Tomb Raider

It’s not often that I can lose myself in a game entirely, and spend hours just ‘bashing’ a game till I’ve finished it entirely. The most recent ones are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, BioShock Infinite, FEZ, and Tomb Raider.

The last three are actually fairly recent, with BioShock Infinite being purchased about two weeks ago, and FEZ along with Tomb Raider only yesterday.

However, this post isn’t about losing myself in the aforementioned games. It’s more about the other rarity, which is when a reboot of the gaming franchise actually succeeds in being better than all other previous titles.

Tomb Raider, I conclude, has done this and more.

Everything about this game screams ‘NEW’, and indeed in gameplay it does feel that way. The most important thins though, is that not only has Tomb Raider brought in new gameplay elements (survival skills, XP, skill mastery, base camps, etc.) but it has also combined these with what would be considered truly original Tomb Raider elements such as ‘reaction time’ and other things. Also, a major change in the game is the almost ‘free roam’ style. Sure, there’s a main quest line, but you can deviate, explore, raid, and do other independent things regardless of where you’re at. I think that the other thing to note is that the chronological order has been completely blown away with this release, with it being set before all the original Tomb Raider games.

This brings to light a lot of things about Lara‘s past, but also helps the gamer connect to the character. In the original games, we played as Lara trying to get into tombs, kill whatever the hell was in there, and get out. No remorse, no mercy. Quick, clean, efficient.

In this game, however, we start doing the exact opposite. Trying to get out of a ‘tomb’, and simply seeking to get away from the cursed island filled with bat-crazy natives and a infinite forecast of rain. The cut-scenes that randomly dot Lara’s journey to becoming a ‘Tomb Raider’ add infinite depth to the feel of the game also, with Lara being scared out of her wits when first alone, having literally zero confidence in getting anywhere at first, and almost being sick when having to shoot a man through the head in self defence. It paints her in a totally different light than what I’m used to, and what many experienced players are, but I would say it’s been a positive overhaul, rather than a negative.

Honestly, I think that the line on Steam that I saw just about sums it up:

There’s a survivor in all of us.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Hey, can’t say I’ve exactly been away from my computer this time, and I can’t say I’ve been busy, either. Well, I have, but not in the way you’d expect. I mean this isn’t your usual ‘I have commissions and jobs to finish’ busy, no. This is your ‘I have Skyrim to play, Dragons to slay, and bounties to pay’ busy. What can I say though? It’s an epic game…even if no one I know apart from George will believe me

Anyway, enough of my hermit life in front of the very screen I am typing on, it’s time to update you on some things in my (very small, hermity, and boring) life. First things first! I’m redecorating! Lame, I know, but I honestly can’t remember what’s happened since holiday…it all seems to be filled in with playing Skyrim all day, every day…and maybe it has, I don’t know. Carrying on though, this redecoration really does suck. I mean, who knew wielding a paint pad could be so hard! I managed to paint one wall yesterday, ONE, and my arms were burning like fire. Turns out that these cursed things require a second coat though! I honestly believe that somewhere out there, someone has figured one coat paint…but I’ve just probably never seen it, or they’re just unwilling to share it with me. Either way, I still wish I had it right now, especially when I’m meant to be repainting the whole house, which is more than just a few walls, I assure you.

Secondly, ah, the memories are coming back now, I did get to meet up with Juj himself the other week (or was it month?) and finally got to see him other than through FaceTime, which made him look distorted to say the least. It was a good time, playing Skyrim, Minecraft, and other things pretty much the whole time, as you do. In fact, our motto for the day was ‘Skyrim ’till death!’ which we both seemed to whole heartedly believe at the time. But alas, the night proved too much for us to handle, and even two super-powered Dovahkiins have to sleep sometimes (gotta get that ‘Well Rested’ bonus). So, we slept for a few hours, and carried on. All in all, the trip was, undeniably, a huge success, barring the fact that I left my coat there, of course.

I’m pretty sure that was last month, but since then of course it’s just been me, Skyrim, and a whole load of biscuits. Fortunately I did remember that there was a real world out there, and so I’ve decided to come off for a while, seeing as amassing over 200 hours of gameplay in the first few weeks really isn’t good for my health. Then I remembered I had a blog! Yeah, I admit I did kinda forget, but hey, excessive gaming does that to you. However, I do have a boatload of pictures to share that I’ll be doing every day again, to keep me on my toes and help me to get up early. I would do a Newsspot so frequently too, but nothing on seems to grab me these days, but maybe that’ll change in the coming days.

Anyway, I’m done for now, so I’ll stop myself from rambling on and on…

亞歷克斯的！