Tomb Raider PS3 review

[Riskbreaker]

Just finished this so I'm going to be a bit sycophantic, I love this game. It's better than Uncharted. And it definitely owes a huge debt to that series, the influence from the set pieces to the combat and mechanics are plain to see. I doubt this would have come about without Naughty Dog making a better Tomb Raider type game up until now, so all credit to them for essentially pushing Crystal Dynamics in the right direction. But CD have made game that gives you room to dive off the beaten track and do some exploring rather than go straight from A to B. It's not perfect by any means, but the sense of exploration and space is a cut above Drake's adventures.

I have a couple of gripes, but compared to the game as a whole they seem pretty redundant. The QTEs are a pain in the bum until you realise that the ones with a decreasing circle are only ever the Y button (playing 360 version). At which point they stop feeling unfairly fast. The animal hunting seems redundant, it would have been nice to see some proper survival gameplay around that, a need to keep tabs on Lara's health and stamina rather than just generating XP, but fair enough I opted not to bother with it.

The biggest issue for me was the lack of complexity in the secret tombs. Seeing as they are optional, CD could have gone to town, just one secret tomb should have been the size of the six / seven here combined. If they had nailed that element, they would probably have ticked the boxes of every fan.

Despite that, my gripes feel like nitpicking compared to how much I enjoyed the game. There's stuff there that other devs now need to steal. Every stealth game should consider having a character that automatically starts to move around carefully and adopt cover with out having to flap around holding a button to cling to a wall or clicking a stick to duck. This way just works, it's easier to control and feels natural without feeling forced. Meanwhile some sections of the game would work really well in the survival horror genre, Capcom should be taking a look at how CD convey a sense of claustrophobia and vulnerability as these are the elements I think many Resi fans have been hoping to see for a long time.

I must admit I was surprised to see Lara does get thrown through the wringer as much as she does. She is to Tomb Raider what Leon is to RE 6 (if you've played Resi 6 you'll know what I mean). The payoff was that I was always rooting for her. Spoilers if you haven't reached Shantytown:

->Open Spoiler<-

As if the journey there wasn't horrendous enough. Walking away from that parachute crash looking for a medikit only to have to crawl through make shift sewers under the huts made me desperate to get out of there. Oh and I thought that Conan O'Brien clip was taking the mick until I realised that particular little section is really badly signposted. I could have done without seeing that 8/9 times.

There are some excellent moments where the game makes you feel a bit more empowered. One particular bit about 70% of the way through

->Open Spoiler<-

after the grenade launcher is unlocked, has the islands nutters starting to have second thoughts before Lara yells after them "That's right! RUN YOU BASTARDS. I'M COMING FOR YOU ALL!"

So yeah, I'm a fan, could easily be my GOTY.



PS. Even the Play Arts figurine (yeah I know) in the CE was well made!

[nonny]

This game is my current GOTY by far. I'm actually also playing Uncharted 1 for the first time and it pales in comparison... I'm curious to play Uncharted 2-3 now as well to compare against a more recent (and highly regarded) entry in that series.

[rmoxon]

This game is my current GOTY by far. I'm actually also playing Uncharted 1 for the first time and it pales in comparison... I'm curious to play Uncharted 2-3 now as well to compare against a more recent (and highly regarded) entry in that series.

I don't think this is as good as uncharted 2. But that could be becuase I played uncharted 2 first and this copies a lot of its set peice moments which wowed gamers when it first game out as they are unlike anything else people had played before.

Be interesting to see what you think, IMO Uncharted 2 is a perfect game packed full of amazing moments. Bits like the gun fight that takes place as the building you ware in collapses are simply breathtaking, even today. But I can't help that playing this game first made have diluted someone's experience with Uncharted 2. Which is a great shame really.

