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Posted by Joystiq Feb 05 2014 23:00 GMT
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Thanks to the magic of intercompany synergy, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 will see a DLC costume lifted from the Tomb Raider armoire when it debuts later this month.

According to publisher Square Enix, heroine Lightning will receive the same costume worn by Lara Croft in 2013's Tomb Raider. Likewise, the DLC will swap out Lightning's typically over-designed fantasy weaponry in favor of more pragmatic gear: a survivor's axe and riot shield. Though Square Enix was kind enough to provide the above trailer demonstrating the DLC costume in action, it fails to mention what sort of price point (if any) will be attached to the downloadable addition.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 is slated for North American release on February 11. Australian and European releases will follow on February 13 and 14, respectively. All versions of the game, regardless of region, will receive this Tomb Raider DLC.

Posted by Kotaku Jan 29 2014 20:30 GMT
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If you liked last year's Tomb Raider reboot, you're probably hungry for news on a sequel. Dark Horse Comics' upcoming comic adaptation isn't something you can slide into a console or PC disc slot but it does show what happens next to the young explorer. Warning: the preview below contains spoilers for last year's Tomb Raider game.Read more...

Posted by IGN Jan 25 2014 01:59 GMT
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's good looks are a nice bonus, but it's still the characterisation, great pacing, and clever design that makes it worth playing.

Posted by Kotaku Jan 21 2014 18:30 GMT
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Lara Croft's latest visual evolution in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, while noteworthy, is actually one of many facelifts and tweaks the iconic character has seen since 1996.Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Jan 13 2014 20:30 GMT
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Would that first Tomb Raider game still have been as fun if you couldn't have seen Lara Croft's famous figure? After watching this retro-styled fan film, all signs point to yes.Read more...

Posted by PlayStation Blog Jan 06 2014 19:42 GMT
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is not a simple, upscaled version of last year’s critically-acclaimed adventure. It’s a colossal effort, soaked in visual enhancements and technical optimizations. Just when we thought Lara Croft hit her peak, she keeps on climbing.

One of the first challenges Crystal Dynamics faced was Lara herself — even though the team had smashed expectations with the impressive original game. A new head and face model have been implemented in this portrayal of Lara, bringing new life to the legendary heroine. Among the torrent of improvements made, the developers worked with subsurface scattering technology on Lara’s skin. This means light will actually pierce the top layer of her skin and diffuse, giving it a realistic glow.

Lara’s equipment has also been given abundant attention. Her bow and pickaxe clatter, bob, and move with her body, giving her entire character a renewed sense of authenticity. She sweats and bleeds like the best of us when put under extreme duress, and the remarkable animation and voice work continue to instill Lara with life.

There was no slowing down for Crystal Dynamics after Lara was reworked. The environments were handled with the same attention to detail. The world is packed with more foliage, debris, bits, and bodies than before. Dynamic weather sweeps through levels to bring smatterings of rain and lightning. Fog is no longer a singular, visual plane, but rolls through the world in individual motes of cloudy white. Smoke from fire pools at the top of rooms — a crown to the crackling red below.

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And all this barrels onto the screen in native 1080p, running at a buttery framerate. Picking up a DualShock 4, Tomb Raider: Definition Edition is about as smooth as silk; each action Lara takes is a showcase of the technical marvels behind the scenes.

Combat and exploration still feel great, and DualShock 4′s features have been put to good use. The touchpad can be used to light a torch or adjust the in-game map, for starters. When Lara picks up radio chatter, the voices play out of the controller speaker. The lightbar flashes a staccato rhythm when Lara opens fire, and it lazily glows red and orange to match the light of her torch.

To sweeten the experience further, Crystal Dynamics has also included all the multiplayer DLC, which means eight maps and six weapons are added to the mix from the get-go. The team even included the Dark Horse comic, and the complete art book, all accessible from the main menu. Even outside of the game proper, there are tons of additions to peruse.

The motto of the team seems to have been an equal split between “Why not? and “What the hell,” considering the staggering number of upgrades to Tomb Raider, both large and small. From extra strips of tattered cloth blowing in the wind, to an entire ocean of water improved just for the heck of it, almost nothing was left untouched.

