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Tomb Raider Anniversary Review

PS2 | PC | PSP
Tomb Raider Anniversary box art

System: PSP, PS2, PC
Dev: Crystal Dynamics
Pub: Eidos Interactive
Release: Aug. 8, 2007
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Cole Smith

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

Puzzles make up a good deal of the gameplay, but they may not appear as obvious puzzles to those of the point-and-click persuasion. A lot of the puzzles in Tomb Raider are directly related to how you control Lara. You won't just be pushing blocks around like you did the first game. There are an awful lot of jumps to perform, ledges to grab onto and shimmy from, as well as pitfalls to avoid. You'll swing on hooks, topple over obstacles to act as makeshift bridges, and constantly be on the lookout for hidden items to use. Checkpoints are plentiful, so you don't have to worry about starting over from the beginning of a particularly challenging level. Bullet-time gives you some extra flexibility during combat. There are tons of things to find in this game; everything from extra health to new costumes for our heroine. By the way, she looks great in everything - and most probably - nothing.

Tomb Raider Anniversary screenshot

There isn't a lot of dialogue in this game; a lot of it is just Lara and her thoughts. It's quite a treat actually to have some time to just think things through. A more realistic mood is presented by this form of narrative, which really drives home the isolation. When there is a conversation it's most welcome, even if the delivery is a little wooden. The soundtrack is subdued and moody. It fits perfectly with the solitary, spooky theme. Graphically the game looks better on the PSP than the original could ever dream of looking. The temples, caves, and pyramid chambers are rendered with incredible detail and depth. Lighting effects are subtle and realistic. These are some pretty big levels so you won't mind the load times which aren't insane anyway.

It's nice to relive the past, but it's a lot nicer when you discover that things are even better than you thought they were.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

Features:

  • Anniversary uses an enhanced version of the Tomb Raider: Legend game engine to apply Crystal Dynamic's latest technology.
  • Play the living Lara Croft, the world's greatest action heroine of all time - use all of Lara's guile, athleticism, and gadgets in her quest to conquer the unknown and uncover ancient artifacts.
  • Includes classic environments from the original Tomb Raider as never experienced before including Peru, Greece, Egypt, and more. Explore uncharted and mysterious worlds - enter into strange, undiscovered lands and solve their deepest, darkest mysteries, open doors to new realms, uncover great rewards, and unearth secrets to Lara's past.
  • Startling enemy encounters - encounter fierce animal and supernatural enemies, wolves, bears, crocodiles, horrific monsters, and the T Rex.
  • New and improved A.I. means that all enemies will exhibit a more diverse behavior set, providing improved combat challenges for the player.
  • Tomb Trials - Master Challenge Mode
  • Single and two player checkpoint races
  • Go head to head in timed obstacle courses.
  • Raid 'n' Seek Pro Mode
  • Wi-Fi 2 player - only mode, players compete to see who can collect the most artifacts while foiling their rival using traps and weapons.
  • Features player-activated platform objects, obstacles, and traps that allow players to actively sabotage their opponent.
  • Exclusive Image Gallery - Unlock gallery images by completing challenges.
  • Single still images or puzzle pieces of a larger image
  • Variations on the 3D Vista Wallpaper (different locations, Lara poses) Assigned some as backgrounds for menu screens
  • PSP-only Lara skins
  • PSP-only sound tracks

    Rating out of 5
    Rating Description

    4.7

    		 Graphics
    Plenty of detail with rich textures, vibrant colors, and subtle lighting.

    4.8

    		 Control
    Lara is a joy to control. She's like a Ferrari instead of a tank.

    4.7

    		 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    Subdued soundtrack fits the mood perfectly. Not a lot of extraneous dialogue.

    3.2

    		 Play Value
    Tons of collectibles and different ways to play through the game will ensure you play the single-player mode over at least one or two more times.

    4.4

    		 Overall Rating - Great
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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