Lara Croft has been making Eidos Interactive happy for more than ten years, despite a few darker years until she hit rock bottom with Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness, a monumental mistake that caused Core Design to point for two years at the unemployment before teething on a less buoyant title (note: Smart Bomb). The handover to Crystal Dynamics was a makeover for Miss Seat with Tomb Raider Legend. A return to the roots more than requested by the fans and which will materialize again this year with the anniversary edition of the very first Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider Anniversary therefore looks back on the first adventures of Lara, at the time when she was not yet an icon of video games but just a cluster of triangular polygons feminized by Toby Gard and who played elbows in a very macho universe. And it was therefore in the footsteps of the Scion of the Atlanteans that PSone owners marveled at the technical prowess achieved by Core Design, the depth of 3D and the sharply cut silhouette of its heroine. In 2007, the artifact sought is still the same, obviously since it is a faithful remake of the original copy, the 3D has gained in finesse, depth and tutti quanti, and Lara Croft has much more forms seductive thanks to the many strokes made throughout the seven episodes. But it is not because one or two generations of console separate Tomb Raider from Tomb Raider Anniversary that we will sulk our pleasure without diving back with nostalgia into the Inca cities of Peru, the Greek temples or the Egyptian tombs.
The legend is reborn
There is nostalgia and nostalgia. Thinking back with emotion to the first sensations of gaming on Tomb Raider and replaying the software on PSone or any other platform, it's a bit like winning the Lotto and being filed with the Bank of Spain. The choice is quickly made. But this Tomb Raider Anniversary does not fall into the easy way like some compilations or other cookie-cutter readjustments. The Crystal Dynamics teams have completely redesigned the game by offering it the graphics engine of Tomb Raider Legend. Obviously, it is Lara herself who benefits from the advantages of this evolution with a silhouette worthy of the best playmates. A curvy physique that goes hand in hand with a neat face, with believable expressions, which even shines when the adventurer comes out of the water. His clothes will dry little by little before returning to their original colors, turquoise blue for the tank top and brown for the shorts. An outfit that has become cult in the same way as the first levels of Tomb Raider that we find almost intact in this version. It goes without saying that they have gained in detail since the advent of 3D and our field of vision has been significantly improved despite certain artistic choices, a bit like the Tomb Raider Legend, which make it possible to camouflage certain undesirable effects. like aliasing or clipping. The result gives a title drowned in a persistent vagueness but whether we like it or not, it is clear that the whole gives a little mysterious and enigmatic side to the countries you will visit. If certain effects are therefore present as trompe-l'oeil, others amaze our pupils, whether we are with our feet on the ground, at the bottom of a lagoon, twirling in the air or clinging to a cornice. But talking about Tomb Raider without mentioning the stiffness of his character would (almost) be an affront to the series. You can imagine that with the prowess of motion capture, Lara Croft will never have moved her pretty butt so fluidly. Forget the heroine who tirelessly bangs against the walls, the problematic U-turns and the hysterical camera, Tomb Raider Anniversary erases all these defects with an impeccable realization and handling although there are always inappropriate camera angles. when the walls of caves tighten, at the bend of a corridor or at the bottom of a lake.
Traditionally modern
But as a general rule, it is easy to progress with the pad in hand, whether it is to explore the remains of an ancient civilization or when it is necessary to pierce the skin of ferocious animals. Wolves, bears, gorillas, cougars and even dinosaurs, the change of scenery is guaranteed but we see, unlike human opponents, that this kind of opponent offers little challenge. Impossible for them to trudge at your height, and you, once perched, you can water them quietly. To overcome this defect, the developers have added a rage gauge that activates when you empty your magazine on a poor beast. The latter begins to charge on you in a final burst of energy and you have only a few seconds left to avoid the shock and, in a Max Payne effect, to align the two aiming reticles before making fly. An interesting idea but which is not renewed enough according to the bestiary. That's for the little runts you'll come across on your way. When it comes to tougher creatures, the gameplay splits into two parts. The first accompanies a cutscene and in the manner of Shenmue, Fahrenheit and consort, you will have to tap certain buttons at the right time to avoid ending up in dog food. Quick Time Events which do not revolutionize the genre but which spice up the few cut-scenes of the game. But in general, Tomb Raider Anniversary does not offer a difficulty to tear your hair out. The whole thing seems much too easy and although we spend one to an hour and a half to complete a level by discovering the ins and outs of its mechanisms, the Eidos Interactive game has a good lifespan, especially if you want to discover all the secrets of each region, unlock the levels against the clock or discover the bonuses of the game.
