Tomb Raider Anniversary

[Angrycoder]

I spent about 5 hours with the PC version last night, and so far the game is fantastic. I really enjoyed the first tomb raider game when it was released 10 years ago, but the sequels left me kind of cold (too much combat, too difficult to figure out where you are supposed to go).

Anniversary does a wonderful job of bringing the failing franchise back to its roots, exploration based platforming filled with crazy jumps and plenty of 'how the fuck am i going to get up there' moments. The controls have been streamlined, no need to sit there lining up pixel perfect jumps, as long as your timing is close enough, laura does all the work for you. Checkpoints are liberally placed after each major section, so at most you will only be replaying 2-3 minutes of the game if you manage to screw up.

The game is filled with tons of bonus content. Extra costumes, time attack mode, director commentary, cheats, art galleries, profiles, etc. Some of the bonuses are unlocked just by progressing through the game, others are unlocked by finding the relics hidden in each level. The relics add an extra layer of depth and difficulty to the game and provide a nice optional challenge. The early ones are pretty easy to find and get to, but later, even if you spot a nook where you think one might hidden, the real trick is figuring out a way to get over there.

The game hums along without at hitch at 1920x1200 (widescreen) on my 7800GT with all the bells and whistles cranked up. I'd imagine you could get good performance out of a more modest video card at lower resolutions. If you have an adapter, the game supports the PS2 and Xbox 360 controllers out of the box. The default button configurations don't need any tweaking. I would really recommend a decent dual analogue pad for this game, I haven't even tried the mouse/keyboard controls, but I can't imagine they are pleasant.

The only thing I'm not really crazy about is the addition of the dragon's lair/shenmue/god of war style quicktime events. They are easy enough to pull off, but they don't really add much, and personally I would rather just watch the cut scene.

This game is easily the best game in the series and a perfect example of how to do a remake right.

[Kevin Grey]

Did you play Legend? If you like what you're seeing in Anniversary then it's a good bet you would enjoy the last game as well.

Does anyone know if Keeley Hawes is doing the voice of Lara again?

Picked up the PS2 version today at lunch ($19.99!) and I'm very much looking forward to the game.

[unbongwah]

It's a pretty good remake of the first game, but I preferred TR:L. TR:A is pretty spartan with the plot & dialog, which makes it feel more sterile. [Hey, sue me - I just like having a Brit chick whispering in my ear constantly.] And TR:A is a lot more punishing than TR:L; these days, I have neither the patience nor the reflexes to keep up.

[Mox]

Does anyone know if Keeley Hawes is doing the voice of Lara again?

According to the credits in the manual, yes. And it's a very good game, with all the key moments of the first game in there.

[slantz]

Yeah, I haven't played TR:A yet, but your descriptions made it sounds like you were describing TR:L, which I was very pleasantly surprised by.

[Kevin Grey]

According to the credits in the manual, yes. And it's a very good game, with all the key moments of the first game in there.

Awesome. I thought she did a great job as Lara in the last game and I became a fan after watching the first couple of seasons of MI:5/Spooks last summer.

[Damien Neil]

Is there any intention for a 360 release of this one? I'd rather not have to make the choice between playing on the couch and shiny graphics.

[Lynxara]

I believe not. Honestly, the platform choices for Anniversary are pretty strange. PC, PSP, and PS2? Really?

[unbongwah]

Yeah, I haven't played TR:A yet, but your descriptions made it sounds like you were describing TR:L, which I was very pleasantly surprised by.
TR:A keeps the same basic controls as TR:L with a few tweaks (no grenades or binoculars, for one thing); but as I suggest, the gameplay feels a bit different. TR:A is very much a throwback to the original, while TR:L was its own beast.

[flyinj]

Is there any intention for a 360 release of this one? I'd rather not have to make the choice between playing on the couch and shiny graphics.

Someone on GAF found this:

Sorry if this is old, but from the ESRB website:

Tomb Raider: Anniversary Croft Manor Eidos T Mild Suggestive Themes,
Violence Xbox 360
Tomb Raider: Anniversary Egypt Eidos T Mild Suggestive Themes,
Violence Xbox 360
Tomb Raider: Anniversary Greece Eidos T Mild Suggestive Themes,
Violence Xbox 360
Tomb Raider: Anniversary Lost City Eidos T Mild Suggestive Themes,
Violence Xbox 360
Tomb Raider: Anniversary Peru Eidos T Mild Suggestive Themes,
Violence Xbox 360

[Damien Neil]

Oh, cool. I'll hold off on getting it then, in hopes of a 360 release.

