Tomb Raider is an exceptional game, and this Definitive Edition is every bit as exceptional and then some. I originally played thisTomb Raider is an exceptional game, and this Definitive Edition is every bit as exceptional and then some. I originally played this masterpiece on my PC, a powerful rig with crossfired 7970's and a 2600K at 4.8Ghz. I thought that the game was visually exquisite on my configuration with TressFX etc all enabled and a stable performer, although even my rig couldn't escape frame dips from a v-synced 60fps in areas such as shanty town. I think the devs have done a commendable job porting this to the much weaker, but still very capable, PS4 with so many visual bells and whistles intact and expanded upon. The game truly is a sight to behold running at 1080p and a perceptively quite stable 60fps on my big 65 inch Panasonic.
A lot of people/critics are marking the game down based on the price. This is unfair in my estimation. The 'game' is still a stellar AAA title, now with just more additional sheen. The practice of keeping the price high is something I understand the community's resentment over, but as far as ridiculous scores like 60% or below for the actual game itself I do not agree with at all.
If you never knew the title was released prior and sat down to play it and review it on its own merits in this incarnation you would be undeniably impressed and the score should reflect that.
If you're lucky enough to have never played it and own a PS4 buy it immediately, comfortable with the fact that you just purchased the best game on the system. But even if like me you have played it, and even if you played it on the PC where the advantages this version offers are slimmer, it still is worthy of heavy consideration. I personally loved the game first time round and had zero reservations about ponying up for it again on PS4. It is a double dip, but it is also one where you can see significant care has been made to update a lot of things graphically that is truly a rarity in similar double dip scenarios, where a resolution increase is about it.
10/10..on any platform.…Expand
A lot of people/critics are marking the game down based on the price. This is unfair in my estimation. The 'game' is still a stellar AAA title, now with just more additional sheen. The practice of keeping the price high is something I understand the community's resentment over, but as far as ridiculous scores like 60% or below for the actual game itself I do not agree with at all.
If you never knew the title was released prior and sat down to play it and review it on its own merits in this incarnation you would be undeniably impressed and the score should reflect that.
If you're lucky enough to have never played it and own a PS4 buy it immediately, comfortable with the fact that you just purchased the best game on the system. But even if like me you have played it, and even if you played it on the PC where the advantages this version offers are slimmer, it still is worthy of heavy consideration. I personally loved the game first time round and had zero reservations about ponying up for it again on PS4. It is a double dip, but it is also one where you can see significant care has been made to update a lot of things graphically that is truly a rarity in similar double dip scenarios, where a resolution increase is about it.
10/10..on any platform.…Expand
Lara Croft is dead. This time, she was ripped apart by wolves. Death has also come in a variety of other forms: boulders, bear traps, spikes to the throat--each over-the-top execution a display of vulnerability. These shocking moments are heavy-handed with their message, but it comes across loud and clear: Lara Croft, the new Lara Croft, isn't a pistol-wielding superhero. She's an inexperienced adventurer caught in the middle of a harrowing sequence of events. The only thing more surprising than the brutality Lara endures during Crystal Dynamic's Tomb Raider reboot is just how polished the whole experience is--now even more shiny in the Definitive Edition. Tomb Raider is still a fantastic game and an excellent origin story for one of gaming's original treasure seekers. If you've already played and finished the game, either skip to the end for my verdict on the PS4 / XO Definitive Edition, or check out the new boxout, which details all the fresh features in the game. New to 'Raider? Read on..
After getting shipwrecked on a mysterious island during her first-ever archaeology expedition, Lara finds herself in one life-or-death situation after another. Her crew is missing, and the island's cult-like inhabitants are eager to kill her. The narrative's dark, distressing tone is established right from the start, and never once does it stray during Tomb Raider's 15-hour campaign. This consistency builds a great deal of tension and intrigue, and you'll be eager to keep playing to see what happens next.
Throughout the game, you're tasked with solving elaborate puzzles and taking on sporadic groups of enemies; in addition to plenty of platforming and exploration. After you finish Tomb Raider's long-winded tutorial, it easily rivals the best Uncharted has to offer--and that's not a claim made lightly. Where Uncharted props itself up on Nathan Drake's charm, platforming prowess, and ability to shoot dudes in the head without getting bummed out, Tomb Raider's foundation is one of excellent pacing, and an ominous story of survival.
