Tomb Raider

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1519 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,248 out of 1519
  2. Mixed: 172 out of 1519
  3. Negative: 99 out of 1519
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  1. Taz786
    Mar 20, 2013
    8
    I very much wanted to like this game. its one of the best games i played. The atmosphere is amazing. The game play is great and its a very good action game
  2. kevinjr16
    Mar 6, 2013
    8
    Yes it borrows heavily from the mechanics of Uncharted, but it also makes it frankly better and refreshing next to Nathan Drakes arsenal. All the tools Lara has by the end really make you feel like a badass and able to take on anything, but in fun and interesting new ways. I have nothing bad to say about the game other than normal gaming issues and bugs. Also the water is extremelyYes it borrows heavily from the mechanics of Uncharted, but it also makes it frankly better and refreshing next to Nathan Drakes arsenal. All the tools Lara has by the end really make you feel like a badass and able to take on anything, but in fun and interesting new ways. I have nothing bad to say about the game other than normal gaming issues and bugs. Also the water is extremely pixelated. It's weird.… Expand
  3. DimosZargarda
    Mar 9, 2013
    8
    I cant rly judge the game since I never played any of them, however my mom played all of the previous ones (and I guess this is her score), sometimes I used to watch so I also know a bit. Anyway, I cant say that I like this one, I mean Lara was always a tough woman, now she seems so weak and vulnerable. Thers also alot of gruesom things to happen for such a "weak looking girl", I cant evenI cant rly judge the game since I never played any of them, however my mom played all of the previous ones (and I guess this is her score), sometimes I used to watch so I also know a bit. Anyway, I cant say that I like this one, I mean Lara was always a tough woman, now she seems so weak and vulnerable. Thers also alot of gruesom things to happen for such a "weak looking girl", I cant even stand to watch my mom play it anymore.… Expand
  4. Aaronmcc1
    Mar 9, 2013
    8
    I went into this hesitant, mainly because I wanted to see would Crystal Dynamics butcher this franchise, and they haven't! I've enjoyed this game tremendously and cannot wait to see where this series' future will head towards.But for those of you who wish to know why this is a beautiful, well-crafted game, I have compiled sections of mini reviews on each aspect of the game down below.I went into this hesitant, mainly because I wanted to see would Crystal Dynamics butcher this franchise, and they haven't! I've enjoyed this game tremendously and cannot wait to see where this series' future will head towards.But for those of you who wish to know why this is a beautiful, well-crafted game, I have compiled sections of mini reviews on each aspect of the game down below.

    Gameplay: 8/10

    This is where this game really hits it home.Lara begins her journey into survivor-hood with a basic bow and a couple of arrows, but over the course of the game she gets everything from a tactical pistol to a grenade launcher.These weapons can be upgraded giving the bow such things as napalm arrows, (Which do a nasty amount of damage!) but the upgrades come with a cost."Salvage" is your upgrading currency and can be found throughout the island, make sure to scavenge as much as this as you can, because you'll need it! Skill points play a major part in "upgrading Lara" as they allow her to gain cool new moves from the "Brawler" category of skills.These upgrades are done through means of attaining a set amount of xp from completing challenges, killing enemies and so on. Other neat additions to the gameplay is the climbing axe which allows you to traverse high cliffs, and the puzzles,(Albeit mediocre) found all over the island's secret tombs.The gameplay would've gotten a 10/10 from me but the inclusion of Quick-Time Events prevents that, they cause cheap deaths and really added nothing to the game, only detracted from it.

    Story:7.5/10

    For Crystal Dynamics to make Lara a compelling personality and true survivor, they needed an equally compelling story and true experience of a survivor. The trapping of Lara an her friends on an island in the Dragon's Triangle provides just that. Lara really feels like a human in this, when confronted in different situations such as saying sorry to the first deer she's killed to feeling full of sorrow after murdering another person. Seeing Lara undergo the change of an innocent woman, to a dual-wielding badass was truly amazing, although the pacing was quite quick.The motive pushing Lara on, is to rescue her friends from the ever mysterious Mathias and his following of cronies, and to escape from the island engulfed in madness.Lara is without a doubt, the most fleshed out character in the story and apart from Mathias, her best-friend Sam, and father-like figure to Lara, Roth, the supporting characters are essentially a bunch of stereotypes. This is definitely a game that does better in gameplay over story in my opinion.

    Graphics:8/10

    While the graphics aren't up to par with the console's best this gen "Uncharted 3", they're certainly very pretty. There was also no framerate issues with the game for me, which I was surprised with. The island provides elegant scenery with everything from the smallest plant, to the grand snowy cliffs, are done to a high detail. Graphics are usually a bonus to me anyway,they don't make a game in my opinion. So if you are one who favours nice graphics, you might want to give this game a try.

    Sound: 9/10

    Jason Graves certainly composed an excellent soundtrack for this game, and captures the emotions of each scene perfectly, but I felt no track in particular stood out. Each arrow fired, to the howling of wolves are all very crisp and sound life-like. All of this makes for a brilliant and immersive experience in my opinion.

