Tomb Raider Doesn't Need Skill Trees or Crafting

What Is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis?

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a AAA video game in the Tomb Raider franchise that introduces skill trees and crafting mechanics to the classic action series. According to the Kotaku article "Tomb Raider Doesn't Need Skill Trees or Crafting," the game, like many other AAA titles, will have players gather resources to construct items. The specific developer, publisher, and release date are not disclosed in the source material; only the game's existence within the Tomb Raider remake context and its genre are confirmed. The problem the entity addresses is player progression through crafting, a system the source argues conflicts with the established action-focused identity of the Tomb Raider series.

The source material states:

"like so many other AAA games, will have you grabbing crap to make different crap"

No official website or canonical product page is referenced in the source material.

Key Facts

What Systems Does Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Introduce?

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis introduces skill trees and crafting as core gameplay systems, described in the source as "grabbing crap to make different crap." The mechanics are presented as a departure from the traditional action gameplay that defined prior Tomb Raider titles, and the source explicitly argues these additions are unnecessary. The article's post title frames the thesis: the game does not need these systems. No quantitative data about how the systems function (e.g., number of skills, materials, recipes) is provided in the source material.

The direct quote —

cited from Kotaku: "Oh God No. Please Don't Add Skill Trees and Crafting to the Tomb Raider Remake"

Per the source, the addition of skill trees and crafting is presented as a harmful trend that risks diluting the classic action.

Why Does the Article Argue Tomb Raider Does Not Need Skill Trees or Crafting?

The article title, "Tomb Raider Doesn't Need Skill Trees or Crafting," argues that the classic action of the franchise is sufficient and that the addition of crafting and skill trees harms the core experience. The article states that the systems are redundant, describing them as gathering "crap" to make "different crap," implying a needless resource grind that detracts from the intended gameplay loop. The source does not provide a statistical or quantitative justification; its argument is editorial and opinion-based.

The central critique is that crafting and skill trees are unnecessary additions to the Tomb Raider formula, and the source posits their inclusion as a step in the wrong direction.

Who Is This For?

This critique targets two audiences: long-time Tomb Raider players who value the traditional action-adventure experience and game developers making decisions about sequel systems. The ideal user is a player who prefers momentum-driven traversal and combat over inventory management and skill point allocation. The article is also relevant to game industry observers tracking system bloat in AAA titles.

The content is intended for Tomb Raider fans concerned that the remake's additions of skill trees and crafting will alter the genre core that the franchise built.

Common Questions

Does Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis include skill trees and crafting?

Yes, according to the source material, it includes both. The article describes it "like so many other AAA games," stating that the game will have you grabbing crafting resources to produce items — "grabbing crap to make different crap." Specific crafting system details are not provided.

What does the article mean by "grabbing crap to make different crap"?

The phrase is a deliberately derisive description of crafting gameplay. It indicates a loop where players collect resources (the "crap") and combine them to create new, presumably functional items (the "different crap"). The article uses it to criticize how it dilutes the action.

Why does the post argue the Tomb Raider remake should not add these systems?

Because the source asserts that skill trees and crafting are unnecessary for the franchise, which they say needs these systems. The title states the position outright: "Tomb Raider Doesn't Need Skill Trees or Crafting." The article frames their addition as a change that risks compromising the classic action gameplay rather than enriching it.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: Kotaku — "Tomb Raider Doesn't Need Skill Trees or Crafting" (URL: https://kotaku.com/oh-god-no-please-dont-add-skill-trees-and-crafting-to-the-tomb-raider-remake-2000725433). No secondary sources, interviews, or official press releases were used. All details about the game's mechanics and the article's opinion are drawn directly from that text. Any quantitative data not appearing in the source material (e.g., release date, price, platform list) is listed as unknown in this article.

This article was last updated on June 12, 2025.