| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Scroll down for our Kid Factor. 
The ESRB Says
Mild Suggestive Themes: GamerDad couldn't help notice that everyone else noticed how beautiful Lara Croft looked. Violence: There are lions, tigers, bears and even a big ole T-Rex to fight off! There is something about a classic game that makes it a classic, but that is often difficult to translate into a more modern experience. Tomb Raider is a ten year old classic that combines action, platform jumping, and a sexy and sassy protagonist into thoroughly enjoyable experience that millions of gamers have enjoyed. The franchise has soured through the years, but last year's Tomb Raider Legend breathed some new life into what most gamers assumed was a dead series. I liked that game quite a bit, though I had some issues with the PC controls. Tomb Raider Anniversary is a 'reimagining' of the classic original in the 'Legend' engine, filled out with tons of new features, areas, puzzles and secret tidbits to find. The great news is that even the controls are better - this is a game that will satisfy existing fans, people new to the series and everyone in between. And it really doesn't matter which version you choose - the load times are much more palatable than the previous game and shouldn't be considered a hurdle. Everything about the game just flows naturally - you breeze from cutscenes straight into action, looking at a massive room and little-by-little picking out the secrets of how to traverse it to get to your goal. There are plenