Tomb Raider 4 The Last Relevation rant
I've completed this game now and it's been a really weird experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, I love the Egyptian setting, the gameplay was challenging but doable. Alexandria level started to show some snags (the ball and the hook debacles) , yet in general I liked it. The Cairo level is where I almost quit. It's dark, there's bloody turrets everywhere, the signposting basically nonexistent. How do I supposed to know I need to craft a nitrous boost doohickey for the motorcycle? I haven't hated a vehicle in videogames since the batmobile in Arkham Knight. The worst of all - you just don't know where the game wants you to go. I relied heavily on the walkthrough, more than in the previous three games combined. The Giza levels are slightly better, though more on the tedious side. Especially the red rubies "puzzles". It's become ridiculous how many times they make you solve that riddle. I mean, it's okay but they repeat it 6 or 7 times. On the other hand this game has probably the best puzzles in the series, I really enjoyed the "ancient chess" and planetarium ones. The camera behaves much more fluidly, seldom fighting with you over controlling Lara. This game had the potential for greatness, the backtracking and inadequate signposting makes it too cumbersome and sloggy.
Fun fact. In Egyptian theme parks business a show with less then three deaths from spikes considered a dull affair.