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The STEAM Sales and Releases Thread
- Thread starter Hobo Elf
- Start date
Lazing Dirk
Arcane
They released a gameplay video today
I was hoping it'd show guests wandering over to the fences to get a look, but they've still got time.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2015
- Messages
- 4,524
It's essentially more of the same.
Yeah. There's $20 of fun to be had if you liked the first game but it's not perfect. The combination of "open world" and "use climbing arrow here" feels schizo and unsatisfying, Lara's "I'm a real and vulnerable person" while she takes on a dozen highly trained commandos at once is schizo and unsatisfying, there is no tension in the "another avalanche!!!!!" sequences. If you can overlook all this, it's good. My full Steam review
bloodlover
Arcane
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,039
How are these newer TR games compare to the old ones in terms of puzzles and gameplay? I played the first four on PS1 ages ago and I loved them but the newer ones seem more and more focused on combat which I am not a fan of. Seeing as there is this massive TR sale, are there any new(ish) TR games worth playing?
Like so many reboots nowadays, the new games have nothing to do with the old ones. Forget that they're called Tomb Raider and you will have a much better time. That said, they're fun if you like falling off cliffs, upgrading guns, cover shooters and traversing puzzleish environments.
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2018
- Messages
- 1,301
Disgusting decline thread. Nuke it from orbit!
Latelistener
Arcane
- Joined
- May 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2,594
If you want Tomb Raider, buy the previous trilogy (Legend - Anniversary (remake of the first game) - Underworld).
Legend was a nice reboot from Crystal Dynamics. Eidos put them in charge of the series after the original creator (Core Design) failed epically with The Angel of Darkness.
TR 2013, however, is a third person popamole shooter about bad russians, with shitty writing from Rhianna Pratchett, which has basically no connection with what happens in the game (Lara cries about a killed reindeer, but has no problems killing dozens of humans).
Rise of the Tomb Raider is basically more of the same.
Bought Tomb Raider 2013 because it was on sale for $3. It had OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE on Steam. Must at least not be total shit, right?
Wrong. It's just pointless cinematic QTEs, easy, shallow action sequences, and insultingly simple "puzzles" set in extremely linear level design with the usual Batman detective vision, waypoint markers for every little thing, and a forgettable story.
Wrong. It's just pointless cinematic QTEs, easy, shallow action sequences, and insultingly simple "puzzles" set in extremely linear level design with the usual Batman detective vision, waypoint markers for every little thing, and a forgettable story.
Here, I'll translate it into Italian: "Bibbidi bobbi, bobbity boopi, beepity boppi boopi." *absurdly dramatic hand gestures*
Cool name
Arcane
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2012
- Messages
- 2,147
In my personal opinion, its way better than anyone says it is. This game literally caused a paradigm shift in the way I look at story-based video games by giving me an immense newfound respect for the artistic genius that is possible when you combine interactivity with a story that could probably win a Pulitzer. It was also the first game I ever played that made me feel like a total piece of shit, but was also incredibly enjoyable at the same time. I walked away from that game visibly shocked and feeling like a changed man, and it was hard to think about anything else for the next three days. Truly a masterpiece IMO.
Ok I had no time earlier to answer Blaine's gentle remarks, so here's my take.
Obviously the new Tomb Raider games are popamole AAA titles so there's plenty of flaws to be found that belong to that category.
But there are good things about them too. Here's a few:
- I like the exploration part. Not too linear, and the Z axis comes into play quite a bit. More than in other AAA titles I've played.
- The weapon upgrades are fun and often quite creative.
- It's really not that easy to find all the secrets.
- The gun/bow-play is not bad.
- I'm playing Rise right now on Survivor difficulty. There's NO autoheal. You have to get medicinal herbs and bandages.
- Yeah a bit cutscene-y but they those sections tend to be clumped together. Then you get ample time to do what you want.
Oh, fuck! Well in that case, sign me up!
I dunno man, I replayed New Vegas last month, just finished Prey, and recently started on a long-time-coming replay of System Shock 2. My popamole tolerance is at an all-time low at the moment.
I gave TR an hour. I almost could have played through that hour by spanking the keyboard with my dick. The most "challenging" part was shooting the wolves when Lara gets snared, which wasn't challenging at all. When does it get semi-tolerable?
It really doesn't. Any fun to be wrung from these games is only at the cost of submersion in deep, deep banality. Don't let mastroego or anyone else try to sell you back on these. You did the right thing refunding; $3 is not too high a price to pay but 20+ gaming hours is. You can do better elsewhere.
Correct_Carlo
Arcane
Tomb Raider is awesome, but the enjoyment of the game comes from its bizarre tonal whiplashes. Lara nearly getting raped, then finding a rare artifact and musing excitedly over it like a 10 year old girl. Lara mowing down 50 men during the gameplay, then having a moment of serious introspection after killing one guy in a cut scene. Lara continuing to whimper and behave as if she's on the verge of death, each time she murders victim after victim after victim. Platforming QTEs punctuated by sudden, "knock you out of the gameplay," NC-17 level death scenes. The creators of the game wanted to make it "gritty" and "real," but in some cases they were so successful at it that the result is comical, especially when it clashes with the more generic gameplay elements. It does have some pretty great action set pieces, too, and liberally borrows from "The Descent" and B 1980s action movies.
It's your standard 3rd person action game in terms of gameplay, but I don't love it for the game play. I love it because it's so tonally fucked up.
"Rise of the Tomb Raider" is a completely normal game in every way, however, and is mediocre as a consequence.
It's your standard 3rd person action game in terms of gameplay, but I don't love it for the game play. I love it because it's so tonally fucked up.
"Rise of the Tomb Raider" is a completely normal game in every way, however, and is mediocre as a consequence.
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No one's saying the new TRs aren't fun - I played both to the end credits myself - but in Codex terms they aren't "prestigious" (challenging, complex). They rely far too much on overblown, unrealistic cinematic sequences (Lara falls about 300 miles straight down in both games and forgets all about it 3 seconds later every time) dominated by QTEs, and garbage like hidden collectibles; and in my opinion their "committee" designs come out very muddled. ... Wait, let me find that old post of mine ... ah there it is.
Ninjad by Juan, I'll stop there. Happy to complain about these for hours.
ultimanecat
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2015
- Messages
- 580
Besides the already mentioned tonal issues, my main problems with TR2013 are twofold:
-If you’re remotely semicompetent at action games, you’re going to max out your XP, and you’re going to max out the skill tree. It’s fake progression and doesn’t really differentiate “builds” or gameplay in any interesting way, so really what’s the point?
- There are extended platforming/climbing sequences where you literally hold a direction and press a button at your leisure. Waste of time and not even functional gameplay.
Can’t say anything about the newer because why would I try it after that?
-If you’re remotely semicompetent at action games, you’re going to max out your XP, and you’re going to max out the skill tree. It’s fake progression and doesn’t really differentiate “builds” or gameplay in any interesting way, so really what’s the point?
- There are extended platforming/climbing sequences where you literally hold a direction and press a button at your leisure. Waste of time and not even functional gameplay.
Can’t say anything about the newer because why would I try it after that?
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