    Overall: 8/10

    Solid campaign, unique gameplay, enough story to keep you enthralled in the game, the score is well done, but where the game really loses credit is the multiplayer. I admit that it is fun to an extent,incredibly inspired by the Uncharted series' multiplayer, but it feels lacklustre.I feel as if the game could've done just fine without it. but hey, I guess it adds some value to it! Amazing experience for me and I'd recommend it to anyone with a thirst for adventure.    … Expand
  5. yanksfan04
    Mar 10, 2013
    8
    I have been looking forward to this game. I am a huge Uncharted fan, so this game was right up my alley. I am not familiar with other Tomb Raider games, but I get upset to when one of my favorite franchises is changed (i.e. Resident Evil). This was fun, action game with a few problems. I died way too many times because it was difficult to see where to go and the overall game play wasI have been looking forward to this game. I am a huge Uncharted fan, so this game was right up my alley. I am not familiar with other Tomb Raider games, but I get upset to when one of my favorite franchises is changed (i.e. Resident Evil). This was fun, action game with a few problems. I died way too many times because it was difficult to see where to go and the overall game play was fairly repetitive. I liked the treasure part, and would have enjoyed more of the puzzle solving, but overall a good game that I am sure I will play through multiple times.… Expand
  6. NaggetsRain
    Mar 11, 2013
    8
    This series actually needed reboot, waited in patience and it gets it in a right way, fixing weak aspects of previous games with alive character, interesting story-driven adventure, good combat system. This is a great game which asks you for 2 things only: try it at least for 3 hours and deal with showstopper QTEs (actually, only cinematic-fighting type of them is really annoying, but theyThis series actually needed reboot, waited in patience and it gets it in a right way, fixing weak aspects of previous games with alive character, interesting story-driven adventure, good combat system. This is a great game which asks you for 2 things only: try it at least for 3 hours and deal with showstopper QTEs (actually, only cinematic-fighting type of them is really annoying, but they are not so frequent). Rare puzzles also too easy, but gameplay flow is so nice and joyfully unstoppable so you don't really mention it and keep playing like in childhood till the very end.… Expand
  7. sJagstang
    Mar 15, 2013
    8
    A great and much needed reboot to the Tomb Raider series has rejuvenated the franchise with this very successful game by Crystal Dynamics, The action of the game is extremely fun and using the bow feels very good, upgrading your weapons over the course of the game is very cool, however the skill perk system is generic with a few exceptions. The story is good showing the growth of LaraA great and much needed reboot to the Tomb Raider series has rejuvenated the franchise with this very successful game by Crystal Dynamics, The action of the game is extremely fun and using the bow feels very good, upgrading your weapons over the course of the game is very cool, however the skill perk system is generic with a few exceptions. The story is good showing the growth of Lara Croft from innocent explorer to strong survivor, Lara's character is very good but her ship mates are pretty much stereotypes and are not very interesting. Tomb Raider provides a great reboot to a long running franchise with one of the most iconic characters in gaming, It's gritty, fun and will keep you hooked from beginning to end, If you have played the Uncharted series the gameplay is very similar with both being pretty much the same quality combat wise. Pick this game up, It's one of the best games of 2013 so far.… Expand
  8. fpex
    Mar 15, 2013
    8
    This is not exactly tomb raider. It feels like Far Cry 3 or Uncharted. Nevertheless, the game is beautifully made, the story is decent, lot of fun fights and not a single glitch. Just do not expect a die-hard tomb raider and you will enjoy the game a lot.
    However, there are parts that are really a let down lot of cinematic action. Often it feels like being back to the laser disk game    This is not exactly tomb raider. It feels like Far Cry 3 or Uncharted. Nevertheless, the game is beautifully made, the story is decent, lot of fun fights and not a single glitch. Just do not expect a die-hard tomb raider and you will enjoy the game a lot.
    However, there are parts that are really a let down lot of cinematic action. Often it feels like being back to the laser disk game era. Freedom to move, but not real freedom of action. Useless button smashing action to open chest as well as useless RPG-like elements.    … Expand
  9. kingprawnsct
    Mar 17, 2013
    8
    I was sceptical about this game until i saw some of the gameplay so decided to brave it. I was mightily impressed with this reboot. Made Lara a very believable character as part of a very dark and gritty story that turns her into the survival/explorer that made her famous. I loved the hidden tombs that you could explore off the beaten track which I expect will be expanded more in the nextI was sceptical about this game until i saw some of the gameplay so decided to brave it. I was mightily impressed with this reboot. Made Lara a very believable character as part of a very dark and gritty story that turns her into the survival/explorer that made her famous. I loved the hidden tombs that you could explore off the beaten track which I expect will be expanded more in the next installment as this game is mainly (and rightly) about the origin. The soundtrack is fantastic particularly with a surround sound system and really add to the atmosphere. The action set pieces are amazing and topple the likes of the uncharted series and many recent action films. The only downside is the trophy system for my fellow 100% completionists. In order to fully platinum this game you are required to spend at least 20-40 hours just on the multi-player side to level up which is simply unacceptable for a single-player game such as this. To close this is probably the best game of 2013 so far and will take something special to top it. This game has set a high standard for the series and I hope that they can build on the great foundation they have laid here.… Expand
  10. TheyCallMeEnvy
    Mar 21, 2013
    8
    I never really liked TR so i was a little unsure about jumping into this one. However i heard it was compared to uncharted, which is one of my all time favorite game franchises. So i gave it a shot, and while i would say the game play is every similar, the story is much different. It is much darker and i think this is a good thing because it makes Lara a little more believable thenI never really liked TR so i was a little unsure about jumping into this one. However i heard it was compared to uncharted, which is one of my all time favorite game franchises. So i gave it a shot, and while i would say the game play is every similar, the story is much different. It is much darker and i think this is a good thing because it makes Lara a little more believable then Drake. I will say though that the Multi player is weak! not saying Uncharted's is STRONG but it is stronger then this. Very tacked on.… Expand
  11. naii808
    Mar 20, 2013
    8
    Best game ever, graphics are incredible, I give this an 8 because im grading it as a whole, Single player story mode is a 10/10 but as for multiplayer it sucks. But definitly get this game it really is worth $60.
  12. blaqfire
    Mar 31, 2013
    8
    As a fan of games like Uncharted, as compared by a lot of reviews; however this game does some things better than uncharted but also lacks some things as well in these adventure games. There are reviews that criticizes the game because it doesn't seem open enough or there isn't enough to explore in the game as implied, seeing as other adventure titles similar does this pretty well withAs a fan of games like Uncharted, as compared by a lot of reviews; however this game does some things better than uncharted but also lacks some things as well in these adventure games. There are reviews that criticizes the game because it doesn't seem open enough or there isn't enough to explore in the game as implied, seeing as other adventure titles similar does this pretty well with interesting relics and tombs with puzzles to solve. This game however almost seems a bit too easy with it's puzzles as well as its exploration of interesting tombs, therefore this is a reasonable criticism. However that being said, what does the game do well? Pretty much everything else.
    The gameplay is a lot more solid than previous Tomb Raider games, with a combat system better than that of even Uncharted in some aspects. The game game feels more realistic than past Tomb Raider games, with a cover and dodge system that works with a solid weapons which makes the game feel more dynamic and just more fun to play! The quick time events implemented did seem to be a bit too much, however i don't think it took away from the experience or the fun of the game as they are integrated with the combat and cut scenes almost flawlessly. The gameplay overall has been improved in pretty much every aspect making it a joy to play, with a story to match. This game is pretty much a reboot of Tomb Raider, they remade Lara Croft into a more believable and likable character. From a normal lady, into a hardened survivor through the events of the game; showing her vulnerable side as well as her growing determination to survive. The story and locations in the game are fantastic, I couldn't stop playing as i wanted to see more of what the game had in store for me.
    Overall this game is a blast, the multiplayer is halfassed however, but i take it as a bonus really. Like Battlefield 3, the single player which was lacking, however is still a fantastic game because of its multiplayer; this game does the same, however with its single player being the main meat of the game.

