Tomb Raider: Anniversary

About

"Tomb Raider: Anniversary" is a remastered version of the original Tomb Raider games, now featuring improved graphics, physics, and gameplay using the Tomb Raider: Legend engine. Join Lara Croft in her pursuit of the Scion artifact across globe-trotting 3rd person action-adventure, exploring massive environments, solving puzzles, and engaging in intense combat. This reimagined classic offers a dynamic and fast-paced Lara Croft experience with epic exploration and enhanced storytelling.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,144 reviews

graphics156 positive mentions

stability173 negative mentions

Faithful remake of the original Tomb Raider with improved graphics and controls.
Challenging puzzles and platforming that require thought and skill.
Nostalgic experience for fans of the original game.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay and progress.
Frustrating controls and camera angles that lead to unfair deaths.
Inconsistent combat mechanics, particularly with the adrenaline dodge feature.

graphics
453 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The graphics of "Tomb Raider: Anniversary" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant improvements over the original game, showcasing vibrant environments and detailed character models that enhance the nostalgic experience. However, some players noted persistent graphical glitches and bugs that detract from the overall visual quality, particularly at higher frame rates. Overall, while the graphics are considered good for a game of its time (2007), they may not meet the expectations set by more modern titles.
- “The graphics and overall presentation of the game are impressive, and the new Tomb Raider engine helps to create an immersive experience.”
- “The graphics still look nice and mostly aged well, thanks to the art style.”
- “Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a fantastic remake upgrading the graphics to full HD quality, upgrading the sound and the controls and gameplay mechanics without losing touch with the feel of the original game.”
- “The graphics look like a cookie cutter mobile game today.”
- “This game isn't just a mere video game; it's a time machine that whisks you away to the golden era of Windows 95, CRT monitors, and chunky pixelated graphics.”
- “The graphics are laughably blocky (let's face it, even for its time, Tomb Raider wasn't pretty) and we've got those terrible, muddy, low-res textures... but beyond the superficial cosmetic stuff, there's the unrefined gameplay and especially shoddy controls.”
gameplay
445 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
The gameplay of "Tomb Raider: Anniversary" is a blend of nostalgic mechanics from the original game and modern enhancements, featuring improved graphics, controls, and puzzle design. However, many players find the combat mechanics, particularly the adrenaline dodge and some platforming elements, to be frustrating and poorly executed, leading to a mix of enjoyment and irritation. While the game successfully retains the essence of classic Tomb Raider gameplay, it suffers from bugs and outdated mechanics that can detract from the overall experience.
- “The developers have managed to weave modern graphics and mechanics seamlessly into the classic tapestry, never straying too far from the source material.”
- “Overall, Tomb Raider: Anniversary offers a good overall gaming experience with refined mechanics, nice visuals, and captivating level design.”
- “The gameplay mechanics have also been updated, with improved controls and camera angles that make it easier for players to navigate the game's environments.”
- “Quite a few mechanics are obviously dated.”
- “The game also fails to communicate how their mechanics work, which is just frustrating.”
- “The combat is jank and the mechanics feel like they have not been properly playtested.”
story
377 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The story of "Tomb Raider: Anniversary" is a reimagining of the original game, maintaining its core plot while introducing minor enhancements and character development, particularly for Lara Croft. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and improved graphics, many find the narrative to be sparse, formulaic, and lacking depth compared to more recent entries in the franchise. Overall, the game serves as a solid homage to the classic, but its storytelling may not captivate all players, especially those seeking a more intricate plot.
- “The game's storyline is engaging and well-written, with a range of interesting characters and plot twists that keep the player engaged throughout the game.”
- “Its engaging storyline and challenging puzzles make it a must-play for fans of the Tomb Raider franchise and the action-adventure genre.”
- “A masterful and loving remake of a true classic, its improvements to the story and cutscenes, as well as some truly inventive level design to incorporate the old style with new sections is really excellent.”
- “The story is mostly forgettable, but there are a few cool bits near the end.”
- “The only weak point is the story, which is kind of bland (the modern trilogy does better here).”
- “There is virtually no story except for maybe the last 60 minutes of the game.”
stability
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
1%
96%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experience issues such as freezing, unresponsive controls, and graphical errors, which can lead to frustrating moments and even game-breaking scenarios. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it a challenging experience for many.
- “No glitches or bugs encountered so far.”
- “It's not very buggy, and can run locked at 60fps on almost anything.”
- “Looks great, plays great, runs great: 10/10”
- “This is a bug-ridden mess that feels bad to play.”
- “The game has many glitches making it at times miserable to play (examples: enemies becoming stuck making the challenge of fighting non-existent, extremely poor viewing angles resulting in Lara performing unexpected jumps resulting in her death, or making some areas of the game impassable).”
- “It's a bug-ridden, glitch-filled mess.”
music
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance immersion, with many noting the effective blend of remastered classic tracks and new compositions that evoke nostalgia. While some players appreciate the minimalistic approach to music, which allows for a more serene puzzle-solving experience, others feel that the soundtrack lacks the memorability of the original. Overall, the sound design, including ambient effects, complements the gameplay well, creating a captivating auditory backdrop for exploration and action.
- “Also, the game's audio design is excellent: music is spot on and ambiance sounds are used wisely for immersiveness.”
- “The music in the game really sets the tone and either helps ramp up the action or really puts the player in a laid-back relaxed trance.”
- “The soundtrack is atmospheric but is also very fitting and not very memorable.”
- “The soundtrack and atmosphere is no match for the original.”
- “Music is very minimal.”
- “Really dull sound design, music barely ever plays, not much voice acting and the ambient sounds aren't enough, this results in long stretches of the level where the audio is virtually nonexistent.”
