Tomb Raider: Anniversary - First Contact

[GoranAgar]

The fine folks of Eidos Germany invited my wife CatSuit&Ponytail and me to have a first glance at the newest first adventure of Lara Croft. So last Monday we went to Hamburg to have the first look at what CD has been cooking for us.

And what an adventure it was. You could feel the excitement all around and see the people in the Eidos office glowing. And for good reason. What we got to see was stunning. It was the best I have ever seen on a PS2. It is amazing what CD was able to squeeze out of that little thing.

After salutations and an Eidos-mug full of good tea we were shown IT. The game. Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Geez, I wish you could have been there. It was magical. Lara was magical.

Remember when I kept saying: "Yes, Crystal Dynamics is reading all of your comments and suggestions."? Well, they were not only reading, they were listening.

Here are a few things I, as a Tomb Raider gamer, found worth mentioning to you, my fellow gamers.

As Lara appeared on the screen and the "Start Game" Option got selected, it asked if you would like to play as a real Tomb Raider. This means nothing less than that you can turn off the hints and the auto grab. ... Woah! HFCIT? (I insist that this makes it into the final version. ... anyone still listening? )

Then the gameplay started. Beautiful. Simply beautiful. It was as if Scotty himself gave that little PS2 an extra boost of Anti-Matter to even exceed Warp 10.

Let's get to the juice (remember, we saw a pre-something-version. Nothing is written in stone yet):

As in Legend, there will be unlockable outfits. And quite a few cool ones. We won't spoil the surprise though.

Secrets. Remember that lovely secret chime from old times? ... It's back. ...and it gave me shivers.

Slide Jumps. Those nasty wonderful buggers are back too. I missed them, now they are back too.

No one was talking constantly into your ear, just the birds. ... and kitties (boy, they are fast) and alligators and mummies.

She dies beautifully in several wonderful ways.

There was no constant music. Just TR1-like ambient sound with the occasional orchestral insertion to give you a little more tension and thrill.

Movement, fighting and camera is basically an improved version of what we saw in Legend. The camera is not fixed behind Lara and she is not holding her guns in her classic way. However we are still hopeful that in the final release the camera will be able to be swung to show her face when she shoots if the player so desires, and we hope Lara's hands will hold the guns while she walks and crouches in her classic position.

The version we saw looked solid and I could not detect any serious flaws. We have something excellent to look forward to.

One last word to the folks from Eidos Germany: Sorry for drooling all over your carpet.



If you feel like borrowing this little essay, I expect you to add a link to this forum.

[yesrushdt]

Very cool you two were able to try it out! Having that no hints/no autograb option would be great if it made the final version. The harder the better!

[Acceber]

An excellent report, with an excellent picture. I can't wait for April or whenever. Thanks very much for sharing.

[Raider0011]

Very exciting and a great write up. Now we just need the XBox 360 version to be announced.

[burt_ie]

"As Lara appeared on the screen and the "Start Game" Option got selected, it asked if you would like to play as a real Tomb Raider. This means nothing less than that you can turn off the hints and the auto grab. ... Woah! HFCIT? (I insist that this makes it into the final version. ... anyone still listening?"

WOW!! I am sooo glad they have made it an option to turn them off!

Well done....I hope it stays in the final version

[Treeble]

Originally Posted by GoranAgar

Remember when I kept saying: "Yes, Crystal Dynamics is reading all of your comments and suggestions."? Well, they were not only reading, they were listening.

In that case, why are Wii being ignored?

(thanks for the otherwise fantastic news, though)

[Mertz523]

One word...

One syllable...

Three letters...





WOW

[GoranAgar]

Originally Posted by Raider0011

Now we just need the XBox 360 version to be announced.

Originally Posted by TREEBLE

In that case, why are Wii being ignored?

Maybe the next generation staff is working on something else?

[Treeble]

Originally Posted by GoranAgar

Maybe the next generation staff is working on something else?

In that case, what of the GameCube and the Xbox?

[Trinity88]

WOW, this all sounds really exciting i hope the 'real' tomb raider option makes it to the final version!!!

Also Just out of curiousity did any of you notice if the pistols had been properly aligned with the holsters yet?

Thanks for sharing this great news guys!!!

[CatSuit&Ponytail]

I noticed that they were most of the time I looked. But she was tumbling and running and shooting and such. I'll pay closer attention next time

I wanted to say here though, the water in a pool we saw was amazing. The bubble streams coming off Lara as she swam, the murkiness and distortions in the water, the wet effect of her body and clothes, it's all stunningly well crafted and believable. And that was on the PS2 It's so amazing how pretty it all is going to be.

