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Deals with Gold: All Lara Croft, all week
Microsoft's current Deals with Gold lineup spotlights adventurer Lara Croft, offering discounts on many of her recent releases on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Xbox One owners get a deal on Tomb Raider Definitive Edition this week, while the non-definitive 2013 Xbox 360 version and all DLC also see a series of steep price drops. Other featured Xbox 360 Games on Demand releases include Tomb Raider Underworld, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Tomb Raider Legend, and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. From Software's Armored Core Verdict Day and Ninja Theory's Enslaved round out this week's discounted offerings for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. All listed deals are available through November 24. [Image: Square Enix]
Select Tomb Raider games 75% off on Steam this weekend
From now until 10 a.m. Pacific time on Monday morning, the PC versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Underworld are all 75 percent on Steam, meaning that each game can be had for less than a fiver. That is, provided you're able to circumnavigate an elaborate series of traps, deadly animals and vicious, armed ne'er-do-wells hell-bent on preventing you from acquiring the treasure you seek.* *Some or all requirements listed may be a complete fabrication. Joystiq, AOL Media Inc. and The Huffington Post Media Group are not responsible for any injuries sustained while attempting to purchase computerized video-machine games off of digital distribution platforms such as Steam. Today's lucky number is "three." If Lily has six apples, and a different girl also named Lily has twelve apples, why are you still reading this?
Free Tomb Raider: Underworld, Marvel Pinball for PS Plus members in December
PlayStation Plus members will be able to download full versions of Tomb Raider: Underworld and PSN's Marvel Pinball this month, along with three PSone classics from the Spyro franchise. Underworld and Spyro are available tomorrow, December 6, while Marvel Pinball goes gratis on December 13. After getting hooked on Marvel Pinball, be sure to check out the Captain America and Fantastic Four add-on tables, which will be available for 50 percent off. Head on over to the PlayStation Blog for a full list of December discounts.
Tomb Raider celebrates 15th anniversary with Steam sale this weekend
Has it really been 15 years since we shared in Lara Croft's obsessive lust for artifacts and her undying vendetta against endangered species? Heck, the creatures of the earth aren't even safe after they've become extinct -- she's killed plenty of dinosaurs too. To commemorate fifteen years of robbing graves, dodging traps and accidentally swan-diving into neck-crunching granite, Steam is offering the post-reboot Tomb Raider series at a magnanimous rate until Monday, 10AM Pacific. Tomb Raider: Underworld is the most expensive of the lot at $6.79, with Tomb Raider 1 remake Anniversary going for $3.39. Crystal Dynamics' first stint with Lara, Tomb Raider: Legend, is available for $5.09. At under $16 in total, it's a trilogy to be treasured. Err, right before next year's reboot, of course.
Tomb Raider PS3 trilogy pack confirmed, details to follow shortly
Lady Croft's latest adventures -- excluding the downloadable Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light -- are getting bundled up in early 2011 for a Tomb Raider Trilogy pack on PlayStation 3. Karl Stewart, global brand director for Crystal Dynamics, confirmed this weekend's leak on his Twitter account. He noted that a full announcement would be made shortly. If the Amazon listing is accurate, the Blu-ray compilation will include Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary, both of which will be available for the first time on the console, along with 2008's Tomb Raider: Underworld. You'll also get male and female avatars for PlayStation Home and an XMB theme. This looks to be the last send-off for the obsessive and occasionally mean Lara introduced by Crystal Dynamics in 2006. She'll experience another reboot in Tomb Raider -- just "Tomb Raider" -- next year.
Tomb Raider Trilogy combines HD Legend, Anniversary and Underworld on PS3, retail listing says
The PS3 may be home to yet another HD collection. Amazon.de has a listing for Tomb Raider Trilogy. According to the listing, the Blu-ray will include Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider Anniversary and Tomb Raider Underworld. The first two games will get an HD makeover (and will likely look similar to the Xbox 360 versions), and all three games will offer PlayStation Network trophies. In addition, the collection will unlock special male and female avatars for use in PlayStation Home. While Square Enix has yet to officially announce the collection, we find it a rather likely prospect. It would be a fitting way to close the book on Lara's previous adventures before the upcoming reboot. Oh, and everyone else is doing it too. [Thanks, Jose M.!]
OnLive prices flat-rate 'PlayPack' plan at $10 per month, begins MicroConsole shipments
When we last wrote about OnLive, the "cloud gaming" service had just announced a price and ship date for its MicroConsole hardware. At the time, we also reported that it was planning to launch a flat-rate pricing plan for access to older "back catalog" titles and indie games, with a price to be announced. This morning, the company has set what's now known as the "PlayPack" plan at $9.99 per month, and will make it available to all OnLive users on January 15, 2011. PlayPack is available right now to those with the OnLive MicroConsole -- or soon to get one, as they've begun shipping to Founding Members today -- in "beta" form, free of charge until the official roll-out. Currently, the PlayPack beta offers access to a collection of about a dozen games, some new to the service (like Prince of Persia and Tomb Raider: Underworld) while others, like Unreal Tournament 3, have been on the service since it launched last summer. OnLive says it will have a library of 40 games ready for PlayPack subscribers when the for-pay tier launches in January. Looking at the finer print, some of the games "require a mouse and/or keyboard" -- which are supported in both wired and wireless flavors by the MicroConsole. Check out a partial list of games included in the PlayPack beta after the break.
Former Tomb Raider director discusses highs and lows of Underworld
Meant to conclude the trilogy that began with the franchise's crucial and critically well-received reboot, Tomb Raider: Underworld ended not only Lara Croft's search for her mystically misplaced mother, but Eric Lindstrom's stint as creative director at Crystal Dynamics. He's spoken out on some elements of Underworld's development before -- particularly with regards to its two DLC expansions -- but a postmortem published on Gamasutra features a complete account of his work on the game. While Lindstrom points out many of the game's successes in terms of design and play mechanics, he admits that several unforeseen factors took a significant bite out of time that was initially set aside for polishing. Getting a shared technology base in place proved unexpectedly difficult, and "acts of god" seemed to target the team, tragically taking the life of the lead level designer during the first half of production. Eidos may have expressed disappointment in Underworld's sales, but the now Square Enix-owned publisher is rumored to be at work on a new direction for the franchise, overseen by original Tomb Raider designer Toby Gard.
Lara's Underworld adventure goes budget in the UK
According to Tomb Raider Chronicles, Eidos has announced that Tomb Raider Underworld has become part of the Xbox 360 Classics range as well as PS3 Platinum Hits in the UK. The upshot here is that both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions should now be available for a mere £19.99. We've contacted Eidos to see if the new price applies to all PAL regions and if North America will see any budget love.Considering Eidos was disappointed in the game's sales in North America and the game enjoyed relative success in the UK, we're not holding our breath.
Trophies: Tomb Raider Underworld
The Tomb Raider Underworld Trophy patch is finally coming! You can expect it on Thursday, May 28th, worldwide. Check out the Trophies after the break.[Thanks, Daniel!] View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
Joystiq Review: Tomb Raider Underworld: Lara's Shadow (DLC)
Acting as a cracked mirror, reflecting the obsession and ruthlessness that has come to envelop Lara Croft in her most recent adventures, the Doppelganger makes for an interesting choice of protagonist for Tomb Raider Underworld's second downloadable expansion. As Lara's shadow so curtly explains, she's an exact duplicate of Tomb Raider's lithe leading lady -- minus all the flaws. Unfortunately, Lara's Shadow is anything but, serving only to highlight and exacerbate one of the biggest problems that has plagued the Tomb Raider series since its inception. It's vaguely appalling that developer Crystal Dynamics has managed to introduce even more combat this time around, even after removing most of Lara's guns.
'Lara's Shadow' out today, new trailer heaps on the drama
Hot on the (high) heels of last week's developer documentary, Eidos has released the first "official" trailer for Tomb Raider: Underworld's second -- and, presumably, final -- 360-exclusive DLC expansion, "Lara's Shadow." The add-on mission is out today for 800 ($10) and the rest of this post is one big spoiler, so turn back ye who do not wish things ... spoiled.The footage -- dubbed the "final trailer," despite being the only trailer, but whatevs -- shows a whole lot of the main game (Lara's doppelganger blowing up Croft Manor, their battle in Helheim) along with plenty of talking before getting to the goods: the titular Shadow in action, slowing down time -- speeding up time! -- and kicking enemies. Lots of kicking. Well, and running up walls. Actually, just the one wall. So, will you be slapping down the points for this one, or are you all Lara'd out?Look for our review of Lara's the doppelganger's adventures tomorrow.
Trivial Pursuit, Tomb Raider and FEAR 2 receive free DLC
Major Nelson of the clan Hryb sends word that free DLC is available on XBLM for three very different types of games. Trivial Pursuit: Hundreds of new questions for movie buffs. Tomb Raider: Underworld: Designer costume pack, created by designers and voted for by Tomb Raider fans. F.E.A.R. 2: "Toy Soldiers" Map Pack, where players are inches tall and battle in a "pinball machine, a hospital lab room, and a playground sandbox." OK, that actually sounds cool. Go ahead, grab those and get to thinking, dressing and killing.
'Lara's Shadow' exposed in new Underworld DLC footage
Wrongly thinking it could slip past us unnoticed, the first glimpse of Tomb Raider: Underworld's upcoming, Xbox 360-exclusive "Lara's Shadow" DLC on video has ventured ... out of the shadows. Narrated by members of the add-on episode's dev team, the footage features Lara Croft's doppelganger, a.k.a. the character you'll be playing as should you download the content in question. She's stronger and faster than Lara, according to the devs, who've decided to focus more on hand-to-hand (and foot-to-face) combat for the Shadow's turn in the spotlight. The doppelganger has the ability to speed up and slow time, as well as amplify the power of any weapon she's carrying. The episode appears to be quite platforming-heavy; watch for snippets of Lara's look-alike running up walls and shimmying along ledges with inhuman speed. (Maybe because she's ... not human?)
Joystiq Review: Tomb Raider Underworld: Beneath the Ashes (DLC)
Sometimes, I worry about Lara Croft. Sure, the bloody vendetta against endangered animals and that egregious contempt for ancient pots were both neon-lit warning signs, but the writing on the walls has never been so clearly etched as on those found in her latest raid-worthy tomb. It's not the fact that she's willing to clamber, crawl and cartwheel through the decrepit crypt, her collapsed mansion as its gravestone, that makes me fret about her mental health. It's that she's willing to do it all in a camo bikini.Unsurprisingly, the gaudy garment, no doubt picked up at a tacky souvenir shop on Normandy Beach, represents the more adolescent additions offered by Tomb Raider Underworld's first DLC episode, Beneath the Ashes. The rest of it -- a large, unexplored environment, a new enemy and some fresh puzzles -- should appeal to those who see beyond Lara's figure and appreciate a game of clockwork exploration and platforming.
Tomb Raider 'Beneath the Ashes' DLC now on XBLM
Archaeology buffs take note: New Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC is now available. Entitled 'Beneath the Ashes' the DLC has Lara Croft exploring yet more expansive caverns and crypts conveniently buried under Croft Manor. In addition to the new playable content, the DLC includes six new outfits for Ms. Croft and 125 achievement points to earn. Should you wish to explore 'Beaneath the Ashes,' the price of admission is 800.
Eidos confirms 'Beneath the Ashes' price, playable character in second DLC pack
Eidos has finally confirmed that Tomb Raider Underworld's Beneath the Ashes pack -- releasing tomorrow -- will cost the expected 800 ($10). Lara's exploration of what existed beneath her 12-room (2-bath), fully furnished wine cellar is the first piece of DLC, to be followed by Lara's Shadow, which offers a "new" playable character.Given the disappointing sales of TRU, we're going to guess that quite a few haven't played the title yet. As this playable character is a spoiler, we'll place that info after the break.
Tomb Raider's 'Beneath the Ashes' DLC coming Feb. 24
After an "unexpected technical issue" delayed her basement expedition, Lara Croft is back on track for her Xbox 360-exclusive Tomb Raider Underworld add-on, Beneath the Ashes. According to an official forum post by Eidos' head of mastering, Jason Walker, the download has cleared Microsoft certification and should be available on the Xbox Live Marketplace next Tuesday, February 24. We've reached out to Eidos PR for additional confirmation.A title update addressing several game bugs (fixes listed after the break) will be released alongside the download, which is expected to weigh in at 948MB. The second downloadable chapter, Lara's Shadow, still retains its original March 10 release date and promise of a "new" playable character. Expect each pack to cost 800 ($10).
Trophies to be patched into Tomb Raider: Underworld
Lara Croft may be a treasure hunter, but she came up empty handed in her quest for Trophies in the PS3 version of Tomb Raider: Underworld. This is to be remedied by way of an upcoming patch, says an Eidos community manager.According to a post on the game's official forums, Crystal Dynamics originally desired to have Trophy support included in the shipped game. "The guys at Crystal have been looking into this for a long time because they really wanted to include it," a community rep wrote. "The good news is that I can confirm that a patch for the PS3 version of Tomb Raider: Underworld is being worked on that will enable Trophy Support."We've contacted Eidos for comment on the patch and an expected release date. We'll update as soon as we receive word.[Via CVG]
Hey, you got Mirror's Edge in my Tomb Raider!
Lara and Faith have a lot in common. Both are strong, female protagonists, and both find themselves relying heavily on their ability to effectively navigate the environment around them. Now, they have another thing in common: they've both been the subject of weird mods. Check out the video past the break, which shows what Lara's world would look like had it taken inspiration from Mirror's Edge.[Thanks, M]
