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Tomb Raider gets 'Caves and Cliffs' multiplayer maps on March 19, on Xbox first
Tomb Raider is getting its first batch of DLC later this month. Alas, rather than giving Lara some new puzzles to solve, the DLC offers up new multiplayer maps. Titled "Caves and Cliffs" the pack adds three new multiplayer arenas to Tomb Raider: Scavenger Caverns, Cliff Shantytown and The Burning Village. Presumably, Cliff Shantytown is different from the Shanty Town map already available.As promised at E3 last year, this first piece of DLC will launch first on Xbox Live. Specifically, Cliffs and Caves will hit the Xbox on March 19 for $5. No release date has been announced for PS3 or PC.
Nvidia, Crystal Dynamics looking into Tomb Raider PC performance issues
Graphics powerhouse Nvidia is working with developer Crystal Dynamics to address the "major performance and stability issues" occurring with GeForce cards playing Tomb Raider on max settings. A number of users on the Nvidia, Steam, and Tomb Raider forums complained about a range of GeForce-related issues, with common complaints including the game repeatedly crashing to desktop on 600-series cards, and AMD's TressFX hair rendering tech taking a chunky toll on performance.Following no mention of Tomb Raider in its post on the latest GeForce beta drivers, Nvidia's Andrew Burnes took to the comments to explain the situation, revealing the company only received a final version of the game a few days ahead of launch."Unfortunately, Nvidia didn't receive final code until this past weekend which substantially decreased stability, image quality and performance over a build we were previously provided," said Burnes. "We are working closely with Crystal Dynamics to address and resolve all game issues as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we would like to apologize to GeForce users that are not able to have a great experience playing Tomb Raider, as they have come to expect with all of their favorite PC games."
PSN Store update: Tomb Raider, MGR: Revengeance, Runner2
This week's PlayStation Store update is truly conducive to the reclusive, enabling downloadable versions of Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and MLB The Show 13 . There's no need to leave your cave, cut your way through other consumers and then do some kind of baseball thing.Bit.Trip's auto-running champ, Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, is also available for $15 (or $12 on PS Plus), as is a cross-buy special edition of When Vikings Attack. Check out the full list of updates over at PlayStation Blog.
Metareview: Tomb Raider
There's nothing quite like the word 'reboot' to stir the catcalls of cynicism. Based on the critical acclaim. including that from our own Richard Mitchell. the latest adventure for one of gaming's oldest series is more than just a reboot; it's a rebirth. Digital Spy (100/100): "With a well written cast of characters, mightily impressive production techniques, sumptuous visuals, tight platforming and surprisingly enjoyable combat, Tomb Raider is most definitely a release to be treasured." GamesRadar (90/100): "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 we hope she hasn't had her fill of adventuring just yet." Polygon (90/100): "It's easy to point out the many ways that Tomb Raider borrows bits and pieces from other popular games of the last five years, but Crystal Dynamics has blended these disparate strengths into something remarkable. It's cinematic yet open, intense yet laid-back, fresh yet polished." GameSpot (85/100): "The single-player campaign here is the main attraction, and it is excellent. It doesn't try to rewrite the book on third-person action adventure games. But with its excellent controls, engaging heroine, thrilling combat, and fascinating setting, it doesn't need to." Edge (80/100): "Whether she's huddled up against the cold or sending five men to their doom with an explosive arrow, this is still Lara Croft, one of gaming's most distinctive heroes – and now she has a personality that extends far beyond the bounds of her bra straps. If the purpose of a reboot is to redefine a character and set them up for the future, then this is a job well done."
Tomb Raider review: A believer is born
Tomb Raider is important to me. The 1996 original blew my 13-year-old mind, and it showed me what video games could be. It gave me a world ripe for exploration and begged me to suss out all its secrets, something the recent Crystal Dynamics games have also done with aplomb. Tomb Raider, to me, is a series about traveling the world, uncovering the plans and schemes of dead civilizations. It's about spending the better part of an hour to get ancient machinery rumbling again, all in service of opening a massive stone door.There are no such doors in the new Tomb Raider. Grandiose puzzles have been excised in favor of smaller brainteasers. Globe-trotting has been replaced with a single, open world. Lara Croft spends more time mowing (and bowing) down bad guys than she ever has before.It was hard for me to come to grips with these facts, and I spent many hours questioning Crystal Dynamics' new direction. That was until I realized the truth: It's all just a long con.%Gallery-180407%
Tomb Raider's 'The Final Hours' webseries concludes
This is the second, really final part of the last piece of the "Final Hours" Tomb Raider documentary. You can tell because there's footage of empty offices and retrospective piano music.
