The Reboot of Tomb Raider 10 Years Later…

Tomb Raider has always been a series that brought you some fun action and exploration and as games evolved how 3rd person games like this could be done, the Tomb Raider franchise would get the full reboot treatment, bringing us a brand new origin story for the character and a whole new journey for Lara Croft to go on. Today, let's take a look at the Tomb Raider reboot 10 years after it came out.
Written By: Jordan Fringe
Edited By: Jordan Fringe & Jackson S.
Gameplay Captured by: Jackson S.
Channel Art By: Jerry Meehan

[@JordanFringeGaming]

Thanks so much for watching! Let me know your thoughts on the rebooted Tomb Raider series and which game out of the three is your favorite!

[@VongolaXZax]

For me personally, the first game, a lot of fans from the rebooted series always defended the second and third, there's a lot of "in the defense of" videos, about em. Here's hoping the next series does well, too.

[@kristopherwillis8075]

This game still holds up in my opinion it's been 10 years already that's crazy😅.

[@claycowan1989]

I hate the rebooted games. They tried way to hard to chase trends and be like all the other melodramatic story-driven AAA games. The new Lara was bland and boring and hardly stuck out. The older versions of Lara are far superior and most of the games are better

[@bandaid007jl]

I never cared much for the older Tomb Raider games and the ps3 ones but I picked up the whole tomb raider franchise for $1 on steam about a year and a half ago, played them all back to back and are now my favorite games of all time. best buck I ever spent

[@Garyisubercool]

I thought it was a great game. Not perfect by any means, but very solid.

[@charmingpeasant9834]

When this reboot came out i was really into it. But the veneer eventually fell off and as they continued with this new direction it made me miss the old Tomb Raider and Lara.

[@julysses1355]

Can't believe it's been a decade since this was released. God time flies...

[@gardevoirtrainer4526]

I really like how when you read item descriptions or journal entries someone narrates the whole thing.

[@caiacroft]

This trilogy had a huge impact on my life. Such great games and Lara is truly an amazing character. Shadow is my favourite from the series :)

[@ahmeduansar]

I'm playing through them all for the first time right now. I've completed 2013 and Rise, and am currently playing Shadow. Loving it so far

[@MikePlacer]

Shadows is so good man the setting and story I love the 2012 apocalypse vibe top 10 game in my book

[@Variocom]

JORDAN! You CANT do this to me! Its already been 10 YEARS since they rebooted Tomb Raider?!? 🤯😱💀

[@BDChupacabra]

Fuck I loved these games so much. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years

[@robert907]

Before watching just wanna say can't believe this damn game came out 10 years ago.. I'm getting so damn old

[@Ark_Strike]

I have completed this game 3 times so far and I always get the feeling that the way Lara is so often breakdancing her face in the ground in the set pieces, just falling from high places, landing on her sides or back, navigating septic waters, near dying of cold (yet never thought about stealing a freaking jacket from the enemies) not to mention all the gruesome just GORY AS FUCK ways she can die if you fail a Quick Time Event... I get the feeling this was someone's fetish because goddamn it always made me feel uncomfortable how unnecessary so much of it was

[@ChicagoBulls1984]

I revisited this one on an OLED tv and man does it look surprisingly good. The atmosphere and lighting hold up really well

[@omarfatman]

my gripe is the camera sway is very bad and was giving me a headache without a way to turn it off

[@RyuichiNoGekido]

I got all 3 in a bundle for $20+tax, and after I beat the first game I felt like I got MORE than my money's worth. I remember liking the second one even more... But by the third one I was either burnt out, or the puzzles just weren't as intuitive to solve. Or, what would often happen is I'd have the right idea the first time but miss the jump by a frame, making me think the solution was elsewhere wasting just SO much time dicking around "looking for the solution". I was super determined NOT to look anything up, but 3 tempted me SOOO many times. So, I guess I like the second one best.

[@NetWebUser]

I agree the third kinda fell short for me too I think it's because they focused to much on stealth and it felt less open and you were often in boxed in areas that forced you to use stealth.

