Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152838.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GameSpot

In its first decade, Eidos' Tomb Raider franchise became a surprise hit, a system-selling franchise, a pair of big-budget Hollywood movies, an interactive punch line, and a surprise hit once again. The publisher today announced that it will commemorate that run with a 10th Anniversary Edition of the original Tomb Raider for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PC.

Calling it a "new game," Eidos said it tapped Crystal Dynamics to develop the 10th Anniversary Edition. After original Tomb Raider developer Core Design's poorly received Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness, Eidos handed the series to Crystal Dynamics, which created this year's successful Tomb Raider: Legend. While Eidos has retained the Core Design name, it has since sold off the physical studio and its assets to UK-based Rebellion.

Eidos didn't announce much in the way of details for the 10th Anniversary Edition, but the publisher's head of brand management Larry Sparks said it is "a one-off title" that would appeal to existing Tomb Raider fans, as well as attract new ones. There is no release date or pricing information for the project as of yet.

---

So that means we actually get a playable version of the First Tomb Raider? I'm all in!

Tomb Raider was the greatest Prince of Persia game ever made.

I heard this was axed for the PSP - shame, its one of the few games that would map naturally to the PSP control.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Revoltor

Tomb Raider was the greatest Prince of Persia game ever made.

---

IBTN

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diffusionx

I heard this was axed for the PSP - shame, its one of the few games that would map naturally to the PSP control.

---

It's been "unaxed." That's the version I am eyeing I think.

I hope they don't gay it up with those stupid ZOMG-press-some-arbitrary-button-to-dodge-the-whatever events that mar so many good games nowadays.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedawa

I hope they don't gay it up with those stupid ZOMG-press-some-arbitrary-button-to-dodge-the-whatever events that mar so many good games nowadays.

---

No shit! They fucking suck and I hope all games stop using them. QTEs have never been good in any game.

To get back on topic, this sounds great if it's a remake of the original. It's hard to tell by the article if it is or not, but a remake would be the best thing ever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glass Joe

No shit! They fucking suck and I hope all games stop using them. QTEs have never been good in any game.

---

God of War did it right, everything else has sucked.

RE4 would've been about twice as good without that crap.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diffusionx

God of War did it right, everything else has sucked.

RE4 would've been about twice as good without that crap.

---

I agree. Something about GoW made it seem like actual gameplay instead of QTE so I never really clump it in. RE4's cut scenes sucked because it was totally trial and error and then they would change shit on you which was retarded. Tomb Raider Legend's weren't much better, but at least they weren't as frequent.

There is a leaked video of this 10th anniversary game here: http://gamevideos.com/ and it sure as hell looks like a remake. Woohoo!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glass Joe

I agree. Something about GoW made it seem like actual gameplay instead of QTE so I never really clump it in. RE4's cut scenes sucked because it was totally trial and error and then they would change shit on you which was retarded. Tomb Raider Legend's weren't much better, but at least they weren't as frequent.

---

I think it was because in GoW the QTEs were badass - stabbing minotaurs in the face, using your strength to overpower hydra's jaws, shit like that. In RE4 it was, yea, so you outran some fag or dodged some stupid monster. That or trial and error or you die. Weak.

That looks gorgeous. I wish there were a 360 version again, but I'll take what I can get when there are tits and T-Rexes involved.

That's the PSP version?
Looks very nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diffusionx

I think it was because in GoW the QTEs were badass - stabbing minotaurs in the face, using your strength to overpower hydra's jaws, shit like that. In RE4 it was, yea, so you outran some fag or dodged some stupid monster. That or trial and error or you die. Weak.

---

That has a lot to do with it for sure, but the fact that you don't die if you miss in GoW makes it much more bearable. The only other game to come close to GoW setup was the 3rd Prince of Persia.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

That looks gorgeous.

