Tomb Raider Now Pre-Loading On Steam

PC gamers interested in purchasing the Tomb Raider reboot can start downloading the files now. This will enable you to start playing as soon as the game launches.

Tomb Raider rewinds the series to Lara Croft's first adventure. Lara, a newly graduated archaeology student, is on a quest to find long-forgotten relics in the Pacific Ocean. When her ship is destroyed by a storm, she finds herself alone and unarmed on a hostile tropical island. Over the course of the game, she learns to survive on her own and fight back against the island's dangers.

The game is supplemented by new competitive multiplayer modes. Players can take on the role of Lara's shipmates or the murderous island salvagers. The two factions face off in a variety of objective-based modes.

Steam is offering several incentives to players who pre-purchase. For starters, you'll get a free copy of puzzle-platforming co-op game Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light. "The Tomb of the Lost Adventurer" is a DLC pack for Tomb Raider that adds a new area and treasure for players to find. The third and final bonus is a Shanty Town map for multiplayer.

Thus far the game has racked up some very positive reviews. It's worth noting, though, that reviews for the PC version haven't been published yet. According to PC Gamer, that version won't be released to the press until Tuesday, the day that the game launches in North America.