Tomb Raider

[msduncan]

Though I have the PC to run it, I decided to go for the PS3 version so that I could sell my used copy for the deluge of games coming in the next month.     I'll beat this one, sell it on ebay, and buy another.

[leo8877]

The game looks really good on the PS3

[metallicorphan]

360 timed exclusive DLC

only multiplayer DLC though 

Featuring three new multiplayer arenas to fight it out in, the Caves & Cliffs map pack is a timed Xbox 360 exclusive release.
It will be available to download from Xbox Live on March 19 priced at 400 Microsoft Points (£3.43). The three new maps detailed below will be playable across all four of the game's online modes.

Scavenger Caverns: An extensive subterranean network of caves used by the island's scavengers as an underground prison
Cliff Shantytown: This scavenger settlement was built high up on the island cliffs. Its many layers hide some of the deadliest traps on the island
The Burning Village: A raging fire has embraced an abandoned Japanese village, the burning buildings offer multiple ways to escape or engage your enemies

[Covenant]

I'm hoping they realese some DLC of huge tombs to explore (a la Underworld).  It's the only thing I'm missing in this title.

[Asharak]

Cross posted at OO

I ended up having yesterday off from work (for reasons unrelated to the deluge of interesting games that were released), so I spent most of the day playing Tomb Raider. I played through 26% of the game, according to my save file, although I'm probably farther along in the plot than that, since I'm guessing that number include collectibles, etc. Impressions (playing on PC, most settings on Ultra, without TressFX):

Most generally, the gameplay reminds me of Assassin's Creed, the level design of the Arkham games (more Asylum than City) and the setting of Lost (note: I only watched the first season of Lost). These are good things and, overall, I'm very impressed with the game.

Unquestionably, the best part of the game so far is Lara herself. This is not the comically cleavaged caricature from the past, although the game still doesn't shy away from down-her-shirt camera angles, at times. Lara feels like a very believable and real character. Especially at the beginning, the game emphasizes just how cold, alone, hungry and scared Lara is, even as she pushes herself and is pushed by others to keep going. Her voice actress (Camilla Luddington, who can currently be seen on Grey's Anatomy) does excellent work here.

One narrative element that I'm really enjoying is that Lara is very much not in control. There's a level fairly early on where you're supposed to sneak your way past a bunch of enemies to escape from them but, even if you do it perfectly, the level ends with Lara being caught. There are other occasions, as well, where Lara's best efforts will not be enough to overcome the force of people and events that are much larger than her.

The early game, at least, also departs from its roots in that there have been no tombs. There are optional tombs, which are puzzle sections reminiscent of (but much shorter than) what you'd find in Assassin's Creed, but the main story has featured zero tomb raiding. I haven't minded this: the action gameplay is good and the island setting is complex and gorgeous, but I just didn't expect how above-ground it has been so far.

One aspect of the levels that feels very borrowed from the Arkham games are the collectibles: some are available immediately but others are "gated" by needing pieces of gear that you don't yet have (a stronger prybar, rope arrows, etc.) to reach, so that you have reason to return to the early areas and explore them more thoroughly later on. I really like this, as it means there are usually some collectibles to get each time you visit an area but you never feel overwhelmed by trying to search out dozens at once.

Some of the collectibles are also fairly critical to the mystery of the island and the backstories of the secondary characters. As such, they really shouldn't be missed. The island has a very layered history (I think I've found items hinting at events in three distinct time periods) and I've been very intrigued by the details that I've gleaned so far.

The main narrative is entirely linear so far. There have been no dialogue options or plot branches. There is not even an option to play lethally or non-lethally, as some areas require fighting and all of your weapons are fatal... some are just louder or messier than others. In a lot of places you do have some freedom to choose run-and-gun or more stealthy solutions but that's about it for player choice in the game.

I'm not terribly fond of how reliant the game is on QTEs, although this does abate somewhat after the introduction (I suppose they wanted to put a bunch there to introduce you to how they will work later). On the other hand, I've very much enjoyed the utter absence of "boss" fights so far (and in a couple of places, a QTE clearly took the place of where another game would have put a boss fight). I've had one fight that felt like a boss battle, against a type of opponent I'd never fought before, but the game nicely reminded me which of Lara's skills would help with defeating him and, once I got the hang of that, he didn't even need superhuman amounts of damage to take down.

The PC port seems pretty solid. I've only had one definite issue, with some of the scrolling in the map and collectibles screens (i.e., dragging a scrollbar of a list of collectibles also tries to move the map around).

That's about all I think of to mention for now. I'm looking forward to continuing the game when I get home tonight.

