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[NotTheGuyYouKill]

But there is something wrong with it. Video games shouldn't be progressing towards becoming like movies where player input has less and less importance. There are plenty of games where you can shoot, so special emphasis should be placed on what makes this game different. Turning the platforming and exploring into a bunch of scripted sequences is a step backwards.

I was referring just to narrative and characters in story-driven games, not to gameplay. You make a good point. Just for me, personally, if the game is still fun to play through at the end of the day, it's okay with me. I actually do wish that Uncharted had a lot more exploration. At the end of UC3, I actually wanted to wander around Ubar and see it before everything... blew up. I hope Tomb Raider goes down this path of letting us explore the world instead of shootout after shootout. But as long as it's fun, it isn't like a dealbreaker for me, you know?

 

[Raziel]

Tomb Raider came first.

Uncharted got its ideas from previous games (Tomb Raider being a big influence).

Get it straight.

yes, tomb raider came first, then uncharted came second, then uncharted became popular, then tomb raider started getting ideas from uncharted!

you provide a solid recap of events up till 2007, though.

 

[Ninjimbo]

This is my problem with gaming in general now.

If they want to take my beloved franchises like Splinter Cell and turn it into a RPG with a stealth system and open world, alright I'm interested in seeing how it is.

But we don't get something like that (doesn't have to be a RPG, just an example). We never get something like that. We get linear areas in Hitman and auto headshots in Splinter Cell with reduced stealth, most of the RPG elements and some skills in Elder Scrolls yanked out with nothing better to replace it. And they're rewarded with GOTY by the gaming press that is supposedly comprised of dedicated gamers but I've been doubting that for 4 years now.

Maybe some people are just easy to satisfy. I know I am. I don't get why you have to think the whole industry is like that. Didn't Absolution and Conviction get blasted by some critics for the exact same things you're complaining about?

 

[Derrick01]

Maybe some people are just easy to satisfy. I know I am. I don't get why you have to think the whole industry is like that. Didn't Absolution and Conviction get blasted by some critics for the exact same things you're complaining about?

Some did but not enough. Conviction is sitting at an 85 and Absolution at a 79. And Skyrim was the critics' game of the year last year, as in it got the most goty picks.

 

[RagnarokX]

Maybe some people are just easy to satisfy. I know I am. I don't get why you have to think the whole industry is like that. Didn't Absolution and Conviction get blasted by some critics for the exact same things you're complaining about?

The industry is still moving in that direction. If these games do well, which they often do because so many people are easy to please with spectacle, then this is all we get from now on. If they fail, "the franchise isn't popular anymore" and it just gets abandoned. You already have games that please you, why take games away from people?

 

[XOMTOR]

I watched the live stream earlier tonight and the game most certainly has a distinct Uncharted flavor. Actually, it seems that perhaps it may be a better Uncharted game; at least the AI seemed less moronic and a bit more fun to engage.

Unfortunately, I'm not looking for any Uncharted in my Tomb Raider but there's lots to be found: chest-high walls everywhere, ledges and ropes that glow white to signify exactly where to climb, platforming that plays itself with almost no chance of screwing up, loads of QTEs and tons of bad dudes to blast away. I don't think I'd be out of line in saying that she killed more guys in this live segment tonight than she has in all previous TR games put together.

Tomb Raider is one of my top franchises and I should be waiting with baited breath but I think this one will be a Steam sale contender.

 

[Mr_Zombie]

I don't think I'd be out of line in saying that she killed more guys in this live segment tonight than she has in all previous TR games put together.

I doubt that's even possible. Legend was filled with shoot-outs and Underworld had two levels (the ones on Amanda's ship) where you had waves after waves of human enemies.

 

[sublimit]

I doubt that's even possible. Legend was filled with shoot-outs and Underworld had two levels (the ones on Amanda's ship) where you had waves after waves of human enemies.

