5. Pacing
Given how video games seem to be getting shorter and shorter these days, it's refreshing when a game releases that isn't just lengthy, but is lengthy for a
reason. Tomb Raider will clock in it around 12-14 hours for average players looking to speedily blast through the story, whereas those wishing to explore every nook and cranny of this massive island might find themselves playing up to around 20. What's great about the game is that it perfectly knows how to throw the various peaks and troughs at you; you'll blast through an exhilarating half-hour of frantic, challenging action, then have nearly half an hour to calm down, watch some cut-scenes, traverse the island and so on before getting back into play. Though this sounds repetitive, the game does a stellar job of keeping the action fresh, thanks to the sheer number of thrilling Uncharted-style set-pieces (especially in the first hour and the last few) that populate the game.