Tomb Raider Deals & Offers

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Lara Croft's Latest Adventure

Released on September 14, 2018, Shadow of the Tomb Raider (SOTR) offers a new set of treasure hunting, ass-kicking adventures. Available for PC, Xbox One and PS4, and published by Square Enix, this new edition of Lara's saga sees her taking on a shadowy paramilitary sect as she tries to prevent a Mayan apocalypse sparked by her own tomb raiding activities.

Darker, more character driven and complex than previous games in the franchise, SOTR should delight fans of sophisticated first person role playing games, while its combat and puzzle-solving elements offer something for all gamers.

Getting to Know the Tomb Raider Series

Tomb Raider was one of the first gaming classics to feature a female lead character, and it's fair to say that it changed the way videogames are perceived because of this. The first title appeared in 1996 for PC and PlayStation, and introduced players to the protagonist, ambitious archaeologist Lara Croft. From the start, Lara had to navigate a 3D world, negotiating complex dungeons and defeating enemies to find glory as a treasure hunter. And from the start, the franchise attracted rave reviews.

In fact, Tomb Raider was so popular that it was taken up by Hollywood, with Angelina Jolie playing Lara two times (in 2001 and 2003). Back in the gaming world, follow-ups appeared at regular intervals, and the series attracted a cult following. Most of the games were up to the franchise's usual standard, but things dipped a little with Angel of Darkness, which was released in 2003, before picking up again with 2006's Legend and Underworld in 2008.

In 2011, the series was totally rebooted with Tomb Raider for the PS3, PC and Xbox 360. This was the first version published by Crystal Dynamics and developed by Square Enix (Core had created the original series), and it took Lara all the way back to her origins. This reboot set up a whole new narrative for next generation console owners, leading into Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and then Shadow of the Tomb Raider. So if you get the chance, try to play all three consecutively.

First Things First: Gameplay Basics in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

This time around, Lara finds herself in the Yucatan Peninsula, near the ancient Mayan city of Paititi. Once again, she finds herself battling against the Trinity Organization, and searching desperately for artefacts which will avert the Mayan apocalypse. Ironically, the process leading to the end of the world has been triggered by Lara's own treasure hunting, lending an urgency to her quests this time around.

The action itself takes place in the third person, just like older games in the franchise, and players can expect the traditional mix of tomb exploration, puzzle solving, combat and interaction with non-player characters. This time, the conversations between Lara and NPCs have been enriched, so there's more of an immersive feel to SOTR, and the back story to each quest has been developed much more thoroughly.

Tomb raiding isn't the only aspect of SOTR. Paititi itself is available to explore, and can be used as a place to barter goods and weapons, while the area around town is a hunting ground where Lara can harvest resources needed to craft add-ons.

As you play SOTR, it's also essential to build up Lara's abilities, and that's where skills are so important. Skills are acquired by purchasing them with the booty Lara finds along her way, and need to be unlocked in series, so you can't just buy them all at once. These skills are divided into:

• Seeker skills – Some of these skills give Lara enhanced perception, allowing her to find the weak points of enemies, perceive hidden elements. Others enhance her stealthiness, reducing the noise she makes when she lands. And some also boost her looting/crafting abilities, so when you kill animals, you'll harvest more resources.

• Scavenger skills – These skills tend to be more based around physical abilities such as swimming. For instance, the “Viper's Lure” makes it easier to attract prey, while “Caiman's Breath” gives you more underwater swimming time.

• Warrior skills – As the name suggests, these skills are all about combat. Some limit the damage received during fights while others make Lara's attacks more precise or devastating. Either way, they make it much easier to progress.

Along with these practical aspects, there are some more cosmetic features in SOTR. For instance, outfits are a key aspect of the experience as well. Players will be able to explore tombs in Lara's classic shorts and tank top combo, as well as the all-black outfit she sported in Rise of the Tomb Raider and plenty of other looks. They don't change your character's capabilities at all, but they make the whole experience much more atmospheric.

How Has Shadow of the Tomb Raider Been Received?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has been heavily promoted as one of the biggest videogames of 2018, but how has it fared with the reviewers? Previews of Shadow of the Tomb Raider emerged in April 2018, sparking plenty of comment in the gaming press. For Eurogamer, the visuals were a highlight, along with environments that were “packed with detail.” And the imaginative Mayan end-of-the-world scenario also ticked their boxes. But the version they played had a few problems with aiming weapons and stealth elements – although these were expected to be ironed out by the time SOTR was released in September 2018.

Techadvisor also played the demo and were suitably impressed. For their reviewer, SOTR marked a skillful extension of the franchise, and kept the trademark Tomb Raider atmosphere. They found the mechanics of platforming easy to get to grips with, while the puzzles were intuitively designed and not too difficult – which can be an issue with role playing exploration titles. But they did note that SOTR shifts the violence level up a notch compared with Rise, something parents might want to keep in mind if they are buying for younger gamers.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Purchasing Options

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has been released for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and gamers can pick from a range of editions:

• Standard Edition – Includes Shadow of the Tomb Raider and very little else. The ideal edition to purchase if you just want to get straight into the action and aren't too worried about Tomb Raider themed extras.

