Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Xbox One review, get our latest game review after the break.
When my edition of Tomb Raider came through the post on the release I was itching to play. It didn’t disappoint, I enjoyed playing this game all the way through, swearing amidst my journey.
Lara is just starting out as an explorer in this game, before any of the timelines in her previous appearances. Lara and her friends are searching for the island called Yamatai and look at the history of the Queen that once ruled the island known as Himiko. When they set sail into the Dragon’s Triangle near the coast of Japan catastrophe strikes!
“I had the anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach all the way through the game.”
The graphics for this new definitive edition of the game do not let you down. Due to the suspense and the reality of it all I had the anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach all the way through the game. I believe this was Crystal Dynamics intention, albeit me, being a bit of a chicken, I like to see my enemies before they jump out at me.
Lara’s new face captures emotion well and was a good choice to go with enhanced graphics. With the Xbox One version of the game you can use voice commands to change Lara’s weapons and show the world map. When she finds historical artifacts you can use the Kinect to grab the item and look at it in more detail. On occasions you were also able to use the Kinect to move the camera with your body to see your surroundings. I liked these little features, however the game did have trouble recognising when I said “bow”, I have a fairly normal accent so I didn’t think it would have been the way I was saying it, however I did try to say it imitating an American accent and it still didn’t like it. Whether it was due to my accent being crap, or it should recognise an English accent, I don’t know, maybe I should have tried Klingon. It did recognise the word ‘stealth’ which also equipped the bow so I was happy with that, even if it did mean me saying three more letters, effort!
It was great to have a game with no loading screens. This is a smooth creation of a game, going from one part of the story to another and not having to wait. When you go to a cutscene, you get to control Lara for certain parts and the graphics remain of the same consistency, it’s brilliant. The only thing I had to wait for in this game is myself to get my arse into gear and actually pluck up the courage to go down a dark cave where something will get me (eeeeep). In regards to articles that have been released about certain versions of this game being different on other platforms and being at higher spec performance. I cannot honestly see this issue. The Xbox One plays this game brilliantly and technical qualities that may have been lowered are not noticeable. Why someone would make a fanny dance about it, is beyond me.
Combat with Lara is enjoyable. My favourite weapon was the bow for accuracy and the shotgun for close range. Using a variety of weapons for all the different obstacles within the game keeps your mind busy. Playing the game on normal initially, some of the fights got a little intense as there were quite a few enemies, the variety of their abilities could also be a challenge too. For example, I would have enemies in front of me shooting guns and arrows, there would then be one up top throwing dynamite, one walking up to you from the side with a shield and a machete and some git would come from behind and shoot you in the back. I like a challenge, however if you don’t, you may not like these fights as much.
I did find one bug within the game which was unusual. Jumping off a ladder onto a platform the camera did not follow Lara like it should. I walked round the corner only to be able to view the damn ladder and the ledge I landed on, walked into enemies who then attacked me, I tried to run back round yet I died. I was not very pleased. When I respawned, the camera was back to following Lara again so I was able to stealth attack the enemies like I should have been able to in the first place, rather than running in blindly screaming “Hiii!”. A minor blip that was resolved by death.
So, after being strangled, mauled by wolves, impaled with a pipe in the neck, falling to my death and being blown up. I have fully enjoyed this game. The music completely adds to the suspense and makes you think something will jump out at you when it doesn’t. I did not keep my cool when shifting my way down the side of a truck and some dude comes out going “Bleeerrggh I’m going to get you!”, I instantly jumped and went “Argh get off me you #@£$#*$!!”. I can now honestly say I will not be squeezing my way down the side of any truck, any time soon.
Overall thoughts:
Crystal Dynamics have done a great job with making this game Next Gen and I am looking forward to and plucking up the courage to play the next, once it is out.
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