Ever since I played Tomb Raider on the PlayStation 3 I have wanted to write a review for the reboot. It was the first Tomb Raider game I have ever finished. It wasn't my first Tomb Raider game, but the reboot of the franchise has made me a fan of the series and of Lara Croft. I have only really played Tomb Raider: Underworld and a demo of one of the PS1 Tomb Raider games, and this version of Tomb Raider is much more intense than either of those.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the re-release version of the Tomb Raider game we got last year on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. When I played Tomb Raider on the PS3, I thought the game looked fantastic. I immediately pre-ordered Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for the PlayStation 4 the moment I found out about its imminent release. I loved playing the single player story and I had been itching to play it once more. I never expected to play it on PS4, though.
Developed originally by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was optimized for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with some help from Nixxes Software and United Front Games. The PS4 version was done by Nixxes Software and the Xbox One version was done by United Front Games. I have only played the PS4 version of the game since I don't own an Xbox One.
If you played Tomb Raider last year, then you are already familiar with the story. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is Lara Croft's origin story. She is on her first expedition in a search for the lost kingdom of Yamatai. Following her gut, Lara suggests that the team head east of Japan and end up shipwrecked on an island. Separated from from her team, Lara must struggle to keep herself alive, as well as the others. This is when Lara's wits and skills are put to the test.
Much like last year's version of the game, I still enjoy the story that is being told in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. It hasn't changed, and I am okay with that. Camilla Luddington does an amazing job portraying Lara Croft. She is by far the best voice actress in the entire game. Although the supporting cast is still a letdown in the PS4 and Xbox One versions, Luddington is still able to hold the game's story together.
Where Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition shines are in the graphics and the enhanced controls. When I played Tomb Raider on the PlayStation 3, the graphics blew me away. I know that it looked better on PC, but I mostly game on a dedicated gaming console. That being said, I wasn't sure how impressed I would be. I once owned Madden NFL 25 and that game failed to impress me. It didn't look much better than the PS3 version of the game. Battlefield 4 and Lego Marvel Super Heroes do look amazing on the PS4, but I feel as though Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition does an even better job of taking advantage of the next-gen hardware. The game runs at 6o frames per second. Its natural resolution is 1080p. Everything about Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is simply breathtaking. It has been several months since a game has made me want to stop playing and simply take in what I was looking at. The last game to do that for me was The Last of Us. The game runs silky smooth. The character models looks fantastic. It has taken me a while to get used to Lara's new face, but I like it now. She looks more realistic, and even looks more like her voice actress.
The controls feel tighter in the re-release as well. If there was one thing I didn't like about Tomb Raider last year, it was the controls. For some reason it felt somewhat difficult to maneuver Lara during certain points of the game. That hasn't been the case for me in the re-release. I haven't had any trouble playing the game as far as controls are concerned.
I also feel that the Quick Time Events aren't as difficult to perform in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition as they were in last year's game. I often found myself dying because I kept screwing up on the QTE moments of the game. There is a learning curve, but I don't feel it is quite as steep as it was before.
Like other games, Lara acquires new weapons and equipment to further aide her as she searches for her team and a way to survive the island they're on. The equipment she acquires can be pretty awesome. I won't say too much about it. You will just have to find out for yourself.
I never really got to play any multiplayer when I bought Tomb Raider on the PS3. I hadn't heard too many great things about it. I have played online a couple of times, but the lobbies are pretty dead. There aren't many people playing online. I am hoping it is because they're busy playing the story mode. There isn't anything great about the multiplayer. Honestly, I am only attempting to play online for the trophies. Once I have all the online trophies, I probably won't play online. There aren't many modes to choose from. What makes it worse is that when you find a game to play, there aren't many people to compete with. I wasn't sure why they included multiplayer when Tomb Raider came out last year and I'm still unsure as to why it was ever thought of.
Aside from the weak multiplayer, everything else is great about the game. The visuals are definitely the best part of the game. Everything from Lara's hair to the plants blowing in the wind. It all just looks great. I definitely can't wait for more Tomb Raider. Until then, I will continue to play Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on the PlayStation 4.
OVERALL:
8.5/10
