[QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]If you haven't already seen the CVG video in the OP, it showcases only a small piece of the exploration in the new Tomb Raider, and should dispel the myth that this is an "Uncharted Clone", as the scripted moments are only a small portion of tyhe overall gameplay experience. There are numerous hidden tombs that can only be found by exploring off the path of the main story.
As for combat, that has always been a part of the TR games, just that it was always very clunky even given the outdated lock-on system. So of course with the revamped combat being far more polished, the devs are going to want to give exposure to the feature of TR that has been improved where it was needed most from the old games.
That said, the exploration and puzzle solving hasn't been forsaken in this new vision of Lara. It manages to improve where it was needed (combat), and still retaining the exploration and puzzle solving pillars of the series. It should be seen as win/win :)santoron
I agree that combat was never very good in the series, it's just that it didn't much matter, because there was little of it in the games. I can't complain about them deciding to improve a lagging portion of the game mechanics, but they didn't just improve combat, they also greatly increased the importance and frequency of combat, which (IMVHO) is an unwelcome departure from what makes a TR game in the first place.
I love the idea of the hidden tombs. As a fan of exploration, the idea of being rewarded with extra content sounds awesome. But the recent write up over at Eurogamer (Link) seems to assert that - at least as far as the fist couple of hours are concerned - that they represent just about ALL of the puzzle-platforming available in the game, which reinforces my initial concern: instead of a game about puzzles and platforming with some fighting sequences thrown in, we now have a shooter/RPG with some optional puzzles for those who go looking.:( The article also doesn't paint those tombs as much of a challenge, which, ugh.
Of course, we won't know how the game develops until release, but there's very little out there right now to allay my concerns. There isn't a game coming that I want to be wrong about more, but the recent previews (also thinking of the most recent GS article) make it difficult to ignore the warning signs. Not that I can't see people liking the game, I just can't see devoted fans of he series believing it's really a TR game at all.
The problem is, we're only seeing small portions in these previews, and of course it's easier to showcase those flashy action sequences for trailers. Which leads to a lot of people jumping to conclusions that those brief minutes of exposure are now representative of the entire gameplay. It's hard to say now just how much the combat and the exploration comprises the total gaming experience, especially based on short video bursts.
But in the interviews the devs made it clear they remember what it is that made the Tomb Raider games - the exploration and puzzles. They do want to emphasise that this is still central to the experience of this new game, though admittedly, thay haven't shown as much of it in their live coverage, save for the CVG video and there's an IGN clip focusing on the hunting survival.
But again, I chalk that up to them wanting to show where the series was improved where it was needed most, the combat mechanics, because they want to send the message to the gaming community - this series that has been around for three generations is up to modern standards.
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Oh and jyst so you know, I updated the 2nd post with the previews from Gamespot, Eurogamer, and 1UP. Plus I was given some interesting info that PC Gamer is offering vouchers for 35% off on a selection of games, that includes TR.
Plus, a heads up that Spike VGA has an exclusive coverage of Tomb Raider tonight.
Lara without her big boobs is like Mario without his plumber hat, man. 
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