User reviews

I grew up with Tomb Raider, from Lara's pointy boobed days through to epic later adventures so when I heard that she was getting rebooted back in 2013 I was very concerned. I hate reboots, they're so unnecessary especially when it comes to video games, I went in assuming the worst and with a bit of a chip on my shoulder only to see they'd created something special. Sure the emphasis on platforming and puzzles had taken a backseat to action but it was done so well it was entirely forgivable.

2 years later and the inevitable sequel was born, Rise of the Tomb Raider! But how did it stack up against the first game, it had very big shoes to fill after all.

Is it as good? No, sadly not. But is it still a worthy entry for Lara? Absolutely. Utilizing all the best points from the first game they created another incredible adventure for the fans, one that will live on in the minds of the player long after the final credits have rolled.

The combat is near flawless, it still dominates over puzzles but somehow it works. The locations are great, sure they in places feel like a reskin of the first game but not to a frustrating level.

Puzzles are present, the cut-scenes are first rate, the story is great and Camilla Luddington once again dazzles putting a fitting voice to the near perfect character model.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a perfect example that reboots can in fact work if handled correctly.

The Good:

Camilla Luddington

Looks stunning

Wonderfully crafted

The Bad:

A bit of a reskin in places

Not enough puzzles

I have played every game in the series and prefer the direct prequel, which i 100%ed, due to the more coherent world. Anniversary is still remains my favorite entry but a bronze medal is nice too. My biggest problem is that the narrative is even dumber and more of a focus this time around. The 2 main villains may be a step up and the gore-porn has been toned down a bit but Lara comes off as a bipolar serial killer in the end. The gameplay is the star though and i can't complaining in that regard! The landscapes and tombs are worth the price of admission alone so grab an ice pick and become a barely human stalker of men (but finish the prequel first). 8,5/10

This game is amazing and deserves all the love. They took the combat, stakes, tomb raiding, and traversal from the first game and turned it up to 11. The story picks up and you are introduced to more of Lara's past, she gets even more development here which is awesome to see. This game also has more travel in it, instead of being in one place (like the island from the first game) you go to several locations which was also a great expansion.

The tombs in this game are so fun, way bigger and better than the last game, with much harder puzzles that are absolutely worth your time as they give you good loot.

My only critique is that if you are looking for a game that is as focused as the first, this one opens up quite a bit and does not feel as zoned in on the cinematic story as the first. Don't get me wrong, the story is great and cinematic, but there is more to be distracted by in this game than the last. If you like a more open world this won't bug you, but I have open world fatigue and loved how focused the experience was in the original game. I think the first game is better over all to me for that reason.

Just when you think it can't get any better it does, as much as I liked the first game, I actually like this sequel even more. Like any good sequel it takes everything that was great about it's predecessor and improves/adds more things to make it even better.

The graphics are great as usual, once again going for some of the nit and gritty which is fine I wouldn't want it any other way. I love the new location that it takes place somewhere in the Applelation mountains I'm not totally sure. I really like the use of the mountains which make it all the more suspenseful, being up high is both exhilarating and nerve racking at the same time, and the fact that there is snow and ice just makes the stakes even higher. But I really like the graphical display of the hidden village and the accent romantic arcetectual ruins you really feel like you've just gone into another world. The character animation is great as well, most notable Lara whom is hot as usual despite all of the dirt and scrapes she gets you can never ruin her good looks. Music is also great and memorable there are some orchastraic pieces as well as some thrilling action tunes.

But what's most important are both the story and the game play. The game play is great and has improved from the game having a longer campaign, OK the game would probably take 4 or 5 days to get though but I'm fine with that as long as like any relic it retains my interest. You actually get to explore a bit more, from finding hidden items, certain clues to solving puzzles to simply figuring out where the heck you are and what to do. As well as some side missions which are another addition to the game, which you can do or not it's up to you.

Platforming action is great as it is entirely responsive. One of the editions in the game is further in the game Lara gets an air breather, not to say that anything special but at least you don't have to worry about submerging for air which is a pain in the butt. And it adds something to the stealth action sequences where you can easily go underwater and submerge somewhere else to get the drop on the guy, or even drag the guy underwater using the element to kill him. Another element added is the run grapple where like Batman you run and jump off a high ledge but then throw your pick ax attached to a rope at a grab ling ring and can swing from one far ledge to another.

And of course there is the gun play which is great as you have the usual weapons and cover and hit action. Though once again Lara doesn't have or get to duel weld her pistols which is sorely missing, not that that's a big deal but that is one of her trademarks. But when I think about it story wise it makes sense, Lara is still beginning so I won't fret cause I know we'll see her do it yet. But one other element that's added is in making grenades of different kinds in those situations. From incendiary, explosive, to smoke which I feel helps a lot in welding the odds down.

The story I think is great where not just is it an expedition based on a lost Christian relic which is cool because once again it's something different which is part of why I love the franchise. But there is a personal touch as this was a incomplete expedition of Lara's late father, it's a bit sad as we then here what this expedition has cost him and his daughter. Lara as usual is Lara a doer which is what makes her all the more beautiful, we see that throughout time she has gotten stronger and better however she not totally smooth as we see she still has a way to go.

I like that we get a little on the psychological aspect of her which makes us sympathize is seeking some sort of closure for her late father. However this is really more her personal journey, it's sort of a simple story on a sibling trying to find their own path, living their own life and not in the shadow of their parents. You can also say the story is a bit Christian as it does have the theme on rising up which is a common in most of the biblical stories on the protagonists and good people getting downtrodden but learning to get back up and rise above all that adversity to live on and get stronger than before, which is what Lara is doing.

Overall, this was a great second outing for Lara whom has came up top and it won't be her last.

Rating: 4 stars

Pros:

• Side characters are more developed as compared to the previous game (including better villains)
• Diverse gameplay
• Cool cinematic action set pieces
• Amazing graphics, voice acting, and animation
• More interesting environments and level design
• Good variety of weapons and gadgets
• Great puzzles and better tombs

Cons:

• Storyline isn't as compelling as the story from the previous game
• Can feel like abit of a retread of the first game
• Gameplay can be abit clunky

Verdict: Overall, a solid sequel that improves in many elements, but imo the story is not as compelling as Lara's origin story within the first game.

8/10

This is the best tomb raider game i've ever played and i love it. Lara is back and better then ever and she is a bad ass. Rise of the tomb raider has amazing graphics on Xbox 360 and Xbox one. I have been waiting to get this game ever since it came out. You can do a lot of cool stuff with Lara like swing rope, climb on walls with the rope, change her weapons and crafting them. Lara is very pretty in the game too and i also love all her cool outfits but the only thing i can't wear while playing it is the desert tank top and she can also swim underwater with a breather. My opinion on this game is 10 stars. If you love tomb raider games you will love this one!

My review is belated because I'm a ps4 owner and started playing this masterpiece just 2 days ago. Now I'm typing this review as the end credits are rolling. First things first, it's a masterpiece. Frankly speaking I wasn't a fan of the series, until a played the previous entry in 2013 and instantly fell in love with the character. I was so much impressed that even when at one point the Rise of the Tomb Raider was announced as Xbox exclusive, I had already started thinking of buying the console, because Lara had left me breathless. Then some time later I learned that they will actually release the ps4 version and sighed in relief. Being nearly a veteran gamer, this game affected me so deep I must say my heart lies with Lara Croft now. A unique gaming experience that should not be missed. If the next installment is released on Xbox only, I will definitely get that console this time.

If I were to make a list of the best games in the entire Tomb Raider franchise since the first game in 1996, this one would undoubtedly make it into the top 3. What a wonderful game. It has all the modernity of the new line of the franchise added to the magic of puzzles and complex maps from the first games. For me, "Tomb Raider 2" (1997), "Tomb Raider Anniversary" (2007 remake of the original 1996 game) and this "Rise of The Tomb Raider" are the top marks of this wonderful franchise. If you love Lara Croft, puzzles and exploration at the highest level, don't miss this title.

One of the best game Rise of the tomb raider.Lara croft 👌

Greetings from Lithuania.

I really enjoyed "Rise of the Tomb Raider" (2015) on my PS4. This is a great game, far from best and not perfect but great in every category. I liked the story, it is not as "personal" as it was in 1st part, but it was involving, if sometimes predictable - this is not an original story, more like "Uncharted" (the series which i loved) type story, but it worked. Graphics were great, game looks beautiful. Controls are superb as well as presentation, sound design game play - well, everything. Enemies AI aren't stunning and the shooting as well weren't that good as in the first game, but Tomb Raider never was about shooting, it is adventure type of game with lots to discover and it delivers fully on this aspect. There are lot to discover in this game, lots of tombs and etc. Puzzles were very good - not frustrating but very clever at the same time. Setting was good, plausible and realistic and the same time entertaining. I've completed this game in Tomb Raider type of difficulty (which stands for normal) and i got to say it was pretty easy. I died like 10-12 times, but only one or two during combat so it really easy game to beat on normal difficulty so i strongly recommend to play it on hard more for the first time. There is also very involving mansion section as well as endurance mode - very involving stuff.

Overall, i totally enjoyed Rise of the Tomb Raider. It is far from perfect, but its a very good adventure and very good game overall. I loved the first game i really liked second therefore i will really will be looking for next installments. Lara Croft, you are surely here to stay.

This game could be a masterpiece, but there's some salt in the barrel of honey which makes this experience far form perfect.

First of all, I must admit, there's an excellent graphics engine and impeccable assets. Open scenes and beauty of nature around will make your heat miss a few beats. Tomb Raider game have never been some visually perfect. Lara's model is amazing, animations are good, when you look at scene around you will not tell if it's true or if it's a video game.

Graphics is amazing.

Besides that, that's a pretty generic game by it's design and storyline.

Take Uncharted, put a Lara inside instead of Drake, voila, you got a new Tomb Raider game.

Comparing to the previous game from Crystal Dynamics, everything got better and bigger in that game. Scenes are larger, there are more caves (some of them are pretty generic and faceless) and riddles, levels are bigger, there are more enemies and et cetra et cetra.

We got system of weapons crafting (which is nothing new actually) and we have gachapon (yes, micro-transactions in a 60 dollar triple-A class game).

Plot is pretty obvious and non-compelling, it's not horrible, but it doesn't show any originality or extra-effort behind it. Take any detective story which features Masonite's or aliens and bah, you got a Tomb Raider plot. Actually it filled with anti-soviet propaganda and sometimes sounds like some trashy cold-era war movie.

Also, you would be very disappointed by the last boss.

I would recommend buying this game, just don't expect it to be a masterpiece. While visually very compelling, it follows very generic game design elements, and plot deserves some elaboration because sometimes it sounds like a story for 10-years old.

7/10.

#RiseoftheTombRaider Rating : 8.5/10 Review : It's an amazing adventure game, the graphics are amazing and very detailed! One of my favorite Tomb Raider games so far. We need more story based games like this, that are as EPIC, driven and cinematic as it gets!! Cant wait to play "shadow of the tomb raider"

The idea of Tomb Raider was raiding tombs and artifacts, what happened to that concept?? Lara is now a action heroine no longer searching for fabled treasures thru dangerous musty old tombs full of traps. I liked the old formula, it felt more authentic to the title. This would've been better as something and someone new, a new action adventure, not pathos.

Best Tomb Raider game i've played, the story is great, the graphics detail is very beautiful, the gameplay is fun you can customize lara outfit and the DLCs i think very interesting. This is pure masterpiece, very love this game.

Great game hope they make a 4th game. The third was ok but too much running through town bs with no fighting.

There are times where I kinda felt like this game had a ton of Uncharted influences, and India Jones influences. And it does, but its Uncharted influences stem from the Indiana Jones influences present in the Uncharted series.

And there were also times where I kinda wish the game was a little bit more grounded, but then it would be more like Uncharted than it already is. So like...

Anyways, I'm finna stop making comparisons and Imma take Rise of the Tomb Raider for what it is: A great game.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a masterclass in game design, storytelling, and atmospheric immersion. Crystal Dynamics' sequel to the 2013 reboot surpasses its predecessor in every aspect, cementing Lara Croft's status as a legendary gaming icon.

_Story:_ 9/10

• Emotional depth: Lara's inner turmoil, guilt, and relationships with Jonah and Ana add depth.

• Historical intrigue: Ancient myths, secrets, and conspiracies unfold.

• Treacherous adversaries: Trinity's ruthless pursuit, led by the enigmatic Prophet, raises stakes.

• Personal growth: Lara's determination, resilience, and self-discovery shine.

The narrative seamlessly integrates action, exploration, and puzzle-solving, keeping players invested.

