During Gamescom, Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis, the remake in the Tomb Raider series developed by Flying Wild Hog, supervised by Crystal Dynamics, and published by Amazon Games, held a closed-door media demonstration. The game is scheduled for release on February 12, 2027. However, the initial feedback was not optimistic—media outlets widely expressed concern that this remake is repeating the mistakes of the "Survivor Trilogy."
Visually, the game is indeed impressive—"beams of light pierce through ancient darkness, with lush vegetation and flowers covering stone walls"—and the new voice actor has restored Lara's "witty and agile tone," a trait cherished by fans before the Survivor Trilogy. But the problem lies precisely in the gameplay.
Crystal Dynamics director Jeff Adams stated that the team wanted to "preserve the magic of the original locations while bringing new surprises." However, what was actually presented were the "standard" mechanics that players have grown tired of in recent years: skill trees, cooking with scavenged materials (including turnips—do those really grow in ancient tombs?), and a scanner device that Lara can use to get hints.
The most cringe-worthy moment in the demo: Lara scans a massive gate right next to a mechanism with four visible slots. After scanning, Lara "helpfully" prompts: "The gate remains closed. The opening mechanism has four different slots." The media quipped: "Is this the insight of an experienced treasure hunter?"
Other controversies include having to trigger QTEs three times in a row to dodge falling swords, and needing to invest in the skill tree just to extend range—design choices criticized for "suffocating all good experiences with menus and hints."
However, it wasn't entirely without merit. Enemy AI has improved (leopards hide and launch sneak attacks), the grappling hook functionality has been expanded, and the spectacular vistas of the underground Greek-style city received praise.
But the media's final verdict was quite clear: "If Relics of Atlantis is indicative of Crystal Dynamics' future direction for the Tomb Raider series, they still need to convince me. The action looks appealing enough, but those flashy, redundant features—crafting, scanning, skill trees, QTEs—feel clumsy and outdated. This is completely at odds with what Lara Croft should be."
Currently, the remake is generating more concern than anticipation. It is recommended that veteran players hold off on pre-ordering and wait for full reviews closer to the February 2027 release date before making a decision.