Tomb Raider (8 out of 10)

Shipwrecked on a mysterious island with an attention hungry archaeologist, a hefty Hawaiian, an old handsome, salt and pepper father figure, a gruff, Irish captain, and a black bitch, we've all been there right?

In case you haven't then this game is for you.

2013 was really the year for bad bitches amirite or amirite? Beyond: Two Souls, (which I had to play on the DL because I've got a crush on Ellen Page and the gf doesn't appreciate it.) Last of Us, Bioshock Infiinite, and a revamped Tomb Raider.

The story and the atmosphere draw you in almost instantly as you recover from a devastating shipwreck in the Devil's Triangle along the coast of Japan. You were in search of a lost civilization centered around the Sun Queen, a powerful ruler back so many bla bla years ago.

Turns out this Devil's Triangle is the Bermuda Triangle of the east and this little island is the center of it all. Planes and boats from centuries ago until now litter its shores. Some mad men ruled over by a priest by the name of Mathias run the island and are just terrible bloodthirsty monsters.

There's all that. The graphics are top notch on the 360 and I think top it out I do believe, something like Halo 2 did for the Xbox. The story is intriguing and for Pokemon players who have to collect them all there is plenty of shit everywhere to grab up.

Lara finds relics along the way which are nice way to inject some history lessons into a game about a young girl who murders hundreds of people. Journals and other trinkets add a little back story to the whole kaboozle.

You have your basic weapons: bow, pistol, rifle, shotgun. Along the way you collect salvage from convenient wooden boxes and dead bodies which you use at campfires to upgrade your equipment.

The first 1/4 of the game is awesome and terrifying at the same time. From there is starts to wane until you reach a tepid, predictable end. I was hoping for some scientific answer to all the happenings on the island but I came away disappointed.

It keeps with the original Tomb Raider from way back on the ps1 quite well. Puzzles and shooting and action and plenty of adventure. I would have preferred they just do away with the whole salvage thing and make the game more realistic. Upgrading weapons and gear didn't seem to do much and wasn't very satisfying. Eventually I stopped looking in every nook and cranny because I wanted to just get on the with the story (plus I have gamefly and I'm trying to get my money's worth.)

The puzzles weren't much. Once you figure out the dynamic of the puzzle and get past the first obstacle it's over.

The voice acting and the music were lacking but the atmosphere and graphics more than make up for all that. Plus, the gameplay is quite enjoyable with plenty to do and explore while not letting you off the beaten track too much.

I was pleasantly surprised at this reboot of a franchise that I thought has lost its allure. There is definitely going to be sequel and plus some I imagine.