Tomb Raider

To be honest I was disappointed with the game, but I can't in good conscience give it a bad review. The story is excellent and the concept and setting set the game perfectly. The dialogue is natural and gives me great confidence in Rhianna Pratchett doing great things with the upcoming television series The Watch. From the first tomb raider, the game has evolved, from being mostly about puzzle solving, with some gunfights to a more even mix. Less challenging puzzles, but more fighting. The game play here has almost done away completely with any puzzles. There's one or two that take a little thinking about but nothing like the vast monster that was sir francis's folly. Remember? The giant tower with the rooms leading off with Thor's Hammer? The game play itself is almost like a film. Long cutscenes, and when climbing, every few seconds control is taken from you to show her almost lose her grip. For the first hour it felt like I was watching a film but with minor input. This then gives way to what feels like wave after wave of bad guys.

If you're after a game where you can climb and gun down endless cult members, this is undoubtably a very good game for you. It's kind of more like uncharted than ever. If, like me, you were wanting puzzles that you can spend hours climbing around trying to find something in the room that has any effect on anything, I'm afraid it's time to get the ps1 back out of the attic.

Please, do not let me put you off this game, it is an exceptional example of what it is, just not my sort of game. Now I must go and lock the butler in the fridge!

I'm 60% of the game. It is very disappointing because the essence, what I really liked in the game Tomb Raider was removed. For me the best was the Tomb Raider adventure, exploration and solving puzzles to move forward. I loved exploring the magnificent tombs to discover extraordinary artifacts. Lara's movements in previous games PC were much more complex.

This game is disappointing because it is linear and has too much emphasis on combat. Lara is an adventurer is not a Marine! Reminds me of Uncharted in female version. There are things in this game that I think are very bad, such as: killing animals to have experience! Harvesting oranges to have experience! It is ridiculous!

I'm always waiting to appear that extraordinary tomb. Something that makes me think UAUUUU!! as happened to me in previous PC gaming TR.

This game lost a lot of magic its more FPS than an adventure. I'm tired of killing people in the game! It is annoying!

But it has good stuff. The story is good because it is based on the mystery she has to figure out to get out of the island. Have friends who will help and talking during the game. It has good graphics, is fluid. Lara is very detailed ...

In conclusion:
Is a disappointing game for anyone who is a fan of Lara for many years. Lost much of the magic of the previous games! Is you like a FPS with a little adventure, this is your game.

I've been a big fan of the Tomb Raider franchise since it's initial release on the Sega Saturn back in '96 and loved every entry in the series that CORE Design developed. Yes, even Angel of Darkness. When the reigns were handed to Crystal Dynamics I feel the games took a massive slump. Legend was utter tripe, Anniversary was average at best and Underworld needs to burn in the pits of hell. Needless to say I was not impressed with Crystal's lacklustre attempts. So naturally, I was sceptical when this new Tomb Raider was announced. Even more so being the third reboot of the franchise.

So. Now I have played through and completed the single player I can safely say that this game is just fantastic. Crystal have finally managed to create a decent TR game!

Story -
Unlike previous games in the franchise, this title is heavily story driven. It's a dark and gritty tale of overcoming mystical, horrific and insane odds whilst desperately trying to find a way to save her friends and escape the island of Yamatai. The story itself is told well, with additional tidbits revealed in documents scattered about the island.

Graphics -
The game is beautiful and highly detailed. Definitely one of the best looking games I have seen in a while. The lighting is superb, more so when it's day time with the sun beaming beautifully down on the island. The PC version in particular is one of the most graphically impressive games available.

Gameplay -
The games play well and the controls are easy to pick up. Lara will automatically assume a 'cautious' stance when enemies are detected and thus automatically take cover when within range of low walls, etc.
The emphasis on survival is lost pretty soon after the game begins though sadly. After requiring to kill a wild animal for food to cure Lara's hunger, she seems to go the rest of the game without requiring sustenance again. A shame really, as I feel an MGS3 style stamina/recovery system would've benefited this game tremendously, though that is what I was led to believe this game would have. Besides the wolves early in the game, the only threat to Lara's life are the seemingly limitless well armed human enemies. At times it does feel like playing a generic TPS. Only when the enemies shift to a more super natural force towards the end does the heavy shooting action seem more justified.
For the most part gameplay is in the great outdoors, beautiful ancient Japanese castles and war time Imperial Japanese fortifications. But do not fret. There are a few 'optional' tombs that you can get to raiding. They are small in size but offer the best puzzle experiences within the game.
If you like collecting hidden items, then you'll find plenty of that here. Documents, artefacts, maps, along with weapon parts and salvage, which can be used to upgrade and enhance your weaponry. Plenty to keep you occupied.

Overall-
Despite being so different, I find it hard to be disappointed by this game. I personally feel that this reboot has been successful. We all now have to accept that Tomb Raider has been reborn into a darker, more gritty tale of survival against impossible odds with a more realistic and believable young woman at it's helm.
The original games, the first in particular will always be the closest to my heart but if Crystal Dynamics keep up this formula, I can see Tomb Raider rise to the top again.
I honestly cannot wait for Tomb Raider 2.

For me at least, I can't see anything else topping this game in the foreseeable future.