Listen up. I didn't grow up playing the early generations of Tomb Raider games like other reviewers, I'm sure, since I only played Tomb Raider: Underworld and the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, and maybe that's why I enjoyed this series so much. I loved it from beginning to end; the animation was, for the most part, stunning, I loved the voice acting, and the fact that it was a continuation of the last trilogy with returning supporting characters (Jonah!).
Was it over-the-top? Yes, absolutely. But it's an animated series based on a pretty over-the-top video game franchise, so I expected nothing less, and in fact, I welcomed it. It requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but that's also true of most video games; I'm an archaeologist myself, which I think says it all, and there are plenty of instances in the games where Lara makes impossible jumps or survives attacks from predators, for those who complain about that. However, that's part of the fun, at least for me, and this series continued that perfectly, balancing the story and the mythology.
Stars: Hayley Atwell, Allen Maldonado, Earl Baylon
Many people have complained that Lara went from being a tough, stoic woman to a crybaby, and honestly? The series does a good job of showing her struggle with grief and guilt, and presenting her as a well-rounded character instead of just a cool woman running around shooting bad guys.
It's exactly what I hoped for from the series, since there's so much more room for character development than in a video game, and the focus on her unresolved feelings from the events of the first game in the last trilogy was unexpected and very welcome. Besides being a classic Tomb Raider adventure, this series was also a deep character study, with plenty of humor, references to the games, and action sequences to keep things moving.
Considering the other reviews, I'd be surprised if the series continues, but I really hope it does. If you loved the last trilogy of games, are interested in Lara's character, and don't mind a little silliness, I highly recommend it.
Comments
Post a Comment