‘Rise Of The Tomb Raider’ Takes A Different Approach To QTEs; New Info On Combat And Survival Gameplay

The initial fan reaction to the news that “Rise of the Tomb Raider” would be an Xbox exclusive was tumultuous, to say the least. Now that things have settled down a bit, the team at Crystal Dynamics has been answering fan questions on a wide variety of gameplay subjects ranging from Quick Time Events to hand-to-hand combat, the effects of the environment on Lara and more.

The news comes via a question and answer session with franchise creative director Noah Hughes on the official “Rise of the Tomb Raider” forums. A fan named “zackdollars” asked Hughes whether the team had debated getting rid of the QTEs featured in the 2013 reboot so prominently, stating that during combat encounters they were less than engaging. Hughes responded by stating that there were hot debates within the team on the subject of QTEs and noted that they have decided to take a different approach to them this time around. He said they hadn’t removed all combat-related QTEs but assured that they’re used much more sparingly.

He stated that QTEs are generally used to reflect an intense and concerted effort from Lara and said that timed button presses are still used to engage things like dodges and counters. Hughes also added that the team has tried to ensure that the interface for QTEs stays consistent throughout the gameplay experience so that button prompts reinforce the mechanics gamers are familiar with. This is to avoid a situation where players don’t know what button to press until they see the prompt.

On the subject of hand-to-hand combat, Hughes said Lara will have some new close-quarters combat options based on the gear she’s carrying. He cited a knife-based melee finisher as an example of one of Lara’s new skills, as well as takedowns from trees and stealth kills from the water. Hughes said that it was important for the team that Lara’s character was represented in her combat opportunities; as such, her mobility, agility and use of the environment trump her ability to brawl her way through foes.

Gamers know that the harsh Siberian environment plays a huge role in the next “Tomb Raider” game, providing a backdrop for the games’ story as well as offering context for the types of enemies and survival challenges Lara faces. Hughes assured fans that the challenges encountered will be well-represented visually on Lara over the course of the game. She’ll get wet when in water and have her clothes shredded during combat. Her clothes will get dirty when appropriate and she also has environmentally appropriate animations tied to things like the presence of heat and cold. Hughes says the goal is to connect Lara with the world and ground her in the moment as much as possible.

Fans continue to wonder how much the survival angle advertised for “Rise of the Tomb Raider” will influence gameplay. Hughes stated that the “Tomb Raider” franchise has always incorporated elements of survival gameplay, referencing the wolves, bears and treacherous environments of early games in the series. He said that the team has tried to push the feeling of survival in a different direction but ensured Lara doesn’t rely too heavily on her gear this time around.

“We go that extra step to try to make sure she’s not relying too heavily on her gear and equipment that she brings with her, and that may be a bit differentiated from the previous games where being well-equipped and rich is very much a part of it. There is sort of this commitment to create situations where Lara has to face these hostile wildernesses in a more one-on-one, stripped of her gear situation, and has to use her wits and her resourcefulness and what she can find in the environment in order to survive,” he said.

“Rise of the Tomb Raider” is scheduled to launch on Xbox 360 and Xbox One some time during Holiday 2015. As noted by Eurogamer, the exclusivity deal between Microsoft and Square Enix does have a duration, so gamers on PC, PS3 and PS4 can hold out hope that they’ll be able to play it at some point.