Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Platforms: PS4, X1, PC
Release Date: 9 December 2014
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and the first-ever four-player co-op experience with Lara Croft. Featuring stunning visuals and a brand-new story, players must work together to explore the temple, defeat hordes of enemies from the Egyptian underworld, solve devious puzzles, and avoid deadly traps. All the while, players will compete for treasure, powerful artifacts, and ultimate bragging rights.
The real treasure in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris wasn't Lara’s story, bipedal alligator warriors, or a bounty of gems, but solving complex and varied environmental puzzles with friends. Playing alone, discovering the different flavors of each new temple and figuring out the solution to a brain-busting puzzle all by myself is satisfying; replaying with others doubled that satisfaction because developer Crystal Dynamics renews the challenge with creative new twists on previously conquered obstacles that require teamwork to overcome.
Huge fun with friends and enjoyable on your own, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a strong follow-up to Guardian of Light. It might retread a lot of old ground from its predecessor, but it also offers enough twists and interesting puzzles to keep you playing for a good few hours, making it well worth excavating and dusting off.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a wonderful downloadable title. For the price of $19.99, it’s hard to pass up. The game performs well on the Xbox One version I played. It doesn’t do anything drastically different than the previous game, but more of the same is never a bad thing when the first was such a hit. For clever puzzles, simplistic yet intense action, interesting boss battles and fun co-op, it doesn’t get any better than this.
A solid and entertaining co-op experience, getting more complex with the increase in the number of players connected. We loved its focus on puzzles, something the main Tomb Raider series lacked lately.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a pretty worthy follow up to Guardian of Light. It takes the things that made the original game so good, like great puzzles and well thought out attempts to add replayability, and brings them into a new setting and story fully intact. Co-operative features in particular greatly utilise individual character abilities both on a solo level and in terms of how they interact with each other.
But it’s not all perfect. The game’s storyline is phoned in and the art direction is quite disappointing given how unique and exotic the setting of Ancient Egypt is. But it’s not a deal breaker by any means and definitely something where your mileage may vary depending on your own personal tastes.
Regardless of aesthetic qualms, it’s rare that a game can be designed for both single player and co-operative play can be so fun no matter how it’s approached. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is one of those games and one that I can’t recommend enough.
'Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris' is radically different from 'Tomb Raider', but this is not necessarily a bad thing. It is also not radically different from its predecessor, and I wish it would have had a bit more ambition with its loot system and platforming. The puzzles are more fun than annoying, and in this regard co-op is implemented well. A few other relatively minor issues chip away at it, but overall it is not a bad little arcade game.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a great adventure. With the complex puzzles, enjoyable gameplay, and exquisite world to explore, Crystal Dynamics once again gives Tomb Raider fans an exemplary addition to the acclaimed series.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris’s new mechanics and graphical improvements make it a must-have for any couch co-op fan. The devious puzzles are matched by a better story and bigger bosses, making for a fun four-player romp that should keep any gamer entertained.
If you’re looking for an old-school retro dungeon crawler, Lara’s latest adventure might scratch that itch, though Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is better at the classic smash and grab.
The light puzzles and strong couch and online co-op elements make this game a hoot to play with friends. It’s especially attractive for families or friends of different ages or skill levels who play together. (It’s rated Teen.)
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris gets solid points for execution and beauty, but it could have used an injection of creativity. Still, at $20, this arcade-style title offers great play for the money.
Another fun twin-stick-shooter romp for Lara Croft, Temple of Osiris finds a way to go bigger and better in most regards, but four-player co-op was just too much on my TV screen—this one would’ve been better off with only two main characters instead of four.
The Good: Lots of interesting puzzles that dynamically change in co-op; solid twin-stick action.
The Bad: Locked camera can be a nuisance. 4-player co-op is more of a detriment than a boon.
The Ugly: Our news editor, Chris Holzworth, trolling the rest of the EGM Crew during 4-player co-op.
