PS4 Rise Of The Tomb Raider
PS4 Rise Of The Tomb Raider for PlayStation 4, developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix, is the follow-up to the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. Originally released for Xbox in 2015, the PS4 version arrived in October 2016 with additional content, enhancements, and the full “20 Year Celebration” edition. The game continues the journey of Lara Croft as she delves deeper into the mysteries of her past and battles new adversaries in a stunning adventure that blends action, exploration, and survival elements.
Key Features
Lara Croft’s Evolution
- Character Growth: Rise of the Tomb Raider shows Lara Croft evolving into the legendary tomb raider she’s destined to become. The story explores her inner conflicts, motivations, and the toll her adventures take on her psyche as she searches for the secret of immortality.
- Emotionally Driven Narrative: The game delivers an emotional narrative, intertwining Lara’s personal struggles with a global conspiracy involving the ancient secret of the lost city of Kitezh. Her journey is both personal and epic, with a focus on character development and storytelling.
Stunning and Dangerous Environments
- Beautiful, Harsh Locations: Set primarily in Siberia, Rise of the Tomb Raider features a visually striking world filled with snow-covered mountains, dense forests, and ancient ruins. The game’s environments are not only visually stunning but also dangerous, requiring players to survive harsh conditions while exploring hidden tombs and crypts.
- Expansive Exploration: The game encourages exploration, offering larger hub areas with side missions, collectibles, and challenges. Players can revisit these areas to uncover secrets, solve environmental puzzles, and unlock new gear.
Enhanced Gameplay Mechanics
- Refined Combat and Stealth: Rise of the Tomb Raider improves upon its predecessor’s combat system, offering a mix of stealth and action-oriented gameplay. Players can use a variety of weapons, craftable tools, and traps to take down enemies or avoid direct confrontation altogether.
- Crafting and Survival: Crafting plays a significant role, as players gather resources to create ammunition, explosives, and health supplies. This system ties into the game’s survival mechanics, emphasizing the need to scavenge and adapt to the environment to succeed.
Tomb Raiding and Puzzle Solving
- Classic Tomb Exploration: The game returns to its roots with more focus on tomb exploration and puzzle-solving. These optional tombs and crypts are filled with environmental puzzles that challenge players’ problem-solving skills and offer valuable rewards, such as special abilities and upgrades.
- Environmental Interaction: Lara’s ability to interact with the environment is crucial to solving puzzles and navigating obstacles. Players will need to use tools like the climbing axe, rope arrows, and Lara’s knowledge of ancient languages to unlock secrets hidden within the tombs.
20 Year Celebration Edition
- Bonus Content: The PlayStation 4 release includes the “20 Year Celebration” edition, which features all previously released DLC, including the story expansion “Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch,” and “Blood Ties,” a new narrative-driven experience set in Croft Manor. Additional outfits, weapons, and game modes, such as the co-op Endurance mode and Lara’s Nightmare zombie mode, provide even more content for players to enjoy.
- PlayStation VR Support: The Blood Ties expansion includes PlayStation VR support, allowing players to explore Croft Manor in virtual reality, adding a new level of immersion to the experience.
Challenge Modes and Replayability
- Expedition Mode: Rise of the Tomb Raider offers various challenge modes, such as Time Trials and Score Attacks, that encourage players to replay levels and compete on leaderboards. These modes add replayability, offering unique challenges that extend beyond the main story.
- New Game Plus: After completing the game, players can replay it with all of their previously acquired gear and abilities, allowing them to fully explore areas and uncover all secrets.
Conclusion
Rise of the Tomb Raider for PlayStation 4 delivers a thrilling and visually stunning action-adventure experience that balances character-driven storytelling with exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. With its expansive environments, refined gameplay mechanics, and additional content, the game is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. The “20 Year Celebration” edition makes this version the definitive way to experience Lara Croft’s journey on PS4.