    This is a must buy title, i cannot wait to see what this rebooted and reemerging franchise has to offer in the future.    … Expand
  13. Armored_Soul0
    May 5, 2013
    8
    Well I may be a little late to the party but I figured there may be still a few gamers out there who have not picked up this game and I wish to tell you that you should do just that. With Crystal Dynamics rebooting the franchise, it was only natural that anew story would follow. Wold it be a sequel or a re-telling? To everyone's surprise it was actually a prequel set years before Lara wasWell I may be a little late to the party but I figured there may be still a few gamers out there who have not picked up this game and I wish to tell you that you should do just that. With Crystal Dynamics rebooting the franchise, it was only natural that anew story would follow. Wold it be a sequel or a re-telling? To everyone's surprise it was actually a prequel set years before Lara was running around with her dual pistols and raiding tombs.

    The story seems to be rather generic at first glance. Lara is setting out to "make her mark" as she tries to find the lost island of Yamatai which has seemingly disappeared off the face of the Earth fro thousands of years. Lara has a hunch that the island is located inside the Dragon's Triangle, which is a treacherous part of ocean that has claimed many lives. Lara then convinces the expedition crew Dr. Whittman. who is the star archeologist who is trying to get his career back on track. Sam, Lara's best friend and camera enthusiast. Sam believes she is related to the first Sun Queen of Yamatai, Himiko who ruled Yamatai long ago. Jonah, the muscle of the group who is caring yet tough individual who looks out for everyone. Reyes, an African American woman tagging along with Roth, Lara's Father's friend who Lara sees as a father figure in her life. That leaves Alex, who is another traveler and Grim, the boat's captain. Lara ultimately convinces them and when they are deep inside the Dragon's Triangle, a sudden storm hits the ship, tearing it in half causing Lara to fall into the ocean and wake up on a mysterious island. With her crew and friends scattered around the island and her best friend is than captured by the islands natives Lara must find a way to get off the island while saving her friends in the process.

    When first washing up on the island you are greeted with Lara hanging upside down in a cave. As you cut yourself down you are immediately shown a gruesome image of Lara's side being impaled onto what looks to be a sharp pole or stick on the ground. This is one of Tomb Raider's greatest strengths in my opinion. the way Lara shows so much emotion when she is hurt or dies, really makes me feel bad and sorry for what I did to her. I would try my best not have her get hurt or die, just so I wouldn't have to watch her suffer. this is one of the those games that makes you feel for the character you are playing as and not just some digital person on screen. With all of that aside, the environments in this game are spectacular to look at and varied. From staggering cliffs, snow covered mountains and lush forests teeming with life, this game really makes you feel as if the island is real somewhere out there in the world somewhere. Killing different animals to survive and climbing up cliffs and walking through rivers and streams just makes the island feel that much more alive. Throughout the island there are tombs and collectables to obtain as you progress through the story, from ancient artifacts, GPS caches and journals left by current and previous survivors, make back tracking essential. Sometimes certain equipment is needed to reach a certain area but will not be made available to you until you progress further along in the story.