The development of Lara's character is an integral part of that experience. She's a far cry from the stylish adventurer you used to know. In the stead of a dolled up gunslinger is a do-what-it-takes female lead who's intelligent and capable. It's unsettling to watch her brave some truly disturbing situations--at times, Tomb Raider is more survival horror than action adventure--but she deals with it because death is the only alternative, culminating in her gratifying evolution from a green explorer to a seasoned survivor. It's a shame that caliber of character development doesn't extend to the supporting cast. Her shipwrecked friends are pretty generic characters who, while rarely annoying, just aren't memorable.
But what those characters lack in magnetism is more than made up for by the incredible personality and mystery of the island setting. It's a bizarre place filled with ancient shrines, World War II-era bunkers, and all sorts of relics and trinkets spanning multiple centuries. It's always clear that something strange is going on, and the island's secrets tease you right up until the very end. You explore a huge variety of environments, sectioned off into hub-like zones, all of which give clues that help you uncovering the island's overall enigma. From underground ruins and snow-laden mountain tops to lush forests and grim oceanside cliffs, no one area ever feels like a rehash of another, and the sheer amount of detail in each is impressive.
Tomb Raider on PS4 and Xbox One
So, you want to know about The Definitive Edition on PS4 and Xbox One? Well, for starters the game looks prettier. Not massively better, but better nonetheless. The frame-rate is higher and more consistent, making combat and platforming feel smoother. The Lara character model has been reworked, and her hair now flops about more realistically. Looks nice, but adds nothing to the game. Voice commands now let you access the map, and change weapons, while audio diaries now play through PS4's controller speaker. Unfortunately, there's no way to stop them playing through the TV too, so you get an awful echoing effect.
During Lara's journey, you encounter plenty of dangers. Traps, hostile cultists, and vicious animals alike will stand in your way. Nearly every battle feels like an intense fight to the death instead of just another shootout, despite the fact you rarely encounter more than five or six enemies at a time. The bad-guy AI is great for the most part, as foes will kick over tables to form barricades or shoot off flares to call for help. Best of all, they often react realistically to your shots. Cap an enemy in the leg, for example, and he'll go down to the ground where you can finish him off with a melee execution. Usually a climbing-axe to the skull. Nasty!
Lara's inexperience shows through early on, as her shots are inaccurate and weak. By defeating enemies, solving puzzles, and finding the many collectibles hidden on the island, you gain experience points and resources for upgrading Lara's skills and weapons. Other games that try to emulate the growth of an unseasoned character don't pull it off with quite the same aplomb as Tomb Raider does--by the end of the adventure, Lara's transformation into a powerful heroine is noticeable, and feels natural.
But Tomb Raider isn't all about fighting. It's totally common to spend five minutes exchanging fire with a group of enemies, then go 45 without seeing a soul. These breaks in battle are filled with great platforming segments, clever puzzles, and adrenaline-pumping set piece moments, and the pacing throughout is unrivaled by any other game in the genre. Even the rate at which Lara obtains new weapons and equipment--like rope arrows that open up new sections of some zones on the island--is admirable, as you snag new gear right up until the final chapters.
Tomb Raider's single-player campaign alone is worth the price of admission for new-comers, but its multiplayer component will be a welcome addition for those looking for a bit more longevity. Multiplayer maps are filled with climbable ledges, zip lines, and level-specific traps that are perfect for scoring easy kills. There are some pretty decent modes to keep things interesting for awhile, too, such as Cry for Help in which one team must capture a series of control points before the other kills and loots 20 players. That said, the multiplayer doesn't feel as genre-defining as the campaign, as it doesn't really introduce anything new to keep you interested after a dozen matches or so.
Even if you've never been a huge fan of Lara Croft's fortune-hunting adventures, Tomb Raider is sure to impress. Its expert sense of pacing, captivating setting, and dark tone create a truly memorable experience that's further enhanced by an immense level of detail. Lara Croft, the old Lara Croft, is dead. In place of a dolled-up gunslinger is a do-what-it-takes survivor--and I hope she hasn't had her fill of adventuring just yet.
