Shadow Of The Tomb Raider Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

1. Side Content Is Surprisingly Enjoyable

While many AAA games in recent years have been criticised for "padding" themselves with dull, dispassionate side content, it's a relief that Shadow's array of peripheral material is actually a lot of fun (for the most part).

The majority of the game's side missions emerge in the hub cities, where players can carry-out fetch quests for the locals while learning more about the culture and those who live there.

Most of the optional missions aren't particularly ambitious or memorable, but thanks to the endearing characters you'll meet and the depth of the lore you'll uncover, they lack the cynical, arbitrary feel of so many other AAA games.

It certainly helps that the hub cities themselves are gorgeous and a blast to explore, ensuring you can spend hours venturing off the beaten path. If for some reason the well-paced campaign starts to bore you, the side content is meaningful enough to serve as a solid distraction.

What are your expectations for Shadow of the Tomb Raider? Shout it out in the comments!