    The time around Lara has many tools, weapons and equipment at her disposal in order to get around. A handgun, shotgun and bow and rifle are some of the weapons Lara can use to smite her enemies. To which all can be upgraded by the use of salvage which is found all over the island in crates, chests and dead bodies that Lara loots. The bow is extremely useful in combat as it is outside of combat. Being able to shoot ropes later in the game to pull down structures, create rope bridges and pull enemies off cliffs is great fun and makes the bow are very versatile weapon.

    The upgrade/leveling systems is very easy to understand and very straight forward. With kills, looting and other actions, Lara will gain XP which then will accumulate to a level up which will give Lara is skill point to use and camp sites and camp fires to acquire new skills, such as counter kills or being able to find extra salvage on enemies when looting. Upgrading weapons through salvage is as simple as having the right amount of salvage to purchase the upgrade.

    Now for the negative aspects. I found myself dying alot due to clunky climbing as automatic death areas where Lara would die if a certain part of the water was fallen into. During the game quick time events are placed in which does have a timing to get used to which will result in a few cheap deaths here or there, but thanks to a great checkpoint system this isn't a huge issue. The cover system sometimes doesn't work and Lara stands out in the open taking bullets until she finally collapses and dies. On PS3 at least, frame rates would seem to drop in certain portions of the game but would fix in others.