atmosphere
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting sound design, beautiful graphics, and the ability to evoke nostalgia from the original Tomb Raider. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a sense of isolation and exploration within atmospheric environments, particularly in ancient ruins and tombs. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, it can be undermined by gameplay frustrations and a lack of charm compared to the original.
- “The game's atmosphere and sound is haunting, and its aged quality boosts that aspect.”
- “Anniversary captures that atmosphere very well with its beautiful graphics, detailed level design and excellent soundtrack.”
- “A great remake of the original Tomb Raider that successfully captures its excellent atmosphere and conjures feelings of nostalgia in long-time Tomb Raider fans.”
- “The soundtrack and atmosphere is no match for the original.”
- “It is not a good game unfortunately, retains neither the charm nor atmosphere of the original, everything is streamlined and dulled to the lowest common denominator.”
- “The platforming, combat, puzzles, atmosphere... basically everything that made the first Tomb Raider great was awful in this game.”
grinding
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
9%
85%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often exacerbated by technical issues, frustrating controls, and repetitive puzzles. Many reviews highlight the annoyance of having to repeatedly navigate through platforming sections and combat scenarios due to bugs and poor mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the enjoyment of the game. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements, the consensus leans towards a need for a more streamlined and less grind-heavy gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “A lot of technical issues; in fact, I kept having to repeat a tedious section because Lara can't grab the ledge and I kept dying. I even went to YouTube to look it up, and she was supposed to go there.”
- “Gone is the streamlined balance between story, exploration, and action, replaced with overlong, tedious tomb-crawling that quickly made me realize that I couldn't 'go back' as it were.”
- “Games is tedious and repetitive as most of the game makes you do the same thing over and over again, as well as the combat.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and bugs, which players find amusing rather than frustrating, such as exaggerated ragdoll physics and AI mishaps. Many users report laughing at their own mistakes and the game's over-the-top moments, particularly in combat and character animations. Overall, while the game has serious elements, the comedic aspects, especially related to technical issues, contribute to a lighthearted experience.
- “Revy: (laughing) well, let's say we appreciate a strong, independent woman who kicks butt and raids tombs.”
- “Kept pressing 'q' for survival instincts lol. I played Shadow of the Tomb Raider before going back to this and kept laughing at myself.”
- “One time, I kept running around in circles, moving the camera along with it, simply because of a hilarious glitch where Lara's braid would get caught on either the camera or some other unseen force, and her hair would stretch to impossible lengths.”
replayability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The game's replayability is generally considered moderate, with some players noting it as infinitely replayable due to hidden objects, secrets, and time trials. However, others feel that the replay value largely depends on individual player engagement, and it lacks the depth found in earlier titles in the series. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements that encourage replay, the game does not offer as much replayability as some might hope.
- “The game also features a range of hidden objects and secrets to discover, adding to the game's replayability.”
- “Plenty of replay value with tons of secret collectibles and rewards.”
- “As with Legend, it has time trials and the collectibles to give it a bit of replay value too.”
- “It doesn't have much replay value (like all Tomb Raider games), but is worth it to get during sale weeks, etc.”
- “But unfortunately it still suffers from the lack of replayability most of the modern Tomb Raider games face, and this is one problem the original didn't have.”
- “So overall the replay value found here is moderate but, most definitely worth the asking price.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
44%
28%
The reviews highlight a mixed bag regarding optimization across various games. While some older titles struggle with performance issues and are deemed unplayable on modern systems, others, particularly more recent releases, are praised for their smooth performance and improved visuals. However, several users report bugs and subpar optimization on specific platforms, indicating that optimization remains a significant concern for many players.
- “Ah, the game of my childhood, runs smoothly and is just as fun as I remember it being.”
- “Minor performance drops during combat, but nothing that distracted from the gameplay.”
- “Also to note that the game is brilliantly optimized, and at notable times (several rooms in Greece and Egypt) runs better on my 1.8 GHz laptop than it does on a PS3, with no notable slowdown.”
- “This game has a lot of charm and really cool ideas for its time, but omg is it not optimized for PC by any means.”
- “The problem I keep having with these older games is they were never optimized for PC play and they are just too old to play on my PC from the looks of it.”
- “As much as I want to recommend this game as I'm a huge platformer fan, I honestly can't for TR:A as it's riddled with bugs, mediocre controls, unoptimized effects, save file corruption, repetitive puzzles, and overpowered enemies.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to intertwine Lara's physical journey with a deeper emotional narrative, showcasing her internal conflicts and growth. While some players felt empowered by the experience, others struggled with the controls, leading to moments of frustration that detracted from the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game is seen as a heartfelt homage, though opinions vary on its execution compared to the original.
- “The game takes the first decisive step to heighten the emotional impact of what Lara, the player, does.”
- “They actually give her an emotional journey alongside the physical journey where she gets spooked by things, makes choices to survive, and feels conflicted about needing to kill people.”
- “I personally thought it was a great heartfelt homage!”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy is widely criticized as a cash grab that undermines the integrity of the original game, leaving players feeling insulted.
- “Just an insult to the original game; it's a cash grab at best.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and ruins the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a desire for the more glamorous character design seen in earlier Tomb Raider games, indicating that recent releases have not maintained the same level of visual appeal in character development.