Best Tomb Raider since Last Revelation. This time that actually means something.

User Rating: 9 | Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Platinum) PS2
By burgeg | Review Date:
My actual review of the game starts at the second paragraph so feel free to skip this paragraph if you dont want to read about my experience of the TR series before TRA. The Tomb Raider series is my greatest series of all time. I grew up on classic TR and loved it since I first played the masterpiece that was TR1 I was hooked. Its fully 3D free roaming environment with exploration and puzzle based gameplay was revolutionary in 1996.Core Design capitalised on its success by bringing out a sequal year after year on the Playstation. TR2 was even better than the first imo, TR3 was a let down and TR4 was the pinnacle of the series. Chronicles came out the next year merely as a cash in. The series was meant to end at 4 but eidos pushed core to make more. Had it ended at 4 Core Design would have gone out in style and not the shame that they did go out it. Chronicles was the start of the TR downfall. In 2003 AOD was better than Chronicles but thats not saying much. It was a game with alot of problems. I enjoyed it but not nearly as much as the others. After the failure of that game TR was considered dead. Core Design were sacked and Crystal Dynamics took over the series. They made a game that I think is the worst of the series, but was well recieved by the critics. I wasn't sure if CD could make a TR game after Legend but was optimistic that they could do the job with Anniversary.

Tomb Raider Anniversary is a fantastic action adventure game and a fantastic tomb raider. Crystal Dynamics have clearly listened to the feedback from the fans. Almost all of the problems from Legend have been dealt with. This game keeps the feel of the original, whilst being a very fun game to play today. It seems like CD have found the middle ground between the old and the new. Leanier gameplay from Legend has been replaced by the classic open environments and exploration based gameplay and puzzles that made the TR series one of a kind. The controls are just like legend and are very smooth, which makes it an easy game to pick up and play and enjoy. This isn't just a remake. It a reimagining. Every level has been redesigned and everything feels new, with things also feeling familiar. Most levels are bigger and better than the original. There's deadly traps to get past, death defying jumps to do, puzzles to solve,familiar enemies to kill. These are mainly animals but there's also the atlantean mutants and mummies near the end of the game. Unlike legend and much like the original there is a great variety in the enemies which basicly makes the game more enjoyable. You'll have to master a move called the adrenaline dodge in this game. This is when you shoot an enemy it becomes raged, and you must dodge it as it attacks and shoot it in slow motion to perform a one shot kill. This is all too easy to pull off once you master it and it makes combat all too easy. A great move but it makes the more powerful weapons you carry useless. You might as well use pistols and the AD to kill enemies. It also makes the more fierce enemies seem less fierce because they're so easy to kill. Boss fights ALL require this feature to be mastered. Whether its the T rex, centaurs, giant mutant or natla, they all require this to be mastered.

Whilst most levels have been upscaled, some have been severely cut down. St Francis Folly is the best example of a level upscaled. The room at the start of the level with the pillars is bigger and has a new puzzle. The big main puzzle room is massive compared to the original and the four god rooms have been completely redesigned. This level is much harder and better than the original. In fact this is the best level a TR game has ever seen. If you haven't played this level you haven't played TR. The level tomb of tihocan has almpst all been cut. Cistern and tomb of tihocan are now merged into one level. It all adds up to a much shorter and not as good experince in this section. Also the lost island section of the game is much shorter than the original.

This is probably a better game than the original but there isn't much in it. This is easily one of the best Tomb Raider games ever and I can see the tomb raider series is in good hands. The 14 levels of the game isn't all there is. Theres also the mansion whichis a level in itself filled with puzzles and many secrets to collect. There's plenty of replay value in the game with secrets to collect and time trials to do. Beware. If you started the series with Legend you will not find this an easy ride. TT in legend could all be done in one attempt. They are nowhere near as easy in TRA, mainly because the levels are not easy. You will die alot in this game. Its very trial and arror based and I like that. There's one problem with Legend that TRA improves but doesn't fix. Length. Yes its a much longer game than legend but it still feels short overall. This is such a fun game that you will not be able to put it down and so the game will be over quite quickly. Luckily this game has good replay value to hold the game up. Tomb Raider Anniversary proves the series has a great future. Its a challenging game that tests both you mind with solving puzzles and your ability. Death defying traps, engaging puzzles and excellent platforming is what the series is all about. Without a doubt its the most fun TR. Thats doesn't mean the best. TR4 is the best in my book. Had TRA been as long as TR4 then it would be a different story. All you really need to know is that this is the best Tomb Raider since last revelation. This time that actually means something. Buy this game.

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