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Tomb Raider PS4: Physics Upgrades And Voice Commands

Ben-Dutka 5 Comments

Yesterday, Crystal Dynamics tried to explain why the Definitive Edition of Tomb Raider for the PlayStation 4 is worth every penny of that $60.

There's even more upgrade information that may help to further vindicate Square Enix's chosen price point. During a Q&A session on the publisher's official forums , Crystal Dynamics executive producer Scot Amos talked about all sorts of nifty updates for this special next-gen edition:

"There are custom differences as you know for each – meaning that the PS4′s controller has a touch-pad on it, [and] the lit front that we do interact with in-game. Xbox One has Kinect which we make use of, [but] both support voice commands.” You’ll be able to use the updated PlayStation Camera to employ the functionality on the Japanese giant’s hot new hardware, or alternatively you’ll have the option to connect a microphone to the DualShock 4."

New voice commands will let you switch between weapons on the fly, and Amos adds that their engineers "were dedicated to improving physics both on Lara and in the world." So, that means her climbing axe, radio and bow-and-arrow have all been updated to reflect more realistic physics. Basically, it's a major atmospheric upgrade overall, and it extends to everything from Lara's hair to even the smallest aspects of her surroundings.

Then again, it could be just a lot of PR speak. There's some of that in there, too, so we should probably acknowledge it.

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider

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Tomb Raider Dev Explains Full-Priced Definitive Edition

Ben-Dutka 21 Comments

Tomb Raider is indeed one of the best games of 2013. There's no disputing that.

But is the upcoming Definitive Edition for the PlayStation 4 really worth the full cost of admission ($60)? Many gamers have questioned this decision, and developer Crystal Dynamics has been good enough to explain the reasoning behind this pricing.

The studio held a Q&A in the official Eidos forums , and they were asked the following: "Do you think it's justified to sell a full-priced upgrade of the game so soon after the original's release?" And Crystal Dynamics responded:

"It’s a great question and while I don’t control sales or prices, what I do know is that Tomb Raider is an awesome game. It has received many nominations and has an amazing fan base that keeps us striving to always deliver the best and always pushing ourselves to even do better. If it was “only a facelift” AND we were only reselling it on the same platforms we’d already shipped it on, I would see your point. But as we’re selling it on a new platform, with a lot of development work put in to custom craft it for the new platforms; with the new additions for the aesthetic, the physics, the particles, the lighting – taking advantage of next-gen features – so I absolutely stand by our decision to offer up Definitive Edition the way we are.

We’d love for every Tomb Raider fan to get to experience it on next-gen. We are definitely looking to draw in those folks who may not have experience it yet on the last generation so they can experience this version on next-generation. But even for existing hardcore fans, we are confident in the offering we have as an excellent enhanced experience above and beyond what we’d previously provided. We wouldn’t bring it to you all if we felt otherwise. You are the reasons we do what we do."

So, are you satisfied? The explanation does make a lot of sense, although we're willing to bet that not all gamers will see it that way. The Definitive Edition for Tomb Raider will launch on January 28 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Will you be picking it up?

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider

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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition May Be Prettier Than You Think

Ben-Dutka 17 Comments

The upgraded Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition will release for next-gen consoles in North America on January 28, 2014.

When it was announced, we learned it would run natively in 1080p high-definition, and there would be other visual upgrades, such as Lara's "more realistic" hair. But that might only be the tip of the iceberg.

In the Crystal Dynamics forums , executive producer Scot Amos answered questions concerning the new next-gen iteration of the well-received reboot. Someone wanted to know if a patch would be coming to the PC version to make it look prettier, and Amos responded that they were happy with the PC version as it is. He also elaborated on the graphical upgrades for the PS4/Xbox One versions:

"The work that went into the PS4 and Xbox One versions started at the end of the X360/PS3/PC versions. They were our foundation that we then built on top of. The amount of extra work – 3 studios and a full year of development – have pushed the boundaries beyond just TressFX and upgraded textures.

We now have a new particle system, new lighting work and enhanced shadow-casters, tons of more visual storytelling elements (more debris, more details on walls, more density in the environment for vegetation), upgraded characters (Lara and main story NPCs), and we've also put all of the DLC materials into this version for PS4/Xbox One. We are very happy with the PC version we released and felt these new additions and changes were something custom just for next-gen consoles at the moment."

Bet you're a little more excited now, huh? Of course, I may find it difficult to play through the game again just 'cuz it looks better. I already nailed my 100% the first time around and I loved it; come the end of January, I think I'll still be playing one of my Big 3 (GTAV, GT6, ACIV: Black Flag). But if you missed Tomb Raider earlier this year, the Definitive Edition is a definite must. The game is just that much fun.

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider

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What Do You Make Of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition?

David-D--Nelson 30 Comments

For the record, I really want this edition for my PS4.

There is nothing between Killzone: Shadow Fall and inFamous: Second Son (now listed for release on April 1st at Amazon) that I just gotta have for my PS4. I could probably wait for this new Tomb Raider but it would fill a big gap in the 2014 release schedule and I loved that game. I'm also intrigued by the updates.

The PS3 version already looked great but the PS4 one has been rebuilt to run in native 1080p with some cool enhancements. The texture fidelity is four times what it was, some new physics are involved, and Lara has a brand new character model among other things. I've been planning to play it again anyway to look for 100% completion but now I will likely wait until I get this version.

However, the idea of this definitive edition raises a number of discussion points that the PSXE community probably has some thoughts on. I'll just make a few points and then if folks would like to chime in they are welcome.

Essentially this game could be the first representative of a new wave of HD update equivalents. Instead of getting our favorite PS2 games in HD we would, in theory, be getting upgrades of PS3 games. Since many late gen projects were on scalable engines we might not be facing the resurfacing of just the huge fan classics this time but a bevy of older projects seeking new sales.

So long as the updates are popular there's the possibility that they could detract from the work that needs doing on genuine next-gen projects. Those projects all seem to be a little further out than we had all hoped don't they? Something doesn't seem quite right about subsisting on shinier versions of old games until then, even if we do want to see how they look.

Cross-gen titles are making their scheduled appearances, but I don't think most people want that period to last too long. After Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag there is still The Evil Within , Titanfall for Xbox fans, and Destiny for online gamers. If these new super duper updates become normal it could extend the cross-gen period for years, leaving little pressure on developers to complete next-gen projects on time.

Where PS4 is concerned there is the topic of Gaikai support to consider. We were told that the big games would be supported but what if Sony really wanted to sell an updated version of The Last of Us ? You can bet that backwards Gaikai support for the PS3 version would be put well off in such a case. Since the PS3 had some pretty solid PS2 emulation capabilities it was obvious that backwards compatibility was removed to sell PS2 classics.

What do you make of the Definitive Edition topic? Good for the industry and us, or possibly problematic?

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

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Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Confirmed For PS4, Xbox One

Ben-Dutka 15 Comments

We'd heard that a special next-gen version of the Tomb Raider reboot was on the way.

Now it's official. During the 2013 VGX Awards, Square Enix confirmed that the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition will launch for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on January 28, 2014.

This new version will offer additional polygons and new environmental effects, along with what is reported to be "real hair" for Lara. The game will run in silky smooth 1080p high-definition, although the publisher didn't specify whether or not both the PS4 and Xbox One versions would offer native 1080p resolution. If you missed out, Tomb Raider is one of the most entertaining titles of the year, and it should be even better on next-gen platforms.

Besides, you want anything called the "Definitive Edition" in your collection, right? I know I want it.

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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Hitting PS4 On January 24?

Ben-Dutka 10 Comments

The Tomb Raider reboot was one of the absolute funnest games of 2013.

Now, it appears that Lara Croft's latest and greatest adventure might be coming to the freshly released PlayStation 4. As spotted by Eurogamer , there's a very recent Amazon Italy listing for the "Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition."

It has a date of January 24, 2014, which means that if it's real, we should be hearing more about this new version soon. According to the product page, the Definitive Edition will feature the main game, all the currently released downloadable content and an artbook. No new single-player content was ever released, but Crystal Dynamics did make some cool new multiplayer maps. And besides, if you missed out earlier this year and you have the PS4, this will be perfect in January. Should be awesome on the PS4!

Let's hope Square Enix announces a new entry for the new generation, too.

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider

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