Is the Definitive Edition worth buying? The improvements are too subtle and gimmicky for me to recommend that experienced Tomb Raiders--people who have already finished the game on PS3 or Xbox 360--drop $50 / £40 on the next-gen version. However, if you own a PS4 or Xbox One, and you haven't yet experienced the new Tomb Raider, then you should leap any chasm and murder any hired merc who stands in your way until you've got this playing on your console.. It's still brilliant, and the Definitive Edition is the superior version.
Advertisement
Easy XP and salvageThis trick allows you to earn 10,000 XP and 2,000 salvage or more approximately every 5 minutes. It can be done solo or with other players. At the Multiplayer menu, create a private match. Select Rescue mode, and choose the Beach map. Select the Survivor team, then customize your Loadouts. Choose the top option, and when you are at a high enough level, select 'Second Wind' as your Offensive Skill. Leave the Survival Skill set to 'Advanced Looting'. Exit the Loadouts screen, and select 'Match Options'. Change the 'Time Limit' to any time desired. This method usually takes 8-10 minutes to complete. Set the 'Medkits To Retrieve' option to '20'. Start the match. Then, retrieve the medkits scattered randomly around the map as quickly as possible. Even though the medkits spawn randomly, there are some locations the medkits will always appear. Once you appear on the map, there will be a circle near the spawn point where medkits are dropped off. A white waypoint icon will appear off in the distance showing where the medkit is located.Simply sprint to each waypoint, and collect the medkits as they appear, then return them to the drop-off point. On the way to each of the medkits, you can stop and collect salvage. The salvage respawns pretty quickly after collecting it. Keep doing this until the match ends. You can then start a new match, and repeat the process. Note: You can quite in-between rounds and will still retain all XP and salvage you have obtained.
Secret tomb locations and solutions
Search the indicated locations to find all seven optional tombs. Solve the puzzle in each tomb using the indicated solution to get a reward for each tomb completed. Complete all seven optional tombs to get the 'Intellectually Superior' achievement.
Tomb Of The Unworthy
Location: Travel to the Mountain Village once you have obtained the Climbing Axe, and return to the Tomb Of The Unworthy camp at the base of the waterfall (right before the Climbing Axe is required to progress further). Then, use the axe to enter the tomb.
Solution: To solve the puzzle in the tomb, you must first light the torch. Use the pot to light it, or use your flint if you have acquired it. Then, burn the bodies on the mesh platform, and push off the extra weight nearby to allow the lift to raise up enough for Lara to climb to the top and reach the treasure chest.
Reward: Mountain Village Relic Map
Halls Of Ascension Tomb
Location: Travel to the Overlook camp in the Mountain Village, where Lara went to find the rescue plane's smoke signal, once you have the rope arrows and Firestarter flint. Use a rope arrow to reach the north ledge to follow the upper route. Use a second rope arrow to reach the tomb entrance.
Solution: To solve this puzzle, first look around the room. There is an open window on the left, and a platform hanging by ropes in the center. Start by closing the shutters on the left with the crank, then turn the crank in the center to raise the platform. The shutters on the left will slowly open. Forces of corruption mac. Then, quickly run onto the platform once it has been raised, and wait for the second shutter to open. Once it opens, a strong gust of wind will blow the platform right and high. On the right, a flat wooden board will appear for Lara to jump to and hang on from the ledge. Move along the ledges to reach a long hallway with the treasure chest at the end.
Reward: Mountain Village GPS Cache Map
Well Of Tears
Location: Travel to the Helicopter Hill camp in Shantytown. You will need a rope arrow to pull open the tomb entrance and drop in. Travel through the town to reach a building painted with white murals and protected with boobytraps. Destroy the floor to drop into a cave below, which leads down a straight path to the tomb.