Yeah but if this demo is any indication the whole game will far exceed the number of human enemies all previous games had together.

I wonder if they don't manage to get their #1 target group (the Uncharted fans) then who's going to buy this game?

 

[CREMSteve]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FI7DFJDUsNY

Lock if old.

Game looks great, and I will definitely pick it up, but two things really bother me, visually. I despise that her ponytail appears to be solid rather than fluid, and secondly, when she rises from the water at the end... she appears to be dry.

We should be at a point where that kind of stuff isn't acceptable in a AAA title, it's almost 2013.

Other than those pet peeves, looks good.

 

[Mr_Zombie]

Yeah but if this demo is any indication the whole game will far exceed the number of human enemies all previous games had together.

I wonder if they don't manage to get their #1 target group (the Uncharted fans) then who's going to buy this game?

I haven't seen the demo footage yet; are there really that many enemies? If so, then wow, did CD failed with their idea of "fragile girl that tries to survive". :|

Seriously, if they want so bad to go after all those "emotions", "wanting to protect Lara" and realism why the hell do they choose to turn the game into shooter where Lara is a mass murderer? I'm repeating myself, but they really should go after what they tried to do in Anniversary - where killing a human is really a significant moment in Lara's journey and her development, not something she does every few minutes.

It's a fucking Tomb Raider game; no one would complain if instead of human enemies Lara would be forced to face some supernatural creatures.

 

[Lime]

Omg @ the IGN walkthrough @ 9:40.

Noah Hughes: "People get the impression that the game is really linear, but we always try to create these pockets of exploration. Just as an example, we've learned to shoot the lanterns, and if you noticed when we shot the first lantern that we actually got a challenge notification, so I have 2 of 5 lanterns now."

Also, the UI designer must have been drunk or think that the player is insanely stupid by repeating the same information twice (lanterns destroyed, lanterns destroyed).

Seriously, the mental gymnastics needed to excuse linearity by having arbitrary collect-athons must be pretty fucking huge.

 

[sublimit]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

 

[ElfArmy177]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

As should the original tomb raider team for the creation of uncharted.

But yea, I agree with you on that shot lol

 

[Lime]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

To be fair though, I've hampered enough on this game, but it's just so sad to see something as derivative and nonsensical as this shitty game design. On the positive side I guess the larger hub areas looked sort of okay and the Metroidvania/Batman type of access to different areas might work fine in the game.

Still, the whole gunplay and killing hundreds of Russians really put me off. It encapsulates perfectly what's completely wrong in today's game development and consumption.

 

[CaVaYeRo]

Looks good but pretty much like uncharted.

Played several hours the other day. Multiple things separate this from Uncharted, to my surprise. I liked Lara's comments on archaeological pieces she finds, and the fact that they're relevant to story/progression. There's a more open world, exploration is necessary and combat situations where more varied and fun than same play time with Uncharted 3. Also character feels more interesting to me and survival abilities and upgrades make it even more varied/personal IMO. And I'm not a fan of the series at all, but now I'm eager to keep playing.

 

[sublimit]

As should the original tomb raider team for the creation of uncharted.

But yea, I agree with you on that shot lol

Uncharted has nothing to do with the original TR games.

If you have said they copied (to an extend) Tomb Raider Legend that i could agree with.

 

[twobear]

Is she not a bit cold climbing around in mountains during a snowstorm in a tanktop?

Even as far back as Tomb Raider 2 the developers realised they ought to make some concessions to reality with her clothing.

 

[Pikma]

So this is Uncharted + moaning and that's it?

 

[ElfArmy177]

Is she not a bit cold climbing around in mountains during a snowstorm in a tanktop?

Even as far back as Tomb Raider 2 the developers realised they ought to make some concessions to reality with her clothing.

Shorts and a coat are reality?

 

[twobear]

Shorts and a coat are reality?

I said some concessions. Especially since they're going for 'gritty realism'.

 

[sublimit]

On the positive side I guess the larger hub areas looked sort of okay and the Metroidvania/Batman type of access to different areas might work fine in the game.

The floaty platforming,the glowing white ropes,white ledges, and glowing white rocks showing you the right way forward are extremely off putting to me.
And there are zero traps or environmental hazzards (a trademark of the old TR games).

Everything is made to safely guide the player from point A to point B where he/she will face another wave of goons.

 

[nib95]

Omg @ the IGN walkthrough @ 9:40.

Noah Hughes: "People get the impression that the game is really linear, but we always try to create these pockets of exploration. Just as an example, we've learned to shoot the lanterns, and if you noticed when we shot the first lantern that we actually got a challenge notification, so I have 2 of 5 lanterns now."

Also, the UI designer must have been drunk or think that the player is insanely stupid by repeating the same information twice (lanterns destroyed, lanterns destroyed).

Seriously, the mental gymnastics needed to excuse linearity by having arbitrary collect-athons must be pretty fucking huge.

Whilst true, I absolutely loved collecting treasures in Uncharted 2. They were really cleverly hidden, and add to that each one was amazingly detailed and uniquely designed. I genuinely took pleasure in spinning and examining each one.

 

[meta4]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

So most certainly a TPS now..

As should the original tomb raider team for the creation of uncharted.

But yea, I agree with you on that shot lol

Uncharted has nothing in common with the original Tomb raider gameplay wise.

 

[MightyKAC]

This looks like it could be a fun game but they should've just gone ahead and made it a new IP.

No way should they have called this Tomb Raider.

 

[truly101]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

This is the worst thing ever. But I think everyone knows exactly what this is about now.

 

[Mr_Zombie]

Naughty Dog should feel very flattered with this game.

That screenshot gives me more of a RE4 vibe (castle levels, with monk Gonados hiding behind shields). Anyway... still far from what Tomb Raider should be about. :|

 

[Derrick01]

Omg @ the IGN walkthrough @ 9:40.

Noah Hughes: "People get the impression that the game is really linear, but we always try to create these pockets of exploration. Just as an example, we've learned to shoot the lanterns, and if you noticed when we shot the first lantern that we actually got a challenge notification, so I have 2 of 5 lanterns now."

Also, the UI designer must have been drunk or think that the player is insanely stupid by repeating the same information twice (lanterns destroyed, lanterns destroyed).

Seriously, the mental gymnastics needed to excuse linearity by having arbitrary collect-athons must be pretty fucking huge.

Ugh are you kidding me with that screenshot? This is exactly the type of shit I hate in gaming now. Pointless challenges that probably do nothing but play into achievements/trophies and the OCD mentality of completionists.

Also that's not fucking exploration/non linearity!!!

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

I finally watched this trailer yesterday at Gamersyde, was pretty much appalled and turned off of the whole endeavor almost from the get-go. I absolutely despise the voice work, especially for Lara.

Also, the guy calls her Laura.

Unless the entire trailer is full of nothing but "first stage" stuff, there's really not much room for interpretation at this point of what this whole game is going to be like. Also, since so much of the footage is from in-game stuff with fast cuts, it made the fps look very unsteady. I assume they wanted me to be impressed by how the game looks, but instead I'm left wondering if the performance is going to be that variable. And on top of everything else, at least half of what they show is obviously heavily scripted at best.

Not going to pretend I won't play it. Maybe I can turn my brain off and pretend this is a new IP.

 

[UrbanRats]

Ugh are you kidding me with that screenshot? This is exactly the type of shit I hate in gaming now. Pointless challenges that probably do nothing but play into achievements/trophies and the OCD mentality of completionists.

Also that's not fucking exploration/non linearity!!!

This way they can say "the main game is X hours, but if you're the kind of player who likes to explore every nook and cranny and search every collectibles, it can easily get into the XX hours!".

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Omg @ the IGN walkthrough @ 9:40.

Noah Hughes: "People get the impression that the game is really linear, but we always try to create these pockets of exploration. Just as an example, we've learned to shoot the lanterns, and if you noticed when we shot the first lantern that we actually got a challenge notification, so I have 2 of 5 lanterns now."

Also, the UI designer must have been drunk or think that the player is insanely stupid by repeating the same information twice (lanterns destroyed, lanterns destroyed).

Seriously, the mental gymnastics needed to excuse linearity by having arbitrary collect-athons must be pretty fucking huge.

I lol'd at that screen shot.

I want to watch that IGN playthrough, but 8 hours later, it's still being processed? The fuck?

 

[Crazypanda_85]

But there's nothing wrong with that. It's basically the video game equivalent of a blockbuster film. I mean, Star Trek '09 doesn't tell a great story "Oh raggedy bunch of misfit recruits on their first mission must band together to stop a homicidal psycho". But it's fun and the cast has great chemistry. Uncharted's basically like that. It's not trying to tell some grand sweeping narrative about the nature of humanity (though occasionally we might see things like that in the traits and nature of some characters), but that's not really the goal, is it? Something like The Last of Us would be more geared for that type of tale.



Which I don't mind. I'll be honest, I never really played the old TR games. I just played some of TR2 when I was younger. It was alright. I preferred Syphon Filter. But Uncharted is one my favourite franchises, period. If it plays similar to that, if it's fun, and if it tells an interesting (not necessarily good, but fun/interesting/engaging story), it's generally enough for me.

Third person character action games are pretty much my favourite, and this sort of game fits right into the genre I'm interested in. Adventure-horror type thing, you know.

I agree with you. Never thought the older TR games was this holy grail that some people are making it out to be. I thought that they were decent but not a perfect games.

I know I'm a part of the odd crowd but I actually like the look of the new TR title. It does seem to take a few ques from Uncharted (and even stole a few i.e. the heavy enforcer with the shield, but others games have that too) but that's not a bad thing. How many amazing titles have we seen that build on concepts that were coined on Nintendo titles (Mario, Metroid, Zelda,etc,.)? A game that uses ideas that have been proven to be effective is smart, as long as they do not use them to make up the soul of their game. Even though the game seems to be more shooter heavy, I do like that there is still a sense of exploration to the game and I actually like the art design. For those who have a stronger connection to the older TR titles, I can understand their complaints but for those who are not married to it's past, I think the new direction will be found acceptable.

 

[Crazypanda_85]

Sidenote:

What's going on with her ponytail? I wish they would have given her better hair physics. It's almost unacceptable. I know every game can't have that Alice hair tech but still :/

 

[Kammie]

I lol'd at that screen shot.

I want to watch that IGN playthrough, but 8 hours later, it's still being processed? The fuck?

I watched part of it last night. It was pretty ridiculous how the developers tried to circumvent most questions with these long roundabout answers. It was almost like hearing a politician talk at times.

The environments in the game looked kind of ok. They were climbing around a bit and stuff. But it was all the same stuff we already saw in videos when these previews all came out.

 

[Majmun]

The game looks gorgeous. But it doesn't look like a Tomb Raider game

 

[shandy706]

Uncharted has nothing in common with the original Tomb raider gameplay wise.

I could have swore I explored lost tombs/locations looking for ancient things in the original Tomb Raider and every one since. The last Uncharted I finished had me doing the same, with cover shooting on top.

If anything, Uncharted is Tomb Raider with Gears of War/other 3rd person shooters mashed together.

Have people only been playing games for 5 years? lol

Here's a snippet from the description of the original Tomb Raider "...she must kill dangerous creatures or other humans, while collecting objects and solving puzzles to gain access to a powerful artifact. The storyline is driven by the quest for a powerful artifact, with Lara in a race against a sinister shadow league who want to obtain the relic for their own purposes."

