Rise of the Tomb Raider

I have played every game in the series and prefer the direct prequel, which i 100%ed, due to the more coherent world. Anniversary is still remains my favorite entry but a bronze medal is nice too. My biggest problem is that the narrative is even dumber and more of a focus this time around. The 2 main villains may be a step up and the gore-porn has been toned down a bit but Lara comes off as a bipolar serial killer in the end. The gameplay is the star though and i can't complaining in that regard! The landscapes and tombs are worth the price of admission alone so grab an ice pick and become a barely human stalker of men (but finish the prequel first). 8,5/10

#RiseoftheTombRaider Rating : 8.5/10 Review : It's an amazing adventure game, the graphics are amazing and very detailed! One of my favorite Tomb Raider games so far. We need more story based games like this, that are as EPIC, driven and cinematic as it gets!! Cant wait to play "shadow of the tomb raider"

My review is belated because I'm a ps4 owner and started playing this masterpiece just 2 days ago. Now I'm typing this review as the end credits are rolling. First things first, it's a masterpiece. Frankly speaking I wasn't a fan of the series, until a played the previous entry in 2013 and instantly fell in love with the character. I was so much impressed that even when at one point the Rise of the Tomb Raider was announced as Xbox exclusive, I had already started thinking of buying the console, because Lara had left me breathless. Then some time later I learned that they will actually release the ps4 version and sighed in relief. Being nearly a veteran gamer, this game affected me so deep I must say my heart lies with Lara Croft now. A unique gaming experience that should not be missed. If the next installment is released on Xbox only, I will definitely get that console this time.

If I were to make a list of the best games in the entire Tomb Raider franchise since the first game in 1996, this one would undoubtedly make it into the top 3. What a wonderful game. It has all the modernity of the new line of the franchise added to the magic of puzzles and complex maps from the first games. For me, "Tomb Raider 2" (1997), "Tomb Raider Anniversary" (2007 remake of the original 1996 game) and this "Rise of The Tomb Raider" are the top marks of this wonderful franchise. If you love Lara Croft, puzzles and exploration at the highest level, don't miss this title.

Pros:

• Side characters are more developed as compared to the previous game (including better villains)
• Diverse gameplay
• Cool cinematic action set pieces
• Amazing graphics, voice acting, and animation
• More interesting environments and level design
• Good variety of weapons and gadgets
• Great puzzles and better tombs

Cons:

• Storyline isn't as compelling as the story from the previous game
• Can feel like abit of a retread of the first game
• Gameplay can be abit clunky

Verdict: Overall, a solid sequel that improves in many elements, but imo the story is not as compelling as Lara's origin story within the first game.

8/10