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Story
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This game is a reboot. Lara Croft embarks on a journey with a crew on the ship called Endurance. Upon journey however, the Endurance ship crashed into an unknown ship that has mysteries of the lost kingdom Yamatai. Lara needs to do whatever it takes to survive and get out of the island.
The story is well-paced, with many likable characters. Unlike the previous trilogy of Tomb Raider games, this game's story is much more darker and mature, which is also reflected in the game's environment and atmosphere. Lara Croft has an incredible character development here, and other supporting characters have good exposure as well. Documents can be also found in the game to find out more of their thoughts as well as the island's previous and current inhabitants, making the game's lore worth studying further.
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Gameplay
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The game plays like an action adventure game with platforming and third person shooter combat like Uncharted games. Lara can climb ledges, jump on objects, use weapons to defeat enemies, and others. There are also a number of QTEs in this game during progression, such as during escape sequences.
What makes this game unique compared to Uncharted games is that you can Skill Points to learn new skills. There are two category of Skills. Weapon Skills allow you to use weapon-related skills in combat, such as using a handgun finisher to earn extra XP. Survivor Skills include skills that allow you to gain extra XP by looting from enemies or animals as well as many other survivor Skills. Skill Points can be obtained by gaining enough XP. You can learn new Skills by resting at Camps. Upgrading weapons require you to spend Salvage Points, which can be obtained by opening crates or completing Tomb challenges.
The game's exploration and progress is pretty straightforward, as you can use your Survival Instinct or your GPS to find out your next objective or destination. You may feel free to explore when you get past certain areas in the game for collectibles or completing Tomb challenges. You may also Fast Travel from any camp that you have unlocked.
Many of the game's puzzle include the use of your gear, common sense, and Survival Instinct. Survival Instinct is an ability that may highlights the puzzle's hints, and you need to use your current gear to unlock new paths to proceed in the game, such as using a torch. None of the puzzles are too difficult, but some of optional Tombs' puzzles can be creative or difficult to different players. Platforming sections remain similar to previous Tomb Raider games or Uncharted games, where you can scale on mountain walls, climb ledges, or etc.
In this game, you can take two approaches in combat. You may go to combat with your guns blazing, or you can take stealth approach. In Hard difficulty, it is recommended to play stealth as the enemies in the game can kill you easily with their weapons. Your bow will be your most useful weapon in the game due to it's versatility and for being silent, but you need to switch weapons such as handgun or shotgun in case you have run out of arrows or you are in intense gunfights. Every weapon in this game have it's own advantages or disadvantages, so practice using each weapon effectively.
The multiplayer mode plays like a standard third person shooter multiplayer game, such as standard Team Deathmatch, Private Rescue and etc. Unfortunately, the game's multiplayer mode is not as
interesting as the singleplayer mode, and I think this game would do well without the multiplayer mode and instead the developer should include more singleplayer mode content such as boss fights, more optional Tombs, and other sidequests.
Other than the multiplayer mode, this game's gameplay is really good. Refined from previous Tomb Raider games' gameplay, this game has both weapons and skills upgrades to make it better than the previous Tomb Raider games. Unfortunately, there are no actual boss fights in this game and the Tomb challenges are too short, causing the game's replay value and challenge to drop slightly.
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Graphics
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Like the trailers shown for the game, this game has amazing graphics. Great looking characters, incredible and realistic environments designs, nice weather effects, and others. This game's graphics is simply one of the best looking games in 2013.
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Sound
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This game has great soundtrack, composed by the Dead Space series composer Jason Graves. The main theme of this game is simple good, as well as other themes. The soundtrack is simply fitting in the game.
The voice acting is also great, with every voice actor in the game voicing their characters perfectly. My personal highlights would be Lara's voice actor (Camilla Luddington), Roth's voice actor (Robin Atkin Downes), and others.
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Replay Value
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There is not much replay value in this game. You can attempt on playing this game on Hard mode, collect all collectibles, complete Challenges or try out multiplayer mode.
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Conclusion
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Despite the mediocre multiplayer mode, I think the game's singleplayer mode make it a worthy purchase, thanks to the great story, incredible lore, good character development of Lara, good gameplay, amazing graphics and music. The game has other few shortcomings, such as not many sidequests to be done, short Tomb challenges as well as no boss fights. Still, this is one of the best games last year.
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Score
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Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 9.0/10
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Pros and Cons
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Pros
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- Incredible new story of Lara Croft.
- Well-like characters.
- Good game pacing.
- Nice upgrade progression of skills and weapons.
- Good combat.
- Nicely designed puzzles.
- Open-world design increases the game's depth and challenge.
- Good amount of collectibles.
- Incredible graphics, with nicely designed characters and areas.
- Good voice acting.
- Nice soundtrack.
Cons
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- No actual boss fights.
- Tomb challenges are way too short.
- Boring or mediocre multiplayer mode.
- Low to moderate replay value.
Lara Croft is among the most recognizable characters in gaming, so here's a list of the absolute best Tomb Raider games.
Given that Naughty Dog is giving up on one of its staple franchises, now is the best time for Tomb Raider games to capitalize on that.
This nonsense article also neatly sidesteps the fact that just because Naughty Dog are moving on from the franchise, that doesn't mean the franchise stops. ALL of the Uncharted games were amazing and the last one was a moving finale for Drake, but you can bet your bottom dollar the franchise will return after a well-earned hiatus with a BANG, even if it's handed to one of Sony's other studios to develop.