[Fugitive]

That's sparked rumours that it's going to be a downloadable for the 360. If so I hope it's all at once and they're just split up that way because of XBLA rules.

[mouselock]

Sure looks like downloadables to me. Question is: How much per "episode"?
($5/per would be nice, putting it at less than the PS2 release price though, so unlikely. What's next though, 600 points per? I guess that'd be doable, and all 5 for 2400 points.)

[John Reynolds]

Went to Best Buy today to pick this up and was told it's not coming out until late June (after the employee looked it up in the store computer).

[Coca Cola Zero]

800 points per episode seems just about the right amount of XBLA price gouging. I haven't bought anything off of XBLA in months, not even SOTN or Settlers... not so much because I'm officially boycotting but rather because my view of the service has been dimmed by previous episodes of buyer's remorse relative to the high price I've paid for things that I will only pull the trigger if I'm absolutely sure I'll play the hell out of whatever it is I'm buying. Super Puzzle Fighter II HD is pretty much a sure-thing purchase from me, but other than that my interest in XBLA has dwindled almost completely.

[fuzzyslug]

I mentioned something about this over on the Gametap thread. I had a blast with it last night. Somehow it tickled both my inner graphics whore (it looks just wonderful on the PC) and gave me a little nostalgic massage as well. I liked it quite a bit.

[Kevin Grey]

Went to Best Buy today to pick this up and was told it's not coming out until late June (after the employee looked it up in the store computer).

Best Buy's website (which is probably what the employee looked at) said the title isn't due until June 12th. But it's advertised for this week in their ad and they got them in stock today (at least mine did).

[Jeff Green]

Really liking it a ton so far. I downloaded it from GameTap last night and then spent a coupla hours with it. And, though I know this may force me to turn in my man card (yet again!), I really had hoped that in the opening snow level she might, ya know, be wearing pants this time around. And a jacket. It's not that I'm a prude. It's just the dad in me. "Sweetie, you can't go outside like that!"

[Enduro_Man]

Although it's a shame that Eidos couldn't include or fix the Next-Gen graphic enhancements from Legends, the upshot is that the game runs at a very good clip while still looking pretty good. I haven't invested a lot of time into it (still in Peru), but as someone who loved the pre-3dfx original, I'm enjoying it a fair bit and agree with Angrycoder's assessment.

What I love most is how the challenge of the original doesn't seem to have been watered down in the remake. While I had a great time playing through Legend (heck, I unlocked the bikini), it often seemed like it was holding your hand through many of its linear levels. I wonder how newcomers will react to the relative lack of guidance in this one? Or does the remake more conspicuously direct you to the next goal?

Incidentally, mouse-and-keyboard is just fine for TRA, just as it was in the original.

[mouselock]

Although it's a shame that Eidos couldn't include or fix the Next-Gen graphic enhancements from Legends,

This is as good a place to ask as any.. what exactly is that doing to legends and why does it bring my system to a friggin' crawl?

Just seems like it's upping texture detail but I have no clue why that eats my 7900 GS for breakfast like it does.

[Enduro_Man]

Next-Gen gave you normal mapping, and improved lighting/shadows. There may have been HDR, but if so, it didn't announce itself as loudly as in other games. Not sure whether the textures were more detailed, or if that was just the impression made by the maps. Unfortunately, it also drove the frame rate into the dirt and, more importantly, disabled the "Wet Lara" effect on the PC.

EDIT: Yes on HDR, yes on increased texture detail, and parallax rather than normal mapping, according to this article (http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2006/04/11/tomb_raider_legend_review/3). Frankly, though, I'm not seeing the 'parallax effect' in those screenshots.

[flyinj]

The big framerate killer in Legend's "Next Gen" mode was that all lighting was dynamic. In "Old Gen" mode (and on the PS2/Xbox/GC SKUs) lighting was burned onto the texture through vertex lighting and static. In "Next Gen" mode, every single lightsource was actually emitting in realtime. Which allowed for every lightsource to cast a shadow.

