Most of us long time and old time fans of the Tomb Raider series will feel quite moved at times while playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Lara meets lethal piranhas, annoying bats, friendly monkeys, deadly eels - all that kind of fauna that we were so used to seeing in Lara's classic adventures. There is also a vast jungle, hugely improved over the unforgettable Tomb Raider 3 one, and of course there is Peru and its folklore, which brings vivid memories of the first Tomb Raider ever to mind. The nostalgia factor is rather strong in the latest installment of the series, which, although it reaches certain heights of perfection in some fields, somehow slightly fails to deliver its full raiding power.

The story is interesting but unfortunately unfolds too quickly and somewhat superficially. Although the Latin American & Mayan themes are showcased extremely well, the plot itself is too weak to support a whole game. The idea of a lost tribe that is living in its own isolated corner, away from the so-called civilized world, is very intricate, but one would expect a lot more elaboration under the surface - because visually, the presentation is close to perfection. Lara arrives at the hidden city of Paititi and discovers a paradise on earth, but soon finds out that even paradises have their troubles. There is a dethroned queen, a power-hungry antagonist, usurpers, rebels; gruesome sacrifices take place, people are held and tortured in prison cells. All this sounds extremely interesting, the characters involved however are largely one-dimensional, and you do not have the chance to get to know them well enough so as to feel for them (with the exception of Lara and her old buddy Jonah). Which is a pity, as there are certain things that could have been elaborated a lot more. For example, I got very strong "Heart of Darkness" vibes (I refer to the classic novella by Joseph Conrad) when I saw Dr Dominguez in his impressive tribal outfit the moment that Lara realized that her number one enemy was actually a royal Maya descendant - a theme that should have been given more time and depth.

That said, the story somehow manages to surprisingly build up as soon as the last section starts, and the finale is quite epic on its own, although I still think that Lara's arch enemy should have been present a lot more throughout the story up to that point. Just remember Constantin from Rise of the Tomb Raider - he was an ever powerful villain whose ominous presence was always threatening everyone and everything even when he was not around. Dr Dominguez comes off as a confused, marginally deranged idiot with no convincing motivation for his actions. Similarly, Queen Unuratu leaves the game as discreetly as she joins it and as soon as she is out, you almost forget about her. Crimson Fire, however, is an unforgettable figure, in spite of her brief role.

Nonetheless, if you are a fan of exploring, you are going to have the time of your life with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The sceneries are massive, and there is something to look for in almost every impossible corner. I was very close to reaching the game's final mission when I thought I'd fast travel a bit to check a couple of things. The couple of things became a dozen and soon I realized that I couldn't care less (so to speak) about the story, getting more and more fascinated with the lushly designed and tantalizing settings that were constantly inviting me to explore them in every detail.

Tomb Raider has always been primarily about exploration and discovery, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider is impeccable from this aspect. The gameplay is perfectly set up, so that you can reach the point-of-no-return campsite and go back to explore every nook and cranny before you proceed, thanks to the Fast Travel system. Of course there are tombs. And not simply that. The tombs of Shadow of the Tomb Raider are majestic, they are nearly mini-games themselves, they are something incredible. Same goes for a main key mission, that of San Juan. Everything concerning that mission is magnificently done - from the sceneries to the puzzles, from the music to the overall atmosphere. There are also lots of challenges, some of which are fun to do (like the one which involves rope-pulling pink frog totems) and some of which will have you looking around for stuff to do and items to find. Lara also has the option to help out people in assigned missions. These are optional, but if she does carry them out, she will be rewarded with gifts and XP.

Most of us long time and old time fans of the Tomb Raider series will feel quite moved at times while playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Lara meets lethal piranhas, annoying bats, friendly monkeys, deadly eels - all that kind of fauna that we were so used to seeing in Lara's classic adventures. There is also a vast jungle, hugely improved over the unforgettable Tomb Raider 3 one, and of course there is Peru and its folklore, which brings vivid memories of the first Tomb Raider ever to mind. The nostalgia factor is rather strong in the latest installment of the series, which, although it reaches certain heights of perfection in some fields, somehow slightly fails to deliver its full raiding power. The story is interesting but unfortunately unfolds too quickly and somewhat superficially. Although the Latin American & Mayan themes are showcased extremely well, the plot itself is too weak to support a whole game. The idea of a lost tribe that is living in its own isolated corner, away from the so-called civilized world, is very intricate, but one would expect a lot more elaboration under the surface - because visually, the presentation is close to perfection. Lara arrives at the hidden city of Paititi and discovers a paradise on earth, but soon finds out that even paradises have their troubles. There is a dethroned queen, a power-hungry antagonist, usurpers, rebels; gruesome sacrifices take place, people are held and tortured in prison cells. All this sounds extremely interesting, the characters involved however are largely one-dimensional, and you do not have the chance to get to know them well enough so as to feel for them (with the exception of Lara and her old buddy Jonah). Which is a pity, as there are certain things that could have been elaborated a lot more. For example, I got very strong "Heart of Darkness" vibes (I refer to the classic novella by Joseph Conrad) when I saw Dr Dominguez in his impressive tribal outfit the moment that Lara realized that her number one enemy was actually a royal Maya descendant - a theme that should have been given more time and depth. That said, the story somehow manages to surprisingly build up as soon as the last section starts, and the finale is quite epic on its own, although I still think that Lara's arch enemy should have been present a lot more throughout the story up to that point. Just remember Constantin from Rise of the Tomb Raider - he was an ever powerful villain whose ominous presence was always threatening everyone and everything even when he was not around. Dr Dominguez comes off as a confused, marginally deranged idiot with no convincing motivation for his actions. Similarly, Queen Unuratu leaves the game as discreetly as she joins it and as soon as she is out, you almost forget about her. Crimson Fire, however, is an unforgettable figure, in spite of her brief role. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of exploring, you are going to have the time of your life with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The sceneries are massive, and there is something to look for in almost every impossible corner. I was very close to reaching the game's final mission when I thought I'd fast travel a bit to check a couple of things. The couple of things became a dozen and soon I realized that I couldn't care less (so to speak) about the story, getting more and more fascinated with the lushly designed and tantalizing settings that were constantly inviting me to explore them in every detail. Tomb Raider has always been primarily about exploration and discovery, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider is impeccable from this aspect. The gameplay is perfectly set up, so that you can reach the point-of-no-return campsite and go back to explore every nook and cranny before you proceed, thanks to the Fast Travel system. Of course there are tombs. And not simply that. The tombs of Shadow of the Tomb Raider are majestic, they are nearly mini-games themselves, they are something incredible. Same goes for a main key mission, that of San Juan. Everything concerning that mission is magnificently done - from the sceneries to the puzzles, from the music to the overall atmosphere. There are also lots of challenges, some of which are fun to do (like the one which involves rope-pulling pink frog totems) and some of which will have you looking around for stuff to do and items to find. Lara also has the option to help out people in assigned missions. These are optional, but if she does carry them out, she will be rewarded with gifts and XP.