    This is fantastic reboot and I look forward to what CD will do next with this series so give it a try.    … Expand
  14. sobriquet002
    Apr 29, 2013
    8
    Having been a fan of the original Tomb Raider series on PS1, I was a little skeptical that this reboot would work out. Visually I was appalled when the new Dante was released on the new DMC game, but on the reverse, look what Star Trek did with the original series concept (by the way I'm talking about the movie and not the horrendous video game). On trailers and artwork, Laura certainlyHaving been a fan of the original Tomb Raider series on PS1, I was a little skeptical that this reboot would work out. Visually I was appalled when the new Dante was released on the new DMC game, but on the reverse, look what Star Trek did with the original series concept (by the way I'm talking about the movie and not the horrendous video game). On trailers and artwork, Laura certainly looked gorgeous, and the trailers were definitely spot on, but how would the game fare? Well I'm glad to say that the game really surpassed my expectations, thought there are a few caveats. Laura is definitely more vulnerable as compared to the original iterations of herself. She is at first squeemish at taking a life of an animal, let alone the life of another human, however the game rapidly forces you to overlook this, and by the end of the game, you are a killing machine. Mathias, by the games end, even remarks that there is little difference between Lara and himself, that they both "killed" to survive the island. Its a rapid transition, and there could have been more development in this area. Another qualm is that the game is very "linear" in the strict sense of the word, though the game does a great job of covering that aspect by letting you "choose" which order to pursue tasks and missions. You can even side trek at your own pace, despite the game making statements to pursue on. I guess in that sense, there really isn't a sense of urgency in the game. You may know your friend is in trouble, but there is no timer or anything to indicate you need to move your ass faster... and you can even explore a tomb without affecting the major plot line. That was kind lame. Keep in mind while you have the quasi-freedom to chose which area you wish to visit first, the story line is linear, though it may allow you to delay the story progression with side-quests. There are no multiple endings here, just one ending for everyone, just as long as you finish the story arc. There is really minimal incentive to play the game over again, unless you really want to unlock the "bonus content" for the game. By the way most of the videos that are "unlocked" can be found on gametrailers.com or youtube, so what's the point? The concept art is great, but is it enough to prompt me to play the game a second try? No. On the positive side, I really enjoyed the back story on Himiko and historical background. I was literally on my seat's edge trying to figure out what happened on that island and try to get an explanation of that mysterious weather phenomena. The secondary characters where, however, for the most part very forgettable. They really tried to force a multiethnic cast on us. Why did they make the black character, the stereotypical "angry black woman?" Yeah I know her name is Reyes, which I assume would qualify her as latino as well. I;m upset because the stereotype is popular in the media. Just look at "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and "Basketball Wives." In any case, these qualms aside, the game was definitely a great "origin story" and did the franchise justice. Aside from the linearity, the only other major pitfall was replayability. The multiplayer mode, while definitely a welcome addition to the predominantly "first player only" type game, was not well developed, and seemed more like an afterthought, than a planned inclusion into the original game. Now square-enix really had the opportunity to shine here, but the results were kinda underwhelming. I mean I wasn't expecting halo or anything, but they resort to trying to emulate the big guns like bungie and electronic arts and not quite meet the goal. Maybe a better strategy would be to play the alternate characters throughout the game, perhaps with a different focus. Sam for example wouldn't have been a good gun slinger, but maybe she could be used for more of the puzzle solving aspects of the game. I'm curious how they could have used Alex for some mathematical or engineering puzzle. Roth could have been used as an alternative gunslinger. I can't help but think of the resident evil series and how they allowed you to play as 2 separate characters, allowing the story to merge at the end. Anyways those are just some suggestions I had to make the game a little more "replayable". That aside, I think that the final product was definitely worth the money spent on the purchase. The main drawbacks of the game are the replayability, the forgettable secondary characters and lack of their development, linearity and crappy multiplayer mode. On the plus side, there is an awesome story line, the freedom to chose which paths you take overshadow some of the linearity of the gameplay, great backstory, spot-on voice acting, cool combat scenarios (a-la uncharted style), and great development of lara as a character, really pull you through this game. Overall this game is an 8 of 10, and definitely merits a playthrough… Expand
  15. ERB
    Nov 1, 2013
    8
    What an incredible video game.Tomb Raider is totally a work of art or is a masterpiece.The world in this game is huge and the graphics are so cool.Hell there are many tombs in this game that are to be explored.The game play is also fun and even the storyline of this game is also good.Plus you can as always change Lara's outfit which is also great because all of Lara's outfit are darnWhat an incredible video game.Tomb Raider is totally a work of art or is a masterpiece.The world in this game is huge and the graphics are so cool.Hell there are many tombs in this game that are to be explored.The game play is also fun and even the storyline of this game is also good.Plus you can as always change Lara's outfit which is also great because all of Lara's outfit are darn good.Okay those are some of the good parts and here are the parts that are missing in this game.First of all after finishing the whole game there will be no more enemies to kill.I wish the enemies here are not limited.Second its almost not like a survival game because after she eats one deer there you go you don't need to eat anymore.Sometimes a video game character needs to eat more food.Finally the last one the most important one....there is no more Croft Manor!With the kind of graphics the game has it will be awesome if the manor is in this game.Well anyway this game is good.So for all of you Tomb Raider fans out there you must buy this game and play it.… Expand
  16. steve54
    May 12, 2013
    8
    The men and women at Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix became aware that Tomb Raider in its past form had arguable become stale and boring. They felt that a retelling of the treasure hunter’s story was needed, if the franchise were to survive. They seem to have done just that.
    When we first take control of Lara, of course we realise the trouble she is in, but because she is so well    The men and women at Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix became aware that Tomb Raider in its past form had arguable become stale and boring. They felt that a retelling of the treasure hunter’s story was needed, if the franchise were to survive. They seem to have done just that.
    When we first take control of Lara, of course we realise the trouble she is in, but because she is so well realised and voice acted, we genuinely care for her wellbeing. We believe the pain she is in, and when the “over the top” death scenes are encountered; they are downright shocking and disturbing. You want to take care of this young woman throughout her journey of discovery and horror.
    The support characters unfortunately remain stereotypical and in some cases, unlikeable. You have your large, muscly Samoan whom is deeply in touch with his roots and is seen as a gentle giant, a hostile and rude mechanic whom you begin to have a severe distaste to, and the “nerdy” guy whom wishes he was more than he currently is. There are a few characters who you take a liking to; for instance Roth, who acts as the father figure for our heroine, but many are largely forgettable.
    The game is in itself, gorgeous. The engine clearly pushes the boundaries of the current consoles, and the developers have worked overtime to create a world that looks and feels real. From the rustling of the trees to the weather system which when present, adds to the tension felt, it all allows for a place where you just want to stop and admire. However, some of the game’s best moments when Lara is in extreme peril, attempting to escape from a burning building or trying to outrun a series of explosions caused by the ever more hostile enemies encountered during the game.
    Tomb Raider allows a mildly open world option. Lara travels from location to location in a linear fashion, but along the way she unlocks camp fires, which can be used to upgrade her abilities and weapons. As the game progresses, these abilities become more prominent, so the combat never becomes dull. When Lara does travel to a new location and unlock new camp fires, she is able to fast travel to old areas, to attempt to collect relics left behind by past civilisations, documents, offering insight and a history to the strange island she has found herself on, or discovering and exploring tombs.
    The tombs offer a nice change of pace from the wall to wall combat featured. These involve traversing through underground caverns and solving relatively simple puzzles in order to gain the salvage necessary to upgrade Lara’s weapons. They are on the whole enjoyable and remind the player that the main protagonist is a treasure hunter at heart, rather than a warrior.
    Even though the combat could be seen as being a generic third person shooter, the weapons in the game are satisfying to use and never tend to become boring. Because they can be upgraded, the sound and weight of them changes. The pistol becomes more and more powerful as the game progresses and numerous changes to each weapon, concerning its reload speed, damage and accuracy can be bought. However it has to be said that the stand out weapon is the long bow, which always makes you feel like a bad ass; when you are able to pull off a headshot at long range without anyone noticing, or stopping a charging enemy dead in his tracks.
    Tomb Raider is a great testament to how a franchise can rebound, when it had for all tense of purposes, stalled. Crystal Dynamics have created a vast, believable and beautiful world which is a true joy to explore. They have allowed for the blossoming of a likeable and believable main protagonist whom you offer genuine sympathy. It isn’t a game without its flaws. The collectibles aren’t that enjoyable and don’t offer much incentive, although they do offer an interesting insight to the history of the island, the supporting characters are unlikable and while is cannot be ignored that the multiplayer mode isn’t all what people wanted and could be seen as a disappointment, it is a small downside to an otherwise captivating experience that should not be missed.    … Expand
  17. NardArts
    May 12, 2013
    8
    This tomb raider reboot is beautiful, and has a very interesting story that will grab you're attention from the very beginning, and won't let you go until the end. The story is great and you really start feeling for the character's by the end of the game. But they are really just there to be rescued, and give the player an excuse to continue onward. This game might have the most realisticThis tomb raider reboot is beautiful, and has a very interesting story that will grab you're attention from the very beginning, and won't let you go until the end. The story is great and you really start feeling for the character's by the end of the game. But they are really just there to be rescued, and give the player an excuse to continue onward. This game might have the most realistic character in gaming, ever. Not by the graphic even thought she also looks the most realistic ever) but by her interaction with the environment, and how genuine it feels.
    The multiplayer on the other hand is very stale, and basic. I managed to player 3 or 4 rounds before i got so bored i just stopped, and i asume the servers will be nearly empty every time you try to play online, since no one will want to continue playing this stale, and boring multiplayer.    … Expand
  18. lukaswatson
    Jun 9, 2013
    8
    I was a HUGE fan of Tomb Raider, especially on the PS1. It brings back memories of me and my sister playing through them, fighting a dinosaur, doing speed runs on the gymnastics course or locking the butler in the freezer. But when Lara Croft took a dive into the PS2, I kind of got bored. Then with the early PS3 games I got put off, I didn't want to play them, in an attitude of 'been thereI was a HUGE fan of Tomb Raider, especially on the PS1. It brings back memories of me and my sister playing through them, fighting a dinosaur, doing speed runs on the gymnastics course or locking the butler in the freezer. But when Lara Croft took a dive into the PS2, I kind of got bored. Then with the early PS3 games I got put off, I didn't want to play them, in an attitude of 'been there and done that'. But I heard they was rebooting the franchise, my honest first thought was why? Why reboot a franchise which is failing to be a hit with fans? But I brought it only to be convinced that this is a HUGE step forward for Tomb Raider and Tomb Raiding fans like myself. They managed to bring the game to a new high with it's smooth controls, an interesting story and a new kick ass Lara Croft, which will make you want to play the game through.

