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First Tomb Raider Review out in the wild - Embargo up on Monday 02/25
- Thread starter NotTheGuyYouKill
- Start date
Miles Quaritch
Member
Fantastic, thank you for the impressions.
Could you perhaps elaborate more on the scramble motion.
Oh, sorry! It basically means that instead of a dodge button, Lara sort of 'scrambles' on the ground to avoid attacks. You can also roll at the end of it.
Hmm. Standard cutscenes seem to be of a regular amount, it's hard to quantify. I certainly don't feel that there has been too many cutscenes in the first four hours. Forced walking occurs regularly, but it's typically for short periods (like two to four seconds on approaching something the developers deemed important) and there have only been two radio calls I've had to listen to. QTEs are often in the 'cinematic' moments (and poorly done, might I add).
However, actual moments such as running across collapsing buildings, climbing through narrow gaps and scaling large vistas are all controlled by the player. I was actually surprised by the amount of control given during the 'cinematic' moments, it's comparable to what you'd get in an Uncharted game. They make great use of various camera angles during these scenes, too.
I don't play a lot of games these years due to time restraint issues, but this is one of the few games I'll definately be playing this year. Only 3 other games I know I'll also be playing is God of War, The Last of Us and GTA5.
I couldn't give two shits if this game strays too far away from the old Tomb Raider games I grew up with. I couldn't care less if it treads the Uncharted-path. All I want is a good, fun game. Call it Tomb Raider, Mountain Goatherder or BOOM, really doesn't make much difference to me.
Looking forward to those 15 hours. That'll probably last me a month or two!
I couldn't give two shits if this game strays too far away from the old Tomb Raider games I grew up with. I couldn't care less if it treads the Uncharted-path. All I want is a good, fun game. Call it Tomb Raider, Mountain Goatherder or BOOM, really doesn't make much difference to me.
Looking forward to those 15 hours. That'll probably last me a month or two!
Just to get an idea what to expect: what do you consider good/engaging stories in video games? Any examples?
Thanks for the contribution.
I've been really interested in this since the reveal trailer, and although there's been all sorts of disparaging remarks about it on GAF in the meantime I've always held out hope that it'll turn out to be quite good. That little hands on seems to back that up, which is a relief. Will probably wait for more reviews and a drop in price and pick it up. Especially if there's a lot of mysterious stuff and exploration involved. Always nice when there's more going on under the surface.
Might I add, the animation in game is very well done. Little touches, such as the way Lara holsters the bow over her shoulder when not in use, shivering and shaking her hands dry in cold water, quivering lips and distant eyes when sitting at the camp fires. All little touches that I seem to appreciate in games probably more than I should.
That's not always the case. Retailers are sometimes receiving their copies early, and hundreds/thousands of people all around the world have access to the game.
Soul Reaver, Persona 4, Grim Fandango, Uncharted 2, MGS3. These are games I would consider to have exceptional stories. Tomb Raider, so far, doesn't come close.
I'd put it on a comparable level to series such as Assassin's Creed (the historical aspects, not the real world stuff) and Mass Effect. In other words, engaging stories, enough to get you through the gameplay.
Oh so the PS3 version leaked too?
Probably posting too much right now, but I keep recalling details that I've forgotten to mention.
The game does a great of job of letting you play it. In other words, it doesn't say 'Jump here! Climb here! Throw this through here!'. You'll still get hints, but not as often as many other modern games. While it's not difficult to figure out yourself, it's nice that you get that sense of 'I figured out the correct route/action to take' instead of the game telling you to do it.
Edit: Totally forgot there was an instinct mode. It's L1. Don't use it. I never do and thus have been able to experience most things through my own discovery.
The game does a great of job of letting you play it. In other words, it doesn't say 'Jump here! Climb here! Throw this through here!'. You'll still get hints, but not as often as many other modern games. While it's not difficult to figure out yourself, it's nice that you get that sense of 'I figured out the correct route/action to take' instead of the game telling you to do it.
Edit: Totally forgot there was an instinct mode. It's L1. Don't use it. I never do and thus have been able to experience most things through my own discovery.
Yep, well at least from G-Force in Glasgow.
Miles Quaritch
Member
This sounds very interesting.
A game with a dedicated dodge button could go either way, but it sounds like they've nailed it.
Spazznid
Member
It's gods work you're doing...