[25.05.2005]

Great game, finished the story now with 65% completion. Don't think I'll go back in to get anything as it doesn't feel worth it, but what a ride. I still feel there was too much killing for a Lara game, and not enough exploration or puzzles. I would have loved it if the 'secret tombs' were like at least 5 times bigger, and more akin to the original in finding a big room and having to work out how to get to a certain point or achieve a certain goal. Also hates the way the reward for exploring the secret tombs was often...more exploration. GPS caches...urgh. But this game is easily a 9/10 for me, breathtaking at times. Cinematic but felt in control. Good story too. Can't wait for a sequel with hopefully more <optional> classic tomb raiding action included.

One of my absolute favourite bits at the end was:

->Open Spoiler<-

When Lara used the dual pistols in the final battle. Epic.

Wow Lara nude, should keep the 13 year olds happy, seriously who cares, im sure theres real women in the world, or the net is full of porn if needs must. Never understood the fascination with pixelated porn.

Woosh.

[QualityChimp]

I know the nudity thing is a joke, but I never thought Lara was sexy anyway.

In the game, I see her as a penknife. One device that performs multiple functions - this is the lever-pulling blade, this is for ledge grabbing, this one shoots guns and this one makes her do a handstand (the equivalent of the blade that removes stones from a horse's hoof).

Is there much tomb raiding in this? I'm loving the HD remake of the original at the moment, but I'm enjoying the puzzling more than the shooting. In fact, you can guess when an enemy will appear as it's been quiet for a while. Are there loads of puzzles to solve?

[Riskbreaker]

If you're in it for the puzzles buddy I'd hold off. There are some physics based puzzles to solve, but they're not substantial or numerous enough if that's what you're after.

[QualityChimp]

Thanks, mate.

I'll definitely play it at some point and really enjoyed your lengthy feedback.

It just feels like navigating booby-traps of ancient civilisations protecting their treasures is a thing of the past! Boom boom.

[EvilBoris]

I finished it yesterday and it definitely got better in the lsat 3rd of the game in the 3 2hour sittings it took me to finish the game, the last sitting was definately the most exciting and I wanted to see how they were going to get out of the lost-eque situation they were in.

The game really did feel very linear on the first play through (although the actual levels are fairly open) and about 50% of the game seemed to consist of Lara on her back ,sliding down really steep hills and waterfalls.

It's so weird, it's a really really well made game in every possible respect, but I really can't put my finger on why I didn't particularly ENJOY it.

I'm not sure if it was the lack of puzzles or platforming , (of which there were a couple of glimpses of the kind of stuff I wanted) or whether it was the story which I found uninteresting (I'm not a fan of games explaining so much via pages and pages of on screen text.)

It was a really promising start to a new reboot anyway and I will certainly pick up the next in the series off the back of this.

[teddymeow]

I'm not really feeling this to be honest.

As Boris says above its a very well put together game; looks lovely, controls are good etc. but I'm just not getting any sort of fun from it.

It's as if the Crystal Dynamics guys Sat there and said "what can we include that's cool in games right now" and put those things in; bow & arrow, weather effects, a light smattering of collectibles to make you go off the beaten track.

The way the survivor instincts work reminds me of Assassin's Creed. In fact the whole game reminds me more of AC than Uncharted which might be why I'm not enjoying it. It's too serious. Just really quite depressing and more than a little emo.

From what I read I was expecting a slow, theatrical build up to the first kill and then the repercussions of that to follow. All I've had is Lara saying "oh God, why" as I shoot 5 guys in the head with the bow before they can get a bead on me. Not bad for a character who is agonising with the decision she made to take a life.

I'll give it one last go tomorrow but if it doesn't click I'll trade it for Luigi's Mansion 2.

[Shozuki]

I'm not really feeling this to be honest.

As Boris says above its a very well put together game; looks lovely, controls are good etc. but I'm just not getting any sort of fun from it.

It's as if the Crystal Dynamics guys Sat there and said "what can we include that's cool in games right now" and put those things in; bow & arrow, weather effects, a light smattering of collectibles to make you go off the beaten track.

The way the survivor instincts work reminds me of Assassin's Creed. In fact the whole game reminds me more of AC than Uncharted which might be why I'm not enjoying it. It's too serious. Just really quite depressing and more than a little emo.

