Game Is Lyf

Developer(s): Crystal Dynamics
Publisher(s): Square Enix
Director(s): Daniel Neuberger
Series: Tomb Raider
Platform(s): PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s): August 18, 2010[show]
Xbox 360 (Arcade)
August 18, 2010
PlayStation 3 (PSN)
September 28, 2010
PC (Steam)
September 28, 2010
Genre(s): Isometric platform, Action
Mode(s): Two-player co-op, Single-player
Rating(s): ESRB: T
Media: digital download

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an upcoming isometric platform action video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix for the PC, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade as part of the Tomb Raider series for digital download. Unlike previous games in the series, the game does not carry the Tomb Raider brand and will have a heavy emphasis on cooperative gameplay, both online or locally.

In the multiplayer, players will take the role as either Lara Croft or a 2,000 year old Mayan warrior named Totec. They will have to work together in order to stop the evil spirit Xolotl and retrieve the Mirror of Smoke. A single-player campaign mode will be available that will not include the non-playable character AI following or helping Lara. Guardian of Light will use the same game engine as Tomb Raider: Underworld, and will include modern visuals and physics. The video game was shown at E3 2010 on 14 June and will be released for the Xbox Live Arcade on 18 August 2010, but online co-op gameplay will not be enabled until 28 September, the day of the PC and PlayStation Network release.


Gameplay
The game will be a departure from the main series as being a third person adventure game. Instead it will be a non-linear "arcade-inspired" action game played from an isometric viewpoint using a fixed camera. The game also features cooperative gameplay, and players will take control of either Lara or an ancient Mayan tribesman named Totec. Each playable character will possess unique weapons and skills. Lara will retain her dual pistols with infinite ammo and a grappling hook. She will be able to use her grappling hook to make it across difficult gaps and Totec can ride along. Totec will carry spears which can be used as a weapon and on the environment. Both characters will carry unlimited "bombs" that can be dropped and detonated with a press of a button.

Tombs can be explored and some will have "booby-trap puzzles" to solve. The game will not have any loading times.

Guardian of Light may be played with a single player, and a second player may join at any time, whether online or locally. In the single-player campaign the only playable character is Lara; Totec will not be available to assist. Lara will have all the tools required along with new abilities to make it through her own unique adventure. The puzzles and bits of the map will also be different. Creative director Daniel Neuberger said that this was because he did not want the player to get frustrated by having to rely on AI. The campaign will reportedly feature up to eight to ten hours of gameplay.


Multiplayer
In multiplayer, teamwork will have a heavy emphasis on gameplay. Lara will be able to use Totec's shield as a portable platform as he holds it above his head to make it a difficult height. She may balance on a stack spears that Totec throws in the wall; the spears will not be able to hold Totec's weight. Totec can tightrope walk using Lara's grappling rope. As the game progresses, Totec will learn from Lara how to use modern weapons, such as rifles. When enemies are killed, point scores will appear above their bodies—red or blue—depending on whether Lara or Totec did the damage. There will also be pick-ups, such as gems, scattered throughout the levels that will increase the player's score. Receiving high scores in each level will reward the player with unlockables. To add competitiveness into the game there will only be a limited number of enemies and gems in the world so the player must beat their partner to kill and grab them all. The multiplayer mode will reportedly feature up to six to eight hours of gameplay, depending on teamwork.

Characters
Guardian of Light will star Lara Croft, a fictional English archaeologist and Totec, an ancient Maya warrior and leader of the Army of Light. Both will be playable characters. An evil spirit called Xolotl will be the antagonist. Some of his minions that he makes come to life will include: giant spiders, demon like creatures, and huge trolls. Lara will again be voiced by Keeley Hawes and Totec, Lara's partner, is newly voiced by Jim Cummings.

Minimum System Requirements:
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor : Intel Pentium IV at 3.0 GHz / AMD at 2.5 GHz
Video Card : 128 MB VRAM – NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT or better / ATI Radeon 1300XT or better
Memory : 1 GB RAM (XP) / 2 GB RAM (Vista)
Hard Disk : 7 GB of free Hard Drive space
Sound : DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers
DirectX : 9.0c
Controls : Keyboard & Mouse
Installation : DVD-ROM Drive

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Processor: Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz
AMD Processor: Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+
Nvidia Graphics Card: GeForce 7950 GT
ATI Graphics Card: Radeon X1800 Series 256MB
RAM Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 7 GB
Direct X: 9