Game - Baba Yaga: Temple of the Witch DLC (Rise of the Tomb Raider)
Release Date - January 26th, 2016
Platform - Xbox One
Developer/Publisher - Crystal Dynamics, Microsoft
Baba Yaga: Temple of the Witch is the first story add on DLC for Rise of The Tomb Raider. It's included in the season pass and the 2nd DLC pack released after Endurance mode earlier this month.
The Baba Yaga story line takes you to the Soviet Installation part of the map. This is specifically the portion with all the towers and ziplines located in the beginning of the main game. Lara needs to find a "native girl" from the Remnant community who is being hunted by Trinity soldiers. It's a quick battle with four soldiers, which leads you to meet Nadia hiding in a locker. She tells Lara that she was searching for her grandfather who was on a quest to kill the witch of legend, Baba Yaga. Lara's doubt in the existence of the witch is evident, yet she pledges to help Nadia find her grandfather anyway.
The journey takes you into some already explored areas of the main game as well as a brand new area, the witch's hideout. Two base camps are located in the area to allow for quick fast traveling from the main areas of the game. Lara uncovers collectibles that hint at both the origin and identity of the witch, but the classic Tomb Raider twist at the end adds a real element of immersion.
Combat is the same cover based style that is present in the main game and the tomb's stick with the physics based puzzle solving. Most interesting about the Baba Yaga add on is that it isn't your typical short DLC. With a game time of about 90 minutes, there isn't much to get lost in. The challenge tomb has a tricky puzzle which I stopped trying in order to continue the mission. Some trippy halucinogenic scenes full of jump scares and flashbacks ensue at the hands of Baba Yaga which Lara fights through. Lara needs to solve puzzles to navigate to multiple platforms which ends in a challenging boss fight with Baba Yaga herself. This takes place over three levels in her hideout and gives exactly what is needed in the game. Playing it reminded me of the line from Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean when he comments on the plan by saying "I like it. Simple, easy to remember". That's what Baba Yaga is. It gets right to the point, gives you everything you need and doesn't drag on.
Baba Yaga: Temple of the Witch provided a mission which included everything found in the main game. Sadness, despair and emotional struggle all culminated in a resolution. Just as the main game is known for showing Lara experience the emotional and mental struggles on top of her physical ones, Baba Yaga continues it. As the mission goes on, it becomes obvious that Lara's doubt to take the mission in the beginning was out of fear rather than disbelief in Nadia's story. Along with various other things which pop up as you go, which we won't spoil for you, Lara continues on despite her gut feeling and embraces her fear. It's this thought process and evolving of Lara that we saw take place throughout the main game. We mentioned in our review, which you should read here, that both the cinematic scenes as well as the tone of voice portray a new Lara. A Lara that realizes she is fallible and not an invincible explorer. This continues right on into Baba Yaga, which ends in a nicely wrapped up side story.
As a reward for completing the story, you earn a new outfit and arrow weapon. Added to the fire, explosion and poison arrows, this arrow causes the enemies to hallucinate in fear. A number of new collectibles are available to find as well as a few side missions and one challenge tomb. Overall, Baba Yaga: Temple of the Witch is short, but it's a good short that gives you exactly what is needed without anything extra.
It is available now on Xbox One for $9.99 or free as part of the season pass.
