Next Tomb Raider will be open-world

Snoopers
Sunday, July 12, 2009 | 4:48 AM
55 comments

Images PC Xbox 360 PS3

Three artworks and a fact sheet. That's the content of the leak that gave us the very first informations on Tomb Raider 9 a few hours ago, revealing to the world what Crystal Dynamics has been up to since they decided - once again - to reboot the legendary franchise. The details are surprising. For exemple we learn that the new adventures of Lara Croft will be, for the first time, Rated M. Better yet, the game will take place in an open world - a mysterious Japanese island inhabited by strange creatures. A new perspective for the series, a little scary too. But nevertheless exciting as the possibilities are vast. Hit the link to discover the first visuals and details about Lara Croft's next adventure.

The Plot - When a sudden storm destroys her research vessel, a young and inexperienced Lara Croft finds herself stranded on a mysterious and remote island hiden of the shores of Japan. Despite several signs of various inhabitants the island is oddly deserted, and an uneasy feeling settles in as strange sounds emerge from the shadows. With only her determination, inner strenght, and resourcefulness to help her, Lara must overcome the challenges of a harsh and unforgiving journey that will take her across a vast island wilderness and deep into the claustrophobic and menacing underground tombs from the island's past. As she struggles to prevail through brutal combat encounters and treacherous exploration, Lara will be pushed to her limits and forced to adapt to her situation in order to survive and escape from the lethal predators that stalk her every move.
Hunt or be hunted - Evade outsmart, track and kill the mysterious enemies that hunt you as prey.

Survival Action - Brutally attack and defend as you fight to survive through visceral one on one melee combat.

Strategic Weapons - Gain an advantage in combat by finding an array of different melee and ranged weapons including a variety of guns and the hunters ultimate weapon, the bow.

Creative Survival - React and adapt to the island by using only that wich you can salvage from the environment like climbing axes, rope, and machetes that can be used to unlock new traversal and combat gameplay options.

Free Movement - Scrale up a vertical cliff wall, sprint and leap across a huge chasm, steer mid air to land a misderected jump there is no one right way to traverse, survive, and explore the harsh enviroment of the island.

One Cohesive World - The diverse multi region island is an open playground alive with creatures, weather and natural events.

Origin Story - This new Tomb Raider concept reboots the franchise by exploring the origins of Lara Croft's transformation into a hardened adventurer as unravel the story behind the island's mysterious past.

3 artworks

comrade

Commented on 2009-07-12 05:43:28

Fucking awesome. Just the reboot the series needed, IMO.

In reply to

ebola9717

Commented on 2009-07-12 06:17:53

Sure sounds interesting. Seems a little early to be announcing another TR game. But then again, they are now owned by Square Enix and they love to announce games 4+ years before they actually come out.

trey4life

Commented on 2009-07-12 06:26:18

ugh...

well I guess they did need to change something since Uncharted overtook TR, but this is just weird.

SolidMGSnake

Commented on 2009-07-12 06:48:51

Great. Now they're going to eff up TR. I just hope the change isnt bad.

Baleur

Commented on 2009-07-12 06:53:07 In reply to trey4life

Posted by trey4life

Since when? :P The latest TR was amazing.

JackDick

Commented on 2009-07-12 06:57:12

wow. Ever since Square Enix took over Eidos, people have been joking about Tomb Raider turning into Final Fantasy, but who would have thought it would really happen!???

"Open ended world, in Japan, strange creatures, etc." lol...only thing else that could surprise me any more would be if they announce it a turn-based game.

Sath

Commented on 2009-07-12 08:39:48

If the game timeline is more in historical settings meaning many years ago and not modern with high tech gadgets like all TR have been like, I am interested.
But from the artwork it seems like its much older in time, but we will see.

nhing

Commented on 2009-07-12 09:09:48

Nice Artwork, I hope it's gonna be awesome.

catfish

Commented on 2009-07-12 09:23:08

good, this may be the first one that I genuinely enjoy... interesting it says that the hunters ultimate weapon is the bow though, I would say it would be wits, knowledge and silence...

UrbanRats

Commented on 2009-07-12 09:48:07

well, i've loved Underworld, wich was a a bit of a return to the original "Tomb Raiding".

