I decided, seeing as I'm anticipating the release of Tomb Raider Anniversary, to start a chat topic about said series.

Anything to do with Tomb Raider from the original to Legend to the Game-Boy spin-offs to the movies can be chatted about here.

I'm definitely getting it, been waiting for it for ages. I love the Tomb Raider franchise and I'm really glad that its finally got the kick up the arse it so desperately needed. Tomb Raider was really going downhill but Legend was a brilliant, if not very easy, game. I'm hoping that Anniversary will have more of a challenge.

Do you not think that, had Core put enough effort into it and cut out a lot of the overly-long ghetto sequences, that Angel of Darkness could have been the greatest Tomb Raider game yet?

Personally, I think a miracle would be needed for Angel of Darkness to be the best Tomb Raider game ever, lol. I read about how the developement team changed several times and so did the management. At one point they had to scrap 6 months of work because it didn't fit in with what the new management wanted. It's no suprise the game sucked.

I played it for about an hour and then turned it off, never to be played again. The controls were far too botched to get any sort of enjoyment out of the game. Also, that stupid idea they incorporated where Lara gets stronger was ridiculous. I mean, "Oh look, I can't open this door", never mind just go round the corner and move a couple of blocks and hey presto, I am now strong enough to open the door - pathetic!

I'm looking forward to going back to the more 'tomb-raiding' approach of Anniversary. Despite its claims, I don't think Legend had enough exploring. You could never get lost, really, you just head forward to complete the level and backwards to leave the level. Too simple.

No I'm happy with the Legend Engine. I was sad when I heard that they had dropped Core and picked up Crystal Dynamics to makes the new engine but after playing Legend I've desided I like it more.

I can't wait till the new TR. I'll be getting it on both Ps2 and Psp. Tomb Raider is one of the greatest games in the world and I've completed them all a million times, Including the Gold versions, Which if you've never played I highly recommend getting it.

I preferred the Legend engine too. Thought it made the gamefit in more with current-gen titles rather than old PSOne platformers.

@Bagshot. Trust me, if you'd completed it, you'll find the story is actually really good, they just botched the gameplay too much to make it effective. :P

Gold versions? I take it this is for PC? Problem is, I hate playing games on my PC. I have a crappy ps2 pad converter that doesn't actually convert the analogue. Instead you get an ultra-twitchy analogue stick that's trying to behave like a d-pad. Believe me, just running in a straight line takes insane concentration. :wacko:

Yeah it was on the PC.

It had levels that are set inbetween the normal levels on TR1, 2 and 3.

I've only ever played the first three levels of the first expansion pack- Return to Egypt, Temple of the Cat and Atlantean Stronghold. I never got to play The Hive :sad:

Its well worth it.
Also is anyone exited about the new features in the new TR.

Its confirmed that Lara's home will be the biggest one yet.
Also there will be a host of new moves and reanimated moves from Legend.
Zip and Alister will not return. There will not be a headset.
Lara will no longer have a PDA, PLS or Binoculars, but the grapple has returned in the form of a hook grapple. It is not magnetic.
Dual Uzis and the shotgun are confirmed to make a return. Recent official screenshots also show holstered black pistols believed to be the magnums, present in the original Tomb Raider.
Enemies include Bats, Wolves, Rats, Bears, Black Panthers, Crocodiles, Raptors, Gorillas, Lions, the T-Rex, Cat Mummies, and the mutants and monsters from the Atlantis levels such as the Winged Mutant and the Giant Mutant. They will be significantly more difficult to defeat as they will attack in groups.
The only human enemies that have been currently confirmed are Larson Conway, Pierre DuPont and Jacqueline Natla.
The Lara model has been upgraded with more polygons and has inherited a few new moves, a pole-hopping move where Lara can balance on narrow surfaces. She can also "perch" or balance on small platforms and not lose her balance. Also from a recent trailer, it can be seen that Lara can run across walls while swinging from her hook grapple. Also with the grapple she can go up on the walls.
Most of Lara's Legend animations have been revamped to make everything more realistic
The levels are bigger and more detailed than they were in the original, players will be able to discover more than just one path for Lara to take - a critical improvement over the linear gameplay of Legend.
Players should expect a minimum of 15 hours of gameplay, significantly longer than Tomb Raider: Legend.
Interactive cutscenes will make a return
The auto-grab function from Tomb Raider Legend will be optional.
A journal will be accessible in game for hints

*Takes hands out of pants*

Sounds like they're really aiming for one hell of belter this time around huh? :)

I forgot to mention that theres confirmed extra levels and content too.

Agreed.

:)

D'you reckon the "extra levels" means the ones from Unfinished Business as an unlockable feature or such like?

If I had to be honest, I thought the second TR was better than the first.

I wouldn't mind seeing the second remade after they release the first.

At this rate, folk'll be demanding they re-make all the previous games using the Legend engine :P

I got no complaints there. I loved the engining, Climbing cliffs, It felt like you was making progress.

All they have to do, Is bring the old driving system back.
Riding the Bike and Legend was terrible. My only complaint.

True. I liked the old snowmobile sequences in TRII and the quadbike sequences in III. They were the best two.

And the Jeep ride from TR4. That was my favorite.

Oh yeah, forgot that one.
IMO, The Last Revelation would be the best one if remade.

Although remakes sound a great idea, I'd much rather they put their energies into making a fresh new Tomb Raider. If a remake of TR 1 can sound this good, then just imagine the sequel to TR Legend........ :wub:

But then I probably wouldn't get to play it seeing as I don't have a 360 or PS3, so yeah, actually maybe I would like to see some more remakes, lol.

Get it on Psp? I own Legend on the Psp and it plays and runs exactly like the Ps2 version.

I thought Legend was drifting off the TR feeling alittle bit tho. I mean for one I prefer the old Lara's house, And for another Lara didn't feel as British as she should. Sounds weird I know.

And Lara running round Area 51 killing everyone with a Desert Eagle felt more British? :P

I thought the body count of humans was a little ridiculous in II and III.

Nah that felt silly. :P
Don't have very tight security there do they. There was more risk of dying from a snake bite.

Yeah, it was a shame you couldn't actually shoot any of the aliens :D

TR: Legend was the best one so far, it was a lot diff from the other TRs because, u didnt need a walkthrough, u didnt need to stand there for half hour working out what to do. Was more of a run through, and the story made sense.
I loved the swan dive off the huge cliff in africa i think it was, awesome.
Oh and all the medals and secrets in her house, but i did prefer her old house.

Legend was the only one ive managed to complete. twice actually, once it came to Psp

Did anyone get all of the unlockable outfits? It took me weeks to get them <_< BTW the swimsuit costume for Lara shouldn't be put in there. It is only for looks.

No, I wanted to collect everything, but my game glitched right near the end, when you get that sword. And because I had just saved it, I saved the glitch, too. :sad:

I had to wipe my save and start again, which was very annoying. The 2nd time through, I just completed it as quickly as possible.

Man, that must've sucked.

I got really annoyed getting some of the gold rewards on Legend, espeacially the one on Khazakstan, which should've been easy.

I'm looking forward to the new one. Gonna get it for the PC, coz I played most of the other ones on the PC.

PSP and Ps2 for me, I have Legend on the PSP and its an exact port of the Ps2 version. A little lagging at times but its brilliant for on the go.

I'm just gonna get it on PS2, seeing as that's all I have. Not counting PC. 'cos I don't play PC games much :)

Did anyone actually like TR3? I thought it was nearly an amazing TR game, but I got bored about half way through. Something just wasn't working for me and I can't put my finger on it. I loved the first few levels, though.

Lemme guess, you got to London? Or was it Nevada.

Personally I thought TR3 was great, though the London levels were too drawn out. It can take me over an hour to complete Aldwych...

:lol:

Yep, it was London. I don't think I even played Navada. I loved the Indian levels, especially when you fight those massive statues with 4 arms. One of the best TR moments.

That was great.

Yeah, London is drawn out though. You should go to the South Pacific or Nevada next after India though...

I think South Pacific is what I did next. Is that the level with the Kayaking? If so, then that got annoying real quick. I think that's where I stopped playing. But I played London and saw Nevada at my friends house. He really enjoyed it.

True, the kayaking was annoying. But it all gave TRIII an degree of challenge after TRII, which was easy IMO.

I'd quite like to see a sniper gun in the next TR. There's nothing more satisfying. Was it TR 4 that had a sniper gun? I know one of them did, but my TR memories are very patchy.

Yeah, you could fit a laser sight to the crossbow or the revolver.

It would be quite nice to see one in the next one, dunno if they'll do it though.