The relaunch of the Tomb Raider franchise last year was extremely popular, achieving a 9.3 rating from our very own Matty Ruston. For fans, like me, that never got to play the title on Xbox 360 or PS3, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have thrown out a lifeline. Friday 31st January marks the release of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Xbox One and PS4, offering upgraded graphics and all of the previously released DLC.
Fans that have played Lara Croft’s latest appearance on current-gen consoles already will be questioning whether they need to buy the updated game. And some fans might just be on the fence about whether or not they want to fork out the cash for it. I have, and here are seven reasons why you should at least consider playing as Lara Croft in her new next-gen glory, whether or not you’ve played the game before.
Bow and Arrow
For me, a bow and arrow is possibly the coolest weapon ever invented (I blame the CW’s Arrow for this), but let’s be honest, there aren’t many games with a modern setting that put a bow in your hands. Tomb Raider does just that, but even more than that, it gives it real significance and purpose. There are so many situations in Tomb Raider where a bow and arrow is infinitely more useful than a pistol or machine gun, and any game that can make such an awesome weapon so important in a modern setting definitely deserves at least one play through.
When explosions look this beautiful, you know you’re on to a winner!
Explosions. Lots of Explosions.
While we’re on the topic of all things cool, it’d be wrong not to mention the plethora of jaw-dropping and breath-taking explosions, especially with updated graphics. Do I need to say more?
Updated Graphics
Without a doubt the biggest leap from current-gen to next-gen versions of Tomb Raider is in the graphics. No one was ever going to accuse the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of being ugly, but Crystal Dynamics have really knocked it out of the park with the updated version. Even little things like the movement of Lara’s hair and improved fire and wind physics make a huge difference when you’re playing the game. This is likely to be the one thing that encourages current-gen players to grab the new version, and no one would blame you in the slightest.
Lara looks better and more realistic then ever before.
Let’s be honest, everybody loves Lara Croft. Women love her as a feminist figure, men love her for her character and just generally being attractive. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition goes beyond this and actually makes her an interesting character, with real emotional turmoil, development and likability. Not that Lara never had this before, but it’s just delivered in spades all the way through the latest iteration’s storyline.
First Real Tomb Raider Game in Years
Prior to this latest Tomb Raider game, it has been a long time since we’ve seen a fully-fledged Tomb Raider game hit systems, and it’s a pretty good one at that. Every gamer has a little bit of Tomb Raider nostalgia in them somewhere, and it makes it hard to resist when a game like this comes out!
DLC Included
This isn’t necessarily a game changer, but it’s certainly nice to have. DLC can often add up to nearly as much as the original game itself (I’m definitely looking at Mass Effect here) so it’s nice to know that it’s included in the package when you buy the game.
There Isn’t Really Much Else
This sounds like a terrible reason, but hear me out. If, like me, you bought a next-gen console at launch or got one for Christmas, then it’s fair to say there’s not really much out there right now. Things really pick up from late-February, but for now, it’s really slim pickings, which just makes Tomb Raider even more appealing. Graphically, it takes advantage of the superior capabilities of next-gen consoles, and though the gameplay isn’t changed, it’s still a cracking game, so it’s a perfect game to enjoy for a month or two while we’re waiting for the next big releases.
So there you have it! Seven good (at least I like to think so) reasons to buy Tomb Raider Definite Edition for Xbox One or PS4 now that it has been released! Can you think of anymore reasons? Comment below to let us know your thoughts on the Definitive Edition!