    I'm yet to explore the full extent of the game, but I didn't feel as though it was free roaming or had great roaming possibilities. It felt as though you could go off and explore yes, but I felt I was more pushed to go through the story. It didn't have enough TO explore. I mean there are great tombs which you can go into and solve the great puzzles in them and get a nice reward at the end. But it feels as though it's more A to B to get to them and there's not enough of them. But I understand they focused more on the story and honestly don't be put off by that, the story is great and you'll hear this all the time, but you do go through Lara's experience with her. At the start she blames herself for the misfortune that's happened to the group, only to be forced to get tougher and then become the leader, helping the group. The smooth controls and a nice cover system which is similar to that of Naughty Dogs Uncharted, but it compliments with this game really well. You find yourself using stealth, killing off enemies one by one to make it easier for the full dogfight, which will have you on your toes. You won't be able to stay in one place and keep shooting, or waiting to recover. No, the AI move in towards you, forcing you to go in for hand to hand combat or running to another spot for cover.

    The graphics are amazing, a lot of detail was put into this game and I hope so for the next. Whether you're going through the jungle or inside the caves, this game is great to look at. Lara herself is gorgeous, they really done a good job in satisfying the new fans and old fans of the franchise. And you start to get close to the characters a little, not much though, but enough to keep interest with the story. And it'll be nice to see if they stick with them characters to develop them more in the next game.

    The weapons are good enough and I actually ended up using the bow more, which is ridiculously overpowered. But you need it, believe me. You can upgrade weapons (I recommend upgrading the bow) and unlike most games it does help. You can have flaming arrows, having your shotgun do more range, having a silenced pistol and a lot more.

    Even so it was still tough, brutal at times, I played through on hard and it certainly was. Which was great, don't expect to be a pro at this game as you'll find yourself dying, a lot. The controls are great, the AI was better than most other games I've played recently and it was really fun to play. I love the little artifacts you can find with their own little story, but I didn't really find myself making an effort to find them, it was more if I found them along the way. The leveling up is a great new addition, there are 3 different types, the first is the survivor skill, making Lara better at salvaging, giving you extra bonuses picking items up, orienteering which will make Lara see more hidden rewards or having better climbing ability. There's the hunter skill, so Lara is better with weapons giving you that extra firepower, which is really needed in the game. And you have a brawler skill, so Lara is better at dodging, hand to hand combats, taking hits and you can even throw dirt in the enemies face, giving you time to strike or run for cover. But towards the end you end up getting most of them, so it's not if you want to be good at one or the other, it's more which one do you want first. So it's not really unique or strategical. But it didn't really matter, it takes nothing away from the game. In fact I understand it, as Lara becomes this overall badass package.

    Negatives. Needs more tombs to explore. No replay value, I wanted to keep playing it but when I finished it, that was it. I didn't have any need to play it again, or even to just go on it and roam. I think the idea is there though, they are going in the right direction and it'll be tough to see what they do next, more exploration is needed though! The final boss battles, both of them were terrible, lazy and boring. I hate QTE's. Luckily it didn't ruin the experience enough to deduct any points.