Solution: Inside the tomb, there is a hanging platform above. Collect the yellow canisters one by one, and throw them onto the platform to lower it. Once it is on the ground, stand on the platform, and remove the canisters. Next, step off, and use the upper ledge to jump onto the raising platform, then quickly jump onto the left ledge to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shantytown Relic Map
Chamber Of Judgement
Location: From the Windmill camp in Shantytown, travel to the eastern caves below the gondola station in the southern part of the town, and slide down the surface to reach the ledges across the gap. Follow the right passage after climbing up the ledge, and cross the wooden beam bridge to reach a narrow entrance to the tomb.
Solution: Collect the yellow canisters around the tomb, and place them on the raised section of the seesaw to weigh it down. Jump to one, and use a rope arrow on the other. Use the raised seesaw to jump to the rock wall. Move along the rock wall using the climbing axe to reach a ladder. Climb the ladder to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shantytown GPS Cache Map
Stormguard Sanctum
Location: Travel to the Hunting Lodge camp in the Summit Forest, and go north beyond the bridge. There is a lamppost next to the tomb entrance.
Solution: Use two fire arrows to set off explosives and gas to solve this puzzle. Explode the gas with a fire arrow, cross it, then destroy the explosive crates on the ledge to clear the pathway. Then, climb up the rock wall to reach the treasure chest.
Reward: Summit Forest Relic Map
Temple Of The Handmaidens
Location: At Shipwreck Beach, travel to the zipline north of the Survivor's camp to reach a barricade blocking the way to a bunker. Use the Rope Ascender to break the barricade, and follow the path. Use rope arrows to continue into a cave leading to the tomb.
Solution: Use the crank at the entrance to raise a platform and allow the buoy to move left. Climb the ledge left to follow the buoy as it releases a turning pole. Use it to jump the gap, then use a rope arrow on the white roped beam below. Wait for the buoy to move forward, and push the beam perpendicular with Lara. Once it lines up, jump to the bar to reach a rock wall using the Climbing Axe, allowing you to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shipwreck Beach GPS Cache Map
The Flooded Vault
Location: At Shipwreck Beach, the tomb is located on your way to the Cliffside Bunker. You will need the Climbing Axe, Prying Axe, and some rope arrows. Climb to the top of the bunker, and go through the narrow passage to reach the tomb entrance.
Solution: Press the button up the stairs, then press the button beside the door near the entrance to enter the tomb. Inside the tomb, there is electricity surging through the water and a floating platform. Light the anchor rope on fire to release the floating platform, then shoot the wooden barrier on the right with the shotgun. Shoot a rope arrow through the new opening in the barrier at the platform to pull it closer. Pull the platform to the steps, then use rope arrows to pull the beam at the far end of the room, raising the generator and stopping the electricity in the water. Pull the generator up, jump right to the platform, pull the generator again, and continue through the water. Finally, pull up the generator, then pull the platform underneath the generator to make the water safe to cross, allowing you to reach the area containing the treasure chest.
Reward: Shipwreck Beach Relic Map
Search the indicated locations to find all 14 treasure maps. The treasure maps will reveal the location of all relics, GPS caches, and documents on the in-game world map. You will be able to set waypoints for every collectible. Additionally, buying the 'Cartography' (Tier III survival) skill will automatically unlock all treasure map locations on the world map. Note: Some of the treasure maps are a reward for completing optional tombs.
Advertisement
Coastal Forest
1. On the eastern area of the map, there is a dilapidated bridge near a waterfall. To reach the waterfall, look for a rock ledge with a wooden plank. Jump from the plank to the beam on the bridge to reach another wooden platform on a tree. A treasure map is on the crate. Its coordinates are 53N 712382 UTM3416116.
Mountain Temple
2. After climbing up a ladder and facing a large dilapidated building, take the left path to reach a waterfall. Jump into the water at the base of the waterfall to find a secret cave, which leads into a hidden alcove with a treasure map on a crate.
Base Exterior
3. At the Radio Tower camp, use the zipline to go east to reach the building below. You will land near a burning trash can, and a treasure map is behind it.
