Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration Round-Up

Review

PROS

• Still a fantastic adventure, one year on
• Smoother action and rock-solid frame rates
• Surprisingly good Endurance mode
• Enjoyable new Croft Manor modes

CONS

• Not all the DLC feels that essential
• Blood Ties can feel like it’s leading you by the nose

Thank goodness for Lara’s 20 year anniversary; without it, Square-Enix would have had to call this new PS4 version of Rise of the Tomb Raider the ‘Sorry You’ve Had to Wait a Year Edition’ or the ‘Finally, The Period of Exclusivity has Ended Edition’. Instead, it’s been able to position it as a sort of bonus edition for PS4 owners, rewarding them for their patience with a nice bunch of juicy extras. On the Xbox One and PC, meanwhile, it works as a Game of the Year Edition, so there’s something good here for everyone who hasn’t already plumped up for the game and DLC.

PS4 gamers have plenty of reason for jubilation, though perhaps a little mild disappointment. This isn’t a huge visual upgrade from the Xbox One original, dragging over new effects or assets from the superior PC version, but a more consistent effort, running at a rock-solid 1080p 30fps with no noticeable input lag and no discernible slowdown. We’re expecting more bells and whistles when the PS4 Pro version receives its patch at launch, but for now, if you’re looking for some kind of Definitive Edition, the PC is still the way to go.

Now, I’m not generally a big fan of survival games, but something about Endurance clicks. It’s partly that it relies on some already effective, well-established game mechanics, but also because the environment is so immersive; the constant snowfall, mist and loss of visibility, not to mention the eerie wilderness sound effects, make it really compelling. Of course, it’s an absolute bastard when you fall into an underground spike trap or get hunted down by wolves after an hour of play, but this only encourages you to pay more attention and think before you move. The random nature of the landscapes can make it feel impossible, but when the main adventure’s over it’ll be Endurance that keeps you coming back for more.

Verdict

The PS4 version isn’t quite the definitive edition, but the smoother frame rate and more responsive gameplay makes a great Tomb Raider even greater. The new Blood Ties mode is an interesting adventure that gives us time to go deeper into Lara’s back story, while the Lara’s Nightmare mode is a fun, fast-paced action challenge. Throw in the other extras and the enhanced, co-op friendly Endurance mode and you have a package to make the wait worthwhile. Sometimes being the second-best adventure of the year is more than good enough.

OVERALL SCORE 

Author: Umair Raza