• Digital Deluxe Edition – The next step up in terms of price, the Digital Deluxe Edition comes with the title itself, along with a CD with the official sound track, an extra weapon and an additional outfit for Lara to wear, giving players a slight head start in exploring the game's features.

• Croft Edition – A slight upgrade on the Digital Deluxe Edition, the Croft Edition comes with three extra weapons and outfits. More importantly, it also features a Season Pass, which allows players to acquire 7 more outfits and weapons and all of the DLC as it is released.

• Ultimate Edition – A delight for Tomb Raider fanatics, the Ultimate Edition comes with a souvenir torch and bottle opener, along with a Lara statuette and all of the content bundled in with the other editions.

• Collector's Edition – This limited Collector's Edition comes with one important addition: a beautiful Tomb Raider steelbook.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Official Trailer

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: PC Specifications

Not everyone's PC will be capable of getting the best out of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. As usual with video games, the developers have released a set of minimum and recommended system requirements. First, the minimum requirements:

• CPU: Core i3-3220 3.3GHz

• GPU: AMD FX-4300 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050

• Memory: 2GB VRAM, 8GB RAM

• Disk Space: 40GB

• Operating System: Windows 7

• DirectX: DX 11

And the recommended requirements:

• CPU: Core i7-4770K 4-Core 3.5GHz

• GPU: AMD Ryzen R5 1600 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060

• Memory: 6GB VRAM, 16GB RAM

• Disk Space: 40GB

• Operating System: Windows 10

• DirectX: DX 12

Will There Be Any DLC For Shadow of the Tomb Raider?

Yes, gamers should bear in mind that Enix will be releasing a series of DLC add-ons for the latest version of Tomb Raider, which will extend Lara's adventures significantly, so no fans will want to miss out on them.

7 different DLC modules are on the horizon. Following the release date on 14 September 2018, Enix planned a series of monthly DLC releases. Each one of them will feature a new “path” for Lara to take, offering a new narrative and tomb to explore, as well as a treasure at the end of the challenge.

Each DLC module will also come with an extra outfit and skill for players to use, allowing fans to gradually build up their abilities and skills in the months following the title's release.

Is Shadow of the Tomb Raider a Multiplayer Title?

One of the most interesting things about SOTR is that it includes an unusual multiplayer mode. But don't expect the chance to join teams of Tomb Raiders and Mayan defenders. Instead, the developers have chosen to include a co-operative element, where players work together to complete the main quests and side quests.

Building on Rise of the Tomb Raider's co-op mode, Shadow will feature a two player mode as part of the first DLC release (so it's not in the standalone Standard Edition). If you do choose to purchase the Standard version, you'll need to add a Season Pass separately. This could work out cheaper than getting hold of the Deluxe Edition, or it might not – be sure to check all of the merchants on HotUKDeals and compare prices before you buy anything. Vendors like Microsoft or Steam often feature discount codes for Season Passes as well, so keep an eye out for these deals.

Is There Any Merchandise Associated with Shadow of the Tomb Raider?

SOTR was one of 2018's biggest releases, so there's an avalanche of merchandise for fans to buy, from t-shirts and decals to posters and even branded PlayStations.

Apart from that, one piece of merchandise stood out: the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Official Collector's Companion. Written by Michael Owen, this book provides background information about how the title was put together, but more importantly provides plenty of strategic pointers for players. So it could be a huge advantage to flick through its pages before starting out.

However, if you really want to get into the mood before trying the gameplay, you might want to run through Lara's cinematic outings. The Angelina Jolie films can be found very cheaply on Amazon, while 2018's outing starring Alicia Vikander may well on Netflix.

How to Buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider at a Good Price

If you want to finish off the Tomb Raider Trilogy and find out whether Lara can save the world, you almost certainly don't need to pay the full asking price. With the Collectors or Ultimate Editions retailing for high prices, you can save a lot of money by shopping smart for the latest Tomb Raider installment.

Firstly, decide whether you want to buy the Standard Edition plus a Season Pass, or a more expensive edition which features the DLC as standard. Merchants like Steam may well have attractive Season Pass offers, so this can be a cost effective way to get all of the content available.

When you've chosen your edition, choose the right merchant. At HotUKDeals you'll find deals from all of the UK's biggest gaming retailers, including PlayStation Network, CD Keys, Smyths, Base.com, Microsoft or Amazon. Expect deals for all of the editions, but be quick if you intend to buy a limited edition. Stocks will be depleted quickly, and promotional prices won't last long.

If you want to hold out a couple of months for the lowest prices, waiting for Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November is a great idea, because SOTR is sure to be discounted in the run-up to Christmas.

Purchasing Shadow of the Tomb Raider Discounts at HotUKDeals

The Tomb Raider series comes full circle with 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider – the darkest, most action-packed and complex title in one of gaming's most famous franchises. Raid tombs, build skills, and let Lara's narrative unfold, and do so for less by finding the right Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers at HotUKDeals.