Two new games starring the legendary Tomb Raider, Lara Croft, have been revealed today at E3!
Rise of the Tomb Raider is the next installment in the main series, picking up after the 2013 reboot with Camilla Luddington returning in the role of Lara Croft, and author Rhianna Pratchett returning to lead the team penning the storyline. Apparently, as revealed in the E3 2014 trailer seen further down the page, the harrowing events of the previous adventure sent Lara into therapy. Now she’s ready to embrace her calling as a true tomb raiding heroine.
In her first adventure, Lara Croft was forged into a true survivor, but she glimpsed a deeper, secret world. In the next chapter of her journey, Lara must use her survival skills and wits, learn to trust new friends, and ultimately accept her destiny as the Tomb Raider. Featuring epic, high-octane action moments, “Rise of the Tomb Raider” will take gamers to multiple locations around the world filled with exploration spaces that are some of the most beautifully hostile places on earth. In addition, after hearing the cry from fans loud and clear, the game will put the tombs back into Tomb Raider, all in the franchise’s gritty Survival-Action style.
Specific details about Rise of the Tomb Raider have not been revealed, nor has any gameplay footage, but there is a new CG trailer and a few pieces of concept art as seen on this page. Hell, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics won’t even confirm all platforms yet. The game was shown for Xbox One, but it’s safe to expect versions for at least PC and PlayStation 4 as well. The game is scheduled to ship during the 2015 holiday season.
Next up is Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, the unexpected sequel to the cooperative top-down spin-off game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris will retain the core gameplay, presentation, and digital download format of its predecessor, only the game will be expanded to four-player co-op instead of only two players. Based on the announcement trailer, having four players solving puzzles, avoiding traps and blasting enemies seems way too chaotic and hard to follow for my liking, but that will be easily remedied by playing solo or with only a second player.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris takes place deep in the deserts of Egypt. In her new adventure, Lara must join forces with rival treasure hunter Carter Bell and imprisoned gods Horus and Isis, to defeat the evil god Set. As Lara and her companions fight the elements of nature across the sands and through ancient tombs, they will battle legendary deities and creatures of myth. With the fate of the world at stake, Lara must recover the fragments of Osiris to stop Set from enslaving all mankind.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is in development for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A release date hasn’t been announced, but the trailer says it’s “coming soon” so I’m assuming it’ll launch by end of the year.