System: PS2, PC, PSP
Dev: Crystal Dynamics
Pub: Eidos Interactive
Release: June 5, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Philip Hanan

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

The game isn't simply a collection of prettier levels or more realistic levels. The levels have been retooled so switches may be put in new places, exits may not exist or new ones may exist, and the number of enemies and how they attack differs.

Let me walk you through the first level, Vilcabama. You actually climb the rocks up to the door leading to the cave. Then you see a remade FMV scene with better action and voice acting. Afterwards, you head through the cave. In TR1, you would climb rocks to get to a large crevice. In TRA, you walk along an ancient boardwalk until you reach a ledge. You climb the ledge and head into the crevice from a different area. Then, you make a choice of how to lower yourself into the crevice. You can choose to swing across it, then start climbing down or slowly slide down into an area without losing too much energy. TRA offers more choices of how to go about things than in the original game. It also mixes up areas throughout every level.

In level 2, instead of swimming and pulling a switch then returning to an area where a door is opened, you swim into the area you need to get to and only pull a switch to get out. You deal with less wolves, but more vicious ones that can bite and hold you down. Wiggling the analog stick will free you from animals and you can focus on the targets and dodge with circle if they get too close. You can also target and shoot certain pressure sensitive switches with your guns in order to activate them. The entire control scheme this game is much like Legend, but with older items like a traditional grappling hook. In some levels, instead of Lara having to make ridiculously long leaps, you'll use the grappling hook to reach areas and thanks to the hook, you'll see items placed in new spots. Items themselves help change the levels and the fight against enemies.

Lara herself doesn't move like she did in TR1, as her animations are taken from Legend's game engine. She can't leap as far as she could in TR1, but the grappling hook comes in handy, and she can now climb ledges which get her to her destinations. She also can't jump nearly as high, but that adds new depth to the game as it forces her to find all sorts of pieces of rock to use to climb upon.

All levels look similar to the old ones, but none of them play like the old levels, so TRA feels like a new game. Another new feature in TRA that wasn't in TR1 is Shenmue-esque movie scenes where you must press the correct button in time to perform a task. You may have to press X to jump over a dinosaur or R1 to shoot someone. The interactive movie scenes shorten the game, but I'm grateful that I don't have to run around and fire like crazy at a boss anymore. I wasted so much health in TR1. Speaking of health, here's a neat trick involving the game's save system.

The game doesn't use save crystals, but you'll have a chance to save at every designated checkpoint, which are like TR1 save crystals. The only difference is that you can use the checkpoints to save repeatedly or you can simply let the game load the last checkpoint when you die. You now have a choice of whether to start from a load or during a point in the game. If you find yourself low on health at a checkpoint, don't worry about finding a medipak. Save, then load your game. You'll instantly have full health. I don't know if the developers programmed the game this way, but it's extremely handy and makes TRA much easier to get through. You should only need medipacks in boss areas of when fighting multiple enemies.

I can instantly say that every aspect of Tomb Raider Anniversary is better than the original, and I may no longer play TR1 very often any more. The graphics are stunning on any console, the voice-acting and writing is more Hollywood quality, and the level designs feature obstacles that have been featured in many adventure films. It's perfect in a way that reminds us of Lara's past yet introduces us to modern game physics and design.

The addition of unlockable outfits, art, music, etc. by collecting artifacts and relics help make this game the best Tomb Raider game ever in my books. You get the best of the series: Modern graphics, modern physics, modern tools, classic TR1 levels, interactive movies, and the best outfits Lara ever wore. (except the nightgown and bikini)

I don't have to tell hardcore TR fans to buy this game and since casual fans only seem to enjoy the first game, I don't really have to tell them to buy it either. I suppose I'm reviewing this just to tell non Tomb Raider fans to buy this game because I believe this is one adventure that every gamer ages Teen and up will enjoy.

By Philip Hanan
CCC Freelance Writer

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