No, SquareEnix, A Next-Gen Tomb Raider Port Isn't Worth Another $60

On 12/19/2013 at 12:09 PM by gigantor21

Tomb Raider was one of my favorite games this year.

I absolutely loved exploring the nooks and crannies of the island; ravenously hunting and tracking down gear for XP and salvage for upgrades; and the visceral, brutal, satisfying combat. Though the story and acting were nothing special, and I wasn't keen on the QTEs or tunnel-style playable cutscene sequences, I adored the game overall and have beaten it several times.

When I do get a next-gen console, there's no way in hell I'm paying $60 for the Definitive Edition.

The changes and extra content they're pushing for that price leave much to be desired. The graphical overhaul doesn't mean very much to me when I already played the game on PC. Most of the extra DLC content is related to either the multiplayer (which I have no interest in and haven't even touch) or cosmetic stuff like costumes. If there was more single player content or an expanded campaign with new areas to explore or something, that would be one thing, but it seems that all their effort went into making Lara's hair and face prettier on consoles.

And they aren't offering any cheaper upgrade path for existing owners--unlike what they did for Deus Ex on Steam when the Director's Cut came out (still need to play that BTW). Considering how it's by and large the same game, and we've seen EA and Activision offer cheap upgrade paths for their next gen ports, SE trying to tell me this new version is worth another $60 is just insulting to my intelligence.

If they were just marketing it for people who didn't play the original game, that would be more understandable. Yet even in that case I wouldn't consider $60 to be a reasonable price, considering how the original's been on sale on Steam several times this year and is cheap as hell on last-gen consoles. But they seriously think that having TressFX hair on consoles is worth buying the same game at full price twice?

Yeah, no.

I really don't like what this portends as far as re-releases of old content go. Between this and Wind Waker HD going for full price, the industry seems more than willing to continue their prettier port practices from last gen--only with far more dubious advantages compared to the HD collections we saw on PS3 and 360. Considering how I moved to PC so I could play a lot of last gen games at 1080p/60fps, I'm not the least bit interested in rebuying them on PS4 for those same advantages. Yet seeing how they were willing to put out collections of games in the same generation they came out, I'm sure we're going to see even more of this.

I can barely contain my excitement.

Alex-C25

12/19/2013 at 01:40 PM

Well, I don't have any problem with Wind Waker HD, but that's for another discussion.

As for the Tomb Raider thing, I wouldn't have any problem if it had a lower price, but if you say those are cosmetic things that go for a full-price, I do agree.

gigantor21

12/19/2013 at 02:13 PM

Wind Waker had the benefit of being ten years removed from the original, and making more substantive changes to the actual gameplay AFAIK. But I still see it as a quick cash-in on an existing game to fill the release schedule, what with it only being made in six months and hinging on the lack of Gamecube BC on the WiiU.

This new version of Tomb Raider doesn't even have that stuff going for it. It came out just 9 months ago, was available on PC with better graphics than last-gen, and they've said nothing about actual changes to the gameplay or any additional single-player content. Why they expect people to double dip under those circumstances is beyond me.

12/19/2013 at 03:06 PM

Well, I can see what you mean with Wind Waker, but as someone who has never played the original Gamecube game, I see it as an opportunity for those who had never played the original game to experience it for the first time. That's just me.

12/19/2013 at 06:27 PM

And that's who the main audience for these things should be.

transmet2033

12/19/2013 at 01:42 PM

I have not played the game, even though I have had all year to try. I cannot think of any good reason to pick up the PS4 version when I can currently get it on the 360 for $20.

12/19/2013 at 02:15 PM

Exactly. The core game is still the same, so you have any number of cheaper options available to play it without missing anything. That only makes the $60 price tag more dubious than it already is.

Nicoleb1989

12/19/2013 at 01:59 PM

Since I no longer have a past gen console and my PC couldnt run Tomb raider even if it wantd to Im gonna buy the PS4 verison. I actually never got to play it on last gen systems So it will be a first for me. I do however agree with what you saying, they should offer it cheaper, atleast for past gen adopters. I being a new buyer to begin with I dont mind paying the 60$.

12/19/2013 at 02:08 PM

See, you're the main person they should be marketing this to since you haven't played the original.

I'm not spending another dime on the game as it stands, especially $60. Not without more single-player content.

BucknastyBD3

12/19/2013 at 05:53 PM

Wind Waker is acceptable because it has probably the best ending of any Legend of Zelda Game ever. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't played it, but it was a pleasant surprise to an already great game.

jgusw

12/19/2013 at 06:53 PM

That's sounds crazy for me. I didn't want to pay $60 for the original game, so you can bet I won't pay $60 for this one. The original isn't even a year old.

12/20/2013 at 12:37 PM

They need to release something while FFXV and KH3 sit in the oven, I guess. :p

KnightDriver

12/20/2013 at 02:16 AM

I remember I played a bunch of games on original Xbox that got "upgraded" versions on Xbox 360 the very next year like Gun, Far Cry, Burnout Revenge, and Just Cause. They were all full price too. I'm sure Tomb Raider's price on new consoles with drop pretty quickly after the people who haven't already played it buy it.

12/21/2013 at 09:45 AM

It's the only way I'd buy it again, that's for sure. I'm sure it'll be dirt cheap by the time I actually get a PS4.

Super Step Contributing Writer

12/20/2013 at 02:40 AM

I wouldn't care to buy that either, but I guess it's to sucker in new people who never played the original and don't have access to it, as has been discussed in your blog and this comments section. But then, you're saying they're marketing to the original owners of the game so ... well, I guess other people are gullible if they buy it. Or they just care about cosmetics more than you do, or multiplayer.

I'd like to play it, but I doubt my laptop supports it. Actually, I stand corrected, I just barely pass the minimum requirements, so I could run it at a lower settings, according to systemrequirementslab.com. Not a risk I'm willing to take for $25, though.

12/20/2013 at 12:38 PM

I do recommend the game if you haven't played it yet. It's a lot of fun.

NSonic79

12/22/2013 at 04:25 PM

but, but, but these companies NEED our hard earned cash to make more awesome games! Why can't you open your heart and pay the price for the same game. You know they need the money or your purchase could spell doom and closure of this struggling game company. have you no heart? have you no soul? You should feel bad for these poor pitiful game companies losing money hand over first to pirates and used game sales. I'd glady throw away give my money to them even if it's practually the same game on a last gen console. So long as they stay afloat I knwo I've done my chariable duty......

12/23/2013 at 12:03 AM

Making people choose between this and tripe like All The Bravest is blackmail. :p

PixlBit