- Ash

[metallicorphan]

although the game still doesn't shy away from down-her-shirt camera angles

 


Good read Ash,when you say you have 26%,how long have you been playing for roughly?(although i know you say that's not all for the plot),too many 5 hr games are being released,and its actually my sister who is buying this(and playing it first)

Your post made me realise i really have not looked up any details on this game,with you saying you can come back later for collectables,does that mean this game is an open world game or you can replay earlier levels

Quite funny if it is an open world game,i love them.,..my sister hates them,so hopefully she will ditch it sooner and give it to me...mwahahahahahaha


Although the game is getting some good love on a lot of sites,the Multiplayer is getting the exact opposite,i probably wouldn't be bothered by the MP anyway

[Teggy]

It's not really an open world game. Camps are surrounded by areas you can use to explore and gather extra XP, but if you want to just push the story ahead, you can play it in a linear manner. You can fast travel back to areas if want to get 100% completion.

I'm really enjoying the combat - it comes in very short, intense bursts, so it has a very different feel from Uncharted.

[Asharak]

Good read Ash,when you say you have 26%,how long have you been playing for roughly?

6-8 hours, maybe? I'll check if there's an actual timer in the game (or just use Steam's) when I get home tonight and update if it's significantly different than that.

with you saying you can come back later for collectables,does that mean this game is an open world game or you can replay earlier levels

There are some areas that are larger and more explorable and then some that are smaller and more confined or plot-centric. It feels very much like Arkham Asylum, if you've played that. The plot will move you through the island in a very guided fashion (there's none of a true open world game's "here's your objective but don't bother if you'd rather go fishing") but, as you progress, you'll discover various campsites that act as quick-travel locations that let you teleport between them at any point, so that you can go back to any part of the map later in the game.

- Ash

[siege]

I'm at 37% after roughly 4 hours play. Haven't been going out of my way to hunt down the hidden items so I'm sure that would have added a significant amount of play to my total.

One thing is for sure, though. The game is ridiculously easy. I've died maybe twice in combat so far playing on Normal.

[Teggy]

OK, the scene with (44% game completion spoiler)

Spoiler for Hiden:

Lara rising out of the huge puddle of blood

was one of the coolest looking things I've seen in a video game.

[shon]

Probably the best game that I've played in 3D.  The game seems to be made with it in mind.  So far the setting is perfect, I really feel like I'm on that island.  Going into caves with a torch and seeing the light flicker off the walls is cool. 

[Asharak]

Good read Ash,when you say you have 26%,how long have you been playing for roughly?

6-8 hours, maybe? I'll check if there's an actual timer in the game (or just use Steam's) when I get home tonight and update if it's significantly different than that.

By way of an update, after playing tonight, Steam says I'm now at 10 hours played, my completion in the game is at 55%, and I feel like I'm probably through 80-90% of the main story. So I'd expect to finish the plot at 15 hours or less and 100% the game in 20 or so. That's shorter than I'd like, to be honest, but it's very high quality gaming time, however limited it is, so I'm not too unhappy about it.

- Ash

[Turtle]

I finished the game at 12 hours, that's with a lot of item collecting up until 1/2 of the way through the game where the story picks up and I rushed through it.

So a solid amount of gameplay, with a good deal more exploration to find everything.

I do know I want to go back and find all the documents, especially since I found a set of secret documents that hints at more interesting story to be developed later in the series.

[Caine]

Overall about 48% complete.  from the sections on the map, I have at least one more large area to go through so I really hope there is more that is still hidden.  Story-wise, I am close, but unknown how much of the story I've seen.  I still have a lot of upgrades to do though, only about half way on most of them. 

This shot does a good job of showing you the detail of the world. 


With the hair tech turned on, it's not half bad.  better than the old polygon hair, imho

[Roman]

Well I just finished the campaign. Very satisfying and happy to say that it kept me engaged the entire time.
Hard to say how long it was for me as I like to explore and spent time going back to previous areas. I would guesstimate that it clocked in at around 24hrs? I've had it since last Friday the
The game tells me that I completed it with an 85% completion record.

Was able to upgrade all the weapons save for the pistol. Never located the missing 3 parts.

Anyhoo feel free to ask questions.

[leo8877]

This game is fantastic. Loving it so far!

[Harpua3]

Well I just finished the campaign. Very satisfying and happy to say that it kept me engaged the entire time.
Hard to say how long it was for me as I like to explore and spent time going back to previous areas. I would guesstimate that it clocked in at around 24hrs? I've had it since last Friday the
The game tells me that I completed it with an 85% completion record.

Was able to upgrade all the weapons save for the pistol. Never located the missing 3 parts.

Anyhoo feel free to ask questions.

24 hrs?!?

[Teggy]

Wow, they really botched the pc port:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/203160/discussions/0/846947231090179422/

(A whole bunch of camera effects are missing unless you play the game in windowed mode)

[Harkonis]

Beat it, had fun.  It was odd though, I hate single player games, platformers, exploration and collectables, and puzzle games like this.  I still enjoyed the entire experience. 

