Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Is “First Step in Next Major Phase”

With Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Crystal Dynamics is reimagining the unique recreation that may entice franchise vets, and on the identical time, probably hook normal online game gamers who may not be aware of the franchise.

However how does the dev crew stability catering to diehard franchise followers who’re averse to huge adjustments, and those that are coming into the franchise recent, and even those that are coming from the Survivor period of Tomb Raider?

This was one thing we requested the studio, they usually had been fairly candid of their response.

Legacy of Atlantis Will Be the First Step within the “Subsequent Main Section of Tomb Raider Gaming”

In an unique interview with Jeff Adams, Expertise Director of the sport, we requested what the design philosophy of Legacy of Atlantis is, which prompted a longer-than-expected reply.

MP1st: The air has been cleared loads of occasions earlier than about the place LoA sits within the timeline of video games. It serves each as a remake of the unique, whereas additionally being a reimagining to unify the timelines of the Survivor Trilogy and authentic. This begs a giant query for the design philosophy: how do you strike the fitting stability between catering to veteran followers of the unique and drawing in gamers whose introduction to Lara was the Survivor period?

Jeff Adams: We’re extraordinarily appreciative of all of our followers, it doesn’t matter what part of Tomb Raider gaming or IP you entered from. In case you’re one in all our longtime followers from 1996, we’re so blissful to nonetheless have you ever with us. If Tomb Raider first acquired in your radar since you noticed the Netflix animated collection, hey, welcome. We’ve acquired a whole lot of enjoyable issues coming sooner or later, and we’re blissful you’re right here.

That being stated, if you’re reimagining a recreation impressed by Lara’s basic debut journey, there are points that should be in place to make the expertise recognizable. Lara’s acquired to have harmful environments to traverse. She’s acquired to have puzzles that problem her. There must be fight that places you up in opposition to apex predators that may attempt to make you their subsequent meal. And also you want a stage of spectacle that brings every part collectively. That was true in 1996. It was true in 2007. It’s going to be true in 2027. As recreation builders, we convey our expertise ahead in how we assemble our recreation. So, whereas we love Tomb Raider 1996 and Anniversary, we additionally perceive there’s worth in including up to date programs that give gamers extra alternative and extra tunability in how they play. Offering a system that lets them bolster Lara’s attributes in ways in which go well with their tastes is a profit. Giving them the flexibility to create buffs that assist them navigate a harmful problem is useful.

We additionally know that making video games as immersive as potential is vital, so we wish the world to make sense. That drive influences points of the sport like how Lara heals herself within the misplaced worlds she explores. Discovering a med pack isn’t all the time acceptable when Lara is cracking open a tomb nobody’s been in for 1000’s of years. So, giving her the flexibility to create therapeutic objects so as to proceed her journey matches her historical past of what she’s realized to do as an adventurer within the wild.

What you get ultimately is hopefully one thing that conjures up all people. Your core followers, from the unique journey onward, get to see quintessential Tomb Raider environments dropped at beautiful element on a contemporary console or PC, they usually can navigate them in outfits from Lara’s wardrobe of previous seems which can be positive to please. You even have the tunability Survivor followers respect alongside the humanized Lara that they had been impressed by after they performed the 2013 reboot.

This recreation isn’t only for followers. It’s not a remaster. It’s not a coat of paint. We’re re-presenting this to all gamers as a result of it’s an important piece of Lara’s historical past, and it’s step one on this subsequent main part of Tomb Raider gaming.

I don’t envy Crystal Dynamics’ place one bit, since they’re attempting to fulfill the desires of various fan bases.

In the identical chat, Adams confirmed to us that Legacy of Atlantis will take about 14-16 hours to complete.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis releases February 12 on the PS5, Xbox Collection X|S, Swap 2 and PC.