“Definitive” might be the absolute best word to describe this edition of Tomb Raider, which launches for PS4 on January 28th. For those of you that missed out on the PS3 version, your tardiness may just have been a blessing in disguise.


Posted by IGN Jan 03 2014 21:13 GMT
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Lara Croft's hair has never looked as realistic as it does with TressFX technology.

Posted by Kotaku Dec 27 2013 04:00 GMT
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Brenoch Adams worked for years as a senior artist on Eidos' Tomb Raider reboot. While you'll see pieces from all over his portfolio in this showcase, what'll probably be of most interest are the pieces from early in Tomb Raider's development, showing what the new/old Lara Croft could have looked like.Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Dec 27 2013 02:00 GMT
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This fan film stars Lara Croft, but there's as much John McClane on show here as there is British archaeologist.Read more...

Posted by Joystiq Dec 23 2013 19:00 GMT
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Square Enix recently launched a Tomb Raider-based card game on iOS. Dubbed Lara Croft: Reflections, the free-to-play game has players dueling one another in real-time card battles, combining weapon cards to upgrade and evolve them and protecting their artifacts from thieving opponents.
Reflections also includes group battles in which players work to defeat special event bosses.

Lara Croft: Reflections is currently only available in New Zealand and Australia. The game is compatible with iPhone 4 and iPad 2 devices or better and requires a network connection to play. It launched just a few days after the original Tomb Raider's iOS port.

Posted by Kotaku Dec 20 2013 19:00 GMT
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Some things are sacred to a plumber: Family, kingdom, honor. But few things are as sacred as power-ups. I pity the poor fools that try to mess with them.Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Dec 18 2013 19:00 GMT
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Look, Gaming Heads, I know you're all excited about introducing the new Tomb Raider line to the public, but who is going to buy a $340 statue that's all covered in dirt, bruises and blood? Show a little self respect, dammit. Read more...

Posted by IGN Dec 08 2013 01:16 GMT
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As expected, Square Enix has now confirmed the Definitive Edition, and all of the details below are indeed true.

Posted by Kotaku Nov 11 2013 21:18 GMT
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Got a long vacation coming up? Have a spare $9,000? UK travel agency Sta and Game have put together a 14-stop 'Round the World' tour that takes gamers to London, Tokyo, Phuket, Boston and beyond. Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Oct 30 2013 12:30 GMT
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It's hard to tell who'd win this video game tug of war in digital artist Patrick Ballesteros' drawing. The team on the right with all the heavyweight characters or the other group with a curiously evil-looking Princess Zelda.Read more...

Posted by Joystiq Oct 20 2013 20:00 GMT
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If you're a PC gamer looking forward to Friday's release of Batman: Arkham Origins and have yet to scoop up the previous two entries in the series, now might be a good time to do so, as they're 75% off on Steam until Monday, 10 am Pacific. That makes Batman: Arkham Asylum just $5.00, and Batman: Arkham City just $7.50. Both versions are Game of the Year editions, meaning even more batarang for your buck.

Not a bat-fan? Amazon has unearthed savings on Tomb Raider and Metro: Last Light, which are both on sale for $19.99 through the week, while Best Buy is helping aspiring gamer musicians get into the groove by taking $50 off the cost of any electric guitar when you buy Rocksmith 2014. Lots of good things on sale, stranger.

Posted by Kotaku Sep 24 2013 22:30 GMT
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“In Germany, saying that you want to make games is like saying you want to make porn.” There’s rhythmic thumping in Beatbuddy but, don’t worry, it’s safe for work. Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Sep 19 2013 18:00 GMT
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Tomb Raider's abandoned, darker ending: I knew the first of Lore's Tomb Raider "fast facts," but did not know the other two. I'm intrigued by the idea of a Tomb Raider with a darker ending. I think I would've been okay with that.Read more...

Posted by IGN Aug 01 2013 19:22 GMT
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Square Enix has revealed that a sequel to 2013's Tomb Raider is being developed for next-gen consoles.

