Mobile games
THE TECHLIFE TEAM REVIEW THE LATEST GAMES FOR MOBILES AND TABLETS, INCLUDING LARA CROFT’S MOBILE DEBUT.
ANDROID, IOS LARA CROFT GO
TAKING TOMB RAIDING DOWN A NEW PATH.
COMPARED TO LARA Cro ’s typical tomb-raiding adventures, the methodically paced Lara Cro GO might seem a bit limiting. However, while it’s de nitely not as fully featured as its PC and console brethren, the title manages to include everything that Ms. Cro is known for – action, exploration, combat, and puzzles – while making it better suited for quick hits of touch-screen-controlled gaming on your iOS device.
Similar to Square Enix’s previously released Hitman GO, Lara Cro GO eschews real-time gameplay for a turn-based affair. Your movements are restricted to grid-like paths within the levels, and the controls never get any more complex than swiping to move from one spot to the next or tapping to interact.
Many actions, in fact, are automatic, such as picking up items and attacking nearby foes. Everything is very deliberate; enemies and obstacles (such as boulders and saw blades) only move when you do, resulting in a cerebral affair that favors careful planning over quick reflexes.
Nonetheless, the game is extremely satisfying thanks to creative level design and excellent pacing, and the adventuring never grows stale due to increasingly complex elements — including crumbling oors, movable platforms, pressure switches, and pushable blocks – that put your puzzle-solving skills to the test.
Each enemy features distinct behavioral patterns, too, that require you to use the terrain and your brain to defeat them (or in some cases, manipulate them to your advantage) to get through the game’s approximately 75 puzzles. ere’s even a rather epic turn-based boss battle of sorts toward the end.
The difficulty is spot-on as well. A few areas might bewilder at rst, but that makes victory all the sweeter when you have that “Aha!” moment and gure out how to proceed. Should you nd yourself resorting to trial and error, generous checkpoints ensure that you won’t be frustrated, even in defeat.
Of course, there are the obligatory collectables too. Dozens of hidden gems and artifact pieces will test your powers of observation, and acquiring full sets unlocks new costumes for Lara. Even though it doesn’t provide the kind of adrenaline-fuelled action fans might associate with the current Lara Cro , it’s an excellent puzzle adventure.