---

You guys think so? I was watching the video, waiting for it to fade into the updated graphics...then I realized those were the new graphics. Perhaps I've forgotten just how bad the PS1 looks, but I'd hardly call that video impressive in terms of textures of modeling (the animation is bad too, but I assume that will be improved as the game develops).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FuryFox

You guys think so? I was watching the video, waiting for it to fade into the updated graphics...then I realized those were the new graphics. Perhaps I've forgotten just how bad the PS1 looks, but I'd hardly call that video impressive in terms of textures of modeling (the animation is bad too, but I assume that will be improved as the game develops).

---

Go back and play the original again. You've really forgotten what it looks like.

And what's with the Star Wars music?

I always liked the original best. It was the only one where her role as an archaeologist was even remotely plausible. The later games have her murdering armies of of soldiers for some reason, and, while I'm not averse to violence in games, it makes no sense in the context of Tomb Raider's premise. she isn't an assassin or a secret agent.

Huzza? I still want to play legends but I can honestly say aside from that every tomb raider game has been pure shit. But since legends actually looks controlable maybe they can do right by this one too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FuryFox

Perhaps I've forgotten just how bad the PS1 looks,

---

Clearly...

I mean I know nothing current gen is going to completely wow at this point, but that looks at least as good as the current-gen TR:L.

[thumb]http://www.larascave.com/html/scion/lieux1/valleeb.jpg[/thumb]

The atmosphere looks completely butchered from the looks of the video, which is pretty key. It's easy to spot after playing Legend, which was the worst "return to form" ever advertised.

Yes, the game does now look like it could be a DC game I could buy on eBay for $5. Cool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

Clearly...

I mean I know nothing current gen is going to completely wow at this point, but that looks at least as good as the current-gen TR:L.

---

o rly?

Those are nice screenshots, but it doesn't look that good when playing it. It was not impressive at all.

If it's cheap, I'm there. GTA:LCS is kind of spoiling me right now on what $20 can buy.

Besides, if it is a straight remake then I've played it before. I can't say I'm feeling a need to rush out and buy a rerun, but a budget price would certainly fix that.

James

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Those are nice screenshots, but it doesn't look that good when playing it. It was not impressive at all.

---

I haven't played it, I've just heard the new one was pretty decent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

Clearly...

I mean I know nothing current gen is going to completely wow at this point, but that looks at least as good as the current-gen TR:L.

[thumb]http://www.larascave.com/html/scion/lieux1/valleeb.jpg[/thumb]

---

I think you need glasses because those jutting edges disagree.

I loved the original TR, I'm all for this.

This is fantastic news.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Those are nice screenshots, but it doesn't look that good when playing it.

---

Whatever, Negative Nancy. (That's a Print-Screen capture direct off the game itself, if you're wondering.)

I'm probably the biggest Tomb Raider whore here, so I will definitely be picking this one up. It's too bad there's no 360 version.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MechDeus

This is fantastic news.Whatever, Negative Nancy. (That's a Print-Screen capture direct off the game itself, if you're wondering.)

---

Context is really important with my enjoyment of graphics. The levels are extraordinarily small and linear, so if Lara could actually reach that detailed slab of ruin/cardboard to the left. I also always found it was the ugliest thing that I noticed because it's so uneven. Sure, the bricks look nice in their brick-y way, but look at that smeared flat rock mess above and all around it. Everything looks smooth, like clay. It's just ugly to me. And what I really see in that screen is the crappy icicle grabbing gameplay.

Core did well with what they could do in TR1. I think its limitations work well for it, like the veil of darkness shrowding everything. Mystery. I'll take TR1 in its original PS gore over a photoshopped model version with Legend gameplay (I saw they slipped some of that crap in).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FuryFox

o rly?

---

There's a reason I specified current gen versions. Not the 360 or "next gen PC" ones that you took those screens from.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sega saturn x

I think you need glasses because those jutting edges disagree.

---

That's the original, fool.

Out of all the pictures shown, I have no idea what is from what system.

Quote:

---

That's the original, fool.

