Tomb Raider series. Does Shadow of the Tomb Raider bring a new light to the series, or

第三部遊戲中。《古墓奇兵：暗影》有將新內容帶入系列作品嗎？

is it a shadow of its former past? And for us toxophiles, is archery still cool?

或這部也只是延續前作的內容？對於我們這種箭術愛好者來說，箭術是否依然有趣？

As with the previous two Tomb Raider games, Lara has to do everything from the beginning.

和前兩部《古墓奇兵》遊戲一樣，蘿拉必須完全從頭開始

Her journey to Peru comes crashing down to earth, and she's left with her trusty recurve

在前往祕魯的旅途中墜機，蘿拉只剩下她那可靠的反曲弓

bow. In fact, the bow is the most prominent weapon, with segments of the game locking

事實上，弓是遊戲中最重要的武器，特定橋段中

Lara into fighting in traditional style, with the bow as her primary weapon, though of course

蘿拉只能用傳統的武器戰鬥、把弓箭當作主要武器，而當然

she has access to her usual arsenal in other segments.

在其他戰鬥橋段中，蘿拉可以使用其他武器

In what is definitely a cornerstone of the series, Lara has to use her bow to hunt animals

弓箭是本系列作的基石，蘿拉使用弓箭獵殺動物

for resources and defend against hostile predators. Doing this in the South American rainforest

取得資源，以及對抗凶暴的掠食者。在南美洲的雨林場景

adds an exotic edge, and it really feels like you are fighting for survival.

也增加了一種身處在異國的氛圍，讓玩家感覺好像真的為了生存而戰鬥

Once you encounter the hired guns, the bow becomes your go-to weapon for stealth, important

得到其他槍械後，弓箭變成了潛行暗殺才會使用的武器

as your suppressor options for guns are harder and more expensive to come by. Several unlockable

因為槍枝消音器較難解鎖、價格也較貴，而且不易取得。一些能夠

abilities give you familiar skills – shoot arrows in rapid succession, and the overpowered

解鎖的技能提供類似的能力－快速射擊箭矢，以及

multi-headshot skill that can instantaneously take out up three enemies. Though, in this

過強、一次最多可以擊殺三位敵人的多重暴頭技能。雖然

instalment, the less frequent combat sequences and slower shooting speeds tone down Lara's

在這一代中，變慢的自動瞄準速度以及變慢的射速，都削弱了

archery prowess.

蘿拉高超的箭術

Initially, the bow's silent ranged kills kind of make the whole stealth mechanics redundant,

一開始，弓箭能依序安靜的擊殺敵人，讓潛行機制像是多餘的一樣

but in later sections enemies have more armour and health, making them more difficult to

但在之後，敵人的裝甲和血量都變厚，敵人更難暗殺

take down and triggering an active fight. As mentioned earlier, the flow of combat feels

並會觸發戰鬥。就跟剛剛提到的一樣，戰鬥節奏變得

different. Enemies are more inclined to get up close and personal, forcing you to take

不一樣了，敵人現在傾向靠近並使用近戰攻擊，逼迫玩家

evasive action. The bow feels slower, and with the auto-headshot skill requiring you

閃避攻擊。拉弓速度變慢了，而自動鎖定暴頭技能

to be zoomed in, it's more awkward to fiddle around with, forcing you to take faster body

需要拉進畫面，這項技能變得不易使用，強迫玩家必須快速射擊敵人身體

shots or switch to alternative weapons. I actually don't mind this, as it does balance

或是改用其他武器。我其實不太在意這一點，因為這其實平衡了

out the other items, though this is the first time in the series where I felt that it was

其他武器的特點，雖然這是我第一次在這系列中覺得

genuinely easier to pull out your assault rifle.

直接掏出突擊步槍來用比較快

Shadow offers the largest selection of bows yet. While previous games went with a recurve

《古墓奇兵：暗影》的弓數量是目前系列中最多的一代。前一部作品反曲弓

and compound balance, Lara can obtain numerous recurve bows through missions and merchants.

以及複合弓的數量相當，這代的蘿拉可以透過破解任務，或是從商家購買取得不同的反曲弓

Weapons are more distinctly specialised in damage and speed, giving players some more

不同的弓有較大殺傷力或較快射速等特性，讓玩家能夠更彈性的

flexibility in how they want to approach combat. Upgrades are back too – by gathering resources,

依照自己想要的戰鬥方式選擇弓。升級系統也沿用到了這代－透過蒐集資源

Lara can improve the stats of each weapon.

蘿拉可以提升各武器的能力數值

Honestly, these traditional bows look really, really nice. I'd collect these in real life

老實說，這些傳統弓看起來真的、真的很美。如果官方推出這些弓的話

if they were made.

我會蒐藏起來

As far as tools and function go, things seemed…toned down. Lara has the usual ability to make ziplines

就其他工具和運用而言，似乎變弱了。蘿拉和以往一樣可以製造溜索

and use rope arrows to solve puzzles, though few areas require creative use of the bow

並使用繩索箭來解謎，雖然有些區域需要巧妙的運用弓箭來

to progress, which is a bit disappointing. That's...actually it for environmental interaction.

破關，這點讓人有些失望。因為這只是用繩索箭和環境互動而已

Lara has three specialised arrows. Fire arrows return, though there's really no point in

這次蘿拉有三種特殊箭矢可以使用。這代也有火焰箭矢

the game when you want to use it apart from burning the occasional barrier. Poison arrows

雖然火焰箭用來燒毀障礙外，沒有甚麼用處。毒箭

have been upgraded to lure arrows – the target is dispatched and nearby enemies are

升級成了誘敵箭矢－用來擊殺敵人後，周遭的敵人

drawn in by obnoxious beeper, causing the arrow to detonate its poison cloud, making

會被惱人的嗶嗶聲吸引，接近後觸發毒霧

this a very useful option for stealth sections since you can defeat armoured enemies with little effort.

這在一些需要潛行的區域非常好用，因為這可以輕易擊敗穿著裝甲的敵人

The newest tool is the Fear arrow, which causes the target to shoot at other enemies. This

恐懼箭矢是這代新增的箭矢，可讓被射中的敵人攻擊自己的隊友

is my favourite arrow to use, not just because it's useful in neutralising patrols, but

這是我最喜歡使用的箭矢，因為這不只能輕鬆解決巡邏中的敵人

because it's funny to watch.

而且看起來很有趣

Lara also gains the ability to use arrows to hang enemies from trees, which really adds

蘿拉也獲得了可以將敵人吊掛在樹上的技能

to the "Predator" edge that the game portrays Lara to be. With a wide range of abilities

更加呼應了遊戲想要塑造蘿拉的「掠食者」形象。有了廣泛的技能

and tools, Lara has all she needs to survive in this jungle paradise. Except…

與工具，蘿拉擁有所有在叢林樂園中生存所需的一切。除了...

Normally I don't go into detail about reviewing the game itself and focus instead on the archery

通常我不會詳細評論電玩本身的細節，而只談論遊戲中

specific elements, but there are a few things about Shadow that flatten the experience.

箭術方面的元素，但有些內容漸低了《古墓奇兵：暗影》的遊戲體驗

The focus has clearly shifted to exploration and, well, tomb raiding. This also means much

遊戲顯然把重點轉移到了探索，也就是盜墓。這也代表了

less emphasis on combat, and the stealth sequences are paced out…but perhaps a bit too much.

減少戰鬥要素和一些潛行場景... 但也許戰鬥層面削減得過多了

One of the common complaints is that the game doesn't feature much combat, and with that

其中一個最常見的抱怨就是，遊戲中的戰鬥時間過少

in mind, the bows don't really feel that useful. Craft a few arrows, and the stealth

因為這樣，弓箭在遊戲中顯得沒甚麼用處。就只要製作幾隻箭矢就能過關

sections are too easy. But the pacing also means you forget that you can use the tools

而且需要潛行的區域太簡單了。遊戲步調也會讓你忘記運用手邊的資源

you have. The tree-hanging ability seems useful, but it's the last thing you think of, since

把敵人掛到樹上的技能看似實用，但這招可能你最後才會想到

you can usually snipe the lone sentry from the ground or use a special arrow.

因為你通常會在樹上狙擊地面上的守衛，或是搭配特殊箭矢狙擊

Combat is clumsier with more melee-focused fighters, so your bow isn't very useful

拿弓箭和主要為近戰攻擊的敵人戰鬥時比較笨拙，這時的弓箭沒那麼好用

and you end up scurrying away until you unlock the dodge kill ability – which we've learned

最後玩家只能亂跑，直到解鎖閃避反擊技能－也就是先前兩款遊戲

twice already in previous games.

也有的技能

Ironically, despite the traditional setting, it's almost always better to use firearms,

諷刺的是，即使遊戲設定在傳統戰鬥，多數戰鬥使用槍枝更為合適

even if you have to go loud. Again, the claustrophobic environments and in-your-face arrow sponges

即便槍枝會發出很大聲響。再次，封閉場景以及近距離的使用弓箭

don't feel rewarding to play.

不吸引玩家使用弓箭戰鬥

This isn't to say that Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a bad game. It's very appealing

這不代表《古墓奇兵：暗影》很爛

and many fans will like the new setting, though I personally didn't enjoy the exploration

遊戲很吸引人，許多玩家也很喜歡遊戲中的新設定，但我本人不喜歡

focus and pacing as much. The archer side of me didn't really enjoy this particular

遊戲中那麼多的探索和步行時間。箭術方面和前兩代比起來

instalment compared to the previous two games. Despite a rainforest being an ideal environment

這代的我沒有那麼喜歡。即便叢林是個一名

for a rogue archer, Shadow doesn't quite hit the mark.

凶暴弓箭手的理想設定，《古墓奇兵：暗影》並沒有充分發揮

Anyway, this is NUSensei. As usual, shoot straight and aim for your best.

以上，我是 Nu 先生，一如往常，行事果斷，全力以赴