I love Uncharted (2 and 1 are my favourites). But there is such a thing as franchise fatigue especially with story or character driven games. So it makes sense to let a series rest, it’s good for the audience and it’s good for the developers who get to express their creativity on new projects. Like he⬆ said, it will return and if the gap is long enough that will be exciting for everyone.
Yea I don't see how naughty dog possibly giving us a new ip is a loss at all, it's exactly what I and most others want.
All the uncharted were awesome bit that series had its time now it's onto bigger and better things.
In 10 yrs time then sure I'd be up for another one but not now.
To some live service nonsense most likely.
I’ll be screencapping this reply for the time they do announce their new game.
It’ll be an open world Souls ripoff with microtransactions and events
Sony Bend did great work on Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Since it is unlikely we are getting a Days Gone 2 I would like Bend to continue the franchise (and finally port over Golden Abyss to any other platform then Vita 😞)
It's silly to think that one of Playstations most successful franchise sony will stop making even after making a blockbuster film about it.
Since when is not milking a franchise until it's diluted down to garbage like Call of Duty a bad thing? They have a golden franchise full of amazing games, no need to keep trying to squeeze more money out of it at expense of the quality of the game.
I agree. I’m actually glad that they’re not just making more Uncharted titles just to keep the franchise going. It ended. It was great. Let it rest.
"Loss"? "Giving up"? Bowing out after 6 extremely successful entries is not a loss, nor is it giving up. It's a well earned retirement. And honestly i dont have much hope in TR anymore, especially after being bought by Amazon.
Yeah, especially from a team like naughty dog who are well known to change it up from generation to generation
Naughty dog have amazing talent and I traditionally bought all of their games day 1. That is until TLOU2 (which I bought and enjoyed until 1/2 way through). Woke garbage.
They've been making the same two IPs since the PS3.
What exactly have then been switching up.
And I actually love their games; just trying to see what they've been actually switching up.
Are people just going to ignore the last PlayStation games medley commercial? There is a new Uncharted game coming; it’s just not created by Naughty Dog.
https://youtu.be/TXwhpK4y-5...
"They've been making the same two IPs since"
Same guy who never criticizes Xbox for Halo, Forza, Forza Horizon, Gears studios for only ever having worked a single IP EVER. Hypocrite much?
Naughty Dog at least is working on a new IP and will average 1 new IP each generation. Which Xbox studios even make 1 new IP each gen?
Literally always gives credit to Sony where I feel it's due.
Said I really enjoyed Halo Infinite's campaign, but acknowledge that they dropped the ball with the online.
Loves Forza Horizon, yet don't have any interest in the original series.
Yes I do love Gears of War.
I also love Uncharted and the Last of Us (mainly the first one).
What does that have to do with me asking someone who claims Naughty Dog switches up their stuff every generation, when all they have made over three generations have been two IPs?
Please tell me how I'm wrong. I'll wait.
I agree with you first and foremost! This year is different though, because Microsoft bought Bethesda.
Hi-Fi, Redfall, and Starfield are all new IP'S. Without Bethesda, Microsoft would have nothing new as far as IP'S this year. Hi-Fi is fantastic. Redfall I am not getting a good vibe from, and doubt it will be nearly as good as Deathloop. That leaves Starfield. I am taking a wait and see attitude. If it's a buggy mess that will suck. With 1000 planets, are they going to be empty?
All that said. Uncharted is probably my favorite Playstation IP. Fantastic story telling with top notch graphics!
@MadLad
Uncharted and TLOU were on ps3 and ps4 so that's two generations not three. They're making a new ip for ps 5 right?
"What does that have to do with me asking someone who claims Naughty Dog switches up their stuff every generation, when all they have made over three generations have been two IPs?
Please tell me how I'm wrong. I'll wait. "
I was quite frankly happy to hear they're not going to milk this franchise. I absolutely love it, and would hate to see it fall into Assassin's Creed territory. Another series I loved so much back in the day, I got a tattoo for it. At this point, I haven't even played half the AC games and never will. They hit it out of the park time and time again with Uncharted. Let it rest with dignity and on a really high note.
Uncharted 4 finished Drake's story perfectly, and after the medoicre 3rd entry in the TR reboot series I don't see how ND lost anything personally.
Pretty sure there will be another Uncharted game. It's Tomb Raider that has to actually prove itself as the last game in the series IMO, was not very good.
Tomb Raider has cemented itself as one of the best-selling video game franchises in history. The total sales of all titles in the series about Lara Croft’s adventures are now approaching the 100 million mark.
I'm curious where Embracer will take this beloved IP. Are any of the previous team members still involved in the next game?
I'm more curious to know whether they will put in the money required to make the big AAA ips they acquired recently.
Most of there games have been AA decent but nothing special, I hope they give tomb raider and dues ex the budgets they deserve.
You must mean Amazon - they're the ones publishing Tomb Raider now.
Embracer seems to do basically nothing themselves outside of just being a holding company for all of these other studios/groups. They even own the rights to Lord of the Rings.
I think the publisher does the marketing and consulting but not the actual development. From what I read, Embracer has all the companies/developers so they still need to do the work
That total would be so disappointing to Square Enix even though it’s more successful than Dragon Quest
Still makes me livid that we'll never get a Sleeping Dogs sequel because 2mil units sold for their first year wasnt enough.
These were bad numbers for Square.
Good numbers for Square are the amount of crap games they launched this year.
Decent review. I don't think the graphics deserved a 10 and you got some of the plot wrong in your review.