[DanielElliot]

Is there something weird or buggy about the save system? I got a little ways into the first level (maybe three checkpoints in), saved, and when I came back in, there were no saves. I couldn't find a load option on the main menu, so I started a new game, hit escape, and chose Load, to find the save list empty. This is on Gametap.

[Kevin Grey]

Is there something weird or buggy about the save system? I got a little ways into the first level (maybe three checkpoints in), saved, and when I came back in, there were no saves. I couldn't find a load option on the main menu, so I started a new game, hit escape, and chose Load, to find the save list empty. This is on Gametap.

You have to manually save before exiting the game- it will then save your progress at the nearest checkpoint. The game never automatically saves but it does prompt you to save when you finish the somewhat arbitrary "levels" in the game (you probably didn't make it that far in your initial playthrough).

[Mox]

And even if you never save, you can always "resume" because when you hit a checkpoint it makes a "secret save" anyway. I'm talking about the I-bought-the-DVD-for-the-PC version, though. Shouldn't be different, but it might be.

[DanielElliot]

I did manually save, but I really wasn't very far in. It did say "Checkpoint reached" several times, but never prompted me to save.

[Jazar]

Playing this game makes me realize what a brilliant mechanic the Prince Of Persia "Time Rewind" is.

[unbongwah]

Playing this game makes me realize what a brilliant mechanic the Prince Of Persia "Time Rewind" is.
Yeah, TR:A is pretty good, but it reminds me of all the reasons why I don't usually like platformers and prefer the "cakewalks" in PoP:SoT and TR:L instead.

[BDGE]

I -ADORE- this game so far.

I've had my concerns about Crystal Dynamics actually pulling off a suitable update. Legends was a critics darling for the most part, and it was entertaining, but it failed to really capture the scale and scope of the classic. Locations were never that imposing, combat was pushed front and center, the bike scenes were lousy, and the game traipsed along a rigid path with mostly obvious puzzles. Fun weekend fluff though.

This game is a total love letter to the franchise, and I just marvel at how well CD incorporated the new with the old. Even moreso, I'm stunned how eerily I recall so many locations despite not having revisited TR1 for such a gross period of time. It's a testament to the quality of the source material and the hard work put in to maintain it.

Bravo!

[Igor Muravyev]

So I take it they removed the next-gen graphics from this one? Any reason why?

[mutt]

Can anyone help me with the grappling hook controls? I'm having a terrible time trying to get them to work. I jump, hit Q a bunch of times to throw my hook, and then, more often than not, go nowhere.

The first time you have to use the grappling hook, I found that standing on the very edge of the platform you're throwing from helps and may even be essential. However, on the second ledge where you have to use it, even standing over the lip doesn't help. I've tried and tried and tried, but can't get it to work. Lara just throws the hook, it engages the ring briefly, and then it unhooks. Can someone step me through the correct process?

[Alistair]

In the last game, if you were using it to swing over a gap, you had to throw the hook while in mid-air, not while on the edge...

[mutt]

Right, I know. I jump and then hit Q a bunch of times (per the onscreen instructions) while in midair. I see her throw the hook, and I see it hit the target, but instead of swinging out over the chasm, she just retrieves the hook and drops back down to where she started from. Maybe I need to run and jump?

[Deadron]

I never played this franchise, so I have no nostalgia to fall back on, and wouldn't pay for a game like this based on the fact that I usually hate jumping puzzles. However, based on the reviews here I'm firing up Gametap to check it out. If I don't like it, on to the next game.

I love Gametap.

[TomChick]

Muttbunch, quit "[hitting] Q a bunch of times". You're probably detaching the hook and dropping Lara to her death! You just press it once and you're good to go.

-Tom

[fuzzyslug]

Muttbunch, quit "[hitting] Q a bunch of times". You're probably detaching the hook and dropping Lara to her death! You just press it once and you're good to go.

-Tom

Yeah, this is what I was thinking too.

[mutt]

Thanks, guys. I'll try that. Still, the onscreen instructions specifically say "tap Q repeatedly" or words to that effect.