[@Uncharted95]

This was the first story-driven game that I started a new save file immediately after completing it the first time. The only other game that had me do this was The Last of Us, also in 2013. :')

[@conmanwolf405]

Honestly, the first one (2013) is my personal favorite. There is something about the stories of Rise and Shadow that don't work for me. The gameplay of Rise is probably even better, but somewhere in all that it breaks down.

[@nosdregamon]

Same here. I love the first part of the Tomb Raider reboot (The other parts were "Just OK" despite more polish). The setting was just so great - Mystical and Ancient yet a little grounded in reality. The Situation pretty perfect - Isolated and Desperate, you had all good reasons to overcome the odds alone. The villains were really frightening - and (especially the death cult) inhumane enough to fight without (much) remorse. It was not perfect, but the first game truly hit some high notes for me.

[@yochrisnelson]

I just replayed this very recently and the opening act is still a masterpiece! The game still has its ups and downs but holds up as a fantastic and modern game. You’ve definitely inspired me to hop into Rise of the Tomb Raider next! Great video Jordan!

[@JustinW332]

I was a fan of Crystal Dynamics first tomb raider trilogy so I had high expectations when this game was coming out. I liked that tomb raider was finally getting more of a budget behind it and gaining more mainstream recognition because you always want your favorite series to do well. But I honestly didn't like the really violent death scenes and how combat heavy it was and the puzzles were kind of meh. I really missed the huge sprawling puzzle rooms that looped around into previous areas and the levels getting more and more elaborate as you progress. What set tomb raider apart to me was Lara's personality, her intelligence, confidence and sassiness. As well as the classics emphasis on puzzles and exploration. Nothing against the reboot, but it just wasn't for me. However Rise was more my speed. I still go back and play it now and then because the puzzle rooms kinda took me back to when I was a teenager playing tomb raider legend and I just couldn't wait to get to the next puzzle.

[@levferno483]

This series being 10 years old now is crazy! Love this game.

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Tbh when i think tomb raider i still think of the original take. Miss that charm it had

[@claycowan1989]

I'm not a fan of the Tomb Raider reboot. It tried to hard to chase trends. It has a melodramatic story and Lara became boring, just like most story-drivem AAA games. Plus the reboot games barely had any tomb raiding. Lara in the past games was both fun and interesting, which the new Lara lacked.

[@spritz5543]

I only played and beat the original 2013 one. My steam hour count on it says 13.5 hours. To be honest I don't remember anything about it regarding plot. I do remember the gameplay, QTE, and environments very well though. It's honestly shocking for me because I had completely forgotten that I even played this game and only remembered a few years ago I did. I remember enjoying it very much. I do want to go back and revist it. At some point I picked up the second game but never played it. They are definitely in my backlog of must plays, and not the classic steam backlog of "will eventually play, but realistically won't ever"

[@cardsfanbj]

I didn't play the reboot until 2020 and I gotta say it still held up well then. Maybe not on par with the looks of modern games but was still good. I played mostly Runescape on my laptop and older DS and Gamecube games up until 2018 when I built my first gaming PC and eventually found TR for cheap on a Steam sale and gave it a try. Picked up Rise Of and then Shadow Of shortly after and loved those games, too, getting better with every entry. I like the light survival gameplay, not too heavy into the survival mechanics where you're basically always thinking about food, water, tiredness, etc.

[@vampirecheetah]

As someone who has fond childhood memories of 90's era Tomb Raider, I liked the 2013 game... Buuuuuuuut then all the handeling and choices done to characters beyond the initial 2013 game content (books, comics, etc) really began to sour things. Actions characters took contradicted behaviors from the game, it's like they threw all narative sense out the window. Throw on top of that Crystal Dynamics placing even more emphasis on Lara's father for the umpteenth time (seriously, the first movie in the 2000s, once more through LAU trilogy, now with the reboot, again with the movie...) it feels like the games are an excuse to let CD gush about their self insert character. I mean if every plot revolves around Richard Croft, just make a Richard Croft game. Additionally the console exclusivity for the 2nd reboot game really upset a lot of fans, and CD's handeling of that was so poor it just killed things for me.

[@Mankey619]

Square’s take on Tomb Raider are nice and I did enjoyed playing all three of the games,but it’ll never be as iconic as the classic Tomb Raider that CORE design made with Eidos. Now sadly Square sold Eidos Interactive to a new parenting third party company called Embracer Group recently.

