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[freeofgreed]

If I had to pick one game that was evocative of 7th gen game design I think this one might be it. It has it all

Tacked on multiplayer
Looting
Crafting
"Cinematic" Set pieces
QTEs
Journal entries
Psuedo stealth
Cover based shooting
Skill upgrades
Automated platforming
Brown and grey color scheme
Detective vision

The list goes on. Not that these are necessarily a bad thing, it's just that it's been a while since I've played a seventh gen game and this game just brought it all back to me.

Anyway this was my first Tomb Raider game. I got it for cheap and going in, I didn't expect much but a mediocre adventure. And that is exactly what I got, but I still found it to be pretty enjoyable. I was also surprised at how much this game got compared to Uncharted. Though I can see some of the inspiration with how the story is present and the set pieces, Game play wise however the two are really nothing alike.

I feel like this is a game that tries to do too much, and ends up not really excelling at anything (Though I wouldn't say it really fails at anything either). Like I listed earlier, the game is crammed with all these game play variations but a lot of it felt superfluous and I felt if some of it got cut, it would've been a much tighter experience. Take the upgrade system for example. I felt for the most part it was pretty useless. By the midway point I had a 4 digit stock of upgrade points that I didn't know what to spend on. Lara is like the fucking Terminator in this game and mows down scores of enemies with so much ease, and that's just with her base set up. So I didn't want to upgrade her even more and make the game even more easier than it already was. The enemie's trash A.I didn't help.

Combat was easily the worst part of this game. Not because it was necessarily bad, but because it was too easy and I found the other parts of the game more enjoyable. I also hated the set pieces in this game. There are far too many of them to the point it gets repetitive and none of the them are as amazing as the game tries to make them seem. Also they are far too ridiculous for me to take serious. This wouldn't be a problem if the game had a lighter tone but the game takes it self so damn seriously that I can't help but laugh when I see some shit like Lara falling down a mountain through a plane, grabbing a parachute then hang gliding through a forest.

I found the platforming and exploration to be some of the better aspects of them game and where I had the more fun. I also like the island setting as I have a soft spot for games which take place in a self contained location and let you revisit/intersect past areas. However, where the game really shines is with the puzzles/Tombs. These were fantastic and really fun and while playing through them all I could think of was "why wasn't the entire game just this?"

The story was meh. I didn't really care about any of the characters. Lara included. Though I don't think it was as bad as I was expecting it to be. One big problem I had with it though was the tone. I have no idea why this game has such a dark and brutal, almost horror like tone. This carries over to the gameplay as well with Lara having some RE4 style deaths

Spoiler

Speaking of RE4 did anyone else keeping getting reminded of Saddler whenever the villain was on screen?

. Now don't get me wrong I love blood and gore and all that good stuff, but it all felt really out of place here and I don't think it did the game any good.

I also wasn't a fan of the game's visuals. Like I said earlier it was that same muddy brown and greyish color scheme that was really popular with a lot of games last gen and I think it does the game no favors.

Reading this over, it seems like I dislike the game, but I did actually enjoy it quite a bit. Enough that I'm probably going to pick up the sequel sometime soon.

 

[gigantor21]

Pretty much how I felt about it.

It felt derivative in a lot of ways, but I still loved it anyway. It was one of my favorite games that year. The sequel is a lot of fun, too.

 

[Strangelove77]

Going off your criticisms, I doubt you'll feel better about the sequel. It's basically the same, but now it's an open world with shit littered everywhere on the map and Batman vision to find it with. It's everything bad about open world games and for my money none of the good.

I still like both games though. The core gameplay is fun and they look nice. They just need to find their own identity. It seems like they chase after every popular thing in the gaming world at the time and do it, but not very well.


By the way, RoTTR has some noticeable lag on PS4, so the shooting is worse than the first game. Just putting that out there.

 

[flattie]

I really quite enjoyed this game on PS4. It was like gaming comfort food to me. Looting, nice controls, decent platforming, enjoyable combat, pretty graphics. I'd never place it in a top 10 list, but I enjoyed my time with it.

Story was definitely too earnest, though. In a post-Uncharted/TLoU world, it wasn't as good as the devs clearly wanted it to be.