And i'm a fan of the series itself...but i too, thought that the series now needed a reboot...maybe this is too much tough..dunno yet i'm reaaaallly shocked now. lol.

nostradamus

Commented on 2009-07-12 10:28:20

whos the model who will be given the roll to promote. must be young or jailbait. ; )

candlebougie

Commented on 2009-07-12 11:12:53

I like Lara´s artwork - she looks more like a human being this time. Well, her arms are still a little too thin, and her, ahm, breasts are still a little too big (and strangely proportioned/saggy). Can´t wait to hear more about this game though.

Orange

Commented on 2009-07-12 11:14:50

My confidence in Crystal Dynamics is slowly returning!
Thrilling news, I hope more sophisticated puzzles will also make a return, but this one could be the richest TR meets The Island of Doctor Moreau meets Far Cry 1 experience ever. Washed out of all that childish 'Lara saves the world once more' pathos.
Bow and horse mounts? Brilliant. Hope Square will ensure they don't rush it out like Underworld and Anniversary, I'm even willing to wait to 2011 if it turns out to be a cohesive, well planned game. Fingers crossed and go CD!

prodygee

Commented on 2009-07-12 12:05:32 In reply to candlebougie

Awesome. This could be the first TR I'd actually buy (not that I dislike the previous next-gen versions, but I just never bought them). An open world.. cool!

Posted by candlebougie

Those breasts are closer to reality, she's probably not wearing a bra underneath that white shirt, hence the 'saggy (read: natural looking)' breasts.

Heydemon

Commented on 2009-07-12 12:31:27

Interesting.... A sandbox style overworld could potentially be amazing. One on one melee is worrying, no more kung-fu tiger kicking please!
It's way too early to say anything really though, this is just to generate a bit of interest/hype not to be used to judge the game before a single screenshot/gameplay video has been shown.

gonzax

Commented on 2009-07-12 13:13:03

could be good. I just hope the game wont become a shooter. TR was always about exploration and puzzles. A good story, for a change, would be welcome.

Ishigami

Commented on 2009-07-12 13:24:50

I like the new design of Lara and it seems like they are going to change her character as well which sounds promising to me as I dislike her old attitude.
That said I’m not a fan of sandbox games and Tomb Raider so I will have a good look before buying anything related to that.

bleachedsmiles

Commented on 2009-07-12 13:32:01

cant believe square now own this. Maybe now we can expect the plot to not make any sense, Lara to have spikey blue hair, all the guys in it to look like birds, and long milked out cgi repetitive cutscenes during each battle.

On a serious note, her breasts have strunk

Trebby

Commented on 2009-07-12 13:35:50

looks to be a horrorgame. :o those sketches look great

uzivatel

Commented on 2009-07-12 14:37:20

I dont like those artworks and while the PR talk should probably make me hyped about the upcoming game, it does the very opposite.
Too bad, I really like what Crystal Dynamics did with the series in their last three games...

Viginti_Tres

Commented on 2009-07-12 15:25:57 In reply to Sath

Posted by Sath

Aye, that's exactly what I was thinking. It would be very cool if we got to play in feudal Japan, during the edo period. That's kickass and a TR I would buy since TR3.

Commented on 2009-07-12 15:33:13

well, like they are tring to create the premise to horror encounters, than really worring more about the setting and story.

Too bad CD (or Core) as just UTTER BAD at making enemy encounters, so the game is gonna fail proportionally on how they focus on that.

broman

Commented on 2009-07-12 15:38:33

It's just an internet rumor, I don't see why people are discussing it as fact.

alimokrane

Commented on 2009-07-12 15:39:51 In reply to Viginti_Tres

Posted by Viginti_Tres

Feudal Japan ??? are you joking ? you can have that game but it wont be Lara Craft & tomb Raider anymore ... that's another game complately.

The tomb Raider franchise still centers around Lara Croft, that's Eons after your feudal Japan. You want lara to travel back in time ... nonsense.

Jato

Commented on 2009-07-12 15:47:05

They'd better not Japanise this game...

Next Tomb Raider will be open-world

3 artworks

All comments (55)

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