I've seen the rise and fall and rise of the Tomb Raider series over the years, but I never got into the games myself. Either I didn't have the technology for it or I just didn't have the interest. I don't really have any attachment to the series is what I'm saying. So when this newest reboot came along and was well-received, I just shrugged and though 'Cool, glad to hear it, but no interest level'. Years go by, new consoles arrive and although I am a bit late in hopping to the Xbox One, I'm still able to snag Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition through the Games with Gold promotion. It sits in my library for months until a few weeks ago when (after some needling from my brother) I install the game and get to work. My first session with the game wasn't great and I immediately hit an interest wall, but over the next couple of weeks I play more and more of it, then eventually beat it and get most of the achievements. Once you actually get going the combat is pretty decent and the exploration is fun. The environments are big enough without becoming too much of a chore and the puzzles are pretty fun.
It was cool to see Lara develop as a character, but man does she get the snot beat out of her over the course of the game. It's unlike anything I've seen before in a game and it did make me deeply uncomfortable at times. It got better as the game went along and she took on greater strength, but I can see where people had some issues with just how much violence there was. The rest of the characters are shades of meh. Nothing really too terrible, except the TV personality who was just obnoxious (I get it, thats the point of the character, but it doesnt make it any less annoying). The overall story is alright and it builds up an interesting mythology around the island. The optional tombs were a bit disappointing because of how unsubstantial they were. I understand that it would've broken the flow of the story and she's just not at that part of her career yet, but there were a number of times where I would finish the tomb's puzzle and realize 'oh...thats it I guess'.
Tomb Raider is a good game and a solid entry point for players with no real history with the character. I'll get around to playing the second one in due time, but my journey through this one makes me look forward to the next stage.