Rise of the Tomb Raider received high commends as soon as it launched on Xbox. Thankfully, the title has a PC installment that adventure-exploration fans will surely enjoy.
Dutch development house Nixxes Software is responsible for bringing Crystal Dynamics' title to PC. Nixxes managed to feature a myriad of PC exclusive options into the game, visually refining and expanding the engaging story of Lara Croft.
Visuals
The PC version of ROTR packs a physically-based materials system, deformable snow, image-based lighting, tessellated terrain, high quality cinematic effects, enhanced hair simulation and more.
A number of graphic elements in the PC installment outdoes the Xbox One variant.
"Anisotropic filtering is dialed back on Xbox One to a very low level, dynamic foliage is limited to the medium setting, and soft sun shadows appear to be completely absent," says John Linneman from Eurogamer.
On the other hand, the two ecosystems are evenly matched when it comes to depth of field, scene detail, shadow and texture quality.
Fans of the series can read all about the review roundup for the Xbox One release.
Gameplay
The game does a great job mixing crafting and exploration. The new system allows Lara to scout for resources that can be transformed into equipment, bandages or ammo.
The crafting tool works instantly and opens the gates of versatility. Like using stealth? Make poison arrows out of deathcap mushroom. Want to enter a room full of enemies with a bag? Turn a few bottles and cans into impromptu Molotov cocktails and set fire to the snow.
"Lara's newly improved abilities are a direct reflection of how much effort you put into exploring the gameworld," Evan Narcisse of Techspot notices.
Lara's skills increase with experience, giving the player extended ability to spot resources. The evolution feels consistent and natural, as Lara unveils murals and enlarges her arsenal and equipment. The PC variant of the game maintains an "overall sense of growing or maturing" that keeps the player focused and willing to explore and find out more about the engrossing Siberian landscape.
Rise of the Tomb Raider's gunplay truly holds a candle to the 2013 reboot.
You have access to four ranged weapons-a bow, a pistol, a shotgun and an assault rifle and each of them yields different results.
Bow-sniping feels extremely rewarding each time you pierce an enemy through the skull, and - spoiler alert - you may actually pierce two enemies or more with the same arrow. How awesome is that? Blowing a leg off an enemy with the shotgun is empowering, while wiping out a band of hostiles with the use of a handcrafted grenade is heart-warming.
"The combat encourages creativity by littering the environment with useful hazards and tools you can use to your advantage," PC Mag's Gabriel Zamora points out.
Minuses
Although ROTR has a myriad of qualities, it is not flawless.
For instance, some narrative choices may require some suspension of disbelief from the player.
"Lara stumbles across a tribe called the Remnant and-despite their having lived in this Siberian wilderness for generations-she quickly proves to be the best at hunting, climbing and gunning down an entire army" PC Gamer's Phil Savage observes.
Another not-so-stellar aspect comes from the semi-repetitive combat actions, some of which seem a pastiche from a pre-established template.
"Most of your adversaries in Rise of the Tomb Raider will be angry men with guns. Later on, you fight men with armor. Later still you fight men with armor and shields. During the climax you fight supernatural men," Gabriel Zamora of PC Mag further says.
Fans of Lara Croft titles will recognize the pattern from the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, as the game took great inspiration from the previous title's success.
Verdict
When all is said and done, Rise of the Tomb Raider, the latest game featuring Lara Croft, is a well-crafted piece of entertainment.
It sports extraordinary cinematic set pieces and engaging, although predictable action. The semi-open-world offers deep content, which motivates exploration and skill evolution. The smartly constructed puzzles will surely the player engaged.