Posted by Kotaku Jul 30 2013 23:00 GMT
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You're in the midst of a bloody uprising, fighting not just for your freedom but for your very life. The air is rank with the sounds and smells of battle. At every turn, people are dying. There's a brief respite from the fighting, and you take the opportunity to grab your spray-paint can and leave a message on a nearby building: "You'll die before we starve!" Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Jul 19 2013 16:00 GMT
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Sadly, Square Enix hasn't put out any single-player story-centric DLC for this year's reboot of Tomb Raider. So fans who enjoyed playing through Lara Croft's re-imagined origin story have been out of luck as far as seeing her continued evolution. But a new Dark Horse comics series due out later this year on 02/26/14 will be revealing what's next for the newest iteration of one of gaming's most recognizable heroines.Read more...

Posted by Kotaku Jul 10 2013 00:30 GMT
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People will try to sell you anything these days, but thankfully none of the DLC for the reboot of Tomb Raider features more brutal (if not WTF) death animations like in this video by Animation Domination High-Def. "Thankfully," I say, and yet I laughed. But I mean...death by Joffrey? Haaaa. TOMB RAIDER: ADDITIONAL DEATHS DLC FOR LARA CROFT [Animation Domination High-Def]

Posted by Joystiq Jul 09 2013 00:45 GMT
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Select PS3, PC and Xbox 360 games are being highlighted in a new promotion at Best Buy, games which run the gamut from new to not-so-new: Skyrim Legendary Edition, Black Ops 2, Tomb Raider, Deadpool, Far Cry 3 and Dead Island Riptide are all featured here.

The source link below has the full list of games. To get the deal, simply add two games from said list to your cart and the yellow tag retailer will automatically add the gift card at checkout, then ship you a physical gift card worth $50 at a later date.

Posted by Kotaku Jun 13 2013 04:00 GMT
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Hollywood's never been afraid of drafting off of a video game success story and this year's reboot of the Tomb Raider video game franchise certainly qualifies as that. News already broke that Lara Croft's return to the silver screen would follow the darker tone of Tomb Raider 2013 and now we know who's going to be scripting the film. Variety reports Marti Noxon—best known for writing and producing on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series—will be working on the screenplay. The take for this new Tomb Raider will reportedly also feature a younger Lara Croft in her early days as an adventuring archeologist. Noxon was a controversial figure during her tenure on Buffy but—given the devoted following that show still has—the move to tap her for Tomb Raider makes sense. Chances of this thing actually getting made are high, especially since the previous Tomb Raider films starring Angelina Jolie are some of the biggest grossing video game movies of all time. That said, this movie's likely a still few years off and there's still the matter of getting a director and a cast. Hell, we might even see the inevitable sequel from Crystal Dynamics to coincide with the movie. Your move, Tinseltown.

Posted by Valve May 23 2013 09:14 GMT
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We have just made public a new version of the PC version of Tomb Raider, build 1.01.748.0. This patch will be applied by Steam automatically when you next start the game. If your game does not update, please restart the Steam client.

New fixes in 748.0:

- Fixed problem with Mountaineer, Sure-Shot, and Demolition outfits not properly unlocking when no other DLC is installed.
- Fixed TressFX Hair not being able to be turned on, on some machines, when using AMD Eyefinity or NVIDIA Surround.
- Significant performance improvements in CPU limited areas, for example in Shanty Town. (This is the same fix we have previously exposed to users on forums with the MulticoreFlushMode registry key).
- Fixed water polygons randomly disappearing on Intel graphics hardware.
- Fix problem with English VO setting when playing in Japanese not properly being remembered after a restart.
- Minor UI improvements.

While we expect this patch to be an improvement for everyone, if you do have trouble with this patch and prefer to stay on the old version we made a Beta available on Steam, Build743.0, that can be used to switch back to the previous version. Please note however that you may not be able to play multiplayer with people that do not share your version.

Players on NVIDIA hardware we recommend using the 320.0 BETA or more recent drivers, which contain several driver fixes related to Tomb Raider.

We will keep monitoring for feedback and will release further patches as it seems required. We always welcome your feedback!

