Tomb Raider Anniversary is a much improved remake of the original 1996 game.
Tomb Raider Anniversary
Publisher: Eidos
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PC, PSP (coming late July), Wii (coming Fall 2007), Xbox 360 (coming Fall 2007)
Reviewed on: PlayStation 2
Rating: T — Teen
Game type: Action
**** (out of 5)
What’s the premise?
The slightly less-buxom Lara Croft returns … sort of. Eidos celebrates the 10th year of the Tomb Raider franchise with Anniversary — a cleaned up, more refined, graphically and logically improved remake of the original game from 1996.
This game is most similar to…?
It’s classic Lara, but with much less fidgeting with the controls.
Can I let my kid/kid brother play it?
The violence isn’t too over the top but the intricacy of some of the puzzles will likely deter younger people.
One player or more?
It’s just you and Lara (get your mind out of there, you filthy, filthy person!).
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Slow and steady wins the race. One misstep and Lara is a stain on the floor of a vast chasm, so take your time and make sure to look before you leap.
What’s missing?
The protestors from PETA to complain after Lara picks off copious amounts of bats, wolves, bears, jaguars, gorillas, crocodiles, lions, etc., while using the new “adrenaline dodge” combat moves.
And in the end?
Tomb Raider Anniversary is an extraordinary remake of a classic game. It’ll give gamers a fun sense of déjà vu and still provide them with fun, new challenges.
Transformers The Game
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Rating: T — Teen
Game type: Action
*** (out of 5)
What’s the premise?
Take the action from the blockbuster new film home as you choose whether you want to save humankind (as the Autobots) or destroy it (as the Decepticons), then use your band of giant shape-changing sentient robots to achieve your goals.
This game is most similar to…?
Rampage meets Driver.
Can I let my kid/kid brother play it?
If you’re cool with robot-on-robot violence, then you’ll be OK.
One player or more?
One shall stand, one shall fall. One of those is you, as you’ll be playing by yourself.
What’s missing?
The designers really should have spent more time on the driving part of the game. The controls as you’re behind the wheels of an Autobot are frustrating and you’ll have a tough time clearing levels in just one or two tries.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Almost anything in your environment — from lampposts to fences to city buses — can be used to smash your opponents giant metal head in, so get creative.
And in the end?
The gameplay is a tad repetitive (and occasionally annoying), so be sure you really love watching robots turn back and forth into cars, planes and stuff a lot before you commit to picking this one up.
