Tomb Raider

[DMN in the House]

^{You just have to keep your list small, plus I happened to get really lucky because I just sent back the last game I had on Monday, right when Tomb Raider was coming out, and the local gamefly warehouse or whatever is really close.}

[Benji]

First impressions from my three hour stint last night - it borrows heavily from Uncharted in terms of pace, which is only fair since Uncharted borrow heavily from Tomb Raider for almost everything else. It plays very smoothly, it's got some interesting mechanics, and it looks pretty. Hoping there's going to be more levels where it's not dark because of night or rain, because the initial outside level where I had to get my first animal kill was good looking. The bow mechanic is great, I'm preferring to use that and go stealth unless I accidentally trigger a guard reaction, which is where the gun comes out and does its job, so the weapon system is well balanced.

Generally, I'd say so far that I'm confident it's good. How long it'll be might be it's downfall, as I had about 25% complete after just 3 hours last night, but I'm not sure if that includes collectibles or is just the story.

[Baddar]

Tried the multiplayer yet?

[Benji]

Not yet, I tend to leave multi until I've finished single player unless someone chases me to play it. Probably get round to it at the weekend.

For a bit of comparison, dem polygons...

[Baddar]

Are you on PS3?

[Benji]

Went 360. I basically just bought it on the opposite console to Ni No Kuni so I could be lazy and not have to change discs

[EWB's Best Poster.]

That is hilarious.

[Benji]

I use that to decide on which console to buy for more often than I'd like to admit.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Got it yesterday and playing today. Through to the first area and, although I could have continued through the bunker, I came back up to root around for the "stuff". Afterall, Tomb Raider is all about the stuff so I'm happy to play it through that way. It looks lovely, Lara is what 2013 woman vs nature Lara should be and I'm loving the Japanese vibes with the Oni and the mysterious music. I'm already preferring the wider open areas than Uncharted and it seems to me that although the story will be linear, there's scope for you to run around and explore yourself...which is great.

Just put an arrow through a bunny wabbit too so that's lovely.

[Benji]

Yeah, I'm enjoying the exploration element. I think having so many different collectibles makes it feel a worth the effort to look around.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Yeah I think so. I'm through to the third area (or "second" I guess) where things kick off a bit. Everything has been done very well from an emotional standpoint so far - fear, the gravitas that comes from killing an animal for the first time and then a person. The bow is fantastic. Loving the salvage updating of equipment and just unlocked the ability to fast travel between camps which makes searching for all the stuff even more of an obvious decision.

Also it's worth getting the extra stuff, especially the diaries as they really fill in a backstory of the island and of the different characters. The changing weather and time of day is very nice too. Also all the little touches like Lara running her hand across the cliffsides when you walk along narrow ledges are lovely touches.

Uncharted is definitely more of a Hollywood blockbuster in the vein of Indiana Jones while Tomb Raider definitely feels different.

[TKz]

Heads up anyone getting it for PC with an nVidia card. Don't. Crystal Dynamics never sent nVidia the game early, so it's pretty much unplayable on a lot of systems. I can't even get it to boot up.

[Benji]

Yeah I think so. I'm through to the third area (or "second" I guess) where things kick off a bit. Everything has been done very well from an emotional standpoint so far - fear, the gravitas that comes from killing an animal for the first time and then a person.

The first wolf part was

amazing. Really brought a cool new twist on an old memory.

[Ant]

Whats the fighting/aiming dynamics like on this one guys? Is it auto aim like a lot were in the past or is it similar to COD and the like.

Definitely going to pick this up.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

It's definitely not auto-aiming. It's closer to Uncharted which is hardly surprising, but the environment actually reminds me a lot of Metal Gear Solid 3.

[Benji]

Combat is good - stealth is really fun. Nothing quite like shooting out some lights with an arrow to confuse an enemy, and then sneaking up and snapping their neck/choking them.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

The bow is wonderful, but then I always gravitate towards longbows/crossbows in games when available.

[Your Mom]

Combat is good - stealth is really fun. Nothing quite like shooting out some lights with an arrow to confuse an enemy, and then sneaking up and snapping their neck/choking them.

Are you forced to stealth? I have a real love/hate relationship with stealth

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Not really (at least not so far!) but there have been a couple of times when you have no weapon or no ammo.

[Maxx]

Getting it tonight, I blame all of you.

BANJI! Multiplayer!