Tomb Raider PS3 review

[wakka]

You only have to look at Dark Souls cult popularity to see how games have become, in general, much less challenging than they used to be. Dark Souls' punishing approach is the exception rather than the norm.

A contributing factor is probably focus group testing of games. I read a great article on Gamasutra by the head of Bend Studio about the development of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, will find and link it in a bit. He talked about how they extensively tested the game in focus groups, timing how long players spent on each section, identifying 'problem areas' where players spent a lot of time wandering around not knowing what to do, and adjusted the game accordingly to make it as intuitive as possible.

Imagine if they'd done that for the original Tomb Raider games! Christ the first level of TRIII sent you sliding straight into a load of spikes

[capcom_suicide]

You only have to look at Dark Souls cult popularity to see how games have become, in general, much less challenging than they used to be. Dark Souls' punishing approach is the exception rather than the norm.

A contributing factor is probably focus group testing of games. I read a great article on Gamasutra by the head of Bend Studio about the development of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, will find and link it in a bit. He talked about how they extensively tested the game in focus groups, timing how long players spent on each section, identifying 'problem areas' where players spent a lot of time wandering around not knowing what to do, and adjusted the game accordingly to make it as intuitive as possible.

Imagine if they'd done that for the original Tomb Raider games! Christ the first level of TRIII sent you sliding straight into a load of spikes

lol!

I think that super hard levels are OK, if there is an "Insta save" feature. I don't mind trying 30 times, but the days where I would spend an hour getting to a boss, only to fail and then ahve to do the whole level again.... well those days are past!

[nakamura]

As a large % of gamers are in their 30's, married, tired and with maximum 10 hours a week for games, I believe the market has changed.

Gaming has simply become more disposable. We, well not me, are desperate to move onto the next product. People don't seem to invest time into games, not because they don't have it but because of this desire to have the latest title.

I bet the majority of these 30 something's with kids still put hours and hours a year into games like CoD, Battlefield, Fifa and the like.

[saturn-gamer]

When I get stuck in a game for like a minute, I don't know how fast I have to grab the iphone or notebook. Thats something that gradually became part of my gaming behaviour. I didn't mind getting stuck for months in games during the last century, I'd just find out at one point (by reading or hearing.. or figuring it out) and continue.

When you can't save in a game, or if it saves only once every hour, I become insane. Perhaps its age, I don't have as much time as I used to have during my teenage days. I've seen friends who put away Uncharted 2 forever because they couldn't get past the stealth part after 15 minutes of trying.

[rmoxon]

Just becuase a game doesn't have brain busting puzzels does not mean it lacks challenge.

Granted, Tomb Raider is not a hard game even when played on hard, but there are plenty of action orientated games out there that do represent a challenge. I think there will always be a market for hard games. Look at the popularity of Demons Souls and Dark Soul, the third game in that series is being made. So obviously some people want a challenge.

Unlockable difficulty levels are also now somthing that seems almost obligatory with games, clearly people like to revisit games with a greater challenge thrown at them. Saying everyone wants an easy ride when playing games is incorrect I feel.

[wakka]

Look at the popularity of Demons Souls and Dark Soul, the third game in that series is being made. So obviously some people want a challenge.

Obviously some people do. But hard games have become the exception rather than the rule.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that games need puzzles in order to be challenging, rather that one of old-school TR's key traits was its time consuming and often obscure puzzles.

[capcom_suicide]

Played more of this now. The firsl tomb (DLC with an areoplane) was great, but now the Tombs are like 3 minutes long!

Have to admit, I find the combat way more enjoyable than Bioshock. The bow is excellent fun and FINALLY destructable lights that make a difference to gameplay!

What I like:

- Great artistic design
- Good combat mechanics
- Nice DLC Tomb
- Quite like the story
- The puzzles

What I dislike:

- Too easy
- Too short tombs
- I **hate** QTE's
- Too many cutscenes/limited interactions scenes where I just feel like an observer
- Not enough puzzles

So it's "OK", but not as good as my first impressions.

[nonny]

The combat is excellent. It gets progressively better as you unlock equipment. As for QTE bits, it isn't too bad when you realise its the same sequence every time.

To be fair I enjoyed this from start to finish but the negatives are there. Hopefully CD will get to remedy those in a globe trotting sequel... Unless "only" selling 2.5 million or whatever it was wasn't good enough!?! /

[Sam The Man]

Imagine if they'd done that for the original Tomb Raider games! Christ the first level of TRIII sent you sliding straight into a load of spikes

Lol those were the days Wakka! They really wern't playing with TR3 were they! It was a quality game aswel.

[Charlie]

Unless "only" selling 2.5 million or whatever it was wasn't good enough!?! /

Is it how many copies they've sold so far? Bollocks. I guess the old Tomb Raider ain't coming back any time soon.

[rmoxon]

Good!

Cant wait for the next game in this series.

[Charlie]

I take it you prefer the series' new direction?

[Shozuki]

I finally finished this and it was an absolute borefest. What a slog. No puzzles, too much shooting, ultimately uninteresting story. I gave it a meh out of 10 (5/10)

Hopefully the next one will actually be a Tomb Raider game...

[bash]

This reminds me of when resi 4 came out. Different, albeit a very polished updated game which pissed ol skool fans off whilst impressing new ones.

[BaronSqwelch]

I am really enjoying this so far...have just arrived at the beach (58%) complete. It is Uncharted with a girl but without the stupid bullet sponge enemies so is twice as fun! Looks and sounds great and the bow is great fun to use!