Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Girl - Lara Croft - meets guy. Guy forces the summoning of "Big Bad" - Xolotl - that will plunge the world into darkness. Girl meets "Big Good" - Toltec. Toltec has a magical spear. Oh, and the girl can wield a mean grappling line and guns akimbo. Girl and Big Good go after Big Bad with a vengeance. You've heard this all before.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is probably one of the best XBox Live Arcade games to date. Shadow Complex is right on its heels, but perhaps it depends on what you are looking for? Now, I know I have a deep unrelenting love for Limbo, Shadow Complex is a phenomenal second place game in the single player category. LC:GoL can be played solo; however, it shines as a cooperative multiplayer game.
Out of all of the games for Summer of Games 2010, LC: GoL was the one I knew they were getting my $15 in advance because I knew Dylan and I would play this together. We had a blast this weekend playing through it. I love playing games with my son, but it is just so damned difficult to find good cooperative games. LC:GoL was designed with co-op in mind, if not the primary mode of play.
So, let's run down the good stuff. It looks beautiful. The controls are extremely easy to pick up and go. The puzzles are fun and challenging. Some are crazy... some are a bit too easy in my opinion. The combat is fun, frenzied, and fantastic. Considering Tomb Raider, Lara's first game from the mid-90's was one of my first PC games, I am happy to say that this latest iteration holds true to the Tomb Raider spirit.
The bad? Like Shadow Complex, there are a few graphical glitches. I had heard the voice acting was awful, but it seemed OK for a $15 game.
If you are a Lara fan, single or co-op, it is must buy. If you like to play with your friends or your kids, this game is a no brainer cheap buy. Great fun. At one point, Dylan and I got punchy late Saturday night and started leaving bombs traps and giggling like tired idiots trying to get past the bomb without taking damage... while trying to fight Big Bad's minions and traps. Great fun.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light Website
XBox Live Summer of Arcade 2010
XBox 360 Live Arcade: August 18, 2010
PS3 PSN/PC Steamworks: September 28, 2010
