Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary Announced

[Evil Avatar]

Eidos Interactive sends along a Press Release announcing the next Lara Croft adventure, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

Eidos Interactive Ltd., one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms the title of the next Tomb Raider game will be Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Set for release in North America on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and Windows PC, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a tribute to Lara Croft and the phenomenal impact she has had on pop-culture and gaming.

Inspired by the first Tomb Raider videogame, originally released in 1996, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a totally new 2006 adventure for Lara, faithfully preserving the elements which made the original Tomb Raider such a classic, selling over 7 million copies worldwide. Using an enhanced 'Tomb Raider Legend' game engine, the graphics, technology and physics bring Lara's adventure and pursuit of a mystical artefact known only as the Scion right up to today's technology standards and will offer gamers a completely new gameplay experience.

"Lara Croft is more than just a video game character - she is a digital-celebrity and icon for the video game industry, as well as a strong, powerful character that people of all ages connect with," said Director of Marketing Matt Gorman, Eidos. "We are re-telling an incredible story using today's technology, we've taken all of the key moments from the original game and put them into the context of a brand new Tomb Raider adventure."

The puzzles are now more in depth and incorporate environmental interaction and physics driven solutions. The level design and flow of gameplay are inspired by the original videogame making Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary a brand new experience in gaming, while still invoking the nostalgia of the first adventure in Tomb Raiding.

"We've captured the essence of what made the original game so special and with today's technology, created a game that pushes the boundaries of the current gaming consoles. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a special celebration of Lara's reign as videogaming's leading lady," said Ian Livingstone, Eidos Interactive.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is currently in development by Crystal Dynamics and will be available in spring 2007.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/tombraider.jpg

No Xbox or Xbox 360 version? Lame.

[TrackZero]

Weird. Though it appears to just be a remake of the original game. They're probably trying to keep development costs low and get it out there to the PS2 base. Strange about the PSP release however....

[Sandman]

Inspired by the first Tomb Raider videogame, originally released in 1996, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a totally new 2006 adventure for Lara,


Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is currently in development by Crystal Dynamics and will be available in spring 2007.

Can anyone else find conflicting information in those two quotes?

[flinxz]

"We've captured the essence of what made the original game so special and with today's technology, created a game that pushes the boundaries of the current gaming consoles..."

I am unclear. Will I or will I not be able to shoot at bears thru wall clipping?

[Disgustipated]

That's cool, at least it's coming out for PC.

[Eggplant!]

Wow, thats like... the ultimate rehash.

[Kagger]

That's cool, at least it's coming out for PC.

Yeah, but I hate the phrase "Windows PC" as if that's a game platform. It's PC gaming...I hate that MS is tacking the Windows thing on it to make it sound more platformish

[jeffbax]

Windows PC is a game platform.

Mac OS and Linux are also PC platforms, yet they don't get the game, thus saying "for PC" is not entirely accurate.

[Your Good Twin]

I will, in all likelihood, buy it. Loved the first game and it holds some great nostalgia for me. Updated non-squares version? Yes please. Just wish, as someone said, it was being put on Xbox360 as well.

[KingGorilla]

Legends was such a good return to what made the first one so great...I am really looking forward to this one, and have been since the first whispers came out a few months ago.

[mkelehan]

Maybe it's not announced yet on the 360 because, a few months later, there will be an improved version on all 3 next gen consoles? I can totally understand not making a game for the Xbox, but not making it for the 360 after Legend turned out so well is just foolish.

[Slack3r78]

http://www.diald.com/dialD_Worthy/07_04Jul_DW/GlennMauer/Glenns_XB_03.jpg
Lara Croft chasin' after the mad ass bling Scion, yo!

[Tyrant]

I never played the first title and I enjoyed Legends, so I'm looking forward to the remake.

[WastelandDan]

weird that it's not for the 360, Tomb Raider is not a game to be played with a keyboard and mouse.

[safa1]

I sure hope we get jumping puzzles.

[Captain Awesome]

Eidos is scraping the bottom of the barrel now. I remember when this license had so much promise, it fell horribly after the second title.


This is just sad.

[Royal Fool]

Gah, this sucks. I played Legend on Xbox 360 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but why isn't this also coming to the 360? Or the PS3 for that matter...

This sucks.

[Johan]

The next generation doesn't start until...until...until the PS2 is finally dead and gone (could be many more years)...

[sixtyfps]

Please tell me those of you who are looking forward to this are being facetious.

How many times can you be fooled by Eidos?

[Wombat]

Is it my imagination, or does that screenshot look to be the point where Lara is about to walk out into the valley and meet big, scaley and toothy?

[Kagger]

Windows PC is a game platform.

