Rise of the Tomb Raider Review (PS4)
Introduction
This is a sequel to the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, again developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix. The PS4 version has most DLCS on-disc. There is also a downloadable game update, which includes performance fixes, addition of Endurance Mode, and etc. It is highly recommended to download the update for better gameplay experience.
Story
The story takes place after Tomb Raider (2013). After surviving the experience in Yamatai, Lara Croft is obsessed with her late father's research on the lost city of Kitezh. She eventually found clues on the lost city in Syria. She eventually found it, after encountering a mysterious organisation who want to find the same clues. After that, she travel to Siberia with her friend Jonah, to find the lost city of Kitezh. Little did she know that her journey to the lost city is as dangerous as her experience in Yamatai.
The story is simple. It is not particularly an outstanding story, but it is a decent story. I find that characters in this game are not interesting. While Lara has more-or-less the same personality as the previous game, she didn't get much character development, except maybe later at the end of the game. Other supporting characters and villains get the same treatment as well, making them unmemorable. The documents also didn't particularly give the supporting characters enough exposition. This game's setting is also a bit lacking to me, and the ending of the game feels rushed.
Compared to Tomb Raider (2013), I prefer that game's setting, story, lore, and characters.
Gameplay
This game is an action-adventure game, like the Tomb Raider (2013) game. This game plays almost the same as that game, albeit with improvements.
The exploration and progression remain the same. Lara may explore different areas in the game, with secrets to be found such as documents, relics, and secret tomb locations. You may also fast travel to areas with campfires during free roaming. The tombs also return in this game, with some clever puzzles.
Progression remains the same, where you must progress to the objective marker to progress the game's story. In story related sections, you may have to do a mix of platforming and combat sections. There are also few puzzles in the game's story sections as well. During certain story sections, you can't backtrack to the previous areas until you have completed the required story objectives. Outside of story missions, you may also complete Side Missions for additional rewards such as experience points, and Challenge Tombs for new Skills for Lara. You may also explore an area before progressing to the game's story area, such as getting materials, unlock boxes, and etc. Some optional areas may require story-related upgrades to explore, so you can come back to those areas later using Fast Travel.
Leveling and customisation are similar like the previous game. You gain experience points by killing enemies, hunting animals, completing Story Missions and completing Side Missions. Once you have gained enough, you will gain a Skill Point. You can use a Skill Point to unlock a new skill for Lara. Higher tier skills can only be unlocked if you have unlocked a certain amount of lower tier Skills.
Lara also can wear different Outfits, where they may give different passive effects. It is worth to try them out and see which outfit fits the best with your playstyle. This game also features a more extensive Crafting system, where you can craft different weapon upgrades, new pouches, and even ammo by using different materials. They can be found by mining special ore, looting corpses, and etc.
Combat remains the same, where you can engage enemies with direct combat or stealth. There are many combat situations can be tackled by stealth, which is useful in harder difficulties. Lara can use five different type of weapons to eliminate enemies, such as a bow, handgun, and a shotgun. Each weapon has it's uses, so try them out. Stealth mechanics remain the same, where you can kill enemies via stealth to prevent enemy alerts. Different types of kills will also yield bonus experience points. Some weapons also have alternate firing mode modes to kill enemies faster, such as Lara's Poison Arrow using a Bow weapon.
While the combat remains largely the same, the one aspect different between this game and the previous game is the Quick Crafting ability. Lara can now craft new ammo and bandages real-time with the necessary materials, which is useful if you are facing low-ammo situations.
In terms of gameplay, this game has more polished gameplay controls compared to Tomb Raider (2013), which is arguably the most important component in the game. Extensive crafting system, less Quick Time Events sections, good pacing in story progression,decent exploration aspect, and good amount of side-content. Combat system is not great, but it works without majour flaws. However, I find that this game's issues are somewhat similar to the previous game, such as poor balance of combat, platforming and puzzle sections, lack of enemy variety, and not exciting combat sections. Still, this game has very good gameplay.
Graphics
This game has impressive graphics. Great looking environments, character models, and solid performance. Lara looks great in this game, with some nice looking animations.
This game also had bugs and glitches, but some of them are fixed after installing the latest game update.
Sound
This game has decent voice acting. No outstanding performances, but the voice actors did good job on voicing their characters. The soundtrack is pretty decent too, although I do not find any themes to be memorable while playing the game.
Replay Value
This game has high replay value. Play the game again in harder difficulty modes, find all collectibles, complete all Challenge Tombs, play the game again via Chapter Select/Chapter Select Elite in Expeditions Mode, play Score Attack mode for each level, play the DLCs such as Blood Ties, or play the game mode called Endurance Mode, a survival game mode. The new game modes make this game highly replayable compared to the previous game.
Conclusion
This game is a good follow-up from the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, despite the less interesting story, characters, lore, and setting. Despite those highlighted issues, this game's gameplay is much more polished compared the previous game. If you are following Lara Croft's story in the reboot series, this is game that you should try out. Solid game, but with issues.
Score
Story: 7/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 7/10
Final Score: 8.3/10 or 33/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Decent story and setting.
- Improved overall gameplay.
- Good crafting system.