[Case]

Right, I know. I jump and then hit Q a bunch of times (per the onscreen instructions) while in midair.

I discovered this the hard way. Press the Q key exactly once after leaping.

[mutt]

Turns out the problem was that I needed to run and jump, rather than just jumping straight up and down.

Man, this game is bringing back memories. Really good memories. I wonder what it is about it that makes Tomb Raider so iconic? When I think of 3D games that somehow matter(ed) more than others, DOOM and Tomb Raider lead the list. I guess it's because in TR the emphasis is on exploration rather than combat, which bucks the main trend, but which other games have also subsequently used to good effect (albeit in smaller doses).

I wish there existed games more like Tomb Raider, which just let you explore and discover cool shit, rather than requiring that you fight something every five seconds. I once sent in a contest game suggestion to PC Gamer about a buried treasure game using the Carnivores 2 engine. What I had in mind was that you had to scour a jungle island (appropriately populated with the occasional hut, cave, etc. for interest) looking for clues to where this treasure was buried. You would have total freedom of movement, as there would be no real storyline to force you down tunnels. When you finally figured out where the treasure was buried, you'd had to step it off yourself, like a real treasure hunter, find the right spot to dig in, and dig. The PCG crew probably laughed their asses off at me at the time, but I was and am totally serious about it. I'd love to play such a game if it was done right.

[John Reynolds]

Since I can't pull off adrenaline dodges I can't get past the T-rex. :(

[Mox]

I did find the shift key hard to get used to using. Even in the last stages of the game, I still have to think to myself "Keep moving. Keep moving. Now press SHIFT!" It just hasn't ever become instinctive.

[tork]

Since I can't pull off adrenaline dodges I can't get past the T-rex. :(

If they haven't altered the encounter from the original, if you move quickly enough when the T-Rex encounter triggers, you can reach a crevice on the right side of the cavern where you can get into a position where the T-Rex can't reach you, and you can gun it down at leisure.

I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering this right, since it has been 10 years.

[Justin Fletcher]

If they haven't altered the encounter from the original, if you move quickly enough when the T-Rex encounter triggers, you can reach a crevice on the right side of the cavern where you can get into a position where the T-Rex can't reach you, and you can gun it down at leisure.

I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering this right, since it has been 10 years.

No, you've got it; that's how I killed it all those years ago. I hope to hell they haven't removed the crevice in the remake.

I've really been looking foward to this game as I consider the original Tomb Raider to be one of my top ten favorite games of all time. I was going to pick it up on Day One, but the reports of a possible 360 version have made me hold off (though I'd prefer a disc over XBLA). Until then, I guess I'll raid vicariously through you guys.

[tork]

No, you've got it; that's how I killed it all those years ago. I hope to hell they haven't removed the crevice in the remake.

I've really been looking foward to this game as I consider the original Tomb Raider to be one of my top ten favorite games of all time. I was going to pick it up on Day One, but the reports of a possible 360 version have made me hold off (though I'd prefer a disc over XBLA). Until then, I guess I'll raid vicariously through you guys.

I agree. I loved the first Tomb Raider, and things like that crevice were part of what I loved about the game - the fact that so many encounters and challenges could be avoided or simplified with exploration and careful planning. This is something that the designers completely abandoned for the sequels - none of the folks at Core Design seemed to have the slightest understanding of what made the first game great.

[Fuzzydevil]

The T-Rex encounter's completely different, from what I'm told, so I doubt that exploit (well, that technique) is still in.

[TomChick]

I hated hated HATED that stupid adrenaline thing, even after I got the hang of it. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is great when it's not trying to be a shooter, at which point it's really out of its depth.

The trick, John, is to just run around -- you don't have to stand still, which is pretty counter-intuitive -- and make sure you don't get hit while you're waiting for the circles to overlap. Resist the temptation to keep firing and just make sure nothing disrupts you. Since you're in slo-mo, it's not too hard.

-Tom

[krayzkrok]

As a fan of the original, I'm also impressed how good the CR version is. Reading earlier comments I thought I'd have enough horsepower to crank everything up, but it's sluggish for me (it becomes quite blurry when the camera moves in certain areas) even with a 7950 GX2, C2Duo 6600 at only 1280x1024 with everything on max. I had to pull the AA down a bit to get it smooth.

And yes, also stuck completely at T.Rex! I just can't pull off those adrenaline dodges at all, and the encounter is different from the original. I'm not at the complete frustration stage yet, though - one more try.

Incidentally, are y'all playing with manual hold on or off? I tried it off, and it seemed too simple - less sense of danger because Lara always grabs onto things. So I use manual hold which stimulates my sense of vertigo a lot more because I occasionally screw up.

[RichardC]

Yeah. The T-Rex was nothing short of a TOTAL pain in the arse.

[Case]

Yeah. The T-Rex was nothing short of a TOTAL pain in the arse.

Wait 'til you get to the centaurs...

In the T-Rex area, there is a small section, between two of the spike traps, that the dino can't touch you.

I truly detest boss fights. It's such a cliche' these days.

[Kevin Grey]

Boss fights were okay but the run of the mill combat in this game is hideously awful. Thanks to the stupid stun animation it's quite easy to get repeatedly get piled on without being able to do anything about it. Combat took a major step backward from TR: Legend.

Rest of the game was quite good though.

[krayzkrok]

It's a poor reflection of the combat implementation when every fight involves looking for the best way to hide from / exploit the enemy so it can't reach you. With the exception of the bats, that seems to be my only way of getting past these fights. But the original TR had terrible combat too, so at least it's faithful.

One of the few games where I'd happily apply a "no monsters" patch / cheat to improve the experience.

[mutt]

I haven't got to the Rex yet, but so far the fighting seems identical with the original version. It's not that hard, really. You just stay in the air, doing side and back flips constantly, while your autoaim takes care of the rest. I haven't fought enough to know for sure yet, but I get the impression that you're invisible to the beasts while you're airborne; much as when you're in the water. They don't know where you are or where you're headed until your feet touch the ground.

[krayzkrok]

The raptor / rex encounter is a magnitude more difficult than any previous encounter up to that point. I vaguely remember this being true of the original as well.

[RichardC]

I haven't got to the Rex yet, but so far the fighting seems identical with the original version. It's not that hard, really. You just stay in the air, doing side and back flips constantly, while your autoaim takes care of the rest.

The Rex relies on the dodging system, and even then it's a pain in the neck. Chances are by the time you reach it, you've never actually bothered with that move due to being able to just flip everywhere. Then you suddenly need to start doing it with precision timing and positioning, or you die really, really fast. And it's a complete pain in the face.

[Mox]

You folks are going to love the last chapter.

[krayzkrok]

Ok, I did it. Finally figured out the dodging, and suddenly it's pretty easy. I wasted all my lovingly-collected shotgun ammo though before I realised the pistol is the way to go. Not doing it again though!

[Prodigy]

Ok so it's coming on Xbox Live Arcade, divided into 4 chapters, 2400 points for the whole game but you have to own Tomb Raider Legend to play it. Duh.

[RichardC]

The fuck?

[Kevin Grey]

Also, the 360 downloadable isn't coming until September and there will be a boxed retail copy to follow sometime after that.

[Prodigy]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=77889

Eidos has confirmed that it plans to release Tomb Raider Anniversary on Xbox 360 as a series of downloadable episodes starting in September.

The content - Xbox Live's first ever serialisation of a full retail game - will be made available for owners of Tomb Raider Legend to purchase through Xbox Live Marketplace.

In September "Episodes 1 & 2" will be offered along with a free training mission ("Croft Manor"). The following two episodes will arrive "shortly afterwards".

Eidos then plans to release a full retail version of Tomb Raider Anniversary "later in the year" that will put it within reach of gamers who didn't buy Legend.

Tomb Raider Legend owners will have to pay 2400 Microsoft points (GBP 20.40 / EUR 27.91 / USD 29.99) for all four episodes.

Jane Cavanagh, chief executive of Eidos' parent company SCi, said the episodic approach was part of the publisher's strategy to grow its presence in online and digital distribution.

"Lara has always been at the forefront of technology and this world-first initiative with Microsoft really highlights that fact. Ultimately we also intend to make the title available at retail so that it reaches the maximum possible audience," Cavanagh said in a statement.

Tomb Raider Anniversary is out now on PlayStation 2 and PC.