Can I ask, did you get a look at any options?
Also, Enemy AI, was it ok? I don't care for good or great, but they don't get stuck walking towards you or anything, do they?
Also, is the sound quality good?
Yeah, I set up the options before I began to play. I live in a shared dorm, so everyone is basically playing it, but I made my own save. What would you like to know?
Enemy AI is fine. I'm only playing on normal and you really can't take too many hits (at least so far) before you need to seek some cover. Enemies will range from melee characters who charge you down, guys with guns who will duck and shoot, guys with bows (which they can light on fire, forcing you to move cover) and some heavy armoured guys who you will have to force into errors to expose themselves.
No idea if there will be a supernatural twist, or not.
Sound quality, as I mentioned, is fantastic. I care probably too much about sound quality in games, and it's very impressive to me.
Good taste
Okay, so the usual video game writing quality once again. If they really treat a complex issue like character growth through attempted sexual assault, I don't have any high hopes for this game doing justice to the character and plot, if the execution of the narrative is equal to the "quality" of AC or Mass Effect.
One last make-or-break question: Does the game comment on the brutal murdering by Lara Croft? Does it justify or properly establish her morally questionable actions?
Good taste
Okay, so the usual video game writing quality once again. If they really treat a complex issue like character growth through attempted sexual assault, I don't have any high hopes for this game doing justice to the character and plot, if the execution of the narrative is equal to the "quality" of AC or Mass Effect.
One last make-or-break question: Does the game comment on the brutal murdering by Lara Croft? Does it justify or properly establish her morally questionable actions?
Haven't gotten far enough to see that yet, sorry! At least in the first four hours or so, there has been only one comment on her killing someone when communicating with someone else, of which she says '...it's scary how easy it was.' Not sure if they will go further with it or not.
And yeah, the character growth is abnormally fast. She walks across a suspended log once, absolutely terrified, but every occasion afterwards is really not such an issue for her. I guess I've gotten too used to 'video game' narratives, but it is still managing to keep me engaged to see the game through.
It does exactly that in the footage I've seen. Even so far as to leave the hints on screen minutes at a time. Plus all the edge highlighting in white paint. It looks great and flows really smoothly but it seems far too hand-holdy. Granted it is early in the game so maybe later on it teeters off.
sublimit
Banned
Forced walking needs to die in a fire slowly and painfully.Seriously this is the ultimate sin against the gamer.
And to see this awful trend creeping its way in a game that was suppossed to be all about the control the player had to traverse the environment is a really sad thing.
How's the platforming? Is it automatic type of no matter when and how you jump you will always land where you're supposed to, or does it require any skills? And what about exploration? Do you have to find a path to your destination point yourself, or is the path always obvious at first sight?
EDIT: Oh, I've noticed you were already talking about that. Thanks for the input
EDIT: Oh, I've noticed you were already talking about that. Thanks for the input
digoutyoursoul
Member
Forced walking needs to die in a fire slowly and painfully.Seriously this is the ultimate sin against the gamer.
And to see this awful trend creeping its way in a game that was suppossed to be all about the control the player had to traverse the environment is a really sad thing.
It got on my nerves in Max Payne 3
Which hints are you talking about? I have seen literally none apart from the introduction of new game mechanics (learning to use your axe to climb, recovering from your grip slipping, picking up objects, etc). The edges are indeed highlighted, and certain surfaces are textured differently to indicate that you can use items to climb, but what I meant is that it doesn't explicitly tell you to do anything. There are sometimes multiple climbing paths and multiple puzzle solutions to an objective.
Maybe I'm too used to games such as the AC series, which takes hand-holding to a new level. It felt like a breath of fresh air, personally.
The platforming is mostly automatic, but satisfying. Movements such as jumping, then hitting an additional button to lodge your pickaxe is fun, but hardly challenging.
In terms of exploration, as I mentioned earlier, there are multiple pathways to many of the objectives. If you do not use instinct mode (which I suggest), then you will have to find the route yourself. Even instinct mode won't highlight the route to take, only pinpoint you to your destination. You can explore each hub for secrets and hidden tombs. If you've played Sly 4 (the most recent example I can think of), it's similar to that in the sense that there are multiple hidden things throughout each area and you're free to go in any direction.