I also enjoy multiplayer, but like any team based multiplayer I'd much rather play with friends on my team.

[Asharak]

Wow, they really botched the pc port:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/203160/discussions/0/846947231090179422/

(A whole bunch of camera effects are missing unless you play the game in windowed mode)

Huh. Most of the way through the game, I can't say I'd felt like anything was missing. I don't have any of those effects, either, but I still think the game looks really good.

- Ash

[Teggy]

Wow, they really botched the pc port:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/203160/discussions/0/846947231090179422/

(A whole bunch of camera effects are missing unless you play the game in windowed mode)

Huh. Most of the way through the game, I can't say I'd felt like anything was missing. I don't have any of those effects, either, but I still think the game looks really good.

- Ash

Agree, game still looks great, but it's mind boggling that this got through QA.

[Teggy]

Beat it, had fun.  It was odd though, I hate single player games, platformers, exploration and collectables, and puzzle games like this.  I still enjoyed the entire experience. 

Your conversion to the dark side is almost complete...

[Blackjack]

Bought PC version on Steam late last night. I wish every PC port installed and ran so smoothly. 

I am enjoying it using a controller. 

[Roman]

Hark after our chat the other night I tried out the MP after beating the game.............

Initial impressions are not good at all. I haven't seen lag like that since dial up Half Life TDM on the PC.
Horrid character models, choppy animation and bland level design. Underpowered default weapons.... The list could go on and on.
I may try once more later this evening but for now it's a deal breaker.

[siege]

Finished in 10 hours at 73% completion. It's a fun ride but my interest started to wane about mid way through after the honeymoon phase with the presentation.

Video games are interactive movies for the most part now. I've accepted that. However, once the spectacle wears thin, we need some solid writing to keep us enthralled!

[leo8877]

I feel like the QTE window for success is crazy small, at least on the PS3.  Even if you know it's coming I still die half the time.

[CeeKay]

Wow, they really botched the pc port:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/203160/discussions/0/846947231090179422/

(A whole bunch of camera effects are missing unless you play the game in windowed mode)

Huh. Most of the way through the game, I can't say I'd felt like anything was missing. I don't have any of those effects, either, but I still think the game looks really good.

- Ash

Agree, game still looks great, but it's mind boggling that this got through QA.

I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not getting any of those effects.  never been a big fan of the blood splatter on the screen and the lens flare in those shots makes things to bright and bloomy.

[metallicorphan]

I can see the differences,but honestly either fullscreen or windowed it looks pretty good

[leo8877]

The crappy ol' PS3 has moisture effects on the screen.  Looks great!

[Bullwinkle]

I feel like the QTE window for success is crazy small, at least on the PS3.  Even if you know it's coming I still die half the time.

The QTEs are the only thing I don't like about this game, and I really don't like them.

Fortunately there aren't a lot of them.

[CeeKay]

on the plus side apparently there is a way to give the keys on your keyboard a break.  haven't tried it yet myself so I can't vouch for it working properly.

[Harkonis]

I hate QTE and had zero problem with the ones in this game.  They were pretty easy and didn't sneak up on you either.

[Azhag]

10 hours with 71%. I'll go back to do a bit more though and still give multiplayer a bit more of a chance this weekend though. Clearly I have a lot of tombs and such I didn't do at 71%.

I loved it through and through. Someday might come back to play on hard.

[Bullwinkle]

I hate QTE and had zero problem with the ones in this game.  They were pretty easy and didn't sneak up on you either.

Didn't sneak up on you, maybe.  They go by very fast with too small a window.  At least it resets quickly and then it becomes easy because you've already seen them.  But it seems like a pointless exercise then.

[Azhag]

As the game goes on you have less QTE. I found it's actually pretty rare execpt for "grab" after the first few hours

[davidrobots]

I realize everyone's already played the game by this point (hooray for having to review a copy of the game I paid for!) but my official GT review is up.

http://gamingtrend.com/game_reviews/we-have-to-go-back-tomb-raider-review/#/vanilla/discussion/embed/?vanilla_discussion_id=0

[Teggy]

Purty.

[Harpua3]

I realize everyone's already played the game by this point (hooray for having to review a copy of the game I paid for!) but my official GT review is up.

http://gamingtrend.com/game_reviews/we-have-to-go-back-tomb-raider-review/#/vanilla/discussion/embed/?vanilla_discussion_id=0

Agreed.

[Rumpy]

Damn, I want this game now.

[Teggy]

I had read that one scene in particular was inspired by the movie The Descent, so I decided to watch it this evening. Fun horror movie and you could definitely see some influence, particularly the use of the climbing pick.