I started Rise, but couldn't get over the laggy camera/controls, so ditched it. May revisit now the problems appear to be fixed.

 

[FriedConsole]

I loved it and it was one of my favorite games of the generation.

 

[Unknown?]

I found it to be a decent game. It was enjoyable but nothing had me feeling like I had to keep playing.

Things I disliked about it were mediocre story and Lara being this weak unlikable character. Like she went from this master explorer to this, "oh no I'm so helpless" person and it was annoying!

 

[JayB1920]

Well the one thing rise of the tomb raider definitely improved on is the tombs ands puzzle solving. Most of your criticisms still stand but Tombs, exploration and platforming are given a larger focus both in the main story and in the side content. There are several optional tombs and main story tombs to explore which are larger and more involved than anything in the reboot. there are also several Caves and crypts to explore as well. You can safely ignore most of the collectibles If you don't feel like getting them

 

[Hoho for breakfast]

I really liked it. Still have only played about an hour of the sequel but it was one of my favorite games of...whatever year it released in.

 

[I_D]

Lara Falls a Lot, the Game.



RottR is worse in pretty much every regard, too, so wait for it to be on super-sale, judging by your criticisms of the 2013 version.

 

[Transistor]

It's like you took my feelings right out of my brain, OP

 

[inky]

Get rid of the story, the laughable "tombs", that god awful Shanti Town level design, 90% of the worthless upgrades and collectibles, detective vision and all the weapons but the bow, design your encounters a little better and you have a good 4-5 hour game with some kind of enjoyable traversal and hubs, and somewhat decent stealth bow action.

Otherwise it is a mountain of crap characterization and bloated checklist game design.

 

[PrimeTime]

I wasn't a huge fan. To be honest, I can't even narrow down exactly 'a specific reason why I don't like it- it's just didn't do it for me.

 

[Theorry]

I liked the game until almost the end. Then i a got a corrupt save file. Could never fix it.
And really didnt want to start over.

 

[Servbot24]

Very rickety and awkward game. Just the way scenes are directed it feels like stitches are popping.

That said I still enjoyed it. It suffered from indulging in some bad design trends, but overall it got the job done.

 

[Maaaaaardy]

But, the game was fucking awesome.

 

[freeofgreed]

Going off your criticisms, I doubt you'll feel better about the sequel. It's basically the same, but now it's an open world with shit littered everywhere on the map and Batman vision to find it with. It's everything bad about open world games and for my money none of the good.

I still like both games though. The core gameplay is fun and they look nice. They just need to find their own identity. It seems like they chase after every popular thing in the gaming world at the time and do it, but not very well.


By the way, RoTTR has some noticeable lag on PS4, so the shooting is worse than the first game. Just putting that out there.

Lara Falls a Lot, the Game.



RottR is worse in pretty much every regard, too, so wait for it to be on super-sale, judging by your criticisms of the 2013 version.

Oh wow. I heard a lot of good things about the sequel. So I was assuming at the very least, it expanded on the good portions of the first game. Might have to hold off then if that's the case, especially considering it's still relatively expensive for some reason.

I found it to be a decent game. It was enjoyable but nothing had me feeling like I had to keep playing.

Things I disliked about it were mediocre story and Lara being this weak unlikable character. Like she went from this master explorer to this, "oh no I'm so helpless" person and it was annoying!

You know, this is a criticism I've heard a lot about the game before going in, and after playing it I really don't get that impression from her at all. I mean she's not a badass like a her previous incarnations, but I didn't really think she came off as helpless at all in the story. She actually seemed very self capable and was the one who was constantly saving the others and the the other characters ended up depending on her a lot.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Really enjoyed this when I played it last year. Gotta try Rise some time.

 

[Strangelove77]

Oh wow. I heard a lot of good things about the sequel. So I was assuming at the very least, it expanded on the good portions of the first game. Might have to hold off then if that's the case, especially considering it's still relatively expensive for some reason.

Id rate both games about the same. For every step backwards, Rise takes a step forward, so it ends up landing somewhere down the middle. Which is how I felt about the first game.
The optional tombs are cool, side missions are welcome and the focus on platforming is a nice change of pace from most games I've played.
It's also a real looker. Very good looking game.

