The long-running Tomb Raider series is definitely not short on installments nor is it as fresh as it once was back in the 90′s. With a much anticipated reboot expected for a delayed 2013 release, die hard fans of the series may be pleased to hear that a very different Tomb Raider is now available for download. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a top-down co-op game that also plays surprisingly well solo. The local or online co-op is the real draw here however with numerous highly interactive team moves creating a strong emphasis on cooperation and teamwork to overcome various obstacles.
Lara and her new pal Totec can perform such maneuvers as jumping on Totec’s raised shield and thrown spears to reach new heights, and using Lara’s grappling hook as a tether to aid Totec in scaling walls. Lara’s grapple can also create a tightrope of sorts as well, creating a walkway for Totec to safely cross chasms. Puzzles and traps of course must be solved/disabled cooperatively as well by opening doors and standing on pressure plates for one another. Some of these puzzles are rather devious and at times more difficult when tackled solo.
For it’s $14.99 price tag, Lara Croft is actually of decent length with most of it’s levels taking around a half-hour to complete. Time-attacking these levels earns various unlockables which may warrant multiple plays to reach the exceedingly low target times (no easy task). With hours of playtime, polished and thoroughly enjoyable co-op, and even the return of Kain and Raziel of the Legacy of Kain series as playable dlc characters, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a worthy purchase for Tomb Raider fans and those looking for an engaging co-op experience.