Mountain Village
4. Locate and successfully complete the Tomb Of The Unworthy optional tomb to get a treasure map.
5. Locate and successfully complete the Halls Of Ascension optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Shantytown
6. Locate and successfully complete the Well Of Tears optional tomb to get a treasure map.
7. Locate and successfully complete the Chamber Of Judgement optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Shipwreck Beach
8. Locate and successfully complete the Temple Of The Handmaiden optional tomb to get a treasure map.
9. Locate and successfully complete The Flooded Vault optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Geothermal Caverns
10. At the Catacombs camp, go north to reach wooden beams and a cage. Climb the beams and bars above the cage, and keep going up to reach a hidden platform. A treasure map is nearby.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Guide
Cliffside Bunker
11. Go to this area once you have the Rope Ascender, and return to the room with the big cannon and breakable barrier inside. Use the Rope Ascender to break through the wall. Continue through the wall to find a treasure map.
Summit Forest
12. Locate and successfully complete the Stormguard Sanctum optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Research Base
13. This treasure map can only be reached once Lara drops the elevator. On the first level of the base, go through the holes in the wall to reach tracks leading to a striped turn-table device. Go past this circle, and look on some nearby crates to find a treasure map.
Chasm Shrine
14. Progress through this area until reaching a large room with a pendulum in the center. Climb the wooden walkways, ramps, and rungs to reach the top level. After climbing up to the wooden ledge, look to the right for a table with the final treasure map.
Search the indicated locations in the videos below to find all collectible locations for all 13 challenges. Each challenge requires you to find some collectibles. There are just 4-10 collectibles per challenge. After completing the story, you will enter Free Roam mode, where you can still complete all of the challenges. Every time you obtain one of the collectibles, the game will automatically save. Successfully complete all challenges to get the 'Inconceivable!' achievement.
Ghost Hunter Challenge Collectibles (All Totem Locations)
Pyromaniac Challenge Collectibles (All Lantern Locations)
Egg Poacher Challenge Collectibles (All Egg Locations)
Illumination Challenge Collectibles (All Statue Locations)
Non-Believer Challenge Collectibles (All Banner Locations)
Laid to Rest Challenge Collectibles (All Effigy Locations)
Silencer Challenge Collectibles (All Alarm Locations)
Firestarter Challenge Collectibles (All Sack Locations)
Red Cap Roundup Challenge Collectibles (All Mushroom Locations)
Mine Sweeper Challenge Collectibles (All Mine Locations)
Cairn Raider Challenge Collectibles (All Cairn Locations)
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Ps4 Multiplayer Download
Previous Inhabitants Challenge Collectibles (All Flag Locations)
Sun Killer Challenge Collectibles (All Totem Locations)
Easy 'Boom Goes The Dynamite' trophyWhile going through Shantytown, you will be ambushed on a rooftop. Enemies will be throwing dynamite at you. Equip the shotgun or rifle, and shoot one bundle of dynamite out of the air to get the 'Boom Goes The Dynamite' trophy.
Easy 'Chatterbox' trophyDuring the course of the story, there are seven occasions where you can talk to your friends. You must listen to everything they have to say. If you miss a single conversation, you will not get the 'Chatterbox' trophy during that playthrough. Keep talking to each person until the 'X' symbol above their head is gone. You will also see the Tomb Raider auto-save logo flashing in the bottom right corner of the screen when all conversations with one person have been completed. You need to talk to the following people:
- 1. Before searching for 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman.
- 2. After finding the 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman again (do not repair the Axe yet)
- 3. After helping Roth (where the wolves attack him), talk to Roth.
- 4. Shortly after getting the Rope Arrows, you will meet Roth again. Talk to him before using the zipline.
- 5. When reaching the shipwreck beach, you will meet your friends. Talk to Sam, Reyes, and Jonah.
- 6. Before going to the Endurance to help Alex and get the tools, talk to Whitman, Sam, Jonah, and Reyes at the beach camp. Reyes is on the boat.
- 7. After coming back from the Endurance, talk to Whitman, Reyes, and Jonah.
After meeting up with your friends at Shipwreck Beach, a new mission called 'Gone Missing' will begin. From the camp of your friends, go down to the beach. In the sand are some crabs. Shoot one of the crabs with a pink heart on its shell to get the 'Crab Cakes' trophy. If they do not spawn, go back to the camp, and return to the beach after a minute or so.