From what I read I was expecting a slow, theatrical build up to the first kill and then the repercussions of that to follow. All I've had is Lara saying "oh God, why" as I shoot 5 guys in the head with the bow before they can get a bead on me. Not bad for a character who is agonising with the decision she made to take a life.

I'll give it one last go tomorrow but if it doesn't click I'll trade it for Luigi's Mansion 2.

Well I'm 9 hours in and am STILL not enjoying it. As you rightly said, the devs sat down and decided what would make the game rate and sell well and just made it. I have to say I enjoyed Underworld and Anniversary a lot more then this...

I just hope this does sell well enough to warrant a sequel that will actually be a Tomb Raider game and not generic 3rd person shooter with QTE's and automated gameplay..

Meh...

[Lebowski]

The most important thing missing in this reboot isn't the exploration there lots to explore and find, but everywhere has a feeling that someone has been here before you, quite recently too. you never get that feeling that what your exploring is untouched and been lost for thousands of years. something the original tomb raider did quite well with its traps puzzles and use of music ques.

Theirs plenty of opportunity for this in this game why not have Laura discovering a different take on the sun queen of the island by exploring the tombs and finding out what happened all those years ago. it certainly would be a more interactive way of finding out what happened than reading thousand year old books that have somehow survived (seem a bit of leap). But no even in the tombs you find a roaring fire so somebody must of been there very very recently, that could of been combated by Laura starting dead fires with her fire starter kit.

Despite this i really have enjoyed this game I like how it mixes up the combat and exploration, the stealth bits are great and the island as a whole is a fantastic place to discover, one that brings out my gaming ocd, "must collect and find all artifacts and gps markers" before moving on" lol

[iloveannie]

Well I've mopped up as much as I can be bothered. A second play through is unlikely as I fail to see how different it would be.
The game ticks all the boxes but is missing something. Hopefully, as said, the sequel will find the magic.
Failings would have to be not only campfires but the "Ever Lasting Candles". Awesome, where can I buy one?
Also how the f hadn't the tombs been spotted and raided when all they were missing were circus lights and a ticket booth!? Odd and it jars with the realism being portrayed. I hate that kind of thing and gaming has it far more than other media types.
Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed playing it despite there being times I wished the combat would stop. First encounter with the big things as you hid in that hole was exciting but they failed to materialise into anything hinted at. Pity.
Not tried, won't try, multiplayer so can't comment. I'm a single player gamer.
Overall enjoyable but is the title Tomb Raider apt?

[rmoxon]

I have to laugh at people complaining about campfires and ever burning candles...., show me a video game that doesnt have elements like that and you deserve a medal.

This is a medium that has stealth games where you can collect small floating cardboard boxes and hide from people in them. Compared to most games Tomb Raider is the height of realism.

The fact that people are complaining about things like that reeks of desperate attempts to find somthing negative to say about what is an exceptionally produced game.

[Lebowski]

I have to laugh at people complaining about campfires and ever burning candles...., show me a video game that doesnt have elements like that and you deserve a medal.

This is a medium that has stealth games where you can collect small floating cardboard boxes and hide from people in them. Compared to most games Tomb Raider is the height of realism.

The fact that people are complaining about things like that reeks of desperate attempts to find somthing negative to say about what is an exceptionally produced game.

I'm not arguing that it isn't an exceptionally produced game it's the most fun I've had in ages, but the campfire stuff really detracts from the originals sense of exploration I don't give two hoots about realism it's the atmosphere that these things spoil.

that feeling that your the first person to explore an area in thousands of years was done brilliantly in the early games, this really looses its shine when the enemy have left a pot of tea bubbling away over the fire and a pile of freshly mutilated corpses. They can't even let you explore the shipwrecked Spanish galleon without chucking a few more baddies at you.

[rmoxon]

Fair enough.

Though personally I feel it's realistic that there are campfires dotted about anyway. I mean like you say there are enemies camped all over the place guarding areas, so they have campfires. Not really random.