The Mango Sentinel
Member
Makes me think of Far Cry 3, but that could just be because that's the game I'm currently playing
Ugh.....I hope it's not too bad. That's what ruined Enslaved for me.
tiny raptor
Member
OwlyKnees, is there an option to turn off instinct mode entirely? If not, is there at least a difficulty level that automatically disables it?
Is that what you think it is?
Is that what you think it is?
Not on normal difficulty at least. I wasn't able to notice if hard mode disabled it or not. It's not a big deal, just don't press L1 (or LB).
tiny raptor
Member
Uhm, yes?
It's not murder, and I don't see any way for you to justify saying it's murder. It's self-defense. Brutal self-defense, but self-defense nonetheless.
I know, but that's not the point. I'd like an option to just take the ability away so I'm not tempted to use it.
Net_Wrecker
Member
Agreed. I'll cry and protect lady Croft after every single brutal murder/self defense.
tiny raptor
Member
Chance Hale
Member
It's like Forza 3, you may be tempted to not use that rewind button but by god I almost always did when I screwed up. I much prefer when they flat out give you the option to disable something.
The mythos and backstory for why they went to the island is very intriguing it's just too bad it's stuffed behind wave after wave after wave of "savages" to brutally murder.
Not to mention they have turned her into Isaac Clarke by having her have to do absolutely everything for everyone. And always getting separated.
Not to mention they have turned her into Isaac Clarke by having her have to do absolutely everything for everyone. And always getting separated.
Z
ZombieFred
Unconfirmed Member
To be fair this is still just a video game and video game violence is always going to be surreal. Hell, it's a lot of bad guys on an Island that would kill the main character in an instant so it's still self defense and you might as well have some fun with her development on transforming into a physcopath :lol:
They do kill her in a instant if there's too much jelly on the screen.
tiny raptor
Member
It's only murder if it's illegal. Somehow I doubt that island has many laws not of the Jungle (which may or may not be written by a Khan and Louie).
So OwlyKnees, you mention finding hidden things in the world. How good is that for expanding the story or lore of the world? Tell us who used to live there, how the enemies set up camp there, the bones of Swiss Family Robinson, etc? I didn't play games like Metroid Prime or Dishonored for such things, but they gave added enjoyment to be sure rather than it being just another game world.
So OwlyKnees, you mention finding hidden things in the world. How good is that for expanding the story or lore of the world? Tell us who used to live there, how the enemies set up camp there, the bones of Swiss Family Robinson, etc? I didn't play games like Metroid Prime or Dishonored for such things, but they gave added enjoyment to be sure rather than it being just another game world.
Does not compute
Z
ZombieFred
Unconfirmed Member
I'd like to hear more about this too because usually Crystal Dynamics do a great job on having their enviroments having that additional layer of story telling to make you feel more engrossed (Tomb Raider:Underworld for example) and actually feel like you're uncovering a new world and having that sense of mystery with it.
KefkaPalazzo
Member
Have very high hopes for this game...and want this to review very well, both for quality and the reactions of some overzealous posters here. Hopefully Gamefly sends it out to me...I have a pretty good track record with them on getting it near release.
tiny raptor
Member
In the strictly legal man-made law sense, yeah. But we were talking about it in the moral sense.
The island itself is very mysterious and the lore around it is great from what I've seen. Just too bad the rest of the game gets in the way.
"Oh look a cool artifact and wow look at these buildings" followed by 30+ guys with assault rifles and flaming bows attacking you.
I'm not sure if you're actually being serious. Most people do not deserve to die and if this game is aiming to provide a coherent serious treatment of character growth through lethal trials and tribulations, it should depict the violence in a sensible and rational manner instead of the childish and inane idea that murder is intrinsically justified if a person is attacked.
There are other ways of solving apparent conflicts that doesn't necessarily require taking the lives of other (fictional) human beings. Lara could have used stealth, persuasion, distraction, etc. to avoid the conflicts. Or she could incapacitate the other people instead of brutally murdering them.
Even at that, the presentation is too hyperbolic to justify the murders. Pick axe to the skull or shotgun to the face are not necessary ways of dealing with lethal situations. Instead, these over-the-top methods are more akin to a grindhouse film than something grounded or realistic with emotional weight.
That's the problem. If this is simply "lol a video game" understanding of its violence, then the attempt at depicting a serious narrative with empathetic and realistic characters completely falls to the ground.
Ever heard of ethics?
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