Review: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (XBLA)
Another Xbox Live Summer of Arcade has come to a close, and this year, the final game of the promotion is Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. The game’s developers, Crystal Dynamics, have managed to maintain the action and puzzle solving of the Tomb Raider games while still making enough significant changes to ensure that this game feels like more than just another sequel.
Perhaps the most obvious change is the switch to an isometric perspective, with the camera pulled back far enough to give the player a good view of the surrounding area. This new perspective is a great fit for the control scheme, which involves moving your character with the left analog stick and aiming with the right analog stick. With the pulled-back viewpoint and the simplified combat controls, the game is free to throw large mobs of enemies at you without the experience becoming frustrating.
The other major change introduced in Guardian of Light is the addition of two player co-op gameplay. The game launched only with support for local co-op, though online co-op will be introduced via a title update that should be released before the end of September 2010. While you can play through the entire game in single-player mode, it’s definitely a more enjoyable experience with two players. One player controls Lara while the other controls the Mayan god Totec. Both players can use a wide array of collectible weapons, but each character also has unique abilities. Lara can use her grappling hook to scale walls, cross gaps, and create a tightrope for Totec to walk along. Totec has spears that can be thrown into walls and used as stepping stones for Lara to traverse, as well as a shield that can repel enemy projectiles or act as a platform for Lara to stand on when Totec holds it above his head.
The game has a good mix of combat and puzzle solving, and both of these elements are very enjoyable. The combat is fast-paced, and players always have a lot of options available at any given time. You can use a variety of projectile weapons as well as remote-detonated mines, and a rolling dodge move allows you to quickly escape when surrounded by enemies. The puzzles provide a light challenge, requiring some creative thinking but never reaching the point of being frustrating. These puzzles are especially satisfying in co-op mode, as both players need to use their unique skills in creative ways and communicate in order to time their actions correctly.
Guardian of Light also features some very clever level design, with plenty of branching paths and optional puzzles that reward the players with unique collectibles. Those who simply want to finish the level as quickly as possible can do so, while those who want to explore every path will find plenty of relics and treasures to make it worth their while. There are also a number of optional sub-goals within each level that act like mini-achievements. Some simply require you to reach a certain score within the level, while others are unique tasks such as blowing up every truck or destroying every clay pot in a level. As with the optional puzzles, players unlock rewards when they meet these level goals.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light has a lot to offer whether you opt for single player mode or co-op, though I feel that the game is at its best when played with a friend. Thankfully the game is balanced in such a way that even a novice player can get by as long as they are paired with a more experienced gamer. Even if you don’t like or care about the Tomb Raider series, this game is well worth checking out. Anyone who enjoys arcade action and puzzle solving should, at the very least, give the demo a try. While I’m not a fan of $15 being the new de facto standard price point for Xbox Live Arcade games, this is one
game where the price feels justified.