Find your inner Lara Croft in Tomb Raider trailer
This trailer for the new Tomb Raider highlights Lara's harrowing adventure as a universal story. Because everyone has days where they just can't stop running from explosions on a distant island.
Conan loves but loses Tomb Raider
Jimmy Fallon may have gotten the PS4 demo, but Conan 'Clueless Gamer' O'Brien seems happy enough with trying out Tomb Raider. Conan's commentary is unsurprisingly puerile - the video is probably NSFW - and things come to a head when Lara tries to navigate rapids.
Tomb Raider fires up combat trailer, PC specs published
The third Tomb Raider Guide to Survival webisode focuses on something that's always been something of a pitfall for Ms Croft: combat. Clearly Crystal Dynamics hopes to address that with this reboot, and thankfully we've not seen any evidence of shark-punching (yet).Square Enix also sends us the game's newly revealed PC specs, which we've published over the break. PC stalwarts may be pleased to see Tomb Raider bucks the growing trend of dropping XP support.
Tomb Raider - The Final Hours closing episode captures that endgame panic
Putting that final rubber stamp on a game and sending it off to be shipped and sold is not a mere formality, as this first part of the closing episode of Tomb Raider's "The Final Hours" webseries shows.
GameFly deals: Tomb Raider PC for $36, Civ 5 for $6, 20% off PC downloads
Not unlike an ancient conqueror, GameFly has slashed and burned the price of its Civilization V PC download. Usually $30, the game can now be had for a mere $7.49. The deal expires at midnight PT on February 14, a day when you should probably pay attention to your significant other and not global diplomacy.But wait, there's more! Using another GameFly deal, you can actually knock the price down to only six bucks. All you have to do is use the coupon code GFDFEB20, which takes an additional 20 percent off the price of PC downloads. Of course, if you're not in the mood for Civilization, you could always apply it to a different PC download, say, a pre-order of Tomb Raider. Already discounted to $45, the coupon drops it down to $36.
Tomb Raider Minimates debut at Toy Fair
At Toy Fair, Diamond Select Toys showed off six new Tomb Raider Minimate figures, based on the upcoming reboot. The Minimates, which look like Lego figures with more points of articulation, are slated to hit shelves this summer, as two-packs sold in comic and specialty stores. The six figures shown include: a basic Lara Croft, a Lara Croft with battle damage, Captain Conrad Roth (Lara's mentor), two enemy scavengers and a figure who appeared to look like a priest. Diamond Select wasn't at liberty to share the names of the characters but suggested that the figure with the hood was a type of priest. The Art Asylum-designed figures excellent details, right down to Captain Conrad's chiseled eyebrows and five o'clock shadow. Each figure comes with accessories. The basic Lara Croft has a more generic hatchet, while the battle damaged, mud soaked Lara Croft has the stylized hatchet we've seen from Tomb Raider concept art. The Molotov cocktail scavenger comes with just that – a Molotov cocktail. The second scavenger had a shield and an iron mask. The designs are still pending licensor approval.
Watch 11 minutes of Tomb Raider with developer commentary
Since there's no pre-launch demo, it's worth checking out this 11-minute walkthrough of Tomb Raider with creative director Noah Hughes. While the footage might get you interested in the game, it's completely put us off ever descending a mountain. Which is fortunate, as ascents aren't our bag either.
Tomb Raider: Guide to Survival's second episode gets on board with fast travel
The second episode of the Tomb Raider webseries Guide to Survival acts a bit like it's just invented the concept of 'Fast Travel.' As with many things in the reboot, it is something fresh for the series, as is backtracking to unlock locations with new gear.
No pre-launch Tomb Raider demo for sake of story, says Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is not planning to release a Tomb Raider demo before the game launches on March 5."For all those @tombraider fans asking. There are no plans to release a demo of the game pre-launch. We don't want to spoil the story," tweeted Global Brand Director Karl Stewart. "We've weaved such an personal story we don't believe spoiling it by having you wait a week or so to play on, delivers on our promise."While pre-release demos are typical, it's not rare to see them pop up after the game arrives on retail shelves. Nonetheless, the news and the reasons given by Stewart are somewhat surprising given how much exposure the game's opening act has already received. A different part of the game may make for a better demo, but would lack the context Crystal Dynamics has crafted in this story-driven reboot.
Borrowing campaign-crafted viciousness for Tomb Raider's multiplayer mode
We caught wind of rumors that the latest Tomb Raider might include multiplayer late last month, right before the rumors were officially confirmed by Square Enix. During the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, the shrink wrap officially came off, and Square Enix allowed members of the press to sit down and play the two multiplayer modes they're currently willing to reveal from the upcoming Lara Croft reboot.Team Deathmatch was the first, but its clash of warring sides offered nothing fresh on the staple multiplayer mode. The other mode, however, offered much more promise. In the mode dubbed Rescue, two teams are tasked with separate goals. Lara Croft's faction, the Scavengers, is sent after a medpack item in the level, and given a goal zone to bring it back to, scoring five times to win. The opposing team, called the Solarii, is given a kill goal (20 in the current build, though that may change), with the trick being that shooting the other side will only down them, making it necessary for the trigger-happy team to run to and finish off their wounded enemy in order to score a point.While Team Deathmatch is more or less standard multiplayer chaos, the balance of goals in Rescue makes the mode vastly more interesting. And while the screenshots will probably bring plenty of suggestions that Eidos is borrowing a page from the Uncharted playbook, the complexity hints that there's something new here.%Gallery-176100%
Tomb Raider 360 controller is rough, tumble, rumbles
You know how they make those designer jeans that look like you've owned 'em for 30 years, despite being brand new and insanely expensive? Well, this is like that, but for an Xbox 360.Launching in March, the official Tomb Raider Limited Edition Wireless Controller will cost $60 and come bundled with a code for exclusive character DLC; a hooded, goggled archer that can be seen in the video above. The controller itself features multiple layers of paint and laser etching, so not only does it look beat to hell but it'll feel that way too.As per usual with special edition Xbox 360 pads, it's also equipped with one of those nifty transforming D-pads, though whether the D-pad has been artificially aged like a too-expensive guitar replica is unknown.
Tomb Raider survives with friends in first multiplayer footage
The groundwork for Tomb Raider's multiplayer was laid some time ago with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. This episode of The Final Hours of Tomb Raider explores that and how multiplayer was an afterthought that eventually snowballed into a realized game mode.
Rumor: Tomb Raider to include multiplayer [Update: Confirmed!]
Lara Croft's upcoming adventure may have a multiplayer component, reports All Games Beta. A product listing on the UK retailer GAME listed multiplayer as a key feature in the new Tomb Raider, specifically stating that players will be able to "play a variety of multiplayer modes as Lara's Shipmates or Yamatai's Scavengers." The description has since been removed from the product page.Square Enix recently teased a "special secret announcement" in a video released earlier this year, promising that it would "change the way you play Tomb Raider forever." Assuming GAME's info was accurate, a multiplayer mode would certainly be new territory for the Tomb Raider series. We just hope there isn't a "Lara vs. Exotic Animals" mode. The animals wouldn't stand a chance.Update: Official Xbox Magazine's latest issue confirms the existence of multiplayer, though specifics are still in short supply. We'll keep our ear to the ground for official details as they surface.
Lara goes camping in first episode of Tomb Raider's 'Guide to Survival'
A video series focused on Tomb Raider will dive deeper into the mechanics and story of Crystal Dynamics' reboot. Guide to Survival's first episode focuses on Basecamps, which Lara uses to apply skill points to upgrade her skills and equipment. She also uses fire to survive because tank top.
