Square Enix. (2013). Tomb
Raider. [Video game].
Genre: Action,
Adventure
Reading level/
interest age: Ages 17+
Plot summary:
Join Lara Croft on another epic adventure filled with
excitement, wonder, and heartbreak. The crew of the Endurance decides to take
Lara’s advice to search the Dragon’s Triangle for the lost island of Yamatai. A
massive storm wrecks the ship and separates Lara from her friends. Gameplay
begins with Lara being knocked out after struggling to get to shore. She awakes
to find herself strung up by the ankles in a cave. After cutting loose, Lara
must find shelter and tools to survive the island’s harsh climate.
Wolves quickly become a problem along with the other
inhabitants. Lara begins to find her crew and realizes that they did manage to
find Yamatai. A fellow crew member, Samantha, might even be a descendant of the
sun queen Himiko. The group works together to solve the mystery of this lost
civilization which turns into a fight for their lives. Lara’s companions try to
avoid others who have become shipwrecked while attempting to find a way off the
island. Help Lara discover Yamatai’s secrets and live to tell the tale.
Reader’s annotation:
Lara Croft is back in another adventure of Tomb Raider. Can
you help Lara save her shipwrecked crew and discover the secrets of Yamatai
Island?
Information about the
author:
“Square Enix Ltd., a part of Square Enix Europe business
unit, is a London-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co.,
Ltd., one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in
the world. Square Enix Ltd. publishes and distributes entertainment content
from the Square Enix Group including Square Enix, Eidos and Taito, in Europe
and other PAL territories.
“The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of
intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 92 million
units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 53 million units worldwide
and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 35 million units worldwide, together with
other well established products such as: DEUS EX, HITMAN, KANE & LYNCH,
KINGDOM HEARTS, STAR OCEAN, and SPACE INVADERS. The Square Enix Group continues
to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation by providing high-quality
entertainment content, services and products.
“Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading
development studios such as Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, Beautiful Game Studios,
Square Enix London Studios and Eidos Montréal” (Square Enix, 2013).
Curriculum ties: N/A
Booktalking ideas:
1.
If you are familiar with the Lara Croft of the
1990s, what do you think of the new character design?
2.
What do you like best/least about the gameplay?
Critical evaluation:
The game developers seem to have left out background
information on Lara Croft’s character. As Tomb Raider has a large following
from the 1990s, perhaps the player is expected to have gone through previous
titles in the series. Players are informed only that Lara is on a research
mission searching for a lost island. Unlike past character designs, this Lara
was created to appear more real to the viewer. Her hips, bust, and waist are
closer to an actual human rather than the busty Barbie-like character of past
Tomb Raiders. Despite the marked improvements physically, Lara’s clothing
slowly deteriorates throughout the game while her hair remains in a remarkably
sleek ponytail.
As for gameplay, the constant spotting of rain droplets on
the screen gets old fast. Other aspects are repetitive such as the Slip ‘N
Slide areas of certain levels and the annoyance over trying to find posts to
anchor arrows into for zip lines. Lara’s survival instinct vision is not needed
either and handholds are painfully obvious as most are painted in white.
Puzzles are a bit harder but most rely on the gamer’s timing rather than
ingenuity. Overall, Tomb Raider remains interesting. Gamers guide Lara through
levels that delve deeper into the very dark story of the island her crew get
stranded on.
Challenge issues:
·
Language
·
Violence
Defensive Maneuvers:
·
Have the library’s collection development policy
memorized and on hand in case a situation arises.
·
Keep positive reviews on hand to refer to or
hand out when needed.
·
If the book has won any awards, mention them to
the patron and briefly explain the award.
·
Listen to the patron and practice good customer
service skills when communicating. Let the customer know where or if he/she can
escalate his/her complaint.
·
When necessary, cite sections of the ALA’s
Library Bill of Rights or refer to the ALA's
Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.
Why included:
The reboot of the Tomb
Raider series will appeal not only to teens but adults who have played the
series back in the ‘90s as well. Lara is a strong female character that
promotes a little more feminism to the videogame world.
Reference:
Square Enix. (2013). About
Us. Retrieved August 22, 2014 from the Square Enix website
http://na.square-enix.com/us/aboutus
No comments:
Post a Comment