Tomb Raider

[fgdj2000]

Has anyone of you played the recent Tomb Raider games? (Or any, really...)

I loved the Crystal Dynamics games back in 2006-2008 (Legend, Anniversary, Underworld).
Since Rise of the TOmb Raider hit the PS4 recently, I decided to give it a go... the I found the predecessor on a sale and now I'm playing this game.

To me it feels like a weird fusion of Uncharted, The Last of Us and even Metal Gear to a degree.
I loved the UC for their characters, pulpy storylines, climping- and puzzlesections, but I always had mixed feelings about the combat. It often feels cheap, the ducking mechanics feel clunky and there were a lot of instances were you died not because you made a mistake, but because you had no way of knowing something was about to happen.
With Tomb Raider, combat feels much tighter and methodical (more like Metal Gear or The Last of Us), which I enjoy. Playing Lara feels amazing. TIght, precise controls (much more so than in UC!), great vistas and a lot of Metroidvania gameplay (which, as you might have noticed by now, I'm quite fond of). Like the old Metal Gear games, you are on a huge island and gradually conquer it, get new gear and abilities and can later revisit earlier parts and find hidden treasures. Plus, even though the combat is great, the game has also some great puzzles that require some thought (unlike most in the UC games).

On the downside, while Lara Croft is a good character (in cutscenes), the supporting cast is pretty forgettable and the story is just... meh. And the gritty survival setting, while nice (and reminicent of The Last of Us), doesn't really fit the character imo. On the one hand, she's supposed to be green and gentle, but she quickly brutalizes dozens of people as if it's nothing! That in addition to here constaltly talking to herself (and the player) in gameplay, makes her seem like some sort of crazy messed-up person in gameplay.

Also, is anyone else tired of hearing Robert Atkin Downes in everything? He always sounds the same!

Still, I love this game and am having a lot of fun with it and seeing that Rise seems to return to beautiful vistas and more pulpy adventures and a more consistent Lara, I can't wait to play it later on.

[Cerberus_0408]

Oct 20, 2016 12:10:33 GMT -5 fgdj2000 said:

Has anyone of you played the recent Tomb Raider games? (Or any, really...)

I loved the Crystal Dynamics games back in 2006-2008 (Legend, Anniversary, Underworld).
Since Rise of the TOmb Raider hit the PS4 recently, I decided to give it a go... the I found the predecessor on a sale and now I'm playing this game.

To me it feels like a weird fusion of Uncharted, The Last of Us and even Metal Gear to a degree.
I loved the UC for their characters, pulpy storylines, climping- and puzzlesections, but I always had mixed feelings about the combat. It often feels cheap, the ducking mechanics feel clunky and there were a lot of instances were you died not because you made a mistake, but because you had no way of knowing something was about to happen.

I think Uncharted suffers from repetetive fight sequences. EVERY fight is damn near identical... just more bodies. It gets really old for me. I've replayed MGS4 so many times, but I never get tired of messing with the soldiers. And in MGS4 all areas are different in combat case. Truly, this makes me appreciate the Hideo Kojima approach to gaming. You don't have to replay the whole game from start to finish as the only option! And it's fun to go back and find new ways to deal enemies and interact with the environment. UC is great for a start to finish experience but on second playthroughs there's nothing much to do.

On the downside, while Lara Croft is a good character (in cutscenes), the supporting cast is pretty forgettable and the story is just... meh. And the gritty survival setting, while nice (and reminicent of The Last of Us), doesn't really fit the character imo. On the one hand, she's supposed to be green and gentle, but she quickly brutalizes dozens of people as if it's nothing! That in addition to here constaltly talking to herself (and the player) in gameplay, makes her seem like some sort of crazy messed-up person in gameplay.

Well, you should watch the TR movies (if you haven't already) and see how she brutalises enemies in them as well.

Also, is anyone else tired of hearing Robert Atkin Downes in everything? He always sounds the same!