Honestly, whatever you felt comfortable paying for TR2013, pay the same or less for Rise and I think you'll be satisfied.

 

[JayB1920]

Oh wow. I heard a lot of good things about the sequel. So I was assuming at the very least, it expanded on the good portions of the first game. Might have to hold off then if that's the case, especially considering it's still relatively expensive for some reason.

They did expand on the good portions of the first game as I mentioned. Shooting is worse unless you get the PC version due to input lag though supposedly it's fixed somewhat on PS4. There are also way too many collectibles. However the tombs and puzzles are definitely a step up from the first game. There are more of them and they are larger with more complicated puzzles. The main story features 3 or so large tomb locations and a few good puzzles as well.

 

[Y2Kev]

I think everyone generally agrees. It's a sum of some really derivative and often shitty parts, but for some reason the sum is greater than the parts themselves. It is a very fun and immersing title. I've played it a few times. I really enjoy it even if I am a huge fan of the old Tomb Raiders and consider this...well, basically sacrilege. It's hard to hate on games that play so smoothly even if they are derivative. The worst you can say about the game is that it isn't memorable.

 

[Z3M0G]

Bump cause i cant create threads...

Wow this is a bazaar thing to post, but i purchased this game twice before i even got the climbing axe. Today i was looking for a game to play and figured... i need to finally continue this.

Seriously, both times i purchased the game, first on steam then on ps4, i got the bow then shelved the game.

Imagine my surprise, these years later, i finally continue and discover that you meet other survivors only a few more minutes into the game! All this time i assumed Lara would be on a complete solo journey of survival... instead im talking to scientists and sitting around a campire with old friends?

W.T.F.

Its odd... but it is actually quite offputting. I only played perhaps 30 min longer so far. Hopefully i wont shelve the game for another 4 years already.

 

[Vanadium]

Surprisingly very well made. Also I never played it again after it was over.

 

[RyudBoy]

Wtf, the combat is easily the best part of the game.

 

[Neff]

On the surface, it's super-generic.

But imo it transcended its committee-checklist mandate due to some genuinely exciting and smart design/set pieces.

 

[Nuke Soda]

It certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel or doing anything even slightly different with said wheel, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't a game I really enjoy. I play it at least once a year. The tone is certainly all over the place, over the top set pieces leads way to disturbing revelations about the scavengers and their messed up beliefs, and then top it off with gruesome Resident Evil style death scenes (Those fucking spikes in the waterfall). Pick a tone, should we be miserable or should we be having fun? They aimed for the middle and missed the mark a bit, nothing wrong with mixing serious and fun if done well. The Last of Us hits that mark in my opinion, fun gameplay with a gritty and at times disturbing story (coincidently both released in 2013).

 

[yuoke]

Was pretty derivative overall, and lara in this game didn't get great development, but overall the gameplay was really fun honestly. It basically if uncharted had minor rpg elements and open areas you can explore.

 

[Dr. Carroll]

It's a mechanically solid game that's mostly a good time, but I really dislike the changes they made to Lara Croft's character. Lara Croft is a cruel, sadistic sociopath who doesn't really care about anyone except herself unless that someone's ongoing existence benefits her in some way. This new version of Lara was crafted to be something else entirely. Her entire backstory and persona were rewritten in an admittedly successful attempt to make her "relateable" and "likeable", but in the process I think they badly missed the point.

 

[Falchion]

It checks all the boxes like you said but it was a fantastic game, I've beaten it twice now.

 

[Rambaldi]

I really enjoyed both games and look forward to more. I also really enjoy the Uncharted series. You can like both!

I actually replayed the first one a few times. I should replay Rise at some point soon.

 

[TAJ]

By the way, RoTTR has some noticeable lag on PS4, so the shooting is worse than the first game. Just putting that out there.

I played through about half of it on PS4 Pro but the lag was infuriating and I tossed it on the scrapheap.
The VR segment was decent but it was short and the image quality was close to the worst I've seen.