Easy 'Epic Fumble' trophyIn the Shantytown area, there are a lot of enemies that will throw dynamite at you. They usually look like construction workers and have a yellow helmet on their head. When they are about the throw the dynamite, shoot them with any weapon, and they will drop it. There are usually some enemies around them -- so there is a good chance it will kill two people and you will get the 'Epic Fumble' trophy.
TrophiesSuccessfully complete one of the following tasks to get a trophy:
- True Survivor (Platinum): Unlock every Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition trophy.
- Bookworm (Bronze): Find 25% of all documents.
- Historian (Bronze): Find 75% of all documents.
- Relic Hunter (Bronze): Collect 25% of all relics.
- Archaeologist (Bronze): Collect 75% of all relics.
- Looking for Trouble (Bronze): Find 25% of GPS caches.
- Bag Full O' Cache (Bronze): Find 75% of GPS caches.
- No Stone Left Unturned (Gold): Find all documents, relics and GPS caches.
- Scrounger (Bronze): Collect 5000 pieces of salvage.
- Picky (Bronze): Loot 200 enemies.
- Clever Girl (Silver): Purchase all skills in one category.
- Lethal (Silver): Purchase all skills in all categories.
- Now We're Getting Serious (Bronze): Fully mod and completely upgrade any weapon.
- The Professional (Silver): Fully mod and completely upgrade all weapons.
- Big Game Hunter (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 large animals (deer, boar, wolves).
- Tastes Like Chicken! (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 small animals (rabbits, chickens, rats).
- Feather Duster (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 flying animals (crows and gulls).
- Sharp Shooter (Bronze): Perform 50 headshot kills in the single player campaign.
- Predator (Bronze): Kill 50 enemies with the bow.
- Equalizer (Bronze): Kill 75 enemies with the rifle.
- Widowmaker (Bronze): Kill 40 enemies with the shotgun.
- Gunslinger (Bronze): Kill 35 enemies with the pistol.
- Epic Fumble (Bronze): Force an enemy to drop dynamite that kills two people when exploding.
- Get Over Here! (Bronze): Rope pull 5 enemies off edges.
- Opportunist (Bronze): Kill 25 unaware enemies.
- Down and Dirty (Bronze): Perform 15 finishers.
- Deadeye (Bronze): Shoot 10 enemies off zip lines.
- Former Adventurer (Bronze): Incapacitate 25 enemies with dodge counter.
- One Smart Cookie (Bronze): Complete one optional tomb.
- Intellectually Superior (Gold): Complete all optional tombs.
- Unfinished Business (Bronze): Complete one challenge.
- Inconceivable! (Silver): Complete all challenges.
- A Survivor Is Born (Silver): Complete the game.
- Adventurer (Bronze): Complete a match in all multiplayer modes.
- Artilleryman (Bronze): Kill 20 enemy players in multiplayer using a turret.
- Down Boy! (Bronze): Kill a zip-lining enemy player in multiplayer.
- Entrapment (Bronze): Catch a player in a snare trap in multiplayer.
- Escapist (Bronze): Survive 10 explosions in multiplayer.
- Good Samaritan (Bronze): Revive a teammate in a multiplayer match.
- I'm all that! (Silver): Win a ranked match in every multiplayer mode.
- Sole Survivor (Bronze): In multiplayer, be the only player on your team that isn't dead or downed.
- Lights Out (Bronze): Kill 10 multiplayer enemies using your melee attack.
- Master Blaster (Bronze): Kill 2 multiplayer enemies with a single explosive.
- Monkey Around (Bronze): In multiplayer, escape death 3 times by using the rope ascender.
- Narcissistic (Bronze): Purchase a new multiplayer character.
- On My Way Up (Bronze): Reach level 10 in multiplayer.
- Shopaholic (Bronze): Buy every upgrade and character in multiplayer.
- True Commitment (Silver): Reach level 60 in multiplayer.
Additionally, there are three secret trophies:
- Boom Goes the Dynamite (Bronze): Shoot a bundle of dynamite out of the air.
- Crab Cakes (Bronze): Kill FeeFee the crab.
- Chatterbox (Bronze): Complete all conversations with the Endurance crew.