I still like their ratings and reviews, but honestly, the review for this game came out of no where. It was as though he had an Android phone and tried to install and run it on that? I only have one issue of being able to jump through walls I shouldn't be able to every once in a while, but nothing else. No other issues that he described plague this game? Perhaps he was using a jailbroken iphone 1st gen with soo many add-ons and background services as to slow and render his system unusable? I just don't get it. Perhaps he can play the game and record it on video and show us his system is not jailbroken and fully updated (and not ios 4.2.1 on a iphone 3g which we all know runs terribly regardless). I am on a jailbroken iPhone 4 with a 5hit-load of plugins and background services and mods and I STILL don't get any of his crazy issues! Really, I'm flabbergasted! And I never use that word!
Well, here goes my two cents: Lara Croft on iDevice is pretty terrible compared to the console offerings. Jerky controls (there are waaaaay better dual stick shooter controls to be found elsewhere- Max Adventure and Minigore come to mind), worse physics, missing sound effects, losing Lara off screen because of terrible camera positioning, small text, crashing (iPhone 4 owner), etc... All that being said, the game is still pretty decent. It looks good, has full voice acting, comes with all the perks, awards, and weapons from the console, has many of the levels, an on-line component, et al. What the game really needs is a control scheme overhaul and bug fixes. And while Squeenix is at it, try adding retina display support. Probably not possible, though, being that this is a sloppy/rushed port. 6/10
Game Impressions Hello, I have to say I'm agreeing with the Touch Arcade and IGN reviews of this game, namely that it's a pretty terrible port. The controls are jerky and hard to work with compared with nearly every single other dual stick shooter on the device. The game is just plain too dark, and terrible camera angles means that Lara literally is off screen during critical moments. The graphics are incredibly sub par on my 3rd Gen iPod touch. I have seen frame rate reduction, and it is almost always at the worst possible moments. This game did not last long on my iPod. At this point, I don't care if they do update it. I'm unlikely to give it another shot. I usually am a hardcore supporter of Square Enix games. I've loved the rest of their titles on the device for the most part. But this feels like round 2 of Crystal Defenders, where SE just ports a title and doesn't really bother to optimize it for the device. I bought this game based on the reviews in the forum. Now I'm wondering if we were even playing the same game.
Dont take this the wrong way... but would the people having issues with controls say that they have chubby fingers at all? I have completed the game and had absolutely no control issues. I actually felt that it controlled BETTER than keyboard and mouse on the PC version. I am wondering if finger size makes a big difference at all which could explain things?
LOL! I'm the skinniest person I know. I have fairly dainty hands. Different strokes, I say. IMO, the controls leave much to be desired.
I didn't have any major issue with the game either, in fact it's one of the best games I played during the Xmas games onslaught. To date I stopped playing half the games I bought but can't stop playing this.
I'm gonna say this game has great controls. It's even a little forgiving when you're making jumps so it's really easy to make it where you want to go. I think people may have Problems with touchscreen controls in general. I know for me it took a while to get used to using touchscreen controls. I was so used to feeling the D Pad or analog stick from console controllers that it took a long time to really get used to that feeling not being there. Now I'm very used to it iOS is the only platform I game on now.
Well, here's a contrary opinion. As russiaone said, different strokes for different folks. Obviously we can have different opinions about this game, but anyone who makes confident assertions that this is a "rushed, sloppy port" is coming across like an ignorant fool. Show me another iOS game at the same level graphically as this one, and then we'll talk.
I've been playing the game now (for awhile) and I've still yet to experience any issues in regards to controls. Chubby fingers aside, are some of you jb'en that have control issues? Curious as to why such a difference in opinion w/ the controls.
Actually, graphics are a big reason I wrote this off. I found myself desperately wishing I could pinch and zoom in. The camera is just too far back out sometimes to tell what's happening. Some of the puzzles became darn near unworkable and sometimes I wasn't even sure what monster I was fighting, or even where the thing was I was fighting. I'm generally pretty forgiving of controls on the iOS games. I've found I can generally adapt to most touch control schemes. The deal breaker for me was that I just couldn't tell what was going on on the screen at crucial moments. I think on a larger screen (iPad?) this might not be an issue. That's part of why I'm thinking this is a rushed port. There were framerate issues at key moments too. Solomon's Keep shows you can do a good dual stick shooter in a dark environment with little framerate issues.
The graphics are superb on this one. I can't help but laugh to the eventual comparison to monigore since it's as different as night and day. Also I downloaded Solomon's keep but didn't really hold my interest for five minutes and the implication that it's better than this reminds me of the time some forum member declare that Car jack streets Is better than GTA CW.
There is one level where you're chased by a bazillon monsters down twisting hallways where the game keeps saving every other turn. On the one hand, I appreciated the fact that my progress was being saved. On the other, the hiccups every time it saved, so the whole fight didn't feel very fluid. They could easily fix the problem by removing some of those save spots. That's the only spot where I've found a significant drop in framerate. I like Solomon's Keep a lot but graphically it doesn't hold a candle to Lara Croft. The only game that come close is Samurai II (another favorite), but that one lacks the gameplay depth of Lara, not to mention that it doesn't nearly as many different enemies on screen. The size issue is a matter of taste -- I personally love the broad field of view and don't mind the small character. It would have been nice to have more close ups (like in the PSP version God of War) but that wasn't part of the original game, and this is a port, not a brand new title like GoW:CoO or :GoS. It would have been nice if SE had created an original Lara Croft for the iOS, but, as dumaz likes to say, that's not going to happen at $6.99 a pop. Even as a port, I still maintain that this game blows away pretty much every other action/adventure title on the platform, and it compares well with PSP and DS games that came out this year. But that's just an opinion.
am i missing something? because to me this looks like it belongs on a gameboy.. what exactly is all the fuss about over this? super pixle graphics.. and it looks like it should be 99 cents.. what am i missing.
You're missing the most vital component in judging a game: playing it. This is far from a Gameboy game. Probably the game that misses the most in translation from screenshots to actual gameplay. I have no issues with the controls, and LOVE the gameplay. Actually challenging without being frustrating, great puzzle and platforming elements. This is one of the best of the crop of amazing Christmas games released.
Even with just the screenshots, you'd have to be a cretin to think that's a $.99 cent game. I mean...jeez! Have iOS gamers lost all capacity for reasonable judgment?
Yes, the graphics aren't a real beauty on a Retina screen. But besides that, it's a decent game. Controls work great (don't get the fuzz in here) and it's a content-packed game, and quite fun to play. So far, I'm enjoying it a lot. No problems at all and the frame rate is great, not 1 single hiccup.
You can't blame him though. Apple was the one that started this 0.99 game price back in the day and brainwashed everybody that all games should be that pricepoint. Its kind of the reason why more big developers didn't bother with the app store initially and still hold judgement. Although with more brand name games getting releases, the games are already breaking the 9.99 price point.
Yes, the graphics aren't a breathtaking beauty on a Retina screen. But besides that, it's a decent game. Controls work great (don't get the fuzz in here) and it's a content-packed game, and quite fun to play. So far, I'm enjoying it a lot. No problems at all and the frame rate is great, not 1 single hiccup or slowdown.
