There is no shortage of solo action-adventure games with a particular accent on the resolution and exploration of puzzle today. The Uncharted de PlayStation series established the gold stallion for the adventure games, whether Nathan Drake fighting towards El Dorado, the legendary Golden City, or exploring the legendary city of Shambhala. The Jedi Star Wars series from Rapawn was built on the adventure as a narration and exploration device as a gameplay mechanic. And the Indiana Jones of Xbox and the large circle brought the formula to the original adventurer who inspired everything. These games offer a balance of fun mechanics, engaging scenarios and interesting characters.
But before Indiana Jones and Nathan Drake made their mark in video games, there was Lara Croft. The British archaeologist of Swashbuckling wrote the book on the genre of action-adventure games when the first Tomb Raider made its debut in 1996 on the original PlayStation. And although the first matches of the series did not have the freedom of exploration that we expect from the recent Tomb raider titles of the open world due to the material limits of the time, he offered a lot of puzzles and a good amusing old. Hours and hours of endless pleasure. Thus, you can imagine our joy when we learned that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, originally published in 2010, received a modern iOS port graceful with Feral Interactive.
The game puts you in the military boots of Lara Croft while it, in her emblematic shorts, as well as an 200 -year -old Maya warrior named Totec, fight the goalkeeper of the darkness Xolotl and his hordes of horrible creatures to prevent the premature disappearance of humanity. So, if you have failed to play this isometric action-adventure title the first time, you can do it almost 15 years after its release, which also on a smartphone with modern controls, GamePad management and console quality visuals.
I spent a few days with Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light, and I think it is an almost perfect port for iOS, which promises an excellent mobile adventure that can also be experienced during your daily trips.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light Review: Price, Supported Apparatus
Lara Croft and the IOS port of the Guardian of Light available Via the App Store, at the price of RS. 699. Feral Interactive brought the game for the iPhone and iPad and it supports a practical list of devices running iOS 17 / iPados 17 or subsequent firmware. According to the editor, it can operate on the iPhone XR and new models, including the iPhone SE (2022). The game is also designed to operate on the iPad Mini (2019), iPad Air (2019), iPad (2019), iPad Pro (2017) and their new models.
The game can be played both in solo and cooperative modes
Photo credit: Feral Interactive / screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
It should also be noted that a previous version of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was available on iOS several years ago. The most recent port of Feral Interactive, which has also worked on the port of Nintendo Switch of the game, is not an update of this version, but a separate and new version optimized for modern mobile devices with updated visuals, a complete support of the game controller and with the 14 levels of the original game.
The game itself has a size of around 3.63 GB, but the company recommends having at least 4 GB of free space on the device for an optimal gaming experience and avoiding initial installation problems. I played the game on an iPhone 15 pro performing iOS 18.3.1.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light: Controls
Despite the launch originally for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the iOS port of the game seems to be custom made for touch screen devices; It’s so fantastic. Tactile controls are intuitive but simple. Touching the left side of the screen shows the virtual joystick that allows you to control Croft when it explores, fights and sails. Truck on the same side engages the jump, allowing the player to jump obstacles.
Although it is previously an exclusive console and PC, the game is fluid and tailor -made for touch screens
Photo credit: Feral Interactive / screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
Meanwhile, the right side of the screen includes several tactile buttons for the actions at stake such as the aim, the realization of the famous twin pistols, the deletion of a bomb or the use of the grapple. The commands are precise, despite the execution of a device with a small screen with entries for navigation and shooting. Although there is a little learning curve, it takes only a short time before your croft launches spears, performing wall races, exploring perilous environments without too much hiccups.
The game also includes the management of a keyboard or a controller, opening more avenues to enjoy the adventures of Lara Croft.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light: Gameplay
While the story of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light may not have the depth of Indiana Jones or the adventures of Nathan Drake, the gameplay is where he really shines. It is fluid, precise, fantastic and above all fun. There are 14 levels of the basic game as well as three DLC packs in total, and the basic lens in each of them is simple: discovering hidden collectibles, beat score challenges for each level and unlock additional weapons and artifacts that increase players’ statistics. The achievement of all of the above is always a satisfactory experience as the next level unlocks.
The battles of Boss to Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light (IOS) offer a delicate challenge
Photo credit: Feral Interactive / screenshot – Shaurya Tomer
The game offers players an option to go on a trip alone (solo) or take a friend (cooperative). In the latter, you play as Croft while your friend takes the Totec coat. Although the game is not as difficult as requiring a cooperative companion to monitor your back, the cooperative experience becomes more fun as the number of enemies increases.
The isometric view of the game offers the player a view from top to bottom of all the action, although some of them are rarely blocked by bridges or arches. This also causes confusion if you fight several enemies on the screen. However, its levels are well designed with hidden routes, difficult environments and hordes of skeletal warriors. And the puzzles you resolve as a croft are not at all simple. They demand that players roam the environment and choose their brain, although everything becomes a little repetitive when you sail through the 14 levels of the basic game, then the DLC. There are also optional puzzles, which wins the bonus awards for players.
Throughout the game, players must use various weapons, artefacts and relics to survive. Some of them, such as the scepter of Huitzilopochtli or the knife of Itzli, offer a regeneration of health and weapon benefits. Some artifacts, on the other hand, also come with compromises.
Although the game graphics are dated and will not win any reward, it is an addictive gameplay is what really sells it. On the iPhone 15 Pro, there are three modes to choose: graphics, performance and battery saving, each with its respective advantages and compromises. Haptics, however, remain excellent like ever through fashions. The phone tends to warm up after playing some time, so you would better use a controller if you plan to play at home for prolonged sessions.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light: Verdict
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light IOS port are an almost perfect mobile adaptation of the 2010 classic action-adventure game. Although the problems with the angle of the camera are present, intuitive touch screen controls, the complex puzzle resolution and the fluid game mechanisms make it a pleasant experience, especially on the go. And although the graphics feel dated, the well -designed levels of the game and the battles of boss help to maintain the fun factor. So, if you have failed to play the game first (or the second time), then the last port of Feral Interactive is an excellent opportunity to embark on the classic quest for Lara Croft.
