Tomb Raider: Anniversary

About Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Anniversary serves as a full remake of the 2001 classic, built from the ground up using modern technology rather than just a simple port. Buzz Monkey Software handled this project under license while Feral Interactive managed the PC and Mac releases for us in later years. This version launched on June 1, 2007 across nearly every console available at the time including PS3, Xbox 360, and PSP. Players follow Lara Croft as she hunts for the Scion artifact to solve her mother's disappearance. The game keeps the original locations but redesigns almost every puzzle and adds new movement options like grappling hooks. It remains a single-player experience focused on exploration and combat within these ancient ruins.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time climbing vertical surfaces, sliding down tight corridors, and solving environmental puzzles to progress through levels. The remake introduces rope swinging and a grappling hook that let you reach new areas previously impossible to access in the original. Combat requires switching between pistols, dual wielding, or using a bow while managing ammo carefully against various enemies. You often need to backtrack through previously visited zones once you unlock specific abilities to find hidden secrets or alternate routes. The controls feel tight on modern hardware with responsive jumping and climbing mechanics that replace the clunky movement of the PS2 era. Each level acts as a self-contained puzzle box where observation and timing matter more than pure reflexes.

What Players Think

Critics have been very generous with this title, especially for a remake. OpenCritic gives it an 84 out of 100 score and notes that 84 percent of reviewers recommend it. IGDB shows a similar average rating of 72.7 from over two hundred user ratings. Digital Spy called the platforming elements perfection while Post Arcade praised the graphics on newer consoles. The community generally views this as the definitive way to play the story, even if some long-time fans missed specific bonuses. Average playtime hovers around twelve hours for a standard run with no rush. People often return to hunt for all achievements or find collectibles they missed during their first exploration of the ancient tombs.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you want to see how this story could look with modern graphics and controls without changing the core narrative. The lowest price sits at $4.49 on GOG, making it an absolute steal for anyone curious about the franchise roots. It includes a solid achievement list that encourages thorough exploration of every room. Fans of old-school adventure games who dislike modern hand-holding will find plenty to appreciate here. You get a complete experience without needing to own previous entries or worry about performance issues on current hardware.

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.