Update: New Shadow of the Tomb Raider concept art and screenshots revealed!
Lara Croft is once again drawing back her bow and heading on another action-packed adventure in the first Shadow of the Tomb Raider trailer.
Wrapping up the trilogy that rebooted Croft back in 2013, Shadow of the Tomb Raider looks to be the biggest title in the franchise to date. Coming off the success of the Alicia Vikander's turn as the gaming icon in this year's Tomb Raider, publisher Square Enix is showing why the character is still one of the biggest names in the industry.
Related: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Release Date, Trailer, News, & Rumors
Ahead of the game's September 14 release, Shadow of the Tomb Raider has unveiled a glossy trailer that is filled with all the high-adrenaline stunts and death-defying leaps that the Tomb Raider games have become known for since their 1996 debut.
As a cinematic mood-setter, the first footage from Shadow of the Tomb Raider doesn't do much to give away the mysterious plot of the game, however, it does give players an idea of the atmosphere developers are aiming for. Shot entirely in CG, the trailer sadly doesn't include any actual gameplay from Shadow, but this could lead to a massive presentation and demo from Square Enix at this year's E3.
As the final chapter of the "Survivor Timeline," Shadow once again pits Lara against some dangerous foes and an ancient mystery. Picking up after the map reveal at the end of 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara is reportedly heading to Mexico to unravel the mystery of a solar eclipse. It isn't just the eclipse that makes Shadow darker than previous installments, with bows, bullets, and buckets of blood showcasing a more mature version of Ms. Croft. The game is also set to be Croft's defining moment as she truly becomes the Tomb Raider.
Fulfilling its goal as a climactic game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider may come full circle thanks to rumors that fan-favorite characters Sam and Reyes will reprise their roles and help Lara on another perilous mission. Alongside the main storyline that is rumored to again focus on Lara's obsession with the shadowy Trinity, developers have teased some sort of multiplayer or online functionality for Shadow. Either way, no one is really buying that this is truly the end of the Tomb Raider series.
Players are again running down the gritty road that was established when Square Enix first sent Croft to the dangerous island of Yamatai in 2013. Channeling a Nathan Drake/Uncharted atmosphere, Shadow promises to be a beautiful next-gen entry that is a mullion miles away from Lara's square-breasted early days on the PlayStation. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is heading to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on September 14, 2018.