Tomb Raider: Anniversary

About Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a 2007 action-adventure remake of the 1996 classic Tomb Raider. Developed by Buzz Monkey Software, it polishes the original’s core with modern graphics and overhauled puzzles. You play as Lara Croft, who hunts the Scion, a mystical artifact tied to Atlantis, across environments like ancient ruins and jungles. While the story stays faithful, puzzles and level designs are redesigned, adding mechanics like rope swings and grappling hook use. Released on multiple platforms including PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it’s a nostalgic upgrade for longtime fans.

Gameplay

The game revolves around exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. Lara navigates 3D environments using climbing, jumping, and grappling mechanics, often requiring precise timing to reach hidden areas. Combat involves ranged weapons like pistols and bows, though encounters are sparse. Puzzles are logic-based, requiring item collection and environmental manipulation, such as shifting platforms or activating ancient machinery. Each level is self-contained, with a focus on linear progression. Controls are responsive but occasionally glitchy, especially during platforming sequences. Sessions typically last 30, 60 minutes, with the full campaign spanning 6, 8 hours.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community rates Tomb Raider: Anniversary at 72.7/100 (243 ratings), reflecting a mixed but generally positive reception. 65% of players complete the game, with an average playtime of 7 hours. Reviews highlight the improved visuals and nostalgia factor, though 38% criticize outdated mechanics and repetitive puzzles. Community moods are split: 42% nostalgic, 31% frustrated by technical hiccups, and 27% entertained. Critics praised the graphical overhaul but noted it fails to match modern adventure games in polish.

PlayPile's Take

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is worth a playthrough for fans of the original or those craving a retro action-adventure. It offers a solid foundation with upgraded graphics but suffers from dated design and occasional clunky controls. At $10, $15 on remastered compilations, it’s a low-risk purchase for completionists. While achievements aren’t tracked here, 45% of players unlock 100% completion. Skip it if you’re new to the genre, better remakes exist.

Storyline

Lara Croft has been hired by a mysterious woman named Natla to find a lost and very powerful artifact known as the Scion, a mystical artifact said to originate on the lost continent of Atlantis. She believes the Scion to be a repository of ancient knowledge that can help solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance.