Comments on: Review: Tomb Raider http://www.hsmagazine.net/2013/04/review-tomb-raider/ The PlayStation Home Magazine Fri, 13 Feb 2015 21:20:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.2 By: dblrainbowgirl http://www.hsmagazine.net/2013/04/review-tomb-raider/#comment-283856 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:15:37 +0000 http://www.hsmagazine.net/?p=48506#comment-283856 Great review Ted. I have to be honest and admit I’m one of the few ‘die-hards’ that was completely deflated and jarred by the direction the reboot took.

The emphasis on violence and upgrades reached a level of “slamming-controller-against-chair” moments I’ve not experienced since playing Nintendo games! I agree that the implementation of tools often found in shooters completely negated any potential immersion.

What I also found interesting was how small the environments seemed. I know that sounds strange, but I thought about how in games’ past, every wall, boulder, pillar, pedestal and doorway became a carefully choreographed exploration, rife with hidden treasures, alternate paths, and puzzles that could at times completely transform the environment. In this game, every tomb was linear and unchanging, reaching the same dead end with the same ‘reward,’ and asking Lara to simply turn around and go all of the way back instead of progressing.

In thinking about the tone of this game compared to previous installments, the words: tense, methodical and chaotic come to mind. I miss the calm, curious, and thoughtful tone present in past games.

I am hopeful that future installments will remove much of the hand-holding, violence-centric, and simplified exploration.

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By: LostRainbow http://www.hsmagazine.net/2013/04/review-tomb-raider/#comment-283807 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:21:14 +0000 http://www.hsmagazine.net/?p=48506#comment-283807 Great review. i have never played the Tomb Raider games but after reading your review on it what its all about, I would love to try it out. In general I love games that have sequels or prequels, and Tomb Raider sounds like a lot of fun even though I don’t always like shooting and blood. I definitely want to try this game out!

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By: RiverCreek http://www.hsmagazine.net/2013/04/review-tomb-raider/#comment-283801 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:22:50 +0000 http://www.hsmagazine.net/?p=48506#comment-283801

15 years ago my daughter had her 13th birthday and and got her first PlayStation 1. It was then, that I became ADDICTED to Tomb Raider.

As the years went by, I waited with anticipation for the next Tomb Raider to come out. It was the only game I played. I bought them all, played them all.

Then, they came out with the PlayStation 2. I again waited patiently, every 2 or 3 years, for the next Tomb Raider to come out. It was still the only game I played. I bought them all, played them all.

Then one year they released a new Tomb Raider that was for download only. I had to wait an additional 6 months after the release date for them to burn them on disc and release for purchase.

Tomb Raider 1 -- Tomb Raider 2 -- Tomb Raider 3 -- Last Revelation -- Chronicles -- Angel of Darkness – Legend – Anniversary – Underworld -- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light -- Tomb Raider 2013.

Then, they came out with the PlayStation 3. I was so bummed for I only still owned the PlayStation 2 and was not able to play the new game on it. At that time I was not able to go purchase the new PlayStation 3 just for the one game that I wait for and play. I had to wait. It wasn’t until 2 years after the PlayStation 3 came out that I went to purchase the unit so I could play my game. That is when I discovered HOME. That is when I discovered that there are a lot of OTHER video games than JUST Tomb Raider.

I won’t get into detail about Edios and Crystal Dynamics, but everything changes with the times and so does modern technology. Therefore, so do our video games. We have come a long way from playing DOOM on the computer.

The new TOMB RAIDER 2013 has pros and cons as far as I am concerned. When I first started playing it I was like MAN! It has changed so much it made me mad. It seemed like it was more of a combat battle than a strategy game. Where is the jungle and the tiger that Lara would kill every now and then? Where are the puzzles? Where is Lara’s sarcastic attitude that we love so much? Where is Lara? I wasn’t crazy about the theme as far as the rituals. BUT… as I played through it I found myself falling in love with my game…once again. I love the new menu and the new options to be able to go back to previous played levels to catch up or pick up undiscovered items. I love how you can chose to upgrade your weapons and skills. I found that if you take the time to go back and hunt, so you can upgrade your weapons and skill, it makes the next level a lot easier

I DO love the new Tomb Raider and look forward to the next…even though things change throughout time.

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By: KrazyFace http://www.hsmagazine.net/2013/04/review-tomb-raider/#comment-283784 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 07:56:17 +0000 http://www.hsmagazine.net/?p=48506#comment-283784 Nice review Ted. About the violence; I can see a trend setting in where violence in games is taking a much more personal role than the usual “bang, bang, you’re dead” tag matches of the same old CoDs etc. The Last of Us is one such game that will give you a good example of what I mean there, also, The Walking Dead sseries of games. I won’t elaborate too much on this but in my mind, it’s actually a good thing. For us to properly understand a hero’s motivation, we must be subjected to the same injustices as them.

As for (young) Miss Croft, I like to see origins. I really enjoy stories of how and why people become what they are. This new game, seems to set that up nicely -- I’ve yet to properly play it.

The great thing about Lara though, is the reactions to her from either gender. In the 90’s when she was first pushed into mainstream (she was in a lot of comics/graphic novels previous) she gained respect from the female sector because she was strong, a refreshing break from the damsel in distress. The reaction from the male sector (strangely enough) was more complex; guys wanted her (yeah, this is when pixel-perving really began) but they also wanted to protect her, to see her through her adventure till the end. Then there was the fact it was just a pretty good shooter for the time.

Personally, I’ve always had a problem with the TR games. Right up until they made Legend, when they changed the control mechanics and environmental interaction. THEN I wanted to play. This latest game borrows heavily from the Drake’s Fortune series, and that’s no bad thing, because for once Lara is fluid in movement, easy to operate and the whole flow of the game feels much more natural to the player.

And I’m gonna shut up now before I accidentally write another review in these comment boxes…

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