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[Anticitizen One]

I don't always like "realistic" reboots of franchises. Most of the time it doesn't work and ends up making things more corny. Who I am I kidding tho, at this rate we are probably gonna have a realistic reboot of Star Fox.

I can't let you do that starbucks!

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Sounds quite interesting except that "gathering food & water" part. I hate that type of things in games.
Make it hyper realistic (bathroom meter, need a bath gauge, fatigue % whatever) or leave those things completely out.

Sorry, I just don't understand this. "Realism" is not the reason why that stuff is included (I think), it's a fun (or not, depending on your point of view) micromanagement feature (in my opinion) that sometimes adds to the gameplay (MGS3, Betrayal at Krondor, Ultima Underworld) and sometimes detracts from the experience (malaria and cars breaking down in FarCry 2).

Also, if you want your games to be binary about "realism" (can't emphasize how illogical I think it is to try to bring that argument to this context) then I guess Lara needs to be able to fly, shoot rockets from her tits and pee lightning strikes. Since it has to be "hyper realistic" or nothing, right?

 

[I NEED SCISSORS]

People have hated on every TR this gen because they don't play them and only think of the previous-gen turds. Just gotta roll with it I suppose.

The only bad Tomb Raider game has been Angel of Darkness though. Chronicles was kind of mediocre, but I understand that it was meant to be a smaller intermediate title.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Is Crystal Dynamics going to just make Tomb Raider games until the end of times or will they make other games after this? I want new Legacy of Kain/Gex/Pandemonium and some new IPs

 

[The_Dude]

I like what I'm hearing, but after loving Anniversary and Underworld I'm a bit worried the platforming will suffer.

 

[Evolved1]

I like what I'm reading. Please, be good!

How is Tomb Raider: UW? I enjoyed TR: Anniversary.

Underworld is a mixed bag. Combat is crap, and it's frequent enough to be annoying... but there are long stretches without it. Some of the animation is wonderful, but it's not polished enough, and interacting with the environment can be janky. Still... some great animation. Some good puzzles too, and treasure hunting is fun/frustrating depending on the level. Story is throwaway, as usual. Game is very pretty in many areas, and there are some epic TR ruins and things... as a TR fan I give Underworld a 7/10. One whole point deduction for the lock on targeting, another .5 off for the occasionally clumsy controls.

Also, the game gets a little framey (on PS3) when you have your light on... so it's better to not run around with that on. Walking is fine, taking your time to scan areas, but if you start running all over the place, the framerate drops are jarring. (Edit: you rarely need your light though)

 

[Ellis Kim]

I like what I'm reading. Please, be good!

How is Tomb Raider: UW? I enjoyed TR: Anniversary.

Anniversary >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Underworld/Legend

What hype? It's a three page thread with differing opinions. Most people who care about Tomb Raider/have played CD's recent offerings seem to want to play this, others don't.

You missed the 2 locked threads that were 7 pages long each.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

This seems the same kind of reboot as what they did in Casino Royale.

If its finally as good as it sounds, it will be awesome. Also the new Lara design is incredible.

 

[Spwn]

How is Tomb Raider: UW? I enjoyed TR: Anniversary.

Haven't played any other Tomb Raider game (Lara Croft & tGoL doesn't count), but I thought it was decent when I played it on my PS3. It looks good and the platforming is pretty nice, but the fighting parts are a joke and there is at least one horrible puzzle. I also encountered numerous bugs, but nothing game breaking. The invisible walls everywhere bothered me a bit too. If you're going to play it, set all difficulty settings to max as it's a pretty easy game. Most of my deaths were caused by the horrible, nightmarish camera and I played through the game with the highest difficulty settings.

And the story is crap, but I guess no surprise there.

 

[Skilletor]

Anniversary >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Underworld/Legend


You missed the 2 locked threads that were 7 pages long each.

I didn't miss them. I left when people started arguing about whether or not Lara looked like a man. I avoid stupidity in threads. I'm sure they were locked for a reason.

 

[Femmeworth]

:O This sounds so good. I like that she doesn't start out as a badass but progressively gets so. I'm picturing this as a mix of Uncharted and Metroid. *crosses fingers* Hopefully the designers study the Metroid series as far as progression and level design go. I don't think it should be super realistic, but I think using weapons should improve over time. She shouldn't be able to pick up a weapon and instantly be fairly accurate with it. I could believe that she has experience with bows, so she could start out being rather good with a bow.

 

[Stallion Free]

How is Tomb Raider: UW? I enjoyed TR: Anniversary.

