The original Tomb Raider was difficult especially the puzzles. When i played TR2 i gave up at some point and to some extent i had to download guides to help me through. This was one of the reasons why the sequels after TR2 didn't perform well.

The reboot saw this issue and addressed it with the hint and making the play easier. CD's reboot wasn't bad, the early stages of the game hooked you to a point that you had to play well into the game.

Nevertheless, the original TR made gamers explore the scenes searching every corner for clues.

TR is puzzle platformer in its core, puzzles are key component of its game loop and shouldn't be trivial (not that they were ever that difficult to begin with). CD's Legend/Anniversary/Underworld were modernizing platforming part, without changing its puzzling mechanics. Reboot and onward are 3rd person cover shooters being TR in title only.

Original CORE's TR saw significant decline only with 5th entry, due to EIDOS pushing them to release it annually, so not sure where you coming up with "sequels after TR2 didn't perform well".

I do kinda like Lara's "new" design and the setting looking more exaggerated and less grounded than the Survivor trilogy, so I am cautiously optimistic.

Would have been nice to see some actual gameplay though instead of just cinematic fakery.

Me saying "TR2 didn't perform well" was a typo.

What I meant to say was that the games after TR2 didn't do well in terms of sales. Regarding the old TR titles, TR2 sold very well. As time went on, there were a lot of games to play. People wouldn't waste time on difficult puzzles, and besides, some of the environments became boring to explore. You will go round and round the same place.It wasn't easy to locate the levers, even. Now, the nostalgia has resurfaced, and there's a thirst for those puzzles.

I know you meant sales - my question stands. While there was a slight decline in sales of TRIII and Last Revelation, it was only with Chronicles that sales tanked.

Yes, game was becoming samey, but that's EIDOS doing by pushing CORE to churn out game a year. CD had their chance, and while I like Legend/Anniversary/Underworld, they didn't push it further. TR could've easily become what Elden Ring is to Souls, but unfortunately, days of cinematic dreck kicked in and they did the Reboot - which is TR in name only.

(to clarify, I find Reboot to be one of the best cover shooters I ever played - but that is not a TR game)

Initially I wasn't that excited when it was first revealed.

But after rewatching the trailers I'm coming around to it a lot more. It scratches that action/adventure itch I've had since Uncharted went on hiatus.