We had only recently received the first trailer and screenshots for Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Now, we get to learn a lot more about the game thanks to a Tribeca Film Festival Panel which featured quite a few of the developers of the game including director Daniel Chayer-Bisson, lead writer Jill Murray, and some others.
First off, we’ll see most of the story unravel through the gameplay without too many pre-rendered cutscenes. The game will not be a purely linear experience and will allow players to explore the game’s world in an open-ended way to some extent. The game will also bring an increased emphasis on stealth as Lara uses different techniques such as using mud for cover to blend in with the environment.
This time around, there will be new traversal options for Lara as she can swim underwater and she will be more athletic and muscular. As for her character, we can expect to see Lara deal with some inner darkness as she becomes quite indiscernible from those she’s fighting. Murray stated, “In Shadow of the Tomb Raider we see Lara really fighting not to become the enemy she hates, and in many cases, we may see the enemy is herself. She’s going to make a lot of mistakes, deal with a lot of complicity. Depending on your perspective, a hero can also be a threat, and in this game Lara has to decide which path she’s going to choose.”
In addition to this, this kind of gray area is further explored through the character of the villain who also has some sympathetic qualities and compelling motivations. Regarding the villain, Murray stated, “He’s someone I think will make the player question her motives, and he really gets in her head and makes her question herself. I think it brings her whole struggle alive to have such an equal challenger.”
So far, the story certainly sounds exciting and hopefully, we’ll get to see some actual gameplay footage soon enough. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is set to release for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 14,