[@VongolaXZax]

I really enjoyed the reboot series of Tomb Raider, along with my older sister, we both played the originals too, way before the reboot series came out. The reboot series isn't all bad, as most fans make it out to be.

[@RecordsoftheDeepFolk]

I genuinely love this series!

[@s-juice]

I played the Tomb Raider reboot on PC a few years ago. I haven't played the other two in the trilogy.

[@bhirawamaylana466]

is weird to see Uncharted copy the original Tomb Raider and then Tomb Raider Remake copy Uncharted.

[@benjaminstrohecker919]

I playing tomb raider 2013 On steam and i have to say i loving it so far. I hot rise of the tomb raider on sale on ps4 And i order shadow of the tomb raider for ps4 today. An good video today dude keep up the good work.

[@GazerBeam2k]

Your content is so enjoyable. I regularly watch both channels. Thank you Jordan

[@SunainAli-ol1kr]

Just finished this masterpiece

[@TheftTheSneaky]

personally thought the first game in the reboot trilogy was just ok. Didn't leave a massive impression on me, i tried playing the second one but just wasnt feeling it and never finished it our went on to shadow of the tomb raider. I might've just been burned out on its gameplay since i was playing them back to back so maybe ill go back to Rise of the Tomb Raider sometime to try and give it a fair shot again but I'm in no rush lol. Overall though it was cool to live through another era of Tomb raider prominence having mostly missed the first era on PS1 cause i was so young at its original peak.

[@rowdyrager-9403]

I had bought tomb raider 2013 when it released. It was a good remake I think. Just bought all 3 on. The recent spring steam sale. So I am currently playing TR2013 and I never played Rise or Shadow so they will be newer to me.

[@stuffingtonjfluffypantsiii]

pre-reboot Lara seemed to have more personality. Granted I don't play the Tomb Raider games much no matter the era that's because I'm too dumb to figure out the puzzles. lol

[@BrennySpain]

I remember the first reboot game came out a week before it was meant to. Someone made a whoopsie! Lol

[@user-qb7yb7vp8q]

Hey, Maybe next for video games you could do Nintendo 64 Banjo Kazooie 1998, Nintendo 64 Mickey Mouse Speedway USA 2000 and Nintendo 64 Super Smash Bros 1999, thank you and great work you're doing.

[@darkestfugue]

ive been playing tomb raider since the original in 96, i played and finished all of them except angel of darkness, my favourite by far is the original, there was nothing that came close to it at the time and it was like exploring another world for me, tomb raider 2 was a worthy sequel but didnt quite suck me in like the original did, the next game that i enjoyed was legend, i did like a lot of the new stuff they threw in there and i had fun with it, and then there is this one where again i was able to immerse myself in it and have some fun, the rest of the games were pretty forgettable to me, these 3 were the standouts

[@CozyGlow625]

The Reebot trilogy is still Astoundingly majestic. It isn't Tomb Raider, however it is still staggering. The stories are magnificent for the most part, the characters are spectacular too (with a few exceptions) and everything else is immensly fluid and gorgeous. Lara herself is adorable and a well-written character. And Himiko is fantastic. Of course, it isn't perfect and the final installment was rather macabre, but overall, A great trilogy!

[@Fanatical_Empathy]

I just finished the first reboot and my only complaint is the pacing. I feel like every corridor was just another space loaded with enemies. And there was a good break in the action about 3 hours in. I was expecting to have cleared the whole island and be able to get into actual tomb rating mode. But I was mistaken. I feel the action could have been broken up with forced tomb rating sections. Just so that I could focus know not shooting things every 2 seconds. Gameplay loop is okay it was just done to death.

[@ellebee2419]

They are good games. But too quick to play through and not enough replay-ability. The good - pretty and entertaining, I loved the bow and arrow! The controls were smooth (remember the Angel of Darkness debacle? Ha Ha!) The bad - Seemingly large areas but really they were very small and linear without enough exploration. Tomb raider means getting lost, not knowing what you need to do - oh then you find something and YAY! you know what to do! Not enough puzzles, or 'tombs'. Seriously needed more exploration and puzzles.

