14 DAY TRIAL // Just before E3 2011 kicks off next week, Square Enix together with developer Crystal Dynamics have just released the first cinematic trailer for the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot.
The Tomb Raider franchise, starring the iconic Lara Croft, has been a part of gaming since the 1990s, but, in recent years, things haven't exactly been smooth for the British adventurer, whose games didn't reach the sales expected by former publisher Eidos Interactive, prompting its sale to Japanese corporation Square Enix.
Now, under new management, the developer of the series, Crystal Dynamics, has been tasked with rebooting the whole franchise and starting the story of Lara Croft all over again, this time with an emphasis on grittier action and more realistic gameplay.
We've already heard quite a few things about the title since the beginning of the year, but now, just before E3, Square Enix has launched a very impressive cinematic trailer for the new Tomb Raider game.
In it, we see the events leading up to the start of the upcoming title, with a much younger Lara Croft heading off into her very first adventure. Things quickly take a turn for the worse on the boat ride to her destination, with a terrible storm wreaking havoc and spelling almost the end for the young explorer.
As you will see in the footage below, however, things do get better, but only marginally, with Lara being shipwrecked on a mysterious island, wounded and confused about what to do next and how to survive.
Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics confirmed that the new Tomb Raider is going to put an emphasis on survival gameplay, not just exploring, as the younger, more inexperienced Lara Croft can fall prey to the many dangers that are present on the island.
Expect more details about the new Tomb Raider game at next week's E3 2011 conference, where Square Enix will showcase plenty of its upcoming games, including Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Hitman Absolution or Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Until then, check out the new cinematic trailer for Tomb Raider, courtesy of GameTrailers, below.