Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (PS4)

Tomb Raider (2013) - now something over 12 years old - to my way of thinking still holds up as pretty much a near perfect game: there's plenty of exploration, satisfying stealth, combat and melee mechanics you can hone and tweak till your heart's content and an absolutely beat-perfect story constantly drawing you in. What more can you possibly ask for...? Already graphically stunning on the PS3, this PS4 Definitive Edition not only boasts but delivers full 1080p resolution and a constant 60fms gameplay, making an already pretty smooth experience considering the polygons being slung around even smoother and more responsive. A lot was made at the time of Uncharted's impact on the development of Tomb Raiders reboot, and it's perfectly true - exploration, cinematic story telling, fast pace action adventure - it all feels instantly familiar the second you take control of this new, inexperienced Lara Croft - but environmental design and level layout is exactly authentic to Tomb Raiders already established pattern of intricate level design requiring you to think and use the environment to cross a room - Tomb Raider pretty much nailed that before Uncharted was a glint in Naughty Dogs eye. Unlike Uncharted, I never get bored running into combat situations - encounters feel narratively natural if a little far-fetched concerning the size of Lara Croft in comparison to her hulking, brutal enemies - and that's even before you meet the undying Storm Guard or encounter the Oni - and it has to be said, Lara's transition from going from a young woman having to kill in order to save her life to someone not only nonchalant but actively proficient at not only dispatching multiple enemies using distraction and well aimed headshots - she literally goes on within just two further encounters to being able to sneak up behind a fully grown man and successfully garrote him with her bowstring without so much as a backwards glance... The transition here could have been more gradual, retaining more of the survival horror aspects the game establishes at the beginning but - this being said - up the difficulty setting and see how you get on with scarcer ammo and harder-to-kill enemies. But, these quibbles aside - Tomb Raider is a fantastic re-imaging of an already highly venerated, albeit graphically redundant franchise - and in this 2013 iteration Crystal Dynamics seriously show what - first - the PS3 could do: there's barely any comparison between 2013's Tomb Raider 2008's Tomb Raider: Underworld. This game is a completely different animal in all respects and yet stays true to the essential core elements of what made this series so great in the first place: a likeable female protagonist, plenty of action adventure, slightly less puzzle solving true and what puzzles in the form of Tombs there are wholly optional - you don't have to complete them - but irrespective it's an incredible, exhilarating, exciting experience done well. I've played through on PS3 a few times, why pick up on the PS4...? Completion - I consider these reboot games essential. Part and parcel of why I picked up a PS4 in the first place was to see how Tomb Raider carried on and concluded - and it doesn't disappoint. As said in opening, here you get the full 1080p experience with full surround sound, 60fps game play - all the additional DLC on disc as well as voice control - which is a funky, fun addition. Old stalwarts like the Tomb of The Navigator and all the additional costumes are already present - no download codes required - and Lara's game model is updated so as she remains consistent with the latter games version - and at today prices it's basically a steal. If you haven't played, do if you've put off buying because you already own the PS3 version - get it, improvements admittedly are more tweaks than radical changes - Lara's updated game model aside - some might feel the increase in resolution shows up some of the seams a little bit and, bear in mind we are dealing with a 12 year old game here, it does look something of its age on a PS4. But its smoother gameplay, better handling and just overall immersive storyline make this a must-have purchase for anyone's collection.