[@Lil_Valor]

I’ve enjoyed replaying the first game multiple times and have replayed Rise once not because they are Tomb Raider, but with how linear and quick to get through they are. They’re fun Uncharted like games but certainly lack so much identity of Tomb Raider itself

[@PaleoSteno]

The Tomb Raider prequel/reboot games are the only Tomb Raiders I've played, lol. I think I liked Rise the most which isn't an uncommon opinion. Also they're great for benchmarking PCs, lol.

[@JayniacJr]

I miss the original Lara. She did it all for pleasure, after abandoning her family's expectations in favor of her own goals and desires. She was a rebel, she was a thrill seeker, and her outfit was instantly recognizable. The reboot was fine I guess...

[@VongolaXZax]

Almost everyone always wanted a crossover, between her and Drake, it would have been interesting.

[@RappingNinja]

I realize she’s a gaming icon, but “perfect rich woman who can do literally anything” never did much for me. I adore the reboot Lara who barely survives by the skin of her teeth and has to work HARD to stay alive. Classic Lara could side-flip past any threat with a quip, which was… fine, but also pretty meh.

[@Hear.myvoice]

@@VongolaXZax I don't want a crossover 😅 I mean why would Lara need Drake? She is a lone wolf... She kills dinosaurs and demons; she is faster; stronger and smarter 🤣

[@VongolaXZax]

@@RappingNinja lol, I know what you mean. OG Lara was the girl who, already, earned the name of Tomb Raider, we see it throughout her games, Reboot Lara however, was the one we got to see earn the name of Tomb Raider, in her games.

[@Void_Out]

@@RappingNinja The old Lara was far from perfect, I only think people have said as such pretty much because of her attitude, but that’s like saying Dante has never had trouble or personal issues because of his attitude, she definitely goes through plenty, especially as the games progressed. Tomb Raider (2007) had shown a lot of her past coming back to remind her of failures she had made, even during her early Tomb Raiding days and that game, plus the two games after, was almost entirely focused around that.

[@NerdyGamerReacts]

Please review the other 2 games in the series, my favorite in the series is the 3rd, perfect balance of exploration, story, tomb raiding and combat, (imo). 💯😃

[@hayden7525]

This is till one of my favorite games. Shadow of the tomb raider was done so well amd its such a smooth game

[@RoninRon08]

I always like to play this around thanksgiving and I just hated there was no NG+

[@irishrose90]

I enjoyed playing this game, but to me it wasn't a Lara Croft game. Maybe I'm too old school, but the Lara I love is the version from the first game right up to underworld.

[@millaray9912]

I love the “new” TR trilogy so much & I’ve played them all multiple times. Rise is my favorite.

[@partyjams]

this is the game that brought me into the franchise. I'm still getting through the comic series that goes along with it. in that sense this game did what it needed to do.

[@BrennySpain]

First 2 reboot games were amazing! Especially rise which I’m glad finally came to ps4 after a year of being an exclusive. Shadow was a bit of a letdown but I did enjoy the extra challenges that came out with DLC as time went on.

[@basilciccone1679]

hey. you should talk about ty: the Tasmanian tiger sometime. great xbox game

[@blizmo2]

I really need to play this

[@user-qb7yb7vp8q]

I had the Lara Croft Wii game which was fun and entertaining and I really like it but I never got to finish it.

[@dominicanag1032]

I just recently purchased the trilogy on sell for Black Friday. I really enjoyed playing all three games. But my favorite I must say is the Rise of the Tomb Raider.

[@StainderFin]

Shadow of tomb raider was really good from 2021 with larger world map and more feeling it is open world and you can always go back with it without repeating content what you are already done and when you do there is always new game+ that carry over all goodies and gears for new game to expreince it again with more better geared up

[@Gatorade69]

I have only played Rise and I reall6 enjoyed it.