 

[VanCityGamer]

I played through about half of it on PS4 Pro but the lag was infuriating and I tossed it on the scrapheap.
The VR segment was decent but it was short and the image quality was close to the worst I've seen.

As an alternate perspective, I played the game and noticed no lag. I guess it's a big deal for some and not even noticeable to others.

 

[Dr. Carroll]

I played through about half of it on PS4 Pro but the lag was infuriating and I tossed it on the scrapheap.
The VR segment was decent but it was short and the image quality was close to the worst I've seen.

Wasn't RottR patched a few times on PS4 to try and improve the input lag, with mixed results? I believe it went from laggy, to Prey-style juddery-but-responsive, and then a half-way compromise.

 

[RedSwirl]

OP is pretty much how I felt. I thought TR2013 was very derivative and I hated how much it sideline the, y'know, Tomb Raiding parts of Tomb Raider. I used to go to the games for good environmental puzzle solving but here I just got another standard bloated action game.

The one thing I will admit is that TR2013 does have very good controls, and I think that's the reason some people played through it despite aforementioned opinions. Lara moves very smoothly and responsively in this game. Simply feeling good to play can go a long way. I actually ended up 100%-ing the game despite not liking it all that much.

 

[Bloodporne]

As a big fan of the original Tomb Raider 1 through 4, I just couldn't get much out of the reboot.

It having a total lack of weighty, and non-automatic, platforming and traversal is baffling to me and the antithesis of a Tomb Raider game. I was also very much put off by the overall tone. That weird obsession with making Lara Croft suffer in the most vicious ways imaginable is just a total headscratcher to me.

 

[Dr. Carroll]

It having a total lack of weighty, and non-automatic, platforming and traversal is baffling to me and the antithesis of a Tomb Raider game.

If you look at Galleon: Islands of Mystery, you see that, on a certain level, Toby Gard wanted to make games with a lot of automatic traversal (automatically jumping over small obstacles) and very free flowing movement. It's my opinion that Tomb Raider's stiff and "precise" movement controls were a compromise that was kept for the sequels because Gard left. I vastly preferred the approach Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine N64 took, where the combined 3D and tank controls with some forgiving grab detection. If you pressed the stick lightly left and right, Indy would rotate on the spot 360 degrees. If you pressed the stick further, he would move in the direction the stick was pressed. Going back to classic TR after Infernal Machine felt very clunky to me.


I feel the Crystal Dynamics Trilogy of Legend/Anniversary/Underworld found a good compromise.

 

[InsaneTiger]

Lara is the worst part of the game.

 

[Bloodporne]

If you look at Galleon: Islands of Mystery, you see that, on a certain level, Toby Gard wanted to make games with a lot of automatic traversal (automatically jumping over small obstacles) and very free flowing movement. It's my opinion that Tomb Raider's stiff and "precise" movement controls were a compromise that was kept for the sequels because Gard left. I vastly preferred the approach Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine N64 took, where the combined 3D and tank controls with some forgiving grab detection. If you pressed the stick lightly left and right, Indy would rotate on the spot 360 degrees. If you pressed the stick further, he would move in the direction the stick was pressed. Going back to classic TR after Infernal Machine felt very clunky to me.


I feel the Crystal Dynamics Trilogy of Legend/Anniversary/Underworld found a good compromise.

I never played the Indiana Jones game actually but you're making me awfully curious.

Whatever he had intended, I love those stiff original Tomb Raiders controls personally. I know they're unwieldy and I can see why they'd annoy the shit out of others, but I always saw those games as 3D versions of Prince of Persia essentially.

 

[george_us]

Honestly, both TR 2013 and Rise of the Tomb Raider are fairly well crafted games. Very good combat mechanics, level design is fairly solid (although I thought RoTR's open world was half-assed) and the production values are through the roof. It just sucks CD had to relegate what made TR special to some optional areas that barely last five minutes.

 

[Pilgrimzero]

If you like the tombs etc and you don't want to play stuff like the original tomb raiders then I suggest the previous trilogy. Legend on up. Especially Anniversary.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Your checklist sounds a lot like gen 8 too. I enjoyed it quite a bit... Sequel was not as good though.