[rabid metro]

Originally Posted by GoranAgar

The fine folks of Eidos Germany invited my wife CatSuit&Ponytail and me to have a first glance at the newest first adventure of Lara Croft. ...

And what an adventure it was...

As Lara appeared on the screen and the "Start Game" Option got selected, it asked if you would like to play as a real Tomb Raider. This means nothing less than that you can turn off the hints and the auto grab. ... Woah! HFCIT? ...

... way cool! how do we make it so?

Originally Posted by GoranAgar

Then the gameplay started. Beautiful. Simply beautiful...

Movement, fighting and camera is basically an improved version of what we saw in Legend...

crystal dynamics- hip, hip, hooray!!!

goran and cat, thanx guys.
i was already anxious about the release ...
and now i'm just about ready to explode!!!



...ummm, guys, from the picture, is it correct that cat has powers in her fingers not normally associated with mere mortals?


btw, you guys make a lovely couple ...

raid on!

[CatSuit&Ponytail]

Originally Posted by rabid metro

... way cool! how do we make it so?

I don't entirely understand your question, it's a choice that one could click before playing, "hints and autograb or classic"...or some words to that effect. You clicked one and Bob's-your-Uncle.

crystal dynamics- hip, hip, hooray!!!

Hooray!

Goran and Cat, thanx guys.
i was already anxious about the release ...
and now i'm just about ready to explode!!!

You are all welcome, it was entirely our pleasure

...ummm, guys, from the picture, is it correct that Cat has powers in her fingers not normally associated with mere mortals?

Ummmm It's either my Magic Tingly Finger Power or My Freeze Touch you see there....

btw, you guys make a lovely couple ...

raid on!

Thank you very much, We will, hehehehe

[kiss-bite]

Great image!

Thanks for sharing, my excitement for TRA has just increased more! The features you highlighted sound great!

[Alexlovesguns]

Thats quite cool, there is nothing better than reading positive impressions from real TR fans.

Thanks alot to you both, nice pic btw .

[munchkin]

wow ... now i'm even more excited (if that is possible

beccaxx

[rabid metro]

Originally Posted by CatSuit&Ponytail

I don't entirely understand your question...

i'm guessing that "picard-speak" doesn't work too well here ... hopefully, the quote sequence helps.
Goran mentioned that this feature was in the current demo but ...
i was merely asking how we could make SURE that this feature really would make it into the actual game.
is there really a chance that it wouldn't?


*which is more lethal?*
*finger freeze touch or cold toe of no-spooning*

[mulder]

Man, am I jealous



Hiya Goran and Cat miss ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hello's from Ma, and Maggie and I


Love ya

[CatSuit&Ponytail]

Thanks for your kind comments everyone, this game is looking so smooth.

Originally Posted by rabid metro

* ...cold paw of no-spooning*

How did you know about my secret super power.

Originally Posted by mulder

Man, am I jealous

Hiya Goran and Cat miss ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello's from Ma, and Maggie and I

Love ya

MULDER! *Lays a big wet one on Mulder and AmO, and chases Maggie for hers...*

Originally Posted by Tigerman68

One question...did you have a chance to look at the PC version on your trip, or did anyone discuss with you whether the PC version varied in quality of graphics or playability to the PS version?

We did not see the PC version, but were told they would probably be the same-ish. And the PS2 version looked so sweeeet.

[Mark_]

Thanks for the info, Goran & Cat!

[Mad Axeman]

As Lara appeared on the screen and the "Start Game" Option got selected, it asked if you would like to play as a real Tomb Raider. This means nothing less than that you can turn off the hints and the auto grab. ... Woah! HFCIT? (I insist that this makes it into the final version. ... anyone still listening? )


EXCELLENT
TRL should have been named 'TR4idiots'

[rabid metro]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[Martin C]

People seem to slate the autograb feature alot but I always look at it with a positive mentality. Could you pull off most of the moves you are able to with the same fluid motions that Lara can with the autograb feature? I'll leave that one for you to decide.

Martin C x

[Blue Skies]

Thanks for the info you two...much appreciated

[CatSuit&Ponytail]

Originally Posted by Martin C

People seem to slate the autograb feature alot but I always look at it with a positive mentality. Could you pull off most of the moves you are able to with the same fluid motions that Lara can with the autograb feature? I'll leave that one for you to decide.

Martin C x

Ctrl (action) while stepping backwards off a ledge was "autograb" enough for me. I felt like I was in control. She'd do it when and if I decided she do it, and that's what I want in a game like this. Ctrl +^ and she climbs, Ctrl +v and she drops off a ledge. Perfection.


You are all welcome, it's been our pleasure.