Team Up for Adventure

A true video game legend closes out this year's Summer of Arcade with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light . Lara's on a quest through a Mayan temple, and she's got a partner this time. Two players can enjoy co-op tomb raiding, with the second player controlling Totec, the guardian of the Mirror of Smoke. Currently, co-op play is only possible on a single console, but Crystal Dynamics has already announced several content pack downloads, the first a free game update in September that adds co-op play over Xbox LIVE.

You explore the temple from an isometric overhead view with Robotron controls (or Geometry Wars, for you young'uns) where the left stick moves and right stick fires. And you'll be firing a lot—Guardian of Light is action-packed, with swarms of enemies and huge boss battles. Not content with her trusty dual pistols, Lara expands her arsenal this time around with lots more firepower, including a flamethrower and rocket launcher.

You won't be just running and gunning, though. The temple is packed with puzzling challenges that require Lara to do things like push rocks on switches or shoot spears into walls to create a crude staircase. The levels are detailed and quite intricate, and the challenges range from familiar to truly diabolical (the collapsing platforms in one section almost cost me a controller). The use of physics is very impressive, leading to many "aha!" moments when you finally figure it out.

The single-player game offers different challenges and environments that the co-op version. When playing with Lara and Totec, teaming up is the only way to complete the levels. Totec can use his shield to boost Lara to inaccessible areas, for example, or Lara can use her grappling hook as a tightrope for Totec. Communication is crucial for success ("Stay on the switch! Aw, man, you just killed me …"). Cooperation only goes so far, though, as you'll find yourself racing to gather items or power-ups before your partner gets to them.

There are tons of cool things to collect during your adventure, making the game a completist's dream. Each level has ten red skulls to discover (good luck with those), plus dozens of relics scattered around the temple that you can find and equip.

Challenge tombs are found throughout the game off the beaten path, and each one offers a specific challenge that rewards you with an artifact upon completion. Artifacts boost your abilities, such as speed or weapon strength.

The game is a blast, and the saga will only continue with more add-on adventures on the way from Xbox LIVE. It's been a great Summer of Arcade, and the fun and challenge of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great way to end it.