[@stateofmind578]

Currently on a new playthrough of this trilogy. This game feels a little outdated gameplay wise, but still a very fun and enjoyable game 👍

[@Kentanimationnnnnnnnn]

every time i made lara died because i failed at playing the game made me genuinely feel bad for failing lara and really was the focus point in my gameplay experience

[@octo448]

I really enjoyed the games, all three of time. Rise is probably my favorite but the others are good as well, but I think Rise hits the sweet spot of combat, narrative, exploration, and pacing. I think there are valid criticisms to be aimed at the games, namely narrative weakness (every other sequence is a kidnapping or hostage situation in every game, for example), some lack of depth at times, concessions to gameplay, etc. I think all those pale in comparison to how genuinely good the games are, however. I also think the criticisms that people toss at the Tomb Raider games can be easily leveled at other popular games as well, but rarely are. As to how similar Uncharted is to Tomb Raider or vice versa... does it really matter? This space is more than big enough for both of them, and neither is so expansive of an experience as to really impact the other. Most fans of one will just be happy for similar games to play and purchase the other without much convincing.

[@brandonelliott7482]

Just got added to game pass and I’m loving it so far.

[@MrBergste]

I know a lot of people had issues with this trilogy for various reasons, but I loved these games. I really enjoyed my time with them.

[@stephanaustin6529]

Ngl I didn't play them in forever, I'm going have to replay them to have a better option. They are fun though

[@jordonhanlan]

This was 10 years ago! Whaaaaat

[@VictorHernandez-nj2lo]

Please do videos on fighting games

[@Minycart]

It’s been 10 years?!

[@Jordansklar0698]

Never realized u did game videos😂

[@samwill7259]

**Trademark grunting and blubbering noises that are basically her catchphrase at this point**

[@awesomeseth01]

I got play this as I have only played rise of the tomb raider and shadow of the tomb raider

[@hashimr.5473]

I know the game tone is meant to be serious, but I wish the game elevate some situations with some humour or a light hearted moment. The game especially the 2nd one is just takes itself way too serious.

[@cheesecloth8]

I really dug the first two games in the trilogy, with my preference probably going to the first just for the freshness of it. The third one I didn't even end up finishing, I just found it interminable and not fun. Needless "open world" elements that just took away from the core puzzle/combat/survival loops of the first two.

[@TheCroftTomb.]

I love this game!!!

[@ZachariahJ]

Loved the game, but never understood where all the dead bodies and skeletons came from, when it's small island. There must be tens of thousands of bodies! Same applies to Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Literal lakes of blood - whose blood?! Not sure if Rise had so many, but that may be my memory at fault.

[@le1660]

Yup rise has em too.

[@bounceycake1]

This trilogy is the reason why I still don't understand why they screwed up that Avengers game so bad...

[@akshaytrayner1960]

I still love it

[@poop8701]

When this first came put I was so freaking amazed at new Laura. And each new game not straying too much from the others. Although I think shadow was trying a bit too hard to add too many elements it didn't need. Bit it was great to play all of them and I feel like I want to do another play through of all of them again🥲

[@kjh4496]

Square Enix started interfering with Shadows development, fired the lead writer of the other 2 games and made them put in RPG elements. It’s one of the most expensive games ever made and Square had got pissed that it was selling better than FF so they sold it out out spite to Embracer Group.

[@lifeofbekahh]

tomb raider is my favorite video game series 😊

[@sir_gil]

Man the first one was amazing cuz we all just knew we were going to develop into the real Lora and part 2 was supposed to be amazing… and then yea… not bad but not Lora

[@ibeakeri0648]

I absolutely loved these games and still play them every few months

[@sillkthashocker]

I can't wait for the cutting edge Unreal engine Tomb Raider coming. It will top Forbidden West in fidelity!

[@cybernetichype661]

Got the Definitive Edition with my PS4 alongside Wolfenstein, Second Son and a couple more games, good times. Would’ve gotten the platinum trophy if it wasn’t tied to the game’s forgettable multiplayer.

[@VongolaXZax]

I always disliked that in certain games, especially if the server shutdown. While true, if a multiplayer isn't engaging enough, then the trophies aren't worth it.

[@ThePrimo80s]

This game is perfection. I went into this game thinking it was an uncharted copycat, but boy was a I wrong. The brutally that Lara endures in this game is unreal. I small detail that I absolutely love about this game, is the deterioration of Lara’s clothes. You start the game a little rough around the edges, but by the end she’s an absolute mess. This small, but important detail, made you feel like the character had been through a lot. Great video Jordan. Really enjoyed it.