It has some of the most atmospheric and wonderfully executed underwater segments I have ever played in a game.

 

[Spwn]

It has some of the most atmospheric and wonderfully executed underwater segments I have ever played in a game.

This is something I have to agree with. I usually hate underwater parts in games, but in Underworld I kind of enjoyed them mainly because they were so beautifully executed.

 

[Evolved1]

It has some of the most atmospheric and wonderfully executed underwater segments I have ever played in a game.

Those were a highlight.

I love the slow swim animation on the surface. And the dolphin swim she does underwater when you hold the modifier.

edit:

Spoiler

But I miss the handstands.

 

[Ellis Kim]

I didn't miss them. I left when people started arguing about whether or not Lara looked like a man. I avoid stupidity in threads.

:lol

The first page was pretty hype filled, I thought, what with the metroidvania revelation and all.

 

[erpg]

It has some of the most atmospheric and wonderfully executed underwater segments I have ever played in a game.

And some wonderful camera glitches. And crappy animations too. And physics, come to think of it (at least when it comes to ragdoll and heavy stone cubes).

Good game from what I played though.

 

[Evolved1]

And some wonderful camera glitches. And crappy animations too. And physics, come to think of it (at least when it comes to ragdoll and heavy stone cubes).

Good game from what I played though.

Very few crappy animations. Animation (though occasionally buggy) was clearly a focus point for the devs. Something I really appreciate. The game, like so many others, needed a couple more months of development.

But the giant bolder physics were pretty funny... even if they did kind of explain that in the story.

 

[Stallion Free]

Oh another thing about Underworld: The game is crazy beautiful as a motherfuck on PC and it runs incredibly well. I have been plotting a replay since I upgraded my monitor to a TV and the bit of the intro I tested looked fucking insane (<3 Plasma TVs).

 

[.la1n]

drop the 'feeding yourself' aspect of it and we have ourselves a ballgame

 

[erpg]

I guess coming off of Assassin's Creed 1 to Underworld may have skewed my perspective of the animations. I just don't remember them flowing into one another very well, or having much weight, but I could be wrong.

 

[Ellis Kim]

I guess coming off of Assassin's Creed 1 to Underworld may have skewed my perspective of the animations. I just don't remember them flowing into one another very well, or having much weight, but I could be wrong.

Underworld coming out after AC1 and Uncharted really hurt its market appeal, imo.

 

[erpg]

Well, Assassin's maybe, but I'm playing through Uncharted right now with my girlfriend on her PS3, and I'd take Underworld and two of my fingers cut off over it. Gears of War with decent dialogue, but too much terrible combat. What a chore. I wasn't expecting to hate it this much.

I do get where you're coming from though, it certainly didn't help that another title came out with a similar 'tomb raiding vibe' during its first hour, deceiving you into thinking it may be a good game.

 

[Stallion Free]

Well, Assassin's maybe, but I'm playing through Uncharted right now with my girlfriend on her PS3, and I'd take Underworld and two of my fingers cut off over it.

Goddamn, were you inspired by the brutal death animations in this game when you wrote that?

 

[VaLiancY]

Everything sounds really nice. I'll be buying ten copies.

 

[erpg]

Goddamn, were you inspired by the brutal death animations in this game when you wrote that?

Damnit, maybe. The gore is already getting to me. Soon I'll be threatening to crush my face under a boulder if I don't get a widescreen patch for Armored Princess.

 

[Ad Infinitum]

I don't give a shit about the character arc of Lara Croft or whatever, I've never felt emotionally involved with the character... I just want some decent innovative gameplay like the good old days.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Is the picture of Lara holding the lighted stick in the scan in-game, because if so, then :O

 

[Barakov]

I'm very interested in this. My only real issue is the whole survival thing. But a lot of that depends on how it's handled.

 

[Ellis Kim]

Well, Assassin's maybe, but I'm playing through Uncharted right now with my girlfriend on her PS3, and I'd take Underworld and two of my fingers cut off over it. Gears of War with decent dialogue, but too much terrible combat. What a chore. I wasn't expecting to hate it this much.

I do get where you're coming from though, it certainly didn't help that another title came out with a similar 'tomb raiding vibe' during its first hour, deceiving you into thinking it may be a good game.

Just finish Uncharted 1, platinum it at most, and then get rid of it so you can fully enjoy the far superior sequel, Uncharted 2.

