Briefly: First announced back in December, the Xbox One / PS4 ‘Definitive’ ports of last year’s acclaimed Tomb Raider are finally about to hit store shelves.

From the PS3-to-PS4 comparison video released a few weeks back, it’s clear that the jump to the world’s newest consoles was a substantial one, and that this new version of Tomb Raider is anything but a rehash. Just look at those hair physics!

If you haven’t yet played the game, it was easily one of the best action titles of last year, and a perfect reboot to the once great series. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition hits stores this coming Tuesday (January 28th), and we’d definitely recommend it. Take a look at the launch trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up!

Briefly: Back in December it was revealed that Square-Enix’s critically acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot would be making the jump to PS4 and Xbox One.

As one of the first big-ticket last gen ports/upgrades, we’ve all been eager to see just what the difference between versions could be, and whether or not the added power of the PS4 or Xbox One would be well-utilized. Today, IGN debuted a comparison video between the PS3 and PS4 versions of the title, and Crystal Dynamics’ Scott Amos was there to describe everything.

I’m happy to say that the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition looks to be a huge step up from the last-gen version, and that new players shouldn’t feel like they’re playing a last-gen title. Tomb Raider was an incredible reboot, and one of last year’s best gaming experiences, so if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to try it, this new edition launches on January 28th.

Take a look at the comparison video below, and let us know what you think!

Briefly: Tomb Raider is headed to PS4 and Xbox One.

Sadly, it isn’t a new game: it’s called Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, and it’s an even more HD rerelease of the already HD title. It’s a perfect jumping-on point for new console owners, or if you just-so-happened to miss the experience earlier this year. It’s also a fantastic game, so if you haven’t already played it, you really, really should.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition will include all of the DLC for Tomb Raider, but the title is also set to look incredible. In a post from Playstation.Blog, Crystal Dynamics’ Scot Amos describes some of the major changes to the next-gen version:

Getting our gameplay up to native 1080p meant increasing all of our texture resolutions by over 4x so the details and nuances can be seen in their full glory. However, it’s subtleties like our subsurface scattering technology — how we manage realistic lighting effects through solid/semi-solid matter — that we’re so proud of, which bring a new glow to Lara’s skin. All of these elements working in conjunction drive a much more realistic world than we’ve ever had.

 

The entire game world — the perilous island of Yamatai — is alive as well. Foliage bends as Lara pushes through it; trees whip in the wind; even cloth moves courtesy of new, more sophisticated physics modeling. Weather effects lash the island with unprecedented levels of venom, and rain particles are dynamically lit as they slice through piercing searchlights. The in-game cast has also enjoyed an upgrade — characters and enemies alike have been enhanced visually, while in-game destructibility has been given additional refinement to increase the sense that you are leaving a mark on this world.

 

However, as always, it’s Lara who’s the star of the show. As such, one of our boldest changes was to handcraft an all new, even more realistic head and face model for her, taking advantage of the increased power of PS4. This is our first glimpse of our next-generation Lara. We also drastically improved shader and lighting effects, adding dynamic sweat, mud, and even blood for a new level of visual acuity that reacts on Lara in different situations. Objects on Lara’s person like her climbing axe or arrows now independently react to her movements and sway or jostle with an obsessive eye for detail, further adding that nothing was too small for us to tackle.

 

Lara’s hair now benefits from TressFX technology — her hair strands are independently simulated and interact with environmental effects, as well as react to her every movement, delivering unprecedented, lifelike motion. This all-new Lara is Crystal’s first steps towards the future. It’s a promising, compelling beginning.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition hits stores on January 28th. Take a look at the VGX trailer below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/GIB_qeBKbYM