_Gameplay:_ 9.5/10

• Combat:
• Strategic stealth and takedowns
• Melee and ranged combat options
• Enemy variety and AI
• Exploration:
• Vast environments to discover, climb, and navigate
• Hidden secrets and areas
• Day/night cycles and weather effects
• Puzzle-solving:
• Challenging yet logical puzzles
• Environmental puzzles
• Optional challenge tombs
• Crafting:
• Resource management
• Upgrades and customization
• Survival skills

Lara's skills and equipment upgrades provide a sense of progression.

_Visuals & Sound:_ 10/10

• Stunning environments:
• Realistic lighting and textures
• Detailed character models
• Immersive sound effects
• Haunting soundtrack:
• Camilla Luddington's outstanding voice acting
• Realistic sound propagation

_Replay Value:_ 8.5/10

• Trophy hunting
• Side quests and missions
• Challenge tombs
• Survival mode

_Overall:_ 9/10

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a must-play for action-adventure fans, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to the Tomb Raider legacy.

Some notable highlights:

• The Siberian wilderness setting provides a beautiful yet unforgiving environment.

• The Prophet's enigmatic figure adds mystery.

• Lara's determination and growth shine through.

• Memorable moments:
• The Siberian wilderness entrance
• The Geothermal Valley
• The Flooded Archives.

Overall rating - 9.5 out of 10 A must play game for every gamer😁😉

DISCLAIMER: This is my point of view

Rise of the Tomb Raider suffers from the fact that I completed Uncharted 4: A Thief's end before this game. These two games have a lot in common, but unfortunately for Tomb Raider, Naughty Dog with the Uncharted series makes it all a lot better. From gameplay to control and story, Uncharted does it better, and it unfortunately costs on the implementation of this game. Sorry Lara, but you're staying in Siberia.

Rise of the Tomb Raider takes everything great from the 2013 reboot and pushes it further. The game masterfully balances intense action, exploration, and challenging puzzles, all while expanding Lara's character development. The story is gripping, with Lara on a personal quest that leads to breathtaking locations and deeper emotional stakes. We also get to learn more about the organization known as "trinity" and what theor goals were

The visuals are outstanding, and the Siberian wilderness is beautifully crafted, with diverse environments that make exploration exciting. Gameplay improvements, like crafting and survival elements, keep things fresh. This installment feels bigger, bolder, and more refined, making it my favorite of the trilogy.

I liked the first game more, there were times the developers absolutely listened to us such as no sliding and dodging stuff with a firearm where we drift to the left or right matters. However there are ways this game is a step back. Such as the out dated quick time events that are hardly ever used. Once with a bear at the beginning of the game that does add suspense though the developers seemed like they were too lazy to add more prompts and you'll die at least the first time or two.

What I like about these games is that it's like the super nintendo Metroid game where you are encouraged to back track with your new abilities which will make the game easier. Such as reaching new heights in a map to get a weapons part to or more gold coins. Though I feel the shop in the game is underutilized. One thing I find interesting is that Lara can talk to certain villagers to get missions to get more unlockables. Admittedly only one you do really early in the game is worth it. The rest are just there for firearm parts.

The puzzles in the tombs are for the most part very easy to figure out. Though there was 2 or 3 of them that I did have to youtube such as that annoying one in the baba yaga DLC.

The combat is the same as the game before. I wish that the aiming was fixed a bit. This and Hitman 2 I felt no matter what I did I couldn't get the controller just right as I'm really picky and avoided shoot outs. The stealth in this game is definitely a weakness. There are bushes to hide in but Lara still can't drag bodies away from being seen. There are some shoot outs that are unavoidable which sure this adds to the story but it gets annoying after a while. Especially when you back track to a cleared level when you're trying for 100% and there are certain enemies. Fun fact when you're about 80% done and revisit Russia there will always be an enemy with a flame thrower which are one of the harder enemies and a few elite enemies.

The weapons I don't feel are strong enough even fully upgraded at times. The assault rifle in particular. The shotgun is fine, i like the arrows but really the assault rifle needs to take more damage out. The only new gadget is the grappling hook and it's a gamble whether or not it feels like working. It makes the rock climbing look awkward. Especially in the lost city level where Lara clipped a few times.

The difficulty seemed a bit higher. Not unplayable but all the projectiles such as smoke grenades and gas arrows don't help as much as I'd want them to. The part I hated the most was back tracking for a relic and I was in "the chamber of souls" and there is way too much to jump over and do to trigger a checkpoint. Why there is no "return to the last campfire: is beyond me. The first bit of the game there is very little times to slow down and catch your breath. They struggle to have a story but by the time the Johnny Depp sounding wanna be who looks like Rasputen (Jacob) is introduced at least the story becomes more solid.

