314 people found this review helpful
21 people found this review funny
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 31.5 hrs on record (29.8 hrs at review time)
Posted: 30 Jul, 2015 @ 4:26pm
Updated: 26 Nov, 2020 @ 4:45am

"You can do it, Lara. After all, you're a Croft"

Review made by a huge Tomb-Raider fan. This is the reborn, the first story of our favourite adventurous girl in the world. The game has a lot of good and bad aspects, let's review them!

Prequel connections: if you are planning to buy both Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider I would play this first as you are gonna find several references to Yamatai and Lara's friends in them. It's not necessary at all to play this game to understand future Tomb Raiders, although the experience is way better if you read all the documents you find on the island.

Graphics: one of the most visible changes for all the players; an important, great and well-done change with a beautiful enviroment, great lighting and character models. We cannot forget the TressFX mode which allows you to make Lara's hair more realistic and beautiful (back in 2013 this was something incredible)

Gameplay: you can jump, run, tumble... Map design is cool as it allows you to explore the whole area

Play time: you have hours of entertainment in front of you... Did you just finish the game? No problem! Now you can try to obtain all the achievements, hidden tombs, upgrade all your guns... However, as you have no elections during the story nothing will change if you replay it

Animations: sometimes it feels like Mortal Kombat because of the brutal killing animations with both your pickaxe and bow. You can also crush your skull against a rock (which looks painful)

Armory: hit an run. Use your bow (it feels great to use it) and go Arthemis-like all around the map, or just make everything explode with your shotgun. The game offers upgrades so you can make them deadlier, which feels nice and is actually very useful

Feels: possibly the best feature of the game. You are probably going to fall in love with Lara because you'll see her origins. If you are a TR fan or if you have played old Tomb Raider games it's worth to mention that this story is "not going to make any sense" because it has nothing to do with them as this is her very first adventure[/b], that is why we see a softer version of Lara

Skills: you have a wide skill tree in front of you that will help you to both kill and collect more stuff

Collectables: lots of them! It makes the game very interesting and it gives you plenty of additional game hours (+achievements, of course)

Map: you have a very big map to explore! (bearing in mind 2013 standards!) You can always use the quick travel feature in the bonfires, which is great if you are looking for those sweet collectables and achievements

Fans: got stuck? Not a problem. The Tomb Raider fanbase is huge and we're (generally) very friendly. You won't have trouble finding several guides and artwork for this game, so I would call this game a good introduction to the saga for new players arriving to the Tomb Raider world

~ Story: being a huge fan of the Tomb Raider series: no, it's not the best story ever made, although it's not that bad. It feels like an action movie though, both enjoyable and interesting, although if you want to play a Tomb Raider with a good storyline I focus my attention in both Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Resources: you'll end up having lots of unused resources. For instance, hunting isn't rewarded, it's a one-time thing done to complete a mission, but something totally skippable in the rest of the game. Not having to hunt to survive is missed, but something that may be good for those players who just want to focus on the story

Multiplayer: dead mode, a serious waste of time as no one plays it. The worst part about it is that you cannot obtain its achievements

Especially for those old Tomb Raider fans: this game is very easy compared with the old games from the saga. That doesn't mean you don't have to think to solve the puzzles, but if you have ever played an old Tomb Raider game before you are gonna notice the difference


Conclusion:
Definitely worth the price. You can find an enjoyable and cool triple-A game for 2€.

If you want an introduction to the Tomb Raider and Lara Croft world, I would call it a must-play as it is the origin of the prequel which will be (sometimes) referenced in both Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
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11 Comments
evilthecat13 3 Jan, 2016 @ 6:03pm 
Excellent, non-biased review; not too long, not too short. I wish more people on Steam reviewed this way.
Croft 26 Dec, 2015 @ 5:27am 
@NaughtyNewton Thank ya'!
NaughtyNewton 25 Dec, 2015 @ 10:57pm 
ps: i just copied ur quote, the artwork i didnt, i made it myself, dun mind pls ;3
NaughtyNewton 25 Dec, 2015 @ 10:56pm 
awesome review, i just saw we have the common backgorund n artwork :D i played this game twice already, gonna get it on this steam id too, sad that Rise of the tomb raider is only for Xbone, but meh this is by far the best tomb raider game <3
ULTRATIMON 10 Nov, 2015 @ 1:03pm 
In the last sentence you problaby have a typo.
You said: "clonclusion" and I think it must be "conclusion"

Nice review
PeligroWilsonez 31 Oct, 2015 @ 5:25am 
Good review but i dont agree, as the game is a loose assembly string of quick time events to me.
Croft 2 Oct, 2015 @ 7:11am 
@TinyTress Ask Square Enix xD

PD: thank you for the correction >.<"
Tiny Trees 1 Oct, 2015 @ 2:32pm 
Where you said, " We cannot forgive the TressFX mode which allows you to make Lara's hair more realitic and beautiful."
Did you mean, " We cannot forget........". Anyway it leads me to a question about Lara's hair and TressX, or whatever was responsibly for it. Why does Lara's hair always look brand newly washed and blow-dried. Always, and even when she has just surfaced from a pit of blood.
Bach 29 Sep, 2015 @ 9:37pm 
That's true !! I love your review ^^
WINSTON 30 Jul, 2015 @ 10:17pm 
Great review! Just correct the Bold tag in "ONLY FOR TOMB RAIDER FANS".