    It's a really good game. I would defiantly recommend it. Great reboot, bring on Tomb Raider 2!
    8/10    … Expand
  19. legabitloose
    Jun 21, 2013
    8
    A great game, a creepy and interesting story, some of the most enjoyable 3rd person gameplay I've ever played. The thing that I really like about it though is the hellish and painful journey that Lara put through here. Seriously though some crappy stuff happens on this island which she is marooned on and a lot of the game is incredibly brutal so if thats not your thing then I would go forA great game, a creepy and interesting story, some of the most enjoyable 3rd person gameplay I've ever played. The thing that I really like about it though is the hellish and painful journey that Lara put through here. Seriously though some crappy stuff happens on this island which she is marooned on and a lot of the game is incredibly brutal so if thats not your thing then I would go for a game like Uncharted instead.… Expand
  20. RcKDrUmm3R
    Jun 22, 2013
    8
    Tomb Raider is a fantastic game and a perfect reboot for the franchise. I'll def. compare this to Uncharted, but then again Tomb Raider started it all. Love the story, the atmosphere/brutality, upgrading weapons the action and the pace. I gave this game an 8 on the fact that even though I enjoyed it, I don't feel myself wanting to play it again or keep it after a rent. There's not a lot ofTomb Raider is a fantastic game and a perfect reboot for the franchise. I'll def. compare this to Uncharted, but then again Tomb Raider started it all. Love the story, the atmosphere/brutality, upgrading weapons the action and the pace. I gave this game an 8 on the fact that even though I enjoyed it, I don't feel myself wanting to play it again or keep it after a rent. There's not a lot of replay value and all your weapon upgrades are void once you start a new campaign. The developers added an open world feel to the game. Personally, I feel this takes away from the story and the overall excitement, as this is the case (personally) with other games such as Arkham City. All side mission, hunting, exploration (tombs) are necessary for you to level up, find upgrades and make the overall game easier. When you focus on these in between the story missions it almost feels tedious. The flow of the narrative is interrupted and you feel a certain disconnect from the story.… Expand
  21. Seselo
    Aug 29, 2013
    8
    Well first to say, I'm not a fan of the saga. In fact, the game didn't actually got my attention. I bought it to my girlfriend and I played with her for some hours... I wasn't really enjoying too much. One day I decided to complete the game in one afternoon and pass this out.... but then I realized, It was not a bad game at all.
    All the repetitive tasks you do are beautifully hide bellow    Well first to say, I'm not a fan of the saga. In fact, the game didn't actually got my attention. I bought it to my girlfriend and I played with her for some hours... I wasn't really enjoying too much. One day I decided to complete the game in one afternoon and pass this out.... but then I realized, It was not a bad game at all.
    All the repetitive tasks you do are beautifully hide bellow the diferent enviroments you'll find. Yes, you have to do the same over and over, but, somehow... It's ok.
    This may be one of those games that... were created from other games. So... yes, it's uncharted legacy at the time you have to run up bridges, escaping while they collapse, and the piolet....excuses to climb mountains. But I enjoyed uncharted a lot, and I like to see a game with the same characteristics, not involving Nathan drake, I love uncharted 3, but I really think the saga needs to stay down for a bit, and get new fresh ideas. Meanwhile, let's enjoy with young lara.
    Technically, is a very good game. Graphics are ok. I am happy to see the good versions on PC, PC version may be even at the same level of uncharted. But uncharted has this...magic touch, and this game don't. So nothing to say on graphics. Very good and works perfect.
    The music...is very good... but nowadays, it's very difficult to see a game with a bad soundtrack. Enjoyable, some times epic... and the spanish voices... impresive. Good job there.
    Now the good parts. Playable options are very good in my opinion. Lara is tough, agile, and learns how to kill....quickly. But the variety on tools and weapons.... it's great. Reminds of old Zelda titles where you need to have an object to continue, and also you can go back unlocking different areas. Superb there. Exploration is very fun, probably the best part of the game. Combat... not so good, but ok as well. I played dificult... it's only difficult with 10 enemys shooting at you... but that's always difficult. Shooting could be better, and a bow is a weapon of mass destruction (Rambo, no more words). At the end of the game, you'll only use the bow, and start dodging all the attacks to do a deadly combo. It passes, but not superb.
    The bad parts... hunting=useless. Don't hunt, you're wasting bullets and arrows. The "batman detective" vision, is ok, but it seems like they forced lara to only use it without moving because they didn't want people to compare it with batman games.... and it's an error. It should be better if you can move with it. Or at least, if some powerups at the end of the game allowed you to do it! that should be an easy way to unlock and should be very helpful to get the 100% of the game. I passed 30 minutes looking for an item, running and clicking l2 button repetitively! the sound was crazy.
    And probably, the worst part....the story. It's topic, you know what's going to happen.... at 30 minutes of play. Secondary all. I don't save even Grim, the drunk guy. The hell with him, I was hoping he had an estellar apperance....
    I am one of those that...really need a good story to tell in a game. So why an 8?... maybe because during the experience....I did forget that and focus on the gameplay. The story may be bad...but the scenarios, the mountains, the caves....are really good. Artistically I loved it, and the Yamatai story... not superb, but great. I liked how they used Japanish folkrore without ending in the same topics....
    And it should be a 7.... but 1 holly point is nothing but...Lara character. I said, I'm not a fan of Lara croft.... but this Lara is the charismatic girl I want to see in more games. I heard once it was like john maclaine... and it's true! always punishing her, hurting her, hiting her, stabbing her! I wanted her to kill them all!!! And at the end of the game, when she starts saying things like, "DIE BASTARDS, DIE" she really was meaning it....and I was just thinking about that. It was total empathy, and it works.

    So summary, I really recommend this game. It's fun. It gets you to remember other games you enjoyed, and at least... it's all about gameplay. It may be the first time I got all collectibles at the time I beat the final boss.

    Very good game.    … Expand
  22. Revive
    Mar 23, 2014
    8
    I very much wanted to hate this game as to me it looked like a Uncharted Clone and im not the biggest fan of the story of uncharted was never that strong.

    But the story is a lot stronger but not with out it's flaws. The gun/bow play is very enjoyable and the setting is lovely.

