Tomb Raider PS3 review

[nakamura]

Yeah it is a bit more open but not a lot of promises were delivered apparently. Just going on the phone conversation I had yesterday.

[rmoxon]

The combat is not as good as uncharted 2, neither is the climbing. But it's a sufficient rip off that so far is boosted by the fact that you really care what happens to Lara.

Im glad they didn't include the need to eat and all that crap. That would have just over complicated matters and probably would have just been a pain in the arse. This isn't an open world game. It's a point a to point b game. Which is what Tomb Raider always has been, adding hunting elements would go against the way its designed.

[shaffy_oppa]

I got to the point of no return last night around 74% and it's become a little boring with large scale shoot outs and what not.

[Harry]

I like all the different death scenes you can get, there was 1 I won't spoil where I jumped out laughing. It reminds me of Uncharted obviously, but it reminds of some not so obvious games like Far Cry 3 - it has fast travel and (within reason) open world exploration. There is a clear path to progress the game but you do come across a lot of areas where you can divert off and have a wonder. I like how you can create rope lines across distances and I like the rock climbing axe too.

Some of the things I dislike are that the game seems like it will be really short, I'd barely started playing and I was at 6% complete, then I spent about an hour and a half and I was at 26%. The QTE's are too short, your reactions need to be at their top level to get things right the first time. I would have preferred if it was a little more exploration-orientated than action.

[shaffy_oppa]

Just finished it and can say that the optional stuff effects the percentage too.

Games great, great areas and set pieces, good puzzles (optional ones are better), decent combat but sometimes it drags... maybe because I played on hard? Brilliant music, va and sound effects.

I can't wait for their next game.

[Charlie]

Question for those who've completed it: is there the same amount of puzzle-solving and emphasis on exploration as previous Tomb Raiders, and does it capture the feel or, for want of a better word, 'spirit' of the series?

[shaffy_oppa]

I can't really remember much about the original Core titles... I think the puzzles don't really feel puzzle like, they're pretty straight forwards but the optional tombs however have good puzzles and do make you think twice. The exploration is definitely there with the optional tombs, collectibles and large open areas but not really as emphasised. To me it's kinda like playing FFXIII but starting at pulse and discovering more areas like pulse as you go on but the main story pretty much takes place in corridors just not as bad as FFXIII...

It does capture the feel but at the same time doesn't... Lara as a character is very different and I think some of the feel is lost because shes a different Lara and not the one we're used to.

[nonny]

I picked this up... echoing the same opinions it is a rather gorgeous looking title and so far I am enjoying the campaign immensely. The QTE are way too quick but at least you get to see some gruesome deaths and repeat... still annoying though.

I've not minded the linear approach to some sections as once it opens out in some areas and gives you a bit more freedom it really looks and feels excellent. Plus even though I've only scraped the surface you can see where obtaining new equipment will let you access new areas etc...

I think the lack of puzzles on a larger scale (a la TR of old) isnt too much of an omission. Even from where I am now (20%) the main star of this title is the Island itself and navigating it and finding all its secrets is the actual core puzzle.

I also gave MP a whirl. The reviews were harsh enough so I wasnt expecting too much but to be honest I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. You cant take it too seriously but the combat is tight enough that it works well enough and the levels themselves have some great layouts with alternate routes, long sight lines and plenty of environmental hazards. It was a little laggy for me playing but I had some great matches as well.

Also found that once I'd levelled up a bit (I'm up to 15 in MP) and purchased some add-ons for my guns it felt even better. So yeah... warming to that over time. What I like is graphically its equally as good in MP...

[rmoxon]

Games should just not include QTE's. I don't understand why developers are still thinking they are a good idea. They just ruin the excitement of watching many a good cutscene.

I suppose they are suppose to get the player involved and more immersed in certain moments, but they usually just take you out of the experience when you keep seeing loading screens as a result of them.

[dataDave]

The Resi 4 knife fight is a good example of how QTEs can work. It keeps the tension throughout the cut scene.

All cut scenes should be interactive. We're not watching films.

[nonny]

I'm more in the ban QTE camp. Aside from trying to make scenes interactive they usually fail spectacularly. Either make it fully interactive and part of the game proper or make it a cutscene.

Anyway... so far TR isn't that annoying with its QTE but the window for input is too small. Needs to be a fraction wider then it would be a non issue.

[dataDave]

Why? So it can be passed on first attempt with hardly any reaction required? Just make it a boring old cut-scene instead in that case.

QTE sequences should keep the player on their toes, and randomise inputs to mix things up.

[rmoxon]

Why? So it can be passed on first attempt with hardly any reaction required? Just make it a boring old cut-scene instead in that case.

QTE sequences should keep the player on their toes, and randomise inputs to mix things up.

Thing is, Tomb Raider, like uncharted, is a game that strives to be cinematic, that's it's thing. For most part it does a pretty good job too, but then there's a QTE that breaks the filmic quality of the game becuase it ruins big spectacular moments when you have to keep loading them up again.

Uncharted 2 blended gameplay and cut scenes a lot better, sequences where you're actually taking part in set pieces rather than just doing QTE's are a lot more fun and less immersion breaking. QTE's never make the player feel like they are in complete control, they are generally just annoying mini games that are out of place and from a control standpoint don't usually even make sense.

Im sure plenty of people would also argue that the fact that the QTE's in Tomb Raider are almost impossible on first attempt means that the game has an air of trial and error about it, which many people don't want in games like this.

[Neon Ignition]

Yup, either intergrate the action into the gameplay like Uncharted or make it a cutscene. QTE's too often require you to focus on watching symbols rarher than watching what's happening on screen, they're far past their sell by date.

[nakamura]

I like a good QTE but that is the problem, finding a good one. God of War has always had a good QTE system until 3. In GoW 3, the QTE's are just poor. The buttons appear right at the very edge of the screen and I have missed quite a few as a result. I don't remember it happening quite on the same level on the others.