Okay.

Firstly, it's amazing.

If I could describe it, think Uncharted, but remove all the linearity and add stealth (that actually works). The first few hours you'll be moving from point A to point B, but soon after that you can do that, after visiting point C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K.

_{when i say remove all the linearity, i don't mean to say that tomb raider has turned into GTA. there is still your main story thingo, but you're not forced to go down a certain path. (plus you can travel/fast travel over the island).}

The game looks stunning. Lara has been written perfectly. The main game itself (at the moment) seems to be where the wow moments are (no spoilers, but there are some amazing chase bits (and i haven't even encountered the one most reviews have talked about)). The hidden tombs are really well done too.

Combat system is superb. Cover is automatic and is the best I have ever seen in a game that has no dedicated cover button. The weapons are really good too, and unlike Uncharted, I haven't died often in the battles (playing on Normal).

So many collectables. Map is confusing. Sound is epic. Weird crazy religion that is the focus on the story.

Also, the controls are super simplistic and they work.

Many who have played Uncharted know that if your climbing pipe/beam/stick breaks then all you do is keep holding the way you were moving and you're good. In this you have to do stuff. Cool.

Only three bad things (so far). Froze once during cutscene. At one point I couldn't move in a tomb. And at some times, it gets confusing as to whether or not I'm controlling Lara or Lara is being controlled for me. It's normally for load times/changing perspectives though I think.

tl:dr BUY IT!!

p.s. try to play the first few hours at night. it's dark.

Wait a next gen game that isn't linear OR open-world? What new form of madness is this?

Thanks Aviator, thanks.

_{Now I'm so excited I don't want to start Ni No Kuni.}

Jealous

Haha. I explained it poorly.

i've seen footage of this game. There doesn't seem to be much logic behind Lara's Character Arc, which is really concerning the part of me that wants this game.

Can't wait for my copy i'll have to wait for my Steam code to be emailed from AMD since I got their graphic card offer D:

PC people in Australia haven't been able to play the game because it needs to be done through Steam and it doesn't get released till then on the 5th.

/me hugs street date breaks

Seems like a sequel to Other M, lol. Count me in. n_n

actually my joke wasn't contradictory as much as a joke about how much every major game needs to be super linear or open world nowadays.

Speak of the devil, AMD sent my Steam code time to preload!

Okay.
_{i still think i explained it poorly}

Knowing nothing about the rest of the game, I'd just like to nitpick and say that this game has some of the worst subtitles I've ever seen in a video game.

it's better than the tiny white text subtitles.

Never used subtitles, never gonna now!

the irony bomb than made Aviator deaf at that very moment

so excited for it, it probably won't arrive tomorrow though
6th or 7th for me, ordered from UK amazon and i live in germany

the last 2 wii u games i've ordered via amazon.de unfortunately didn't have english audio, only german.... and i hate playing games that are not in english or japanese T_T - therefore im only using amazon.co.uk for games nowadays..
definitely looking forward to it... maybe i'll buy Liberation Maiden tomorrow.. i've read that it only takes you like 1h+ to finish the game.. so by the time tomb raider arrives i should be done with it ; )

and april fire emblem awakening...
looking forward to that one as well! ; )

Started playing it on PC today, and I can surprisingly run it on ultra (there's low, med, high, ultra and ultimate) settings.

IT'S FREAKING GORGEOUS.
And a great game so far.

Picked it up last nite and have to say it is just great.
Of course comparisons will be made to UC But this game is different enough and actually offers more to do. Will done Square.

Played about 6 or so hours so far and the game is awesome, definitely the direction the series needs to go to remain relevant. From what I've played it easily trumps Uncharted 3 which is the game it will, in a way somewhat unfairly, be compared to. The combat is better, the stealth mechanic actually works, the levels are more open ended and there's the tombs to explore which adds a lot of extra stuff. I also find Lara to be a more likeable character than Drake.