I first saw a glimpse of the rebooted Tomb Raider series at E3 last year. To say I was blown away is an understatement. I was immediately sold on the story of Lara’s origin as the tomb raider and the ongoing suspense of her survival. And just like that, from one viewing of the game, the seed for my obsession was planted. Fast forward about nine months, and the birth of my obsession. I guess that was enough time for Lara to come to maturity and all this merchandise to become more than just a concept.
Collector’s Edition Survival Kit ($99.99 USD)
Tomb Raider Collector's Edition Content
Lara Croft 8" Figurine
Survival Tin
3 Iron-On Badges
Weapon Pack DLC
15" x 19" Double Sided Island Map and Poster
5" x 7" Lithograph
I think that I’m still bitter about missing out on the Borderlands 2 Loot Chest, which is why I keep pre-ordering the collector's editions of games. I will not miss out on awesome gaming merchandise again! While this edition is probably not worth it for most people, I could not pass up on the Lara doll...I mean action figure. She deserves a place of honor with all our other gaming and geek paraphernalia. I may have to glue her down though, so she doesn’t end up cat carnage like these guys.
Xbox 360 Tomb Raider Limited Edition Wireless Controller ($59.99 USD)
This dark red controller is just for the Xbox 360 and comes with a downloadable character to play in-game. The DLC was not part of my buying decision, as I could care less about the multiplayer for this game. The controller is awesome though with great weight distribution, a shiny silver D-pad and some etchings in the actual face of the controller. The etchings, while I thought they were odd at first, actually enable greater grip and less slippage when my palms get sweaty from some intense gameplay. The controller is themed after Lara's climbing axe and you can see it had a rough life. If you are looking for a new controller with some signs of distress, this one is for you!
iPhone/iPad Official Tomb Raider Map App ($2.99 USD)
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I purchased this for the full price. I hardly ever spend more than a buck on apps. It is a very helpful app though, and especially for those of us that are game completionists. The App has maps of the different areas of the game and the locations of all the in-game collectibles. If you played through Tomb Raider already, you know that some of those collectibles are really hidden well. Even when you feel like you’re on top of them, you can not see them easily. You can use the App to not only find the collectibles, but you can mark off the collectibles as you find them. My only complaint here is that it’s really hard to tell for some of the icons if you clicked them already. Is the magnifying glass supposed to be black with white outlines when I mark it or white with black outlines? The whole black/white to white/black icon change is annoying and a terrible design decision. Other than that one complaint, this is a great companion to help you around the Island.
BradyGames’ Official Tomb Raider Strategy Guide ($24.99 USD to $36.99 USD)
I love game guides, which is odd because I don’t buy physical copies of books anymore. I obtain all my content digitally and think it’s a waste of money to do anything else. So why do I love these game guides so much? I think it is the collector’s aspect to them and the quality of information they provide. They have beautiful, high-resolution photos and some really great, in-depth content. I really enjoyed reading the background stories on the Tomb Raider characters and wish I had this guide before I completed my first play through of the game.
In general, I do not think that strategy guides are any better than finding walkthroughs on the internet and this BradyGames guide is no different. With the cost of the Signature Series ($24.99 USD) and the Limited Edition ($36.99 USD) versus the cost of the Map App, I can not in good conscious recommend this for most gamers. If you are a fan of the series, then by all means, this is a must have! I have a copy of the Signature Series version and I really enjoyed reading through it so far. It's interesting that 80% of the book is focused on the single player and the multiplayer section is weak at best...just like the game. BradyGames also has a Limited Edition version of the guide which has a hardcover and a custom designed amulet. Both versions include codes for multiplayer characters, which again, I could really care less about. This game is all about the single player experience for me and spending some quality time with Lara...alone.
Quick Summary for Tomb Raider Merchandise
Collector’s Edition of the game: Not worth the additional $40. Not at all. Don’t waste your money.
Xbox 360 Tomb Raider Limited Edition Wireless Controller: A great option if you need a new wireless controller...or if you like the distressed look of a well-used axe. iPhone/iPad Official Tomb Raider Map App: Worth the $3, especially if you want to find all the collectibles. BradyGames’ Official Tomb Raider Strategy Guide: Not worth the money unless you’re a hardcore fan of the series. In that case, I'd recommend going with the hardcover Limited Edition as the Standard Edition feels cheap and flimsy.
Be sure to check out our full review of Tomb Raider on the home page!
Special thanks to LB for an intellectual asset and the use of the word "merchandise".
