Lost cities, tombs & treasures, and ladies who can beat the snot out of you!

And this lady is an iconic one, too. Lara Croft, the tomb raider. In her latest adventure, Lara attempts to unravel the mysteries behind the Divine Source–an ancient artifact said to grant immortality. Her father sought the artifact throughout the course of his life, but came up empty-handed. Now Lara has uncovered a missing piece to the puzzle, and she’s off to raid tombs and discover lost cities…and kick guys in the junk! Well, not really, but she knows how to handle herself in a scrap.

Lara’s not the only person seeking the artifact, though. Trinity, an organization reputed to be thousands of years old, is also on the hunt–and they’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. Can Lara overcome an entire band of mercenaries and unravel the past to discover what her dad could not?

The answer is yes and no. In Rise of the Tomb Raider, a video game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, I accompanied Lara on her latest archaeological thrill ride. Sadly, the game consisted mostly of action and world exploration than historical mysteries, but the game was still fun nonetheless. SPOILER ALERT: she defeats the bad guys, only to learn Trinity is much bigger and more influential than she first believed. There will surely be a sequel, but I might not buy it. Because when it was all said and done and the end credits rolled, I felt like the game lacked that something special. Chalk it up to my own biases. I recently completed both Uncharted 4 and Horizon: Zero Dawn, which I enjoyed for their integration of history and storytelling, and fun gameplay mechanics; respectively. So please know those games skewed my opinion slightly.

Regardless, Rise of the Tomb Raider shined in its optional tombs Lara can explore at various points throughout her adventure. It was during those moments, when I attempted to solve tomb riddles to reach a hidden treasure, that I truly believed the game hit its stride.

I give Rise of the Tomb Raider a 7 out of 10. A mediocre experience from a biased gamer. So what are you playing this summer? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. As for my next gaming experience, well, I’m itching for nostalgia. And I’ll get it in Final Fantasy XII: the Zodiac Age–which just came out this month!

 

When History Meets Gaming

I’m currently working on a young adult novel called Maddie Jones & the Curse of the Terracotta Warriors. The book is the first in a five book series. As the name implies, archaeology and history are a staple of the stories–each book will follow Maddie on her adventures as she uncovers mysteries from the past. Think Indiana Jones meets Percy Jackson, and you’ll get an idea of the story direction. Anyway, this writing project has led me to dive into the latest Tomb Raider game. Plus, one year ago Uncharted 4 came out, so I’m itching for a historical thrill ride.

The game has been a lot of fun so far. The story follows Lara Croft as she attempts to unravel the mysteries behind the Divine Source–an ancient artifact said to grant immortality. Her father sought the artifact throughout the course of his life, but came up empty-handed. Now Lara has uncovered a missing piece to the puzzle, and she’s off to raid tombs and discover lost cities.

But she’s not the only person seeking the artifact. Trinity, an organization reputed to be thousands of years old, is also on the hunt–and they’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. Can Lara overcome an entire band of mercenaries and unravel the past to discover what her dad could not?

The answer is…I don’t know yet. I’m only a few hours into the game, but I’ll let you know once I’ve finished the ride. So what are you playing? Leave a comment or shoot me an email and let me know.

Earth, the Far Future

One thousand years in the future, to be precise. Earth is ours no more. Massive machines in the form of robot dinosaurs now roam the wilderness. Mankind lives in primitive tribes, and they war not only with robots but with each other. Aloy is an outcast, motherless, and an orphan. After being taken in by an elder outcast, she learns how to hunt the machines. Aloy’s true journey begins as she travels across the land to uncover the mysteries of her past, and to learn what transpired 1,000 years ago leading to mankind’s demise.

That’s the story premise of Horizon: Zero Dawn–a video game for PlayStation 4. I love to play video games, and I enjoy them not only for their gameplay mechanics, but for their intricate stories. Aloy’s tale is an epic quest filled with plot twists and emotional character development.

Sadly, I beat the game today. It’s not often a game pulls me in like Horizon did. I’m happy to have experienced Aloy’s story from beginning to end, but I’m also sad it’s over. Have you ever read a book, seen a movie, or played a game in which you didn’t want it to end when the last scene changed to black? I’m sure you have. Those are stories worth cherishing.

I give Horizon: Zero Dawn a ten out of ten. What a memorable experience. So what are you playing? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. As for my next gaming experience, well, I’m itching for an archaeological thrill ride …