---

Shit my bad :\

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Context is really important with my enjoyment of graphics. The levels are extraordinarily small and linear, so if Lara could actually reach that detailed slab of ruin/cardboard to the left. I also always found it was the ugliest thing that I noticed because it's so uneven. Sure, the bricks look nice in their brick-y way, but look at that smeared flat rock mess above and all around it. Everything looks smooth, like clay. It's just ugly to me. And what I really see in that screen is the crappy icicle grabbing gameplay.

---

"See, what I meant by how the game doesn't look like those screenshots isn't that that the game doesn't look like those screenshots, but instead that it fails to convey the method by which Lara's struggle with cancer never reached the ears of the Democratic party."

Democrats piss me off.

Honestly.

Republicans are just as bad.

note this thread just got derailed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

There's a reason I specified current gen versions. Not the 360 or "next gen PC" ones that you took those screens from.

---

Not that I really care, and I concede that fine, the game looks good for a PSP game...but how is Xbox360 not current gen? It's out and available...people are playing it currently. Mech's screen looks like a current PC screen as well.

For truth.

Click for full size

Yeah, calling GameCube, PS2, and Xbox "current gen" is just inaccurate. In fact, it's been inaccurate for almost 7 months now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FuryFox

Not that I really care, and I concede that fine, the game looks good for a PSP game...but how is Xbox360 not current gen? It's out and available...people are playing it currently. Mech's screen looks like a current PC screen as well.

---

I guess it's disputable, but I see "current gen" as the one that's most dominant in the market at the time. 360s out, but it's still got a pretty small market share, and most sales are for PS2/Xbox. As 360 and PS3 phase out the old stuff, they'll become "current gen" but right now most people still call them next-gen systems.

You won't see 360 as current gen until they start selling games at $49.99.

Didn't everyone agree that the current gen started when 360 was released?

The important people did.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by voltz

You won't see 360 as current gen until they start selling games at $49.99.

---

Good. Microsoft's first party games have been $49.99 since launch, seven months ago. Stop living in the past.

I went to GameStop to look at 360 stuff and holy shit is it expensive. Games, accessories, the whole deal. This generation - I just cant bring myself to buy games for these prices. PC hardware might be pricy but the games are cheap. Current gen = high roller's club.

Agreed. Here are my 360 expenses so far:

Console: $400
Ridge Racer 6: $60
NHL 2K6: $50 (on sale)
GRAW $50 (on sale)
Oblivion: $70 (CE)
Tomb Raider Legend: $60
FarCry: $30 (used)
Play & Charge: $20
------------------------
Total: $740 or ~$73 per game

The only game that's been worth its price is Oblivion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris

"I meant ... the game doesn't look like those screenshots ...

---

Yes. If only I still had this game I'd take some other screenshots to add to the collection. Those bricks did look mad sweet, though. Almost like real bricks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Agreed. Here are my 360 expenses so far:

Console: $400
Ridge Racer 6: $60
NHL 2K6: $50 (on sale)
GRAW $50 (on sale)
Oblivion: $70 (CE)
Tomb Raider Legend: $60
FarCry: $30 (used)
Play & Charge: $20
------------------------
Total: $740 or ~$73 per game

The only game that's been worth its price is Oblivion.

---

You forgot $20 for the Intercooler. :D

My 360 spending has been pretty high itself.

Premium System: $490 (Costco Bundle)
Wireless Adaptor: $50 (Ebay)
Intercooler: $20
G.R.A.W.: $60
Oblivion: $70 (Collector's Edition)
Fight Night: $5 (Best Buy gift certificate for $60)
Perfect Dark Zero: $35 (Used Collector's Edition)

With previous generation systems, I was willing to buy whatever games for around $15-20 to try out or just to add to my library. But with this generation, I don't think games will go that low unless they reach Haven status or something. So my purchases will probably be limited to titles I really want to play, even if they drop to $35-40.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

The important people did.

---

http://weather.wkowtv.com/images/cash.jpg

Quote:

---

Stop living in the past.

---

no. There's some good games coming out, plus I need money for beer.

360 - $200
Perfect Dark Zero - $10
PGR3 - $10
DOA4 - $50
Burnout Revenge - $50
Wireless controller - $30
Memory card - $25
Component cables - $25
---------------
Total - $400 + tax

Not too bad, if you ask me. I'm currently using my headset from my original Xbox but I'll probably get the Plantronics 360 one at some point, and I'll be picking up a hard drive probably in the next month which will run me another $80. I'm also still debating whether to get GRAW or Table Tennis next and leaning heavily towards the former.

[edit] Forgot to add something.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nash

You forgot $20 for the Intercooler. :D

---

lol You're right.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris

Not too bad, if you ask me.

---

You spent $50 on DOA4 and don't have Oblivion? That's about as bad as it gets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by voltz

no. There's some good games coming out

---

Yeah, there are fucking two... in the next 4 months if you don't own a 360. I'm sure that $100 is back breaking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

You spent $50 on DOA4 and don't have Oblivion? That's about as bad as it gets.

---

I got it for PC soshutyourdirtymouth.

Cool, a price thread hiding in a Tomb Raider thread. No itemizing here, though, because I didn't keep track. Most of my games are Live Arcade anyway.

And I want Tomb Raider 10th on 360, using the TR:Legend engine. I really can't think of any reason why they couldn't do it.

James

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diffusionx

I heard this was axed for the PSP - shame, its one of the few games that would map naturally to the PSP control.

---

What supposedly happened was video of a version of this game put together by Core was leaked on the internet, and then it was found out the game was supposedly axed. About a week later, Eidos announces that Crystal Dynamics is doing the game.

It sounds like Eidos had both Core and CD working on their own verison of the game, and then picked which one they wanted to go further with. So, the Core version killed, but was never full alive in the first place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Context is really important with my enjoyment of graphics. The levels are extraordinarily small and linear, so if Lara could actually reach that detailed slab of ruin/cardboard to the left. I also always found it was the ugliest thing that I noticed because it's so uneven. Sure, the bricks look nice in their brick-y way, but look at that smeared flat rock mess above and all around it. Everything looks smooth, like clay. It's just ugly to me. And what I really see in that screen is the crappy icicle grabbing gameplay.

---

Looks like somebody's trying too hard.

Also, I'm all for a remake of the original TR. It was the only one that ever really grabbed me. Fighting off wild bears > omg consipracies kill the armed soldiers!11

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Core did well with what they could do in TR1. I think its limitations work well for it, like the veil of darkness shrowding everything. Mystery. I'll take TR1 in its original PS gore over a photoshopped model version with Legend gameplay (I saw they slipped some of that crap in).

---

I thought Legends was a pretty good-looking game, but I kinda agree with this. It's no secret that the better technology gets the harder it is to make a game look great, and the further back you go the more you're forced to use your imagination.

Sure, you can look at a jagged, pixelly mess of a screenshot and say it looks like shit, but in a really weird way it can seem more "realistic" than a high-res version with a billion more polygons. I totally know what he's talking about with the smoothed-over landscapes and lack of atmosphere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shidoshi

What supposedly happened was video of a version of this game put together by Core was leaked on the internet, and then it was found out the game was supposedly axed. About a week later, Eidos announces that Crystal Dynamics is doing the game.

It sounds like Eidos had both Core and CD working on their own verison of the game, and then picked which one they wanted to go further with. So, the Core version killed, but was never full alive in the first place.

---

Well that sucks. I'm not saying that CD can't do part 1 justice, but that video is exactly what I've been dreaming about with a remake of part 1.

Quote:

---

and the further back you go the more you're forced to use your imagination.