My wild guess is they need assets from the game to lighten the download of each episode. At least it seems we'll have a retail version but I really wanted to play this on the XLA.

[krayzkrok]

Since I can't pull off adrenaline dodges I can't get past the T-rex. :(

I was determined to master this, so this technique helped me. Select the pistols, strafe the big dinosaur while firing at him quickly. You'll see the red rage bar fill up in a matter of seconds, and then it will flash. At this point rex gets a bit annoyed, so make sure you're a little distance away from him. As long as you keep moving (preferably left / right) then as soon as he charges and everything slows down, you just make sure you a) keep the direction button pressed and b) hold SHIFT simultaneously. Lara will dive and crosshairs will converge on the dino's head (don't release those buttons!) and just when they meet and turn red, click the left mouse to fire. Rexie will then stumble into the wall and bump his head. The aim is to keep doing this, but try to make sure he's running towards those spiky things and he'll do himself even more of a mischief. It only takes about 3 or 4 of these dodges before he succumbs, after which there's a quick interactive interlude before he dies. Poor fella.

[fuzzyslug]

It's a poor reflection of the combat implementation when every fight involves looking for the best way to hide from / exploit the enemy so it can't reach you. With the exception of the bats, that seems to be my only way of getting past these fights. But the original TR had terrible combat too, so at least it's faithful.

One of the few games where I'd happily apply a "no monsters" patch / cheat to improve the experience.

I might agree if this were God of War or Devil May Cry but I give it a free pass here. If I was exploring a tomb and was attacked by a dinosaur, that's exactly what I'd do.

[Deadron]

This is my first exposure to Tomb Raider, and I've only played through a bit so far, but it is unique in that whenever combat comes up, it feels like the game is stopping while you are interrupted by this stupid annoyance.

Which is amusing, since for me most in FPS games (which I don't play many of), the combat is interesting and occasionally interrupted by stupid jumping puzzles.

[Igor Muravyev]

I'm trying to use my 360 Controller with this one.. all the buttons seem to do something except for the right analog stick which I would expect to rotate the camera. Except that it doesn't. And if I turn on manual aiming, it still uses the left analog stick to aim.

So my question is, how do I use the right analog stick to move the camera around like I would with the mouse?

Also, any way to turn off camera rotation when I use sidestep? That gets really annoying.

[John Reynolds]

I was determined to master this, so this technique helped me. Select the pistols, strafe the big dinosaur while firing at him quickly. You'll see the red rage bar fill up in a matter of seconds, and then it will flash. At this point rex gets a bit annoyed, so make sure you're a little distance away from him. As long as you keep moving (preferably left / right) then as soon as he charges and everything slows down, you just make sure you a) keep the direction button pressed and b) hold SHIFT simultaneously. Lara will dive and crosshairs will converge on the dino's head (don't release those buttons!) and just when they meet and turn red, click the left mouse to fire. Rexie will then stumble into the wall and bump his head. The aim is to keep doing this, but try to make sure he's running towards those spiky things and he'll do himself even more of a mischief. It only takes about 3 or 4 of these dodges before he succumbs, after which there's a quick interactive interlude before he dies. Poor fella.

Finally got it. What I wasn't doing was holding my right mouse button down to keep my guns out and locked onto the T-rex's head. Once I started doing that I executed the adrenaline move every time and took him out without a single problem.

[mutt]

I must be an idiot. I've reached the T-Rex spot, but it triggers an uninterruptable cutscene at the end of which I die. I never get a chance to dodge, shoot, or anything. WTF?

[John Reynolds]

There are arrows appearing (up, down) and you have to tap the appropriate key to forward the cutscene. Think of it as interactive.

[mutt]

Oh. Duh. I saw the arrows, but I think I tried using WASD rather than the arrow keys. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Igor Muravyev]

Ok, I figured out how to get the 360 controller to work 99% like I wanted it to.. just needed to set "Gamepad Axes" to Enabled (Right Stick X & Right Stick Y specifically). Strafing still resets the camera now but it doesn't matter anymore since turning and moving is analog and depends on how much I tilt the stick, rather than the full-go/full-stop of the WASD keys.

Highly recommend people to play with controller instead of keyboard+mouse if they have one.

