Customer Reviews

Tomb Raider Anniversary

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you were around to enjoy the original Tomb Raider, playing this game is like meeting a girl you thought was hot in junior high, only now you're both in your 30s and she's still just as hot as you remember. As for you, well. The less said, the better.

If you think that's just a questionable metaphor for the character of Lara Croft herself, you may be right, because she does look just as good in this iteration (given today's graphic advances) as we old-timers thought she looked back in '96, triangles and all. I was actually in college when I played the first TR on the PS1, and at the time, I was (along with legions of other gamers and non-gamers alike) smitten with the heroine that helped launch the 3D action-adventure genre. A few increasingly tired sequels...bad movies...and countless 3D action-adventure games later...and the magic was all but gone.

10 years later, this "re-imagining" takes what was great about the original TR (level design, puzzle solving, a great sense of exploration, tight control), and dresses it up in a new coat of paint, adding tweaks here and there for modern sensibilities. It looks a lot better, Lara's got new moves, everything has a bigger sense of scale. Some changes have been made - some for the better, some seemingly for change's sake. Most importantly, the soul - the essence, if you will - of the original TR is here, and that's why I give this game a hearty recommendation. I can think of few other games that deliver a sense of grandeur, danger and giddy pleasure in quite the same way Tomb Raider can when it's firing an all cylinders.

If you're feeling nostalgic, you'll love the developer commentary you can toggle on or off in the option menu, then trigger by activating one of the purple diamonds in the level (they look like the original's save points). If you're a fan, it's pretty interesting to hear Toby Gard, the designer of the original, and Jason Botta, the game director of the new version, go back and forth about the challenges and changes involved with both the original and this remake. If you're the "gotta catch 'em all" type, you'll probably enjoy replaying levels to collect hidden relics and artifacts, finish the time trials (speed runs) and take a run through Croft Manor.

Obviously, as a person who played and enjoyed the original, I'm bringing a lot of mental baggage along. If you're new to the franchise, the experience certainly won't have the same impact, but I suspect you'll still have a grand time anyway. In this day and age of first-person-shooter over-saturation, this game may even come as a breath of fresh air.

This game kills two birds with one stone. Basically it's cool being retro these days, the team at Edios redressed the whole game improving Lara, the physics, the levels, the graphics, and detailing the story. Plus this games grants Edios the chance to start from scratch with Lara and the series. It was also a cool way to give something neat back to the fans: especially after the backlash from fans over "Angel of Darkness". Anyway, The graphics and the story are awesome and do Lady Croft and the scenery justice.

I enjoy when a developer respects it's audience by staying true to the character it created while still improving, expanding, and evolving that characters development. The developers thoughtfully intertwine the plot to suit "Tomb Raider: Underworld" (which in-turn resolved both the stories from this game and "Legend"). The reintroduction of Natla's character also helps to explain to fans what happened prior to "Underworld". While "Anniversary" can stand on it's own as a cool game, it does set up the other two games. Though all the games were released out of order: Legend in 2005, Anniversary in 2006, and Underworld in 2008. Anniversary does create a time line that is respectful to the fans that appreciate continuity.

The Tomb Raider series is not for kids and this game is no exception. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a reintroduction of Lara and a spring board for new story lines and a way to introduce new fans to a classic game and story. As a fan of the series it's nice to be able to play the original Tomb Raider on today's graphic superior platforms. I don't know how they do it but each adaptation of Lara Croft and her abilities is stunning in every game and this game does not disappoint. I might add that the ability to earn and wear different outfits (introduced in "Legend") is included in this game as well the added fun of finding artifacts, relics, completing time trials and the use of the grappling-hook.

All in all, I recommend this game to new and old fans alike. It's the old game with improved graphics, physics, clothing, and abilities. It is joy to play and experience time and again.

Prior to the current generation of video game consoles, I had last played Tomb Raider when it was introduced on the PC in the 90's. Before this release, I had already played Tomb Raider: Legend, which I had really enjoyed, so I figured I would give this title a try. Fortunately, it did not disappoint.

From a graphics perspective, this game provided an incremental improvement over Tomb Raider: Legend. The environments are beautifully detailed, and they are extremely large. Not only are the environments big, but they are also extremely high -- be prepared to climb a lot. Once you enter an area, nothing additional needs to load, so you are not disturbed by "loading" screens, and you end up totally immersed in the environment. I encountered no framerate issues. The sound is excellent, and compliments the environments perfectly. Music is kept to a minimum, so you won't be distracted during gameplay.

From a control perspective, this game introduces a new "adrenaline dodge" move, which may take a bit for novice players master. The move is extremely important to gameplay, and it will be necessary to master the move in order to complete the game. This move replaces the "bullet time" move, which became standard in many games in recent years. Otherwise, the control scheme is exactly the same as Tomb Raider: Legend, and Lara's movements have not changed. If you played Tomb Raider: Legend, you can play Anniversary.

The level bosses are amazing. The T-Rex is probably the most enjoyable challenge I have ever encountered in a video game. There are some other challenging moments, and you may find yourself reaching for a strategy guide, but if you are patient and continue to practice, you should be able to master the game and complete it.

"Completion", however, is subject to interpretation. The game's achievements are challenging, and it will take some effort to achieve a 1,000 GS on this game. Reaching the end of the game may take between 10-15 hours, but completing everything and collecting all of the items in the game could take an additional 10-15 hours -- without a strategy guide. Fortunately, the game has decent replay value because of the way the achievements are structured.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this title a perfect score is the poor development that went into the CGI transitions between levels. They are simply too short, and they don't provide enough information to really get immersed in the story. The final CGI presented upon completion of the game is somewhat disappointing, when compared to the ending in Tomb Raider: Legend.