It's not a very long game, if you had an entire saturday off you could clear through this game in about 12 hours if you knew where to go and most of the puzzles. To 100% the game it'll take about 30-40 hours.

There is lots of small details such as walking through the snow or even Lara having snow falling on her clothing. Though I feel the clothing should have more different perks than the 3 or so they have. Another big complaint I have is that wolves are way too over powered in this game. All the aggressive animals are magnetized to Lara unless she wears the right outfit. Maybe she should switch perfumes or something?

The levels are diverse, yet some of them seem so disposable they should have just let us pass through them once as there are collectables to go back and get that you can only access a small chunk of the map such as Acropolis. They rely too heavily on bears in caves in this game. There's at least 3 or 4.

Scanning objects is boring and aimless, there should be more hints or instinct.

The maps could be improved, when you are at your campfire looking to complete collecting stuff in a level which let's face it the mine, the geothermal and a few other places going from one side of the map to the other is a chore. Not because of how large it is but how tedious it is and there's a lot of times where before choosing where to go it would be nice to know if I'm near coins or anything important.

The worst challenges in the game are the one where you've got to throw pumpkins in. It's too difficult. If I wanted to throw a ball into a hoop I'd play NBA games.

The diving is poorly described and when it comes time to do it, you'll go on youtube. I don't know why Lara doesn't do it automatically as there is one dive that the ladder is so poorly designed on the building that it becomes harder than it should.

The story is dull, the last boss fight seems a bit phoned in. Especially the helicopter without ruining anything important. Thankfully Johan is not a love interest of Lara.

The baba yaga DLC should be added much later in the game to trigger and that boss fight is like a puzzle fighting back at you. I have no idea why they cranked up the difficulty on her. I didn't enjoy it for a second minus the visuals.

Would I play this again? Sure not for at least a few months to a year as the game still has a bug where unless you do the camp sights perfectly to hear the audio diaries you won't get 208 of 208 documents but thankfully you still get 100%. Kind of sloppy on the developers end.

If the level design was less tedious where i could back track more seamlessly it would improve and all those small little things keep this from being a 10 / 10.

I am writing this review due to some of the other reviews being in what is my opinion too "enthusiastic". Having just completed 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' I feel very much underwhelmed.

The first thing I need to point out is that this game is not 'open world' in the format which I have become accustomed too. It is very much in the format of the typical Tomb Raider linear environment after environment. Such as castle environment first, followed by city environment then forest environment. All of which are closed worlds in themselves. None of the individual worlds themselves are particularly large and you can run around most of them in a couple of minutes. The difference in this Tomb Raider to earlier ones is that you can run around the individual worlds in a none linear manner. That is you can complete the side missions before you have to tackle the main storyline. It must be noted that I have only played through the game once (I have no intention of playing it through again). At times I found the gameplay very frustrating. That is that I could see on the map where I had to go to play the storyline mission but due to running around attempting to collect items (to level up) I could not get there easily. This became so frustrating at times that I had to turn the game off.

The story of the game also became tedious as once I had worked out the gameplay it was basically irrelevant. That is collect stuff/complete tasks so you can level up enough to complete the main storyline task at the end of the level/environment. Also what happened to the unrealistic overly sexy Lara? One of the novelties of the Tomb Raider games is that you're playing a overly sexy chic! I would recommend this game if you are a hard core fan of the Tomb Raider series but if you are more a fan of open world large sandbox games prepare to be disappointed.

Out of all the games that came out in 2015, this game would definitely be in my top 5. I'd rank it third without a doubt after Arkham Knight being my second for me with MKX being my first favorite of that year. Rise is the best out of the 3 Squareenix Tomb Raider games and I had a wonderful experience when I first played it.

The graphics look amazing, all of the upgrades are brilliant, I really liked a lot of the locations in the story, I also really liked the scenery in some of the parts like the beginning of the game and that one scene where Lara is being chased by a bear in the wilderness, the snow in the game looked amazing, some of the soundtracks were quite cool to, some of the new characters were likable IMO like Jacob, and Lara had many awesome skins and she looks very beautiful in the game to.

As I said, Rise is a amazing ass game and I give it a 10/10.