The original Tomb Raider was the first game I ever played and one of my favourite games of all time. So when I heard that Crystal Dynamics were working on a new Tomb Raider game, I couldn't wait to play it. The game is a reboot which takes the series in a completely new direction and I couldn't be happier with the end result. Crystal Dynamics have done a remarkable job, taking inspiration from the fantastic Uncharted games and building on them to create the best Tomb Raider game in a long time. This Definitive Edition on PS4 is THE version to own and offers just a glimpse of what we can expect in the next instalment. The story begins with a small group of survivors who are shipwrecked on a mysterious Island after their ship, the Endurance, is torn apart in a violent storm. Unfortunately, being shipwrecked is the least of their worries as the island is home to a group of savage, cold-blooded killers who don't take kindly to outsiders. Lara and the other survivors must go to extreme lengths to stay alive and discover the truth about the Island before it's too late. As the story unfolds, we see Lara transform from an inexperienced, vulnerable girl into a brave and resourceful young woman. It's a gripping, well written tale of survival and like a good book you can't put down, I couldn't stop playing. The main campaign is a decent length, taking me well over twenty hours to complete on Hard mode. Although I did take my time, finding as many collectables in each area before moving on to the next. I recommend finding the hidden diaries as you progress through the game as they explain the history of the Island and it's inhabitants and flesh out some of the supporting characters who are otherwise a little underdeveloped. The atmosphere is probably one of the most important aspects of a Tomb Raider game and I'm happy to say, Crystal Dynamics nailed it. The level of detail in the various environments is breathtaking. As you progress from one area to the next it feels completely natural, like you're on a real island with a real history. Nothing feel's out of place. It's clear that a great deal of passion has gone into this project. The combat is a huge improvement over previous Tomb Raider games and can be approached in a variety of ways. Sneak up on unsuspecting enemies and take them out from behind, pick them off from a distance with your bow and arrow or run in guns blazing, shooting anything that moves. I preferred the stealthy approach because it made the game more challenging but also because you don't last long when you have five or six henchmen firing at you with pinpoint accuracy. Especially on the Harder difficulty. I did have a few issues with the game. Mainly with that fact that there were no swimming sections. I imagined swimming through submerged sections of the Endurance, or through underwater caves to get from one area to another. This would have been fantastic and added even more variety to the game. I hope they include these elements in the next game. Also, the mini-tombs are a little disappointing because they are far too short and not particularly challenging but they were still a lot of fun to complete. Finding these tombs often meant creeping through dark, narrow passages with only the sound of the wind and the crunch of gravel under your feet. It felt great and very atmospheric. I haven't tried the Online/Multiplayer features as it doesn't interest me in the slightest. The main campaign alone was worth every penny and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a lengthy and enjoyable single player experience. The series needed a refresh and this is exactly what I expected and more. If you're expecting an old school Tomb Raider game then you'll likely feel a little disappointed. This is a fast-paced, cinematic adventure and one of the best you'll find.

I can't stress enough what an AMAZING game this is. I'd gotten to be extremely excited for it because of the great reviews the original version got. I was not dissapointed. Blood-boilingly thrilling, unbelievably immersive, magnificently crafted. All understatements of what this gae achieves. The story, characters, graphics, gameplay, atmosphere are al simply perfect. That being said, a few remarks: - Don't expect a nostalgic good-ol' Tomb Raider game, it's simply not similar to the older Tomb Raider games at all. Which doesn't mean that it doesn't do them jusice. On the contrary: As a lover of the old games as well, I can safely say this one keeps the standard high (and, in my humble opinion, raises it). The character herself is nothing like the Lara Croft we know and love, either. She's fragile and unexperienced... although that changes throughout the game obviously. - It's not much use buying this version if you owned the last-gen version. Not having played it on last-gen, I did my research on the differences, and they are few: the graphics have been enhanced, and there's one extra tomb in the game. But if you sold your PS3 or 360 and still want to enjoy this game FOREVER (like I will), obviously this version is good for you. Now, y review was raving, but of course tastes differ. I, for instance, am primarily a third-person action-adventure gamer. I can't guarantee FPS-players enjoying it as much as I did. But I cannot conceive of the idea that anyone dislikes playing this game. Conclusion: Get this game. Get it now. Like, instantly. You're missing out BIG TIME without it.

