From "Rise of the Tomb Raider: Blood Ties DLC hands-on and PSVR impressions"

The Rise of the Tomb Raider PSVR experience

We also got to try the mode with PSVR, which accentuates the already-moody atmosphere tenfold. Indeed, there’s something satisfying about taking in the sights of this grand manor as a storm rages outside; it’s just a shame we weren’t able to delve deeper into the estate, as there’s surely more secrets to uncover.

Conversely, Lara’s Nightmare is a zombified, gun-toting action romp where you explore an undead-infested Croft Manor that is pretty much the antithesis of the methodical, narrative-driven Blood Ties. And it somehow works, too. Yes, every man and his dog seems to chuck a few zombies into the mix these days, but Rise of the Tomb Raider at least make them seem like a genuine threat and not inconsequential fodder. The main objective here is to track down and destroy three skulls, all the while fending off the undead inhabitants. As you might expect, the tight corridors and estate rooms make combat quite a challenging, and it’s not hard to get overwhelmed by lurching undead while trying to make those crucial headshots count.

Zombies come in various forms too. Aside from your standard shambler, there’s warrior undead with shields, lumbering chaps wielding TNT, and rotting husks with helmets on. As such, you need to adapt your strategy when battling the zombified hordes; enemies with protective can’t be neutralized as easily as the bog-standard enemies, requiring you to cap them in the knee before finishing them off with a well-aimed melee. It’s gripping stuff, and certainly does a good job of keeping you on your toes.

Finally, Endurance had us teaming up with a buddy to guide two Crofts around the shivering, freezing siberian wastelands. Your goal? Survive. Obviously, this is easier said than done, as there’s more than enough hazards working against you, and that’s beyond the pugnacious wildlife you’ll encounter. Supplies are limited, so you’ll need to explore as much as possible while gathering resources such as firewood, food, and other essentials so that you don’t freeze or basically starve to death.

Sadly, the 20-odd minutes we spent with Endurance mode wasn’t really enough to see all the nuances of Rise of the Tomb Raider’s co-op antics, though it nonetheless provided a tantalizing glimpse at what’s to come. There’s definitely something gratifying about teaming up with a partner to avoid traps, revive each other when needed, and battle against attacking enemies. There’s more beyond just trying to avoid becoming a human popsicle though; challenges sprinkle an extra layer onto the proceedings, which see you having to complete mini-tasks as you explore in exchange for valuable items.

Oddly enough, we couldn’t figure out how to exchange resources with each other, which is something you’d think would be instrumental in surviving the harsh climate. Still, the bread-and-butter gameplay that resulted in such a successful reboot back in 2013 remains ever present here; snapping into aim mode is seamless, weapons give off a satisfying thud, while climbing is as free spirited as ever, with Lara latching onto scaleable surfaces like a limpet to a rocket at low tide.

Full article here:   http://www.psu.com/preview/31227/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-blood-ties-preview-psvr-impressions