Aside from allowing a full couch to jump into the game at any time, there isn't anything profoundly original here. I'd like to see Laura continue her top down adventures, but I hope that in the future she finds a new tomb to explore. [Jan 2015, p.91]
A Journey Begins – Escape the Pyramid of Osiris (Bronze)
Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking – Complete the Tomb of the Timekeeper (Bronze)
Why’s it have to be snakes? – Complete the Tomb of the Silversmith (Bronze)
No bug is too big for these boots! – Defeat Khepri (Silver)
I should buy a boat – Complete the Tomb of the Ferryman (Bronze)
Burn it with fire! – Complete the Tomb of the Lamplighter (Bronze)
Nothing a belly rub can’t fix – Defeat Sobek (Silver)
You know what grinds my gears? – Complete the Tomb of the Architect (Bronze)
That’s a wrap – Defeat the Pharoah (Bronze)
Stick’em with the pointy end! – Complete the Tomb of the Torturer (Bronze)
Bad…Doggy? – Defeat Set (Silver)
Tomb Raider – Complete All Challenges (Gold)
Xbox & Steam Achievements
(Gamerscore value only applicable to Xbox Achievements)
Quote:
What’s in the box? – Unlock a Treasure Chest (5g)
Up for a Challenge – Complete a Challenge Tomb (10g)
Gotta Start Somewhere – Find your First Weapon (10g)
I love tombs! – Complete all Challenge Tombs (30g)
Bling me up! – Wear two rings and an amulet (10g)
Your death won’t be in vain! – Collect enough canopic jars to unlock an onyx weapon (15g)
Tomb Raider – Complete all challenges (125g)
Pyramid scheme – Complete all Pyramid of Osiris challenges (30g)
Into the future – Complete all Timekeeper challenges – (30g)
Snake Charmer – Complete all Silversmith challenges (30g)
What were we standing on? – Complete all Khepri challenges (20g)
I was told there would be boats – Complete all Ferryman challenges (30g)
Lit all the things! – Complete all Lamplighter challenges (30g)
Heartburn – Complete all the Sobek challenges (20g)
Who builds their own tomb? – Complete all Architect challenges (20g)
The stabbiest tomb of all – Complete all Torturer challenges (30g)
All bark and… - Complete all Set challenges (20g)
Time is of the essence – Complete any level time challenge (5g)
Gotta have them all – Complete any red skull challenge (5g)
Learn from the best – Complete any gold score challenge (5g)
Human cannonball – Bomb a player in a magic shield in a local or online multiplayer game (5g)
Not on my watch! – Revive another play in a local or online multiplayer game (10g)
Long distance relationship – finish any tomb in online multiplayer (10g)
Couch Party – Finish a tomb in a 4-player local multiplayer game (15g)
No worries, I got this! – in a 4-player local or online multiplayer game, be the only player to not die in a tomb (10g)
Oh, were we suppose to share these? – Get the most gems in a tomb in a local or online multiplayer game (10g)
Primus Inter Pares – Get the most kills in a tomb in a local or online multiplayer game (10g)
Hey, at least you are the best at something! – Have the most deaths in a tomb in a local or online multiplayer game (10g)
A Journey begins – Escape the Pyramid of Osiris (20g)
Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking – Complete the Tomb of the Timekeeper (20g)
Why’d it have to be snakes? – Complete the Tomb of the Silversmith (20g)
No bug is too big for these boots! – Defeat Khepri (45g)
I should buy a boat – Complete the Tomb of the Ferryman (25g)
Burn it with Fire! – Complete the Tomb of the Lamplighter (25g)
Didn’t see that coming – Defeat the Oracle of Osiris (25g)
Nothing a belly rub can’t fix – Defeat Sobek (60g)
You know what grinds my gears? - Complete the Tomb of the Architect (30g)
That’s a wrap – Defeat the Pharaoh (30g)
Stick’em with the pointy end! – Complete the Tomb of the Torturer (30g)
Bad…Doggy? – Defeat Set (100g)
Where's Artemisia to DRAG the PlayStation Trophies?!
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a great adventure. With the complex puzzles, enjoyable gameplay, and exquisite world to explore, Crystal Dynamics once again gives Tomb Raider fans an exemplary addition to the acclaimed series.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris’s new mechanics and graphical improvements make it a must-have for any couch co-op fan. The devious puzzles are matched by a better story and bigger bosses, making for a fun four-player romp that should keep any gamer entertained.
Game Informer
Dec 7, 2014
78
Aside from allowing a full couch to jump into the game at any time, there isn't anything profoundly original here. I'd like to see Laura continue her top down adventures, but I hope that in the future she finds a new tomb to explore. [Jan 2015, p.91]
You didn't just say that.