Fantastic game

I still hold the first two titles of the "Tomb Raider" series in high regard. In my opinion, the level design, the puzzles and the degree of control you have over the player character makes or breaks this type of game. "Tomb Raider" (1996) featured huge sprawling levels, full of surprises and secrets to explore. Both the puzzles and the control scheme would match the qualities and the requirements of the level design. This was, in so many words, an old-school platform game set in a 3D world, and it was a joy to play. As the series evolved, the quality of the instalments varied considerably. I played and finished the first three titles of the series, but stopped playing halfway through number 4, skipped numbers 5 and 6 entirely, played "Legend" to finish and stopped playing "Anniversary" after having finished the first level. I did not bother to buy "Underworld" because I found that the series had run out of ideas and strayed very far from what made the series work in the first place. Picking up the 2013 reboot of the series, I was curious. I am impressed by what I found. "Tomb Raider" (2013) is (once again) a game built around exploring huge environments. The exploration allows you to improve your gear, by collecting "salvage" which is used to add features to your weapons and tools. Also, the number of puzzles solved, story points completed, hidden locations explored, etc. contribute to collecting experience points, which can be spent on improving your character's abilities, even allowing you to specialize on a specific weapon, for example. The environments to be explored vary greatly. There are both huge open areas dotted with buildings, bridges and niches to explore, and tight indoor areas. As in previous titles, your gear allows you to climb the environment and even change it, which is used in puzzles and enables you to find secret bonuses. This may sound like faint praise, and as if these were features which should be taken for granted. But as the past has shown, it is hard to make them work in a game, and they are easily overlooked if the focus of the game shifts to gunplay and graphics. I found the level design to be good, often great. It certainly helped that the game's graphics and animations looked good, too, and let's not forget the game's sound which I consider one of the best I have heard in years. Exploration is not everything. You will meet wildlife and enemies which need to be evaded or fought. Early in the game, but not necessarily towards the end, you can avoid combat altogether. As the game progresses, however, you will need to spend experience points towards shaping how well your weapons or close combat abilities will work out in a fight. The last piece of what makes a "Tomb Raider" game for me are the puzzles. In this title I found that they were quite fair in that they did not appear to be overly simplistic (in other words, they would not make you feel "dumb" for even having to bother with them), and the harder puzzles were optional (and would reward you with extra experience points). The puzzles often used the environment, specifically how mass, weight and buoyancy of objects worked together. If have seen such "physics puzzles" before, but never done quite so well. The one element which I felt did not contribute to the game was the use of quick-time-events. These events first introduced in "Tomb Raider: Legend" and require you to push specific control buttons at specific times. Fail to follow the on-screen prompts and you will be punished by playing through the exact sequence again and again until you get it right. The problem, as I see it, is that while you spend most of the game being in control of the player character, the quick-time-events take that control out of your hand: you now need to follow exactly what the game tells you. Also, the sequences which you may have to repeat a few times to get the timing right, are not that interesting in the first place either. This lends them more weight than they deserve. They do not help the game's pace along, they rather succeed at annoying the player. Because this is another origin story (the last origin story was told in "Tomb Raider: Legend") and "reboot", Lara has to be part of a larger narrative in which side-characters shape how the story evolves, motivate Lara's actions and ultimatively explain how Lara became who she is in the context of the game series. I found the side-characters to be lacking. They exist purely for the purpose of having certain plot points in the story, one plot point each. There is very little room to grow beyond stereotype and cliché, and sadly, each character (without giving anything away) dies when he has fulfilled his purpose. Knowing the "Uncharted" series, which itself is a riff on the same theme as "Tomb Raider", it is hard not see the potential in telling a story with side-characters in which they get their due. In this "Tomb Raider" game the storytelling is much, much weaker than the scenario and the setup suggests. Length and contents of cut-scenes does not make up for poor characterization. Neither does a comic book which attempts to set up these characters if they do not contribute to the story through their actions. In total, the sum of the game's parts which work well make for an impressive title. The overused quick-time-events and the flat storytelling are issues, but they do not weigh down the overall game. Here is hoping that the next instalment of the series will grow beyond these weaknesses.

For me this has got to be one of the best games I have played. Whilst I realise not everybody has the same preferences (there will always be differences of opinion and 1 star reviews), I found not only the visuals and audio to be astoundingly good (especially on a 55" LED TV played in the dark with a dts surround system) but the game play to be very enjoyable and captivating. There seems to be just the right mix of moderately challenging puzzles alternating with gunfights/silent, assassin like kills. The cut scenes where you have some control and have to make the correct decision at the correct time works really well IMHO as, although not too difficult, it allows the player to enjoy the visual effects of the surrounding carnage without being too distracted by having to concentrate too hard to get through it. I found the weapons and skill upgrade path simple, enjoyable and rewarding and ended going back over some areas to find missed loot. The one and only criticism I could make is that the parkour could be a little smoother at times but this really is quibbling.

I've owned a PS1, 2, 3 and now PS4 and have been playing these titles ever since the first Tomb Raider came out. To be honest I'd actually forgotten how much fun the earlier versions were and this one is no different. This is definitely a version worth playing and the next gen console provides better performance and graphics - although I did notice a small number of minor graphics issues which the developers will no doubt sort out. I would absolutely recommend this if you are a Tomb Raider fan or otherwise as this is an absolute bargain for the price. PROS - Great looking graphics - Excellent game play - Good number of puzzles to solve - okay story line CONS - Story is a bit cliched - A few minor graphics glitches

Amazing game, tomb raider was a series that had faded out and was in need of a reboot. This has definitly hit the spot, lara moves much more fluidly and not like a robot like in the older games, the whole "slowly walk to the edge, take a step back, run and jump, grab the ledge and pull yourself up" thing has gone. Now to cross a chasm you simply run jump and lara does the rest. The weapons are great, laras devolopment from a clueless young girl to a hardened survivor is done well, everythings just fun. The way you can climb up sheer rock faces with an axe is great and cross huge chasms while hanging upside down from a rope is exhilirating. Sliding down sheer rockfaces while a fallen helicopter smashes it way after you is just... wow. Some of the things lara can do in this game put even the great nathan drake to shame. The developers were obviously worried about being accused of copying uncharted so they made things similar but made it diffrent enough for this game to be its own thing. Incredible game and at under 20 quid for the ps4, its a steal. They need to hurry up and get the sequel out now