that good, it would be amazing if those aspects lead to more skill, creativity, tension etc.

 

[Dodgerfan74]

I don't know. Get a new main character at this point.

The new Lara is completely awful, and I doubt they're going to reboot her again. So get someone else please.

Click to shrink...

Kill Lara and move on. Her character has no redeeming features.

 

[Izzard]

Make it more about exploring, with more puzzles, and a supernatural/alien vibe. Also less frikkin screaming.

 

[SweetVermouth]

I think open world would be kinda cool. Also make her older, I wanna play a bad ass Lara in her 40s.

 

[Exist 2 Inspire]

Tomb Raider was always super mediocre imo, the reboot games were actually the games in the franchise i had the most fun with by a mile. So i would hope they continue with what they have. Maybe get rid of combat and focus even more on exploring and tombs, Shadow was already a good step in that direction.

 

[JooJ]

OP is calling recent Tomb Raider games mediocre while they're the best reviewing and selling entries in the franchise.

That's just false.

 

[Windu]

I liked all of the rebooted games. The stories need to be better though.

 

[gforguava]

I think the utmost priority has to be bringing back actual platforming and traversal. You can have whatever combat system you want, specific levels or a big open world, story heavy or story light, but by going back to the core of the series(navigating tombs) you'll have the foundation necessary to layer the rest of the game on top of.

 

[PROh1bited]

I really loved the reboot and Rise, I've struggled to play Shadow.

 

[Deleted member 28523]

it needs to get dumb.

 

[Super Chuleta]

Short answer more Tomb Raiding, Long answer more Tomb Raiding with good puzzles, and mystery

 

[krae_man]

Kill Lara and move on. Her character has no redeeming features.

Click to shrink...

So bring back Kurtis Trent?

 

[Trickster]

Reboot the series with OG Lara

 

[Phellps]

For starters, I'd love for them to pretend Reboot Lara didn't exist. Love the games, can't stand the character. Bring the series back to the drawing board, reassess what works and what doesn't. Rework the combat system, it doesn't have to be an over-the-shoulder TPS, despite that working fine for the trilogy. It can be something new and innovative. Focus on exploration, puzzles and player freedom. Look at Breath of the Wild and Half-Life 2 for reference on how a cohesive physics system can provide many solutions and possibilities to the player that even the devs didn't anticipate.

Release a new Lara Croft game to damage control after the general public's reception of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.