    It defiantly worth a buy.
  23. Elucidate
    Aug 17, 2013
    8
    Tomb Raider is simply a bunch of fun. The length of the game is satisfyingly long without being exhausting, and side features such as weapon upgrades, collectables, and above all, tombs, improve the quality of gameplay. In addition, the graphics are stunning and the story is certainly engaging.
  24. umut4598
    Jul 26, 2013
    8
    This isn't a Tomb Raider game. This is more like a Uncharted and Far Cry mixed game. The gameplay, graphics and the story is awesome and Lara looks amazing. But, the game is missing the puzzles and the feeling that old Tomb Raider games. If you love action games you must buy it but if you are and old-school Tomb Raider fan don't expect the same kind of a game.
  25. zombieche
    Aug 4, 2013
    8
    I felt this game was good introduction to the franchise to me. The strong points of this game are the story and the aesthetics. The story was well crafted and engaging, even if you would have liked it to longer, it was enjoyable all the way through. The level design was really well done in this game and the variety make the visual side exciting too.
  26. thatguyinyroom
    Aug 18, 2013
    8
    I found this game to be worth a solid 8.5, it was a great campaign that took you through a well rounded adventure. though the multiplayer, the character dialogue and side missions could have been better. This game took an old franchise and gave it a fresh new look with a mixture of uncharted, the last of us and far cry 3, though just like far cry 3 and uncharted (as great as they were),I found this game to be worth a solid 8.5, it was a great campaign that took you through a well rounded adventure. though the multiplayer, the character dialogue and side missions could have been better. This game took an old franchise and gave it a fresh new look with a mixture of uncharted, the last of us and far cry 3, though just like far cry 3 and uncharted (as great as they were), they take the realistic aspect away from certain scenes and chapters, this effect is also took a toll on this game, and though it is understandable based upon the plot, i do believe they could have made it more believable at times.

    The setting, the enemies and the plot twists were great up to the point were they were predictable, (also where uncharted and far cry suffered).

    Though as much as i can nitpick, i'd say definitely play this game, its a great game to experience and not a bad way to spend 12 hours.    … Expand
  27. Greeklover
    Dec 13, 2013
    8
    For me a great reboot for the series I liked it very much the story was ok the cutscenes were great as well as the graphics and the gameplay was very fun....all weapons were nice and you could use everyone with pleasure the platforming was good and the variety of melee attacks was good but i didnt really liked the feel of it i cant really describe it I loved the fact that lara becomes aFor me a great reboot for the series I liked it very much the story was ok the cutscenes were great as well as the graphics and the gameplay was very fun....all weapons were nice and you could use everyone with pleasure the platforming was good and the variety of melee attacks was good but i didnt really liked the feel of it i cant really describe it I loved the fact that lara becomes a badass step by step as the story evolves and the multiplayer is not very good but better than I exprctrd overall a great game that everyone should play!!!… Expand
  28. YoutubeTGW
    Feb 21, 2014
    8
    This is good games, the graphics are beautiful, the puzzles are stimulating, and the story was thrilling till the end. It was amazing seeing how Lara changed throughout the game.
  29. CRAZy_P4NDa64
    Mar 15, 2014
    8
    Tomb Raider is a adernaline filled origin story that never fails to exite in single player and frustrate in multiplayer. The single player of tomb raider is fantastic, although any character but Lara are boring and underdevolped speaking of Lara Camilla Ludington puts in a fantastic performance as the famous action heroine who adds starts as an scared lonely castaway to a confidentTomb Raider is a adernaline filled origin story that never fails to exite in single player and frustrate in multiplayer. The single player of tomb raider is fantastic, although any character but Lara are boring and underdevolped speaking of Lara Camilla Ludington puts in a fantastic performance as the famous action heroine who adds starts as an scared lonely castaway to a confident survivor although some scenes like Lara''s first kill felt unneccesary as after she slo-mo kills three kills with not so much as a flinch. The gameplay in Tomb Raider is great, the combat is fantastic thanks to a great variety of weapons and gear but unlike the first Uncharted it feels more like skipping the cutscenes for the combat than the other way round. The first hour or so feels quite slow and filled with button mashing QTE's that feel out of place. The puzzles that made tomb raider famous return's here but without the bigger and more complex mechanisms and alot more hand holding like the new special ability "survival instincts" which highlights any objects that can be interacted with and just makes things easier. Tomb Raider's multiplayer is a glitchy mess that is no fun and should not be played by anyone. Tomb Raider provides thrills throughout but is bogged down by a broken multiplayer and underdevolped side characters.
    8.5/10    … Expand
  30. Val_Tante
    Apr 19, 2014
    8
    It's a great game, the gameplay is awesome, although it borrows a lot of the Uncharted series, but so did the first Uncharted from the older Tomb Raider games.
    The story is cliché as hell and is full of stereotypical characters, but doesn't go stupid at all.
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PS3 Game of 2013
6
#6 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
12
#12 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Armchair Empire
    Apr 11, 2013
    90
    This reboot of the series not only surpassed my expectations, but it is easily one of the best games I have played in a long time. If you're like me and love story driven games that offer a great gaming experience then Tomb Raider is definitely for you.
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  2. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Apr 3, 2013
    90
    There’s no denying Tomb Raider is a heavily influenced work, both mechanically and aesthetically (its nods to Neil Marshall’s The Descent are so happy to be there at one point Lara even re-enacts the “girlrising-out-of-sea-of-blood” scene). While it offers nothing wholly original, its salvaged parts combine to produce an experience that is consistently better than anything its own heroes have produced. [April 2013, p70]
  3. Hyper Magazine
    Mar 28, 2013
    90
    Despite occasional dissonance between narrative and game mechanics, Tomb Raider is a highly polished, highly accomplished reboot. Kudos, Crystal Dynamics. [Issue#235]
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