But earlier than Indiana Jones and Nathan Drake made their mark in video video games, there was Lara Croft. The swashbuckling British archaeologist wrote the guide on the action-adventure style of video games when the primary Tomb Raider debuted in 1996 on the unique PlayStation. And whereas early video games within the sequence didn’t have the liberty of exploration we have come to anticipate from the latest open-world Tomb Raider titles as a result of {hardware} limitations of the time, it did provide loads of puzzles and good outdated enjoyable. Hours and hours of limitless enjoyable. So, you possibly can think about our delight once we realized that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, initially launched in 2010, was receiving a contemporary iOS port courtesy of Feral Interactive.
The recreation places you within the navy boots of Lara Croft as she, in her iconic quick shorts, together with a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior named Totec, battle the Keeper of Darkness Xolotl and his hordes of ghastly creatures to forestall humanity’s premature demise. So, if you happen to missed out on enjoying this isometric action-adventure title the primary time round, then you are able to do so almost 15 years after its launch, that too on a smartphone with fashionable controls, gamepad assist, and console-quality visuals.
I’ve spent a couple of days with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and I feel it’s a near-perfect port for iOS, one which guarantees a wonderful cell journey that may be skilled in your each day commute, as properly.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light Review: Price, Supported Devices
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light’s iOS port is available through the App Store, priced at Rs. 699. Feral Interactive has ported the sport for each iPhone and the iPad and it helps a useful checklist of units working iOS 17/ iPadOS 17 or later firmware. As per the writer, it could actually run on iPhone XR and newer fashions, together with the iPhone SE (2022). The recreation can be designed to work on the iPad Mini (2019), iPad Air (2019), iPad (2019), the iPad Pro (2017), and their newer fashions.
The recreation could be performed in each single-player and co-op modes
Photo Credit: Feral Interactive/ Screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
It’s additionally price noting {that a} earlier model of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was accessible on iOS a number of years in the past. The latest port from Feral Interactive, which additionally labored on the Nintendo Switch port of the sport, just isn’t an replace to that model, however a separate, brand-new launch optimised for contemporary cell units with up to date visuals, full gamepad assist, and that includes all 14 ranges from the unique recreation.
The recreation itself is round 3.63GB in measurement however the firm recommends having at the least 4GB of free house on the gadget for an optimum gameplay expertise and to keep away from preliminary set up points. I performed the sport on an iPhone 15 Pro working iOS 18.3.1.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: Controls
Despite initially launching for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the sport’s iOS port feels tailored for touchscreen units; it’s that unbelievable. The contact controls are intuitive but easy. Touching the left facet of the display screen brings up the digital joystick which lets you management Croft as she explores, fights, and navigates. Tapping the identical facet engages soar, enabling the participant to jump over obstacles.
Despite beforehand being a console and PC unique, the sport feels fluid and tailored for contact screens
Photo Credit: Feral Interactive/ Screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
Meanwhile, the precise facet of the display screen options a number of touch-based buttons for in-game actions equivalent to aiming, bringing out the well-known twin pistols, dropping a bomb, or utilizing the grappling hook. The controls are exact, regardless of working on a tool with a small display screen with inputs for each navigation and taking pictures. While there’s a little bit of a studying curve, it solely takes a short time earlier than your Croft is throwing spears, performing wall runs, exploring perilous environments with out a lot hiccup.
The recreation additionally consists of assist for a keyboard or a controller, opening up extra avenues to get pleasure from Lara Croft’s adventures.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: Gameplay
While the story in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light could not have the depth of Indiana Jones or the Nathan Drake adventures, the gameplay is the place it really shines. It is fluid, exact, unbelievable, and most significantly, enjoyable. There are 14 ranges from the bottom recreation together with three DLC packs in complete, and the essential goal in all of them is straightforward: uncover hidden collectibles, beat rating challenges for every degree, and unlock additional weapons and artifacts which enhance the participant stats. Completing the entire above is at all times a satisfying expertise as the following degree unlocks.
Boss battles in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (iOS) present a difficult problem
Photo Credit: Feral Interactive/ Screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
The recreation gives gamers with an choice to go on the journey alone (solo) or take alongside a buddy (co-op). In the latter, you play as Croft whereas your buddy takes up the mantle of Totec. Although the sport is not as troublesome as to require a co-op companion to look at your again, the expertise in co-op turns into extra enjoyable because the variety of enemies will increase.
The recreation’s isometric view gives the participant with a top-down view of all of the motion though a few of it’s seldom blocked by gateways or archways. This additionally causes confusion generally if you happen to’re battling a number of enemies on the display screen. However, its ranges are well-designed with hidden pathways, difficult environments, and hordes of skeletal warriors. And the puzzles you resolve as Croft aren’t easy in any respect. They require gamers to scour the atmosphere and decide their brains, though all of it will get a bit repetitive as you navigate by means of the 14 ranges of the bottom recreation after which the DLCs. There are elective puzzles too, which earn gamers bonus rewards.
Throughout the sport, gamers should utilise varied weapons, artifacts, and relics to outlive. Some of them, such because the Scepter of Huitzilopochtli or the Knife of Itzli, present well being regeneration and weapon-based benefits. Some artefacts, however, include trade-offs, too.
While the sport’s graphics are dated and are not going to win any awards, it is addictive gameplay is what actually sells it. On the iPhone 15 Pro, there are three modes to select from: Graphics, Performance, and Battery Saver, with every having their respective advantages and trade-offs. The haptics, nevertheless, stay wonderful as ever throughout modes. The cellphone does are likely to warmth up after enjoying some time, so you would be higher off utilizing a controller if you happen to’re planning to play at residence for prolonged periods.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: Verdict
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light’s iOS port is a near-perfect cell adaptation of the traditional action-adventure recreation from 2010. While points with the digicam angle are current, the intuitive contact display screen controls, complicated puzzle-solving, and fluid gameplay mechanics make it an gratifying expertise, particularly on the go. And though the graphics really feel dated, the sport’s well-designed ranges and boss battles assist preserve the enjoyable issue. So, if you happen to missed enjoying the sport first (or the second time) round, then Feral Interactive’s newest port is a superb alternative to embark on Lara Croft’s traditional quest as soon as once more.