Like you, my expectations for U1 was pretty high after playing TRA (which, btw, was never met ever again), and wanted more platforming. Instead, I got half-hearted platforming and frustrating shooting mechanics. The game is collectively good, and generally gorgeous, but U2 blows it out of the water. U1 was 4:1 combat to platforming, U2 is 6:5, with beautiful set pieces.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

drop the 'feeding yourself' aspect of it and we have ourselves a ballgame

Why, I like the whole survival aspect as long as it is executed well. By that I mean make sure there are a variety of places and ways to get food and water so it's never a backtracking bog.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

open world TR , this could be great

 

[Corto]

A crafting system, open world setting, tombmetroidvania? Hohoho this is getting really interesting!

 

[Shake Appeal]

I'm pretty excited about this.

 

[~Kinggi~]

yes yes YEEEEEESSSSSS!!!

 

[Stallion Free]

Like you, my expectations for U1 was pretty high after playing TRA (which, btw, was never met ever again), and wanted more platforming. Instead, I got half-hearted platforming and frustrating shooting mechanics. The game is collectively good, and generally gorgeous, but U2 blows it out of the water. U1 was 4:1 combat to platforming, U2 is 6:5, with beautiful set pieces.

U2 is still heavily weighted towards shooting, it's nowhere close to 50/50 and to make things worse, the platforming is still insulting. Fortunately they made the shooting fun.

 

[Discotheque]

new Lara Croft is so fine. I'd beat that ass all night.

Spoiler

I do not condone spousal abuse of any kind

 

[luka]

Anniversary >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Underworld/Legend


You missed the 2 locked threads that were 7 pages long each.

More like Anniversary > Underworld >>>>>>>>> Legend. Underworld was fantastic.

I'm sure this will be a great game, I'm just weary of every franchise getting a "gritty" reboot these days. It's just a gimmick they use to get people's attention. Biohazard 4 was a great example of reinvention without completely nullifying the established timeline. Not sure why everyone's splooging all over the character redesign either. It's decent but nothing spectacular or terribly appealing.

 

[Mr.Squirrel]

When's the magazine supposed to be out?

 

[Ratrat]

I cant wait to see the online multiplayer! from looking at the concept are the setting looks sick.

 

[Persona7]

I loved Underworld.

This looks cool.

 

[abstract alien]

It certainly sounds nice, but I'll wait for footage before I get excited. I like Underworld and Anniversary, so here is to going on a 3-0 win streak for major releases for the franchise.

 

[mysticwhip]

It certainly sounds nice, but I'll wait for footage before I get excited. I like Underworld and Anniversary, so here is to going on a 3-0 win streak for major releases for the franchise.

You forgot Guardian of Light.

 

[abstract alien]

You forgot Guardian of Light.

That one wasn't a major release was it? It always came across as a niche title...not that niche is bad.

 

[Stallion Free]

That one wasn't a major release was it? It always came across as a niche title...not that niche is bad.

You were right, it wasn't a major release, it was more of a side release that hopefully leads into a side series.

 

[LiK]

That one wasn't a major release was it? It always came across as a niche title...not that niche is bad.

Summer of Arcade release on XBLA so it was pretty high profile.

 

[Najaf]

I'm loving the new look of Lara. Maybe they will balance her rack this time around as well.

 

[Discotheque]

They'll no longer be front-loaded anvils. I'm sure they'll be modestly sized this time around.

Oh and talking about this isn't weird at all :lol

 

[UrbanRats]

How did i miss this thread? I liked all the CD Tomb Raiders(even though Legend ain't that good)and i'm liking what i'm reading here, but i'm a bit perplexed by the shooting part.. i mean, it's good they're improving combat, but i hope exploration/wonder remains the main focus and we don't end up having another shooter based free roam.

 

[Xenon]

I'm loving the new look of Lara. Maybe they will balance her rack this time around as well.

Or, to make it more realistic they could make them slightly uneven.

 

[Ellis Kim]

More like Anniversary > Underworld >>>>>>>>> Legend. Underworld was fantastic.

I'm sure this will be a great game, I'm just weary of every franchise getting a "gritty" reboot these days. It's just a gimmick they use to get people's attention. Biohazard 4 was a great example of reinvention without completely nullifying the established timeline. Not sure why everyone's splooging all over the character redesign either. It's decent but nothing spectacular or terribly appealing.

Underworld was as lame as Legend, if not worse with its combat system. I still remember having THE worst time every time the boat was revisited to shoot up a bunch of dudes, and melee being virtually useless.

I don't think that this type of "gritty" is gimmicky at all. I think that, from the sounds of how they're treating the reboot, that they want to reapproach Lara and her world, and just make her less "perfect" and "invincible." Or, in other words, easier to empathize with, and feel engaged with.