Lara Croft: Guardian of Light

Pros

• Extends and enhances the Tomb Raider franchise
• Lets you play as Lara Croft in a whole new way
• Comes loaded with interesting puzzles
• Offers both single player and co-op modes
• Includes many elements from other Tomb Raider games

Cons

• Story doesn't fit the Tomb Raider style
• Some puzzles are so challenging that you might give up on the game
• Features far too many cut scenes that you cannot skip
• Certain elements are too scary for younger players
• Doesn't include as many instructions as some might like

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a Tomb Raider spin off game that lets you play as this famous video game character on your computer and on mobile devices. Though released in 2010, the game is just as exciting and plays just as well today.

The game starts out with a cut scene that explains the story. You learn that an ancient civilization captured an evil villain and kept him entombed for centuries. The game then explains that because of all the tombs that Lara visited over the years, the villain escaped. Not only do you need to complete challenges to capture him again, but you'll also encounter a lot of his evil minions along the way. Characters like demons and huge spiders make this game a little less suitable for younger audiences.

With Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, you can choose between single player mode and multiplayer mode. In multiplayer mode, you can actually ask your friends and family for help. This is especially important because there are levels in the game that you cannot complete on your own. In single player mode, you'll need to jump back and forth between Lara Croft and her helper to finish. This can occasionally be frustrating and leave you wondering what to do next.

The game includes many of the elements that made the Tomb Raider franchise such a hit. Using the buttons on your keyboard, you make Lara run across bridges, shoot her weapons and perform other actions as she encounters evil characters. You'll perform various actions, including moving heavy rocks and blocks, solving puzzles, and battling others.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light includes a number of cut scenes that many players dislike. Though the opening cut scenes do a good job of pulling you into the story and setting up the later action, the same isn't true of later scenes. Those scenes can run for 60 seconds or longer and focus on a conversation between Lara and another character. As you cannot skip those scenes, you may feel like the game takes longer to play than it actually does.

If you're a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise though, you should give this game a try. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light comes loaded with all the intriguing action of the games in the franchise but has a multiplayer mode for playing with others.

Pros

• Extends and enhances the Tomb Raider franchise
• Lets you play as Lara Croft in a whole new way
• Comes loaded with interesting puzzles
• Offers both single player and co-op modes
• Includes many elements from other Tomb Raider games

Cons

• Story doesn't fit the Tomb Raider style
• Some puzzles are so challenging that you might give up on the game
• Features far too many cut scenes that you cannot skip
• Certain elements are too scary for younger players
• Doesn't include as many instructions as some might like