This title may only appeal to Tomb Raider fans, but I believe it is a must-play for this console generation. It's exactly the type of title that I would like to demonstrate for friends and family. Given its solid gameplay and replay value, it will retain its place in my collection indefinitely.

I have this to play on my computer however when I rcvd my xbox 360 I wanted to play the Tomb Raider Anniversary on my xbox - it certainly met all my expectations and I really enjoy playing this on my xbox360.

I have had nothing but problems with this version of the LC games. It is the only game that I wrote to the manufacturers to complain about. A crutial part of the game does not register on my copy and so once I managed to get to the greek boss scene, I have been unable to continue, even on easy level. I trued all of the cheats, if you want to call them that and there was always something that didn't work. i.e. I dove down into the grotto and waited. The energy bar never disappeared, but when I returned to the surface, one was gone. I couldn't use its shield though, and going back under the water doesn't work either. So I'm stuck there unable to play the later half of the game that I paid good money for. I tried it on the PC and managed to get through most of the difficult places without problems. The same was true on the WII. So what is it with xbox's version of the game.

Like may of us I'm sure we're just waiting and drooling for the third uncharted to come out and we need something to tide us over until than, while I grew up with the Tomb Raiders games and the Xbox 360 version is a definite upgrade especially in video quality of this franchise at the end I still got a lot of the usual headaches and annoyances as well. The one biggest complaint I have is the camera control, when you're in a suspense or action situation and you're trying to keep you sights on the area around you it doesn't help that the camera either goes back to the front of Lara or refuses to even show you the area you're trying to focus on especially when you're fighting multiple attackers. The minor annoyance is the directional guide you have with the game, there really isn't one you basically for the most part follow the front path unless it deviates until multiple ones and when that happens the confusions really begins as you can get lost and confused on where you are and where you want to go. For the price I got the game I really shouldn't complain but I just was expecting a little more than this kind of like the Silent Hill Homecoming was such a disappointment for myself and I'm sure many others. The voice cast and video graphics are vastly upgraded from the early PC versions and PS2 versions as well so a big plus on that side and the extras are pretty decent as well. If you just want to you can explore Croft manor at the main menu screen if you don't immediately want to start the game just yet and a few other extras as well. You'll of course get usual Lara acrobatics and jumping and standard levels we've grown use to with Lara Croft and until the Uncharted 3 comes out it's a somewhat acceptable substitute until than...

If you're Chopin and have hands like him that can play piano on keyboard this is the game for you. I remember first series of games where 6 keys were all you needed to play beautifully and that was all. Now you got to play grand piano on the keyboard hitting control and E one after another, you must be crazy to do so. Instead on focusing on the game you must look at the keyboard for the right key to hit because if you miss you're dead. The focus of the game is shifted to mid-term study, on my PC 0 doesn't work for the camera and you can't swing because Lara goes up and down the rope instead. I don't know who made the game, but I bet these are NOT original people from the success of previous versions. Save your money.

Even if you're not a potty mouth, like me, you'll be amazed at what you say in frustrations playing this game. You'll have to put the game on hold, for several days, possibly look up how others beat a level and try and try again. The main reason for this, terrible camera and Lara doesn't cooperate.

This edition is meant to bring Lara back to basics, hence "anniversary" from what I understand. I was a bit confused with storyline flow because you don't see Zip or Alister but Winston is mentioned in Croft Manor. There he had wrote Lara a letter about how the house is in disarray from "remolding" which I assume is from when her doppelganger blew the place up in Underworld. Or there is no correlation between the two and I just made that up, you decide.

The only other familiar character is Natla, everyone else is new. Also, no PDA, instead you can refer to Lara's journal which I found to be no help at all. There is also no headlamp, adjusting your TV's or the games brightness on some levels can help. The graphics do not seem to be better than or even as good as Underworld, I have a feeling they wanted a "vintage" look.
With Lara not cooperating, you tell her to jump straight; she jumps off to the side. She want her to grab a ledge, she won't. You want her to jump a certain direction off the grapple line, she lets go or jumps UP instead of OUT. With the camera, I found the same glitch as in Underworld, if she's not perfectly lined up with her next jump; she won't do what you want. I spent so much time aiming the camera!

Once you get the hang of her not doing what she's supposed to and can figure out your own flow, it's a fun game with challenging puzzles. Monsters/enemies aren't as creepy, very much "pixel" looking with glowing eyes but can be frustrating to kill with the "adrenaline shots". This requires perfect timing and correct button pushing... this by far was the hardest new maneuver for me.

All in all, a good update of the Classic game I started playing on my computer back in the 90's. I'm glad I was finally able to finish it!

I am a fan of the series since the original playstation times, i am glad to recommend this game to anyone who likes the old style tomb raider games.

PROS: It preserves the elements that made the previous games fun and entertaining. A good remake of the best playstation tomb raider. Lot's of unlockables for the fans. I think this one is the best version of all platforms (graphics quality, controls, achievements). It is available on xbox live games on demand as separate chapters and i believe you need tomb raider legend, so getting the disc is the best.

CONS: You may find the graphics outdated by today's standards, there are some bugs here and there and this version is a little expensive compared to the pc or PS3 tomb raider trilogy. But, for the PC you must have a relatively powerful machine to get the same quality, and the ps3 version is just horrible (ps2 version upscaled to 720p, crappy frame rate). BLOOD! what happened to the blood? The phrase "blood stained hands" with on screen clean hands is just dumb.


I apologize for any grammatical aberration, I am still learning English.

fun for the adventure type game, exploring, action. good for collecting achievements but a little time consuming and repetitive for that