[@Oldschool1943]

fan fiction isn't perfection

[@wangchung2157]

​@@Oldschool1943edgy

[@gracekim25]

Oooo ok😮

[@webguy943]

All of them rmy fav but the one big downside is WHERE R LARAS DUAL PISTOLS?!?!?! WITHOUT THEM ITS NOT A TRUE TOMBRAIDER. THEY BETTER GIVE HER THAT IN THE NEXT ITERATION

[@smoothieduo7409]

Omg I’ve never commented on a video before the first minute of upload. Hope you’re having a good day! ☺️

[@karlmueller1980]

Well, for me with tomb, raider survive, as I like to call the first one rise of the tomb, raider and shadow of the tomb raider. Rise of the tomb, raider is my favorite so far I’m in the early hours of shadow of the tomb raider. Even though my very first tomb, raider game that I played was tomb raider legends, and then underworld, and then anniversary.

[@superlatero]

It's just not Tomb Raider or Lara, they could've just ccreated a new franchise and it would've been pretty good, but they've just desecrated her unfortunately.

[@JotoheKian]

I liked the trilogy and had plenty fun with it. But I don't see them as Tomb Raider games. They lack Tomb Raider essence, whatever it might be, and have only sporadic moments where I felt even fleeting vibes of the true TR ambience. Also, Lara is an entirely different person. She never becomes Lara Croft, as was promised, but develops into a very skilled, yet troubled happenstance explorer, more concerned with random strangers than the thrill of tomb raiding. Stll, though, the games are really good. Just not as TR games.

[@light819]

I really liked the first reboot and the second entry was also good, never felt motivation to finish the third so I can't rate it

[@yt-mazra726]

😂 the damn wolves frightened the hell out of me.

[@StrawberryMilk495]

I like it but once you finish the story it’s empty 😂

[@circle2867]

loved the orginal reboot. the other two were very meh

[@JasLamArr91]

I love the rebooted Tomb Raider series. I liked how grounded Lara was in these games. The first one remains my favorite one from the trilogy.

[@VongolaXZax]

Same

[@khajiit8221]

Its a good game. But I only played through it a few times 10 years ago. It has sat on my shelf untouched since. Never go back to the more modern games in the same way I did with the 1990s classic Tomb Raider games, which I still play through now and then.

[@lum1notryc828]

Nostalgia

[@Oldschool1943]

the fan fiction reboot that has nothing to do with lara croft/tomb raider and the source material.

[@bloodless653]

The first two games of this rebooted series were incredible. I think they both hold up really well. Shadow is OK, but there was just something about it that didn't live up to the first two games and I lost interest before finishing it.

[@BrennySpain]

Nathan Drake and Lara Croft literally feel like long lost brother and sister. Who else is with me?

[@Red_Fives217]

I love all 3, but I think Shadow of the tomb Raider is my favorite. There was a greater focus on stealth, exploration, and puzzles; I also thought it gave Lara more character development than the other 2. It's a shame that it was the weakest performing of the trilogy.

[@ilyadurnev5586]

Camila Ludington is godly beautiful. Developers should make Lara's face more like here or even identical. Don't like whole bunch of reboot games tho

[@webguy943]

Yea no

[@toddpace4588]

The Tomb Raider reboot was more cutscenes than game play.

[@jaysony8587]

Not true.

[@toddpace4588]

@@jaysony8587 Hmm. Much like Uncharted to me.

[@jaysony8587]

@@toddpace4588 Doesn’t help that Uncharted’s gameplay is actually lacking.

[@dudemcguy10]

I still remember when it felt like a big deal if you were a kid that had a pc strong enough to run this type of game. 😔

[@Linkswolfform]

This Tomb Raider trilogy really hit all the notes I really loved: so many collectables that were fun to find with historical facts, a little more freedom of movement compared to Uncharted, and allowing me to use stealth and bows instead of firearms. I think number 2 was my favorite, though I played 2 and 3 in quick succession so I may have been a little burnt out. I think they ended the trilogy well, but I could see them making more and I would be there for it.

[@Ohlukei]

Tomb Raider 2013 was great. Still love it. It is a shame that they did not continue like this with Rise and Shadow. 😞

[@bioshock6935]

I just find the tomb raider games to clunky and in your face as you have to aim zooming every time you want to shoot at anything