The Serpent’s Heart is a massive step up from its previous dlc titles. The challenge tomb uses classic elements we all know and love such as timing, precision and very deadly traps (finally no rope arrows). We welcome the new mechanics and hope to see more of this sort of level design if not in the future dlcs then in the future games. However, these new mechanics are not without a problem. Since the main challenge is keeping Lara on a raft whilst avoiding traps, the fact that Lara cannot crouch is very problematic as she keeps scrambling off it. This is why we believe the new Tomb Raider games will have to undergo a bigger change of how we control Lara if we’re to get back to these sort of traps. We have also encountered few glitches due to heavily scripted grabbing spots. It’s annoying not to be able to climb back onto a pole because of the way it’s programmed – grab and jump one side only. 

While it is a nuisance to start the mission in Paititi mainly because of the outfit restriction, at least this time around we were able to equip the new outfit for the challenge tomb. Unfortunately it was disappointing to see yet another tribal outfit especially when majority of fans are very loud about not wanting anymore of those (and we agree). The good thing about the new Dragon Scales outfit is that Lara’s arm muscles are more buff like they were in E3 footage and that’s great. 

The story once again takes place before the eclipse brining back a character we encountered in Paititi. The plot is okay, but we’re here for the tombs as we’re not fans of dlc stories taking place before the eclipse. The Serpent’s Heart story does create a plot hole in the main storyline as Lara obtains a Godslayer bow as her reward (a bow meant for challenging Amaru for the throne), but doesn’t have it with her when she faces Amaru in the main campaign. They way it’s presented gives the bow a bigger meaning than it ends up having.

Unfortunately, The Serpent’s Heart sounded very unfinished with some of the sfx missing and no music. We can’t rule out a glitch, but our experience was that some “emotional” moments sounded very flat due to their skimpy sound design.

In conclusion, is this dlc worth it? We say yes! The challenge tomb is what counts and that’s where this dlc shines. 

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Our Lara’s Diary: Baba Yaga video is nominated for the Royal Television Society Award!

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“As some eagle-eyed Rise of the Tomb Raider players have discovered, two placeholder movies were accidentally included in the latest patch. This content was not meant to be released, but now that it is we wanted to respond to the questions we’ve received as a result. The movies are part of a DLC expansion we’re exploring for Rise of the Tomb Raider. Our fans continue to enjoy Rise of the Tomb Raider and its DLC, including Cold Darkness Awakened which released on Tuesday, and we receive many requests for additional story content. We’re always listening to feedback from our fans; especially this year as we celebrate 20 years of the iconic Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise together.”

Video  credit – 

Gian Carlo at Tomb Raider Forums

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A merchant had a daughter, who was known as Vasilisa the Beautiful. When the girl was eight years old, her mother died. On her deathbed, she gave Vasilisa a tiny wooden doll with instructions to give it a little to eat and a little to drink if she were in need, and then it would help her. As soon as her mother died, Vasilisa gave it a little to drink and a little to eat, and it comforted her.After a time, her father remarried; the new wife was a woman with two daughters. Vasilisa’s stepmother was very cruel to her, but with the help of the doll, she was able to perform all the tasks imposed on her. When young men came wooing, the stepmother rejected them all because it was not proper for the younger to marry before the older, and none of the suitors wished to marry Vasilisa’s stepsisters.One day the merchant had to embark on a journey. His wife sold the house and moved them all to a gloomy hut by the forest. One day she gave each of the girls a task and put out all the fires except a single candle. Her older daughter then put out the candle, whereupon they sent Vasilisa to fetch light from Baba Yaga’s hut.

Vasilisa the Beautiful at the Hut of Baba Yaga, by Ivan Bilibin

Also check out our Lara’s Diary Project where Lara studies the myth of Baba Yaga in preparation for her upcoming adventure; the Rise of the Tomb Raider DLC – Baba Yaga: Temple of the Witch.

Starring the original Lara Croft voice actress Shelley Blond [Tomb Raider (1996), Peep Show]

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Starring the original Lara Croft voice actress Shelley Blond [Tomb Raider (1996), Peep Show] and featuring incredible artwork by Inna Vjuzhanina!

Bulgarian Subtitles by Tomb Raider Passion

German Subtitles by Lara’s Generation

Croatian Subtitles by Tomb Raider Empire 

Rise of the Tomb Raider and Baba Yaga Temple of the Witch out now on Xbox 360 and Xbox One and PC.

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