[krayzkrok]

I'm onto Egypt now and I've finally had to admit defeat and turned off manual grab! Automatic grab felt far too easy in the earlier levels, and reduced that sense of vertigo quite a bit, but once you start hitting those scarab switches, timed ledges and rotating blades it just gets way too hard. Also, on my keyboard at least, pressing up, jump, ctrl simultaneously causes the PC to beep in objection that I'm pressing three buttons at once. Bah.

[krayzkrok]

I'd like to request that any other developer who thinks that having fireball throwing creatures whose fireballs knock you sideways please not torture players by creating long vertical sections where said creatures frequently attack you while you're standing on narrow platforms above a pit of lava. Once is perhaps ok, twice is pushing it, three times is too much, four times and you can fuck off, and five times your life is forfeit. This is particularly annoying when your automatic targeting system insists on selecting superfluous wall targets behind the creatures instead of the creatures themselves, nerve-shredding when you're under a time limit, and screamingly insane when coupled with a series of exceedingly tough, timed wall jumps.

Thank you, I feel better now. Excuse me while I pick up the stack of CDs that I knocked onto the floor in a fit of frustration, move them out of range this time, and try again for the umpteenth time.

[Kevin Grey]

I'd like to request that any other developer who thinks that having fireball throwing creatures whose fireballs knock you sideways please not torture players by creating long vertical sections where said creatures frequently attack you while you're standing on narrow platforms above a pit of lava. Once is perhaps ok, twice is pushing it, three times is too much, four times and you can fuck off, and five times your life is forfeit. This is particularly annoying when your automatic targeting system insists on selecting superfluous wall targets behind the creatures instead of the creatures themselves, nerve-shredding when you're under a time limit, and screamingly insane when coupled with a series of exceedingly tough, timed wall jumps.

Yeah, I *hated* that section. Worst part of the game.

[Fugitive]

Looks like this is finally out now (http://kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-live/tomb-raider-anniversary-hits-xbox-live-325895.php) in the DLC form for the 360. I was waiting for it this way since I already had Legend, but after seeing that it'll take 3GB of disk space and costs nearly as much as the boxed version has fallen to, I might just pass on it for now. Bad timing, Eidos...

[Marcin]

Thank you, I feel better now. Excuse me while I pick up the stack of CDs that I knocked onto the floor in a fit of frustration, move them out of range this time, and try again for the umpteenth time.

Haha, this seems to be a Tomb Raider tradition, since I had this exact reaction (i.e. screaming, rage-fueled fit) during the final boss fight of Legends.

Fun game otherwise, but all of the combat sections could be cleanly excised and the overall quality would only improve.

[Rock8man]

Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=88941) has a Tomb Raider Anniversary review for the Wii version. It's a well written review that's fun to read, since they seem to have completely bungled this version up.

[BDGE]

I still want to buy this for the 360 as what little I played on PS2 earlier this year had me in stitches. Shame I've heard the portjob is a bit dirty and lacking, but achievements!

[Rock8man]

I still want to buy this for the 360 as what little I played on PS2 earlier this year had me in stitches. Shame I've heard the portjob is a bit dirty and lacking, but achievements!

I thought the 360 versions got good reviews? That it was a good port? It's the Wii version that's supposedly a bad port. The 360 version has the good controls and graphics from the PC version I think. I've only played the PC version on Gametap, with the 360 controller, and its excellent. The first Tomb Raider game I've enjoyed.

[Brakara]

The very same Eurogamer gave the 360 version a 9/10.

[BDGE]

I thought the 360 versions got good reviews? That it was a good port? It's the Wii version that's supposedly a bad port. The 360 version has the good controls and graphics from the PC version I think. I've only played the PC version on Gametap, with the 360 controller, and its excellent. The first Tomb Raider game I've enjoyed.

NeoGAF has had the usual corrosive nitpicks once they got their mitts on it. Apparently a lot of the PC-centric high-def assets weren't utilized in the 360 port(ones that ironically were included in Legend 360 a couple years back), so some hefty mudslinging got stirred about. Some talk of inconsistent framerate as well, ultimately pinning it as a slightly modified PS2 upgrade. I starved myself from playing the PS2 game the moment the 360 port was announced, and I still plan to snag the port.