Mac OS and Linux are also PC platforms, yet they don't get the game, thus saying "for PC" is not entirely accurate.

I've always heard it referred to as PC and Mac as the two platforms when it comes to gaming. I think it stems back to IBM Compatible PC? (total guess)

[bean19]

No Xbox or Xbox 360 version? Lame.

Yeah. That's odd. Also no next-gen version at all. . . why not on the Wii and PS3 either?

[safa1]

This sounds like they just had this port sitting around for a while and found it on the floor.

[Zanzibar]

My guess: PSP primary platform, but Eidos figured they could run virtually the same game and it wouldn't be out-of-place graphically on the PS2. A PS3/X360 version would be totally un-doable unless they wanted to rebuild all of the assets.

[Watership]

Yeah, but I hate the phrase "Windows PC" as if that's a game platform. It's PC gaming...I hate that MS is tacking the Windows thing on it to make it sound more platformish

Technically windows is a platform. Its Microsoft's Direct X that made games on PC thrive again. And i think since Microsoft is forwarding technology with Direct X 10, and trying to market gaming on the PC better, trying to foster windows as a games platform when sales are down and good games are few and far between, you should be a little nice to the guys over there and let them call it whatever they want too.

Well, they should be shot if they called it VISTA GAMES, or WINDOWS FUN TIME PLAY. Shot in the eye.

[Rook34]

Ah who cares. Legend wasn't that good anyway. Maybe the magic has worn off.

[Deadend]

Ah who cares. Legend wasn't that good anyway. Maybe the magic has worn off.
Personally, I thought Legend was the only good Tomb Raider game. The first game was good... unless you had played Super Mario, and it does not hold up at all to the test of time.

Legend may hold up as a good game, as it was fairly good and had some fairly cool environmental puzzles.

[Kagger]

Technically windows is a platform. Its Microsoft's Direct X that made games on PC thrive again. And i think since Microsoft is forwarding technology with Direct X 10, and trying to market gaming on the PC better, trying to foster windows as a games platform when sales are down and good games are few and far between, you should be a little nice to the guys over there and let them call it whatever they want too.

Well, they should be shot if they called it VISTA GAMES, or WINDOWS FUN TIME PLAY. Shot in the eye.

True, I forgot about Direct X 10 and the fact that MS (please not me NOT calling it *** or something along those lines...just abbr) is trying to restart the whole platform. But...going back to when to years ago...you would see a Mac icon (with the smily puzzle thing), or PC icon...and it just seemed MS trying to get their name in. But...I see your point. Apologies sent to Seatle.

[alleycatsphinx]

Eidos doesn't make Tomb Raider, they publish it. I know this is a compicated concept, but imagine if someone said "OMG, that new Tool (or whotever) album sucksors, Sony Music sucks!!!!!"

Sounds pretty ignorant huh? Same deal.

[Kagger]

Eidos doesn't make Tomb Raider, they publish it. I know this is a compicated concept, but imagine if someone said "OMG, that new Tool (or whotever) album sucksors, Sony Music sucks!!!!!"

Sounds pretty ignorant huh? Same deal.

But it gets confusing when groups like Ubisoft and EA OWN most of the companies. EA Tiburon (sp?). Ubisoft Montreal.

[Deadend]

Eidos doesn't make Tomb Raider, they publish it. I know this is a compicated concept, but imagine if someone said "OMG, that new Tool (or whotever) album sucksors, Sony Music sucks!!!!!"

Sounds pretty ignorant huh? Same deal.
Publishers also act as producers do in the music industry. As generally, they have the ability to say what is good enough. And yes, it's possible for a bad producer to make an artist sound bad.

And when it's someone like Eidos who is famous for pumping out unambitious games...

[TKO]

Legends was such a good return to what made the first one so great...I am really looking forward to this one, and have been since the first whispers came out a few months ago.
Yeah, this sounds pretty damn good. The makers of Legends are obviously fans of the original game, so who better to do a remake? ..I was going to try out Tomb Raider 1 through an emulator coz it was a lot fun, but now I can try it this way instead. Can't wait.

And when it's someone like Eidos who is famous for pumping out unambitious games...
If yer just looking at the fact that Eidos is the publisher then you aren't thinking very far. This one is obviously by the people who did Legends, so it's safe to say it should be about as good as that. (maybe even better if yer a TR1 fan.)

I rekon it will come out on the next gen consoles at some point. They're just probably doing a "Rockstar" and not announcing those until they see how popular it is on the PS2 and PSP.

[Borys]

No Xbox or Xbox 360 version? Lame.

You don't have either a PC, PS2 or PSP? What kind of a LAME gamer are you?

[Wolvie]

Hmmmm...I may pick it up for my PS2, since it'll probably be cheap. $39.99, how can you say no to that? Especially since it's a remake of one of my all time favorite games! :D

[Deadend]

Yeah, this sounds pretty damn good. The makers of Legends are obviously fans of the original game, so who better to do a remake? ..I was going to try out Tomb Raider 1 through an emulator coz it was a lot fun, but now I can try it this way instead. Can't wait.


If yer just looking at the fact that Eidos is the publisher then you aren't thinking very far. This one is obviously by the people who did Legends, so it's safe to say it should be about as good as that. (maybe even better if yer a TR1 fan.)

I rekon it will come out on the next gen consoles at some point. They're just probably doing a "Rockstar" and not announcing those until they see how popular it is on the PS2 and PSP.

I wasn't hating on Eidos at the moment, but defending someone disliking them, as Eidos has developed a bad rap since the late 90s, them and CORE.

TR:L did feel slightly buggy and not as slick as I would have liked, but I thought it was a giant leap in the right direction. Even though the perfect Tomb Raider game exists and is called Prince of Persia.

[TKO]

I wasn't hating on Eidos at the moment, but defending someone disliking them, as Eidos has developed a bad rap since the late 90s, them and CORE.
Fair enough.. I won't dispute Eidos' current reputation. Oh Core. I remember a great company that brought out games like Thunderhawk and Banshee a long long time ago (and Skeleton Krew, which was cool in an alternative kinda way) ..then I played some unspeakable Thunderhawk sequel and gave up on them. :|

TR:L did feel slightly buggy and not as slick as I would have liked, but I thought it was a giant leap in the right direction. Even though the perfect Tomb Raider game exists and is called Prince of Persia.
Oh, the appeal was the game? I thought it was for those people who liked the slow-motion moments on Baywatch. ;) (Probably the programmers of all the sequels before Legends embraced this concept.) :D

[Royal Fool]

You don't have either a PC, PS2 or PSP? What kind of a LAME gamer are you?
Oh come now, you know that's not what he's talking about. The simple fact that there's not a PS3 or 360 version at all is what's lame.

[NightRain]

I've always heard it referred to as PC and Mac as the two platforms when it comes to gaming. I think it stems back to IBM Compatible PC? (total guess)

Correct that is where is came from but with a variety of operating system choices now saying PC game is no longer okay since many PC users don't use windows and the majority of games require windows. It was not 100% Microsoft's idea to call it "Windows PC" gaming. However Vista is suppose to introduce new gaming things to make it more console like, I wouldn't be surprised to see PC games in a couple of years being plug and play with no install required (install to HD being optional) much like a console. Pop in the disc and it auto-runs and plays.

Windows PC is an accurate way to list what platform the game will run on.

[NightRain]

True, I forgot about Direct X 10 and the fact that MS (please not me NOT calling it *** or something along those lines...just abbr) is trying to restart the whole platform. But...going back to when to years ago...you would see a Mac icon (with the smily puzzle thing), or PC icon...and it just seemed MS trying to get their name in. But...I see your point. Apologies sent to Seatle.

Back in those days the PC icon meant it was for DOS (IBM-DOS or MS-DOS), that was all their really was. Now we have Linux as a major option along with other minor OS's. Even Windows 3.1/DOS games ran on OS/2 from IBM for the most part becuase of its semi-compatibility. Try getting a WINDOWS game to run on a PC without some OS shell virtual PC software and if you use that type of software performance would be crap.

This is less to do with MS getting Windows in the name and more to do with making sure consumers know what they are buying.

Since Windows has been around for about 20 years and it is the major PC gaming OS why shouldn't they call it Games for Windows PC, makes logical sense to me.

I'd hate to see what you guys would say if they tried to intergrate the Xbox brand into the PC world and Windows. "Games for Xbox based Windows PC's". You guys would flip, but it would be a way to further the Xbox brand name and maybe result in more xonsoles sales too. If MS did that then I'd agree it was their way of getting their name on it. But right now it isn't, I mean the Window logo has been on games and software for over a decade. This move just makes it more prominate and easier for people to read, most people are lazy and don't look over a game box enough to notice a small Windows logo. Remember the majority of the gaming population isn't as intelligent as the fine bunch here at Evil Avatar.

[atariv8]

I haven't played the first one in awhile and I miss the slower pace exploration it offered. Once you had to start killing off lots of bad guys in the sequels I lost interest. I was excited about the overall graphic look of Legends, because I thought it would be cool to explore in that environment, but the gameplay felt just like the the poorly done sequels. I'm excited about this but I wish it was heading to the 360. I might have to pick it up for the psp.

[saulob]

That's cool, at least it's coming out for PC.

Yes !!! for PC ! thanksssssssssssss ! :D

I think I will get the 'Legend' one :)