- Good game controls.
- Good selection of difficulty modes.
- Good variety of game modes like Endurance Mode.
- Better exploration aspects, such as hidden areas.
- Better puzzles in Challenge Tombs.
- Less QTEs.
- Amazing graphics.
- Decetnv voice acting.
- High replay value.
- DLCs are on-disc, except for Endurance Mode.
Cons
- Less interesting story compared to the previous game's story.
- Somewhat rushed ending.
- No memorable characters.
- Less interesting game setting.
- No interesting side missions.
- No boss fights.
- Average final boss fight.
- Generic leveling system.
- Uneven balance of combat, platforming, and puzzle sections.
- Lack of enemy variety.
- Not memorable soundtrack.
**Screenshots are from official PlayStation game page.
This is a sequel to the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, again developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix. The PS4 version has most DLCS on-disc. There is also a downloadable game update, which includes performance fixes, addition of Endurance Mode, and etc. It is highly recommended to download the update for better gameplay experience.
Story
Find the lost city of Kitezh.
The story is simple. It is not particularly an outstanding story, but it is a decent story. I find that characters in this game are not interesting. While Lara has more-or-less the same personality as the previous game, she didn't get much character development, except maybe later at the end of the game. Other supporting characters and villains get the same treatment as well, making them unmemorable. The documents also didn't particularly give the supporting characters enough exposition. This game's setting is also a bit lacking to me, and the ending of the game feels rushed.
Compared to Tomb Raider (2013), I prefer that game's setting, story, lore, and characters.
Gameplay
Explore a variety of areas in Siberia.
The exploration and progression remain the same. Lara may explore different areas in the game, with secrets to be found such as documents, relics, and secret tomb locations. You may also fast travel to areas with campfires during free roaming. The tombs also return in this game, with some clever puzzles.
Progression remains the same, where you must progress to the objective marker to progress the game's story. In story related sections, you may have to do a mix of platforming and combat sections. There are also few puzzles in the game's story sections as well. During certain story sections, you can't backtrack to the previous areas until you have completed the required story objectives. Outside of story missions, you may also complete Side Missions for additional rewards such as experience points, and Challenge Tombs for new Skills for Lara. You may also explore an area before progressing to the game's story area, such as getting materials, unlock boxes, and etc. Some optional areas may require story-related upgrades to explore, so you can come back to those areas later using Fast Travel.
Learn new skills and upgrade Lara's gear to defeat her enemies efficiently.
Lara also can wear different Outfits, where they may give different passive effects. It is worth to try them out and see which outfit fits the best with your playstyle. This game also features a more extensive Crafting system, where you can craft different weapon upgrades, new pouches, and even ammo by using different materials. They can be found by mining special ore, looting corpses, and etc.
Fight against the unknown mercenaries and dangerous animals.
Combat remains the same, where you can engage enemies with direct combat or stealth. There are many combat situations can be tackled by stealth, which is useful in harder difficulties. Lara can use five different type of weapons to eliminate enemies, such as a bow, handgun, and a shotgun. Each weapon has it's uses, so try them out. Stealth mechanics remain the same, where you can kill enemies via stealth to prevent enemy alerts. Different types of kills will also yield bonus experience points. Some weapons also have alternate firing mode modes to kill enemies faster, such as Lara's Poison Arrow using a Bow weapon.
While the combat remains largely the same, the one aspect different between this game and the previous game is the Quick Crafting ability. Lara can now craft new ammo and bandages real-time with the necessary materials, which is useful if you are facing low-ammo situations.
In terms of gameplay, this game has more polished gameplay controls compared to Tomb Raider (2013), which is arguably the most important component in the game. Extensive crafting system, less Quick Time Events sections, good pacing in story progression,decent exploration aspect, and good amount of side-content. Combat system is not great, but it works without majour flaws. However, I find that this game's issues are somewhat similar to the previous game, such as poor balance of combat, platforming and puzzle sections, lack of enemy variety, and not exciting combat sections. Still, this game has very good gameplay.
Graphics
Impressive graphics.
This game also had bugs and glitches, but some of them are fixed after installing the latest game update.
Sound
Decent voice acting and soundtrack.
Replay Value
High replay value.
Conclusion
Good follow-up, despite the less interesting story, characters, lore, and setting.
Score
Story: 7/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 7/10
Final Score: 8.3/10 or 33/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Decent story and setting.
- Improved overall gameplay.
- Good crafting system.
- Good game controls.
- Good selection of difficulty modes.
- Good variety of game modes like Endurance Mode.
- Better exploration aspects, such as hidden areas.
- Better puzzles in Challenge Tombs.
- Less QTEs.
- Amazing graphics.
- Decetnv voice acting.
- High replay value.
- DLCs are on-disc, except for Endurance Mode.
Cons
- Less interesting story compared to the previous game's story.
- Somewhat rushed ending.
- No memorable characters.
- Less interesting game setting.
- No interesting side missions.
- No boss fights.
- Average final boss fight.
- Generic leveling system.
- Uneven balance of combat, platforming, and puzzle sections.
- Lack of enemy variety.
- Not memorable soundtrack.
**Screenshots are from official PlayStation game page.
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