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Posted by Kotaku May 08 2013 23:00 GMT
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Which video game has the most gruesome death scenes? Surely Mortal Kombat 9 is a contender, in particular Noob Saibot's first fatality called "Make a Wish." It's so ridiculous it stands out despite Mortal Kombat's already high level of gore. We've put together a list of some of the most gruesome video game deaths. Some of them are really funny, some are just painful to the eye (one literally), or unnecessarily violent. Saw: The Videogame Never played Saw: The Videogame? This GIF basically sums up the whole experience. Dead Space 2 All the Dead Space games are full of exploding meat and blood, but this scene in Dead Space 2 just can't be topped. You may have reacted like this. Resident Evil 5 It is painful to watch a slow death by chainsaw in Resident Evil 5. Probably more painful to experience, though. Dead Rising 2 If one chainsaw was not enough, the psycho clown in Dead Rising 2 gets two. Resident Evil 6 One of the most gruesome death scenes from last year was in Resident Evil 6. Tomb Raider: Anniversary Lara Croft can die in 35 ways in the new Tomb Raider, but that doesn't mean the old games lacked gruesome scenes. In Tomb Raider Anniversary, Lara can get eaten by a dinosaur. If we check older games from the 90s, even the most horrible death scenes are actually just mostly funny. Prince of Persia This is probably even more horrifying than getting cut in half by the guillotines in the original Prince of Persia. Bionic Commando There's an exploding Hitler head in Bionic Commando, because why not? Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 And finally another one from the Mortal Kombat series, Mileena's first fatality from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Not necessarily the bloodiest one, but definitely one of the funniest fatalities. Show us your picks for the most gruesome death scene title from any game, and submit them below in the comments. To contact the author of this post, write to gergovas@kotaku.com

Posted by Kotaku May 06 2013 23:15 GMT
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Duncan Harris of Dead End Thrills has posted a new gallery of artful screenshots from Tomb Raider, which capture the game's dark beauty. (He's got a snazzy new site design, too!)

Posted by Rock, Paper, Shotgun May 06 2013 08:00 GMT
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Recently, we had the wonderful fortune to post GDC’s magnificent #1ReasonToBe panel in full. It’s a powerfully eye-opening thing – regardless of which “side” of the equality “debate” you fall on – and you should absolutely, definitely give it a watch if you haven’t already. One person, however, was missing from its lineup: industry writing vet Rhianna Pratchett, who – in addition to whipping up words for the likes of Tomb Raider, Overlord, Mirror’s Edge, and heaps more – sorta, you know, created the #1ReasonToBe hashtag in the first place. She wasn’t able to make it out due to scheduling conflicts, but this is why they invented the Internet: so we could do anything from anywhere at any time. Thus, we bring you Pratchett’s #1Reason – not to mention her viewpoints on why equality’s very different from ‘pinking’ games, why the industry’s failing to attract female talent, what controversies surrounding Tomb Raider taught her, and how we can ultimately make games better for everyone.      (more…)


Posted by Joystiq May 03 2013 04:15 GMT
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Steam is offering a 50 percent discount on assorted Tomb Raider games this weekend. The sale drops the price of the latest Tomb Raider game to $25, with the Survival Edition knocked down to $28.

The Tomb Raider Collection, which features 10 games from the series (including this year's entry), is also part of this weekend's deal. That sizable bundle of games can be bought for $35. Steam's weekend sale ends at 10am Pacific time on Monday, May 6. PS3 owners can still pick up Lara Croft's recent adventure on PSN for $30 this weekend.

Posted by Joystiq Apr 25 2013 04:15 GMT
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As part of an ongoing sale, EA has dropped the price of several downloadable titles on Origin, offering up to 50 percent off of recent releases such as Tomb Raider and Hitman: Absolution.

Through April 30, Origin users can pick up a digital copy of Tomb Raider for $25, or for just a few bucks more they can snag the DLC-bundled Survival Edition. Hitman: Absolution is currently priced at $20, and a discounted selection of EA-published games (including Dead Space 3 and Crysis 3) is also up for grabs. A full list of featured games is here.

Players in Europe can also get in on the action, as Square Enix reports regional price drops for Tomb Raider, Hitman and the Limited Edition of Sleeping Dogs.