Not surprising. Nolan North is in like a GAZILLION games. He never changes...




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[fgdj2000]

My point was, that in most of the cutscenes (especially at the beginning) she is portrayed as this vulnerable, gentle everyday girl and five seconds later in gameplay she murders people left and right like a professional killer and not only that, she even does it in ridiculiously brutal ways at times. This didn't quite fit. It is often unintentionally funny to be honest. I still think, it's an excellent game - unlike the films with Angelina Jolie, which I have seen btw. and don't need to ever again, thank you!

Also, I can't agree with you on Nolan North! Yes in AC and UC he sounded pretty much identical, but as Deadpool (which I haven't actually played) and that character in The Last of Us he sounded quite different. Robin Atkin Downs on the other hand really sounds identical, whether as Kaz, Roth (in TR), the various characters in UC that he played or even live-action TV-shows like Babylon 5, where he played two characters! And they also sounded identical! One is even under heavy make-up and you still know it's him!

[Cerberus_0408]

Oct 23, 2016 12:29:33 GMT -5 fgdj2000 said:

My point was, that in most of the cutscenes (especially at the beginning) she is portrayed as this vulnerable, gentle everyday girl and five seconds later in gameplay she murders people left and right like a professional killer and not only that, she even does it in ridiculiously brutal ways at times. This didn't quite fit. It is often unintentionally funny to be honest. I still think, it's an excellent game - unlike the films with Angelina Jolie, which I have seen btw. and don't need to ever again, thank you!

Yes, well ever heard of the term 'femme fatale'? I think Croft is a notable example of that.

(If you haven't figured it out already, that means fatal lady)

Also, I can't agree with you on Nolan North! Yes in AC and UC he sounded pretty much identical, but as Deadpool (which I haven't actually played) and that character in The Last of Us he sounded quite different. Robin Atkin Downs on the other hand really sounds identical, whether as Kaz, Roth (in TR), the various characters in UC that he played or even live-action TV-shows like Babylon 5, where he played two characters! And they also sounded identical! One is even under heavy make-up and you still know it's him!

Can you provide a youtube link for this, tho?

[fgdj2000]

Femme Fatale actually comes from the Film Noir genre of films. The femme fatale would often be an attractive lady who is in some way threatened and the detective (in other words the main character) would help her and fall in love with her, only to learn that she was actually using him and was never threatened, but wanted the detective to do the dirty work for her and kill her husband (for example) so that she would inherit his empire or money (or whatever) and usually try to kill the detective afterwards.
Marion Cotillard's character of Talia Al Ghul in "The Dark Knight Rises" is a good example of this. Also Eva Green's character Ava Lord in "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For".

So, a femme fatale technically includes the attributes to appear weak, but also seductive, only to quietly stab the hero in the back in the end. Not really attributes I'd match to Miss Croft.

[fgdj2000]

Finished the game a couple of days ago. She uses twin pistols at the end, but only in a quicktime event...

Overall fun game, weird story. I'd say, it plays better than Uncharted, but isn't nearly as challenging combat-wise (on Normal), especially if you upgrade all your stuff constantly. However, the combat system is better, I'd say. Puzzles are tougher and with less hand-holding, which I enjoyed. However, these puzzle elements are limited to the TOmbs and aside from one at the very end, all Tombs are optional and far and few between.

Still, this is the first game where I felt, I actually want to go on a collect-athon and find all the hidden collectibles, which I've never had before, so, the game seems to be doing something right. If you ever play it, I recommend getting up-close and personal in combat and get yourselves in trouble.

[Cerberus_0408]

It is interesting to note that puzzles in UC can quickly be solved with the strategy guide. But then again, the same could be said of TR, or any other game...

[fgdj2000]

Puzzles in UC can quickly be solved period. You don't need a strategy guide for that.
And while TR puzzles certainly aren't the Citizen Kane of puzzles, at least I felt somewhat challenged and they didn't always have an obvious solution and thus were more satisfying.