You could replace the female character and bad guys with the male character and think we were talking about Uncharted.

 

[Valkyr47]

Some did but not enough. Conviction is sitting at an 85 and Absolution at a 79. And Skyrim was the critics' game of the year last year, as in it got the most goty picks.

Well Skyrim is GOTY, dont agree? go jump off Dive Rock

 

[jimi_dini]

Ugh are you kidding me with that screenshot? This is exactly the type of shit I hate in gaming now. Pointless challenges that probably do nothing but play into achievements/trophies and the OCD mentality of completionists.

Also that's not fucking exploration/non linearity!!!

But you got 10 XP.

10 XP

You hear me? 10 XP

What do I do? What do I do? What shall I do?

Oh shoot the lanterns. And how many? I'm stoopid. 5 - Okey gaem. But only, if I get XP for doing so. Add a bronze trophy when I got them all.

This is the perfect game for people in the Dark Souls 2 thread, that write "I don't have much time, I want to win, but I don't want to learn anything, I don't want think at all, add an easy mode - game - tell me what to do - and I also need instant awards like getting XP for any shit that I do"

 

[Ninjimbo]

This is the worst thing ever. But I think everyone knows exactly what this is about now.

What's wrong with it? Mechanically, it looks sound.

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

I've bought every TR since Legend day one, but I'm not paying full price for this. I hope they find a new audience.

 

[sublimit]

I could have swore I explored lost tombs/locations looking for ancient things in the original Tomb Raider and every one since. The last Uncharted I finished had me doing the same

*sigh*
It's not what you do,it's how you do it that's important.Why some people aren't able to analyze something beyond a superficial level?

 

[sleepykyo]

Omg @ the IGN walkthrough @ 9:40.

Noah Hughes: "People get the impression that the game is really linear, but we always try to create these pockets of exploration. Just as an example, we've learned to shoot the lanterns, and if you noticed when we shot the first lantern that we actually got a challenge notification, so I have 2 of 5 lanterns now."

Also, the UI designer must have been drunk or think that the player is insanely stupid by repeating the same information twice (lanterns destroyed, lanterns destroyed).

Seriously, the mental gymnastics needed to excuse linearity by having arbitrary collect-athons must be pretty fucking huge.

Are those supposed to represent boy scout badges or military emblems?

 

[xxracerxx]

I could have swore I explored lost tombs/locations looking for ancient things in the original Tomb Raider and every one since. The last Uncharted I finished had me doing the same, with cover shooting on top.

Mario 64 is the end all be all of 3D gaming.

 

[xxracerxx]

I lol'd at that screen shot.

I want to watch that IGN playthrough, but 8 hours later, it's still being processed? The fuck?

1-Hour Gameplay Demo + Creator Q&A: Alternate link: http://www.twitch.tv/ignlive/b/347030892 (Skip to 34:18)

 

[NullPointer]

Just... ok... gah

It sucks to know you're no longer anywhere near the audience for something which provided so many great memories over the years.

That shot above just took all the wind from my sails. Of all the ways the series could evolve... they chose THIS.

 

[Mr_Zombie]

You could replace the female character and bad guys with the male character and think we were talking about Uncharted.

Uncharted puts emphasis on shooting. It's basically a shooter with simple automatic platforming and brain dead puzzles to mix things up.

Tomb Raider puts emphasize on platforming and puzzles, with maze-like level design and big environmental puzzles. It also had shitty shooting mechanics that I think few very enjoyed.

Just because the theme is similar doesn't mean those games are similar gameplay wise. It's like saying God of War/Dante's Inferno and DMC/Ninja Gaiden/Bayonetta are similar games. They aren't. They belong to completely different genres.

And it's because we have been playing games for over 5 years that we are mad at the changes to the formula.

 

[Disgaeamad]

why did the developer put so many human enemies that need to be killed in the game is the implied question.

