Rise of the Tomb Raider Reviews
It may feel familiar, but it's a warm and welcoming kind of familiar
'Rise of the Tomb Raider' is a slightly larger, slightly better version of the last game. The devs have played it safe in terms of adding new mechanics and content, opting for what has worked in the past. It still works, of that there is no doubt - 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' is a great game and should be played by any action fan. It could have been more, but is far better than most games of its ilk.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the strongest, most entertaining, single-player experiences of 2015.
While the final act bogs down in firefights, the game, for the most part, juggles physical and mental challenges successfully.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a deeper and more polished version of its predecessor. It offers similar action-adventure thrills as its competition such as Uncharted but goes beyond that as well. Its open and explorable hub areas that are filled with optional tombs and hunting and gathering crafting options, give it more depth than other games in its genre.
In a way, Rise of the Tomb Raider lives up to its name: You can see the classic Tomb Raider elements rising up through the clichés of modern-day third-person action games. The two facets of Rise's design never quite learn to live in harmony, but at least the elements that feel unique to the Lara Croft franchise appear far more prominent than in the 2013 game. There's far too much predictable, uninspired gunplay, but despite its mandatory nature it still comprises only a tiny portion of the overall game experience. Tomb Raider hasn't quite found its voice in modern gaming... but it's getting there.
An improvement of 2013's release in every way and one of the best games of 2015.
A must-play action-adventure story that solidifies Lara Croft's position as one of the best video game characters ever.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is the best blockbuster game of 2015.
If you've enjoyed Crystal Dynamics' reboot, then chances are you'll love Rise of the Tomb Raider that much more. Lara's latest adventure is bigger and better in nearly every way. The settings and environments are bigger, the tombs are plentiful, the combat is exciting and Lara herself is once again brought to life thanks to Camilla Luddington's fantastic performance.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is not only essential, it's poised to be endearing snapshot of America's battle over religious freedoms.
The game as a whole is a wonderful experience, even surpassing the original adventure that put Lara back on the map in 2013. It's that kind of sequel that deserves your utmost appreciation – kind of like a treasure in itself.
Rise of the Tomb Raider represented a great opportunity for the Xbox One to get a meaningful AAA exclusive that was not a first-person shooter or racing game. The action is fluid and the open world begs the player to experiment and explore. It's a sure fire sign that the people behind this new direction for Lara Croft really do know what they are doing, and the franchise is in good hands moving forwards.
Thankfully, the main game itself is easily worth the price of admission. A gripping story in spite of its cliches, with an expanded serving of the gameplay that made Tomb Raider such a wild ride, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a damn fine sequel that does everything a sequel needs to do. What's more, it truly cements Lara's new adventures as a series with a solid future, and I'm excited to see where Croft and Trinity go next.
The PS4 may be way ahead of the Xbox One in terms of sales, but in Rise of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft finally has something to brag about. As a timed Xbox exclusive, PlayStation owners will be able to get their hands on the Tomb Raider sequel eventually. But the bad news is they'll have to wait a whole year, until December 2016. Over to you, Nathan Drake - you really do have a mountain to climb.
Lara Croft trades original ideas for popular ones in an action blockbuster that will please the crowds but leave some nostalgic for the days she actually raided tombs
By the end I questioned the very choice to play; participating in the game felt like consenting to the retraumatization of a vulnerable young person about whom I genuinely cared.
I don't know about you, but Rise of the Tomb Raider, while not a complete masterpiece, is pretty damn close to being one in the Action-Adventure genre.
Whether you're in the mood for stealth or all-out action, Rise of the Tomb Raider has got you covered, but when it comes time to put down the guns and start talking, the game screeches to a halt. Even so, it's hard to deny what a blast it is to slip into Lara's shoes once more.
Now that Lara Croft's origin story is out of the way, does she blossom into the hardened explorer that's made her such an icon in Rise of the Tomb Raider?