---

Glad someone agrees. I think Tomb Raider is comparable to old NES games where every space couldn't be filled with detail. I'm sure anyone who's played Metroid, Simon's Quest, etc. in the 80s/early 90s feels the void adds to the atmosphere of the game. But might not for TR. Same sort of thing though. TR1 is more abstract/video game-y.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

I'm sure anyone who's played Metroid, Simon's Quest, etc. in the 80s/early 90s feels the void adds to the atmosphere of the game. But might not for TR. Same sort of thing though. TR1 is more abstract/video game-y.

---

I saw that as "nothing being there". An empty void.

You were born as a 25 year old with that avatar, weren't you. Yes, it is an empty void.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

You were born as a 25 year old with that avatar, weren't you. Yes, it is an empty void.

---

What? I'm just not seeing how the lack of detail back in the day really added or took away from anything. If there was nothing there, there was nothing there. Can't say I ever really thought about it when I was playing those games. I'm not like "all of that black space in metroid really makes me feel alone! What a stark contrast between this and RC Pro AM!" Doesn't really matter to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punky Skunk

Glad someone agrees. I think Tomb Raider is comparable to old NES games where every space couldn't be filled with detail. I'm sure anyone who's played Metroid, Simon's Quest, etc. in the 80s/early 90s feels the void adds to the atmosphere of the game. But might not for TR. Same sort of thing though. TR1 is more abstract/video game-y.

---

It's not that I disagree, it's that the effect was caused by older games where they had often reached the technical limits and were forced to be creative often doesn't apply to many early 3D games. TR1 was part of the initial growing genre of 3D and it shows. I can look at a sprite that was as good as a system could put out and be fine with that, just as I can look at a model done on the PS that either pushed its limits or had great visual style and respect it.

Look at FFIX through an emulator, it's really fucking amazing what Square was doing on that system. TR1, on the other hand, was a early execution concept that was amazing when it was released but looks like utter shit from any angle these days. It had no style in terms of its look (it was basically blocks with triangles attached in an attempt to look as realistic as they could pull off) and thus doesn't hold up. The surrounding gameplay and level design, however, works, especially the latter which the later games abandoned and suffered greatly for. So to now have something with graphics that are once again up to par + the level design that made people care about the game in the first place = awesomeness.

But feel free to stick with your PS1 version. It's there for you to play and no one's twisting your arm to buy an updated copy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rumpy

What? I'm just not seeing how the lack of detail back in the day really added or took away from anything. If there was nothing there, there was nothing there.

---

I don't think leaving things to the imagination necessarily means filling in the space, just that nothing can be better or more mood setting than a bombardment of dull imagery. Another PS example that works with limitations: Silent Hill. A difference between NES emptiness and PS emptiness is the surprise factor, what's hiding in the dark/fog. If you could see the t-rex a football field away, not quite the same. If you can see all of the fences the game has set up it doesn't seem as much like an adventure.

I just spotted this -- the new Play magazine had a few pages about TR: Anniversary edition for PS2 and PC. Just checked out the video from June from the cancelled Core PSP version. TR1 was the best TR, followed by TR2. I have forever thought somebody should redo the original! CD has stated the puzzles will be different enough that you'll have to figure them out all new again. Looks like it isn't due to unspecified 2007 though. Here's a few screen grabs of the PSP leaked video. (The screens from Play Magazine looked better).

I'm not in favor of this because, seeing how it's TR, I'll be forced to play it, and yet I don't want my memories of the first game altered or "updated" in any way, which they no doubt will be. It's quite a quandary, yes, yes it is.

Well I favor this because I'm sick of trying to update my version with installers and stuff to play it on xp (but I got it to look good!). It really does pain me to see all the work from that video go to waste cause I liked the way the whole game was set up originally.

With Crystal adding Legend's style of gameplay (which I approve :tu:), the only thing we have to worry about is seeing the concept switch from exploring to solving room puzzles. If they manage to avoid doing that, this'll be the game I was looking forward to.

No 360 version? Boooo.

TR is a half-sony franchise, I thought you knew that already.

Tomb Raider has always been multiplatform.