I get being on guard about this game, but let's not ignore the fact that Tomb Raider 2 involved killing more humans than anything else. You had a couple of dogs here and there, some tigers and spiders and shit then those statues from the last level, but the overwhelming majority of enemies you killed in it were human.

 

[meta4]

I could have swore I explored lost tombs/locations looking for ancient things in the original Tomb Raider and every one since. The last Uncharted I finished had me doing the same, with cover shooting on top.

If anything, Uncharted is Tomb Raider with Gears of War/other 3rd person shooters mashed together.

Have people only been playing games for 5 years? lol

Here's a snippet from the description of the original Tomb Raider "...she must kill dangerous creatures or other humans, while collecting objects and solving puzzles to gain access to a powerful artifact. The storyline is driven by the quest for a powerful artifact, with Lara in a race against a sinister shadow league who want to obtain the relic for their own purposes."

You could replace the female character and bad guys with the male character and think we were talking about Uncharted.

The only thing common is they are treasure hunters. I doubt you have even played the original tomb raiders if you think UC is the same gameplay wise. UC is a shooter with absolutely no challenge in the platforming. It is a TPS unlike Tomb Raider which had more challenging platforming and absolutely shitty shooting since that was not even the focus of the game. Not every game based on treasure hunting owes something to Tomb Raider. Both use a zillion pulp adventure tropes that so many adventure games use. Gameplay wise they are totally different and aim to or atleast until the recent Tomb Raider aimed to do completely different things.

 

[shandy706]

Uncharted puts emphasis on shooting. It's basically a shooter with simple automatic platforming and brain dead puzzles to mix things up.

Tomb Raider puts emphasize on platforming and puzzles, with maze-like level design and big environmental puzzles. It also had shitty shooting mechanics that I think few very enjoyed.

Just because the theme is similar doesn't mean those games are similar gameplay wise. It's like saying God of War/Dante's Inferno and DMC/Ninja Gaiden/Bayonetta are similar games. They aren't. They belong to completely different genres.

And it's because we have been playing games for over 5 years that we are mad at the changes to the formula.

I've played every single one of those games. They are incredibly "similar". They all play very "similar" to one another. They just have slightly different mechanics and settings.

If you want two different games in the same genre do The Show vs Madden. They're both sports games...but not "similar" in gameplay at all. lol

*sigh*
It's not what you do,it's how you do it that's important.Why some people aren't able to analyze something beyond a superficial level?

You mean climbing all over things, shooting guns, looking for artifacts, and solving (easy or hard) puzzles.

Which game am I talking about?

(face meet palm)





Edit*** Let me point out..I obviously know there are differences, but they're very similar games. Tomb Raider influenced UC, 3rd Person shooters influenced UC, etc. My response was to people that said it's just an Uncharted rip-off. No...no it's not. If it were, it would be ripping itself off, all it's doing is adding more gunplay...like other 3rd person shooters. I also understand the love for puzzle solving/exploration vs gunplay as we grew up playing this series. I loved the original on the PC.

The only thing common is they are treasure hunters. I doubt you have even played the original tomb raiders if you think UC is the same gameplay wise. UC is a shooter with absolutely no challenge in the platforming. It is a TPS unlike Tomb Raider which had more challenging platforming and absolutely shitty shooting since that was not even the focus of the game. Not every game based on treasure hunting owes something to Tomb Raider. Both use a zillion pulp adventure tropes that so many adventure games use. Gameplay wise they are totally different and aim to or atleast until the recent Tomb Raider aimed to do completely different things.

So they don't have climbing all over everything to get to destinations in common? That's what you're saying.

I've been playing PC games since the 80's. I played the original and use to get hugely annoyed when the camera and the gunplay got wonky...and that was the norm in the next two. Trying to track an attacking animal and run could be very difficult..lol.

 

[Amir0x]

Edit: Moved to next post.

 

[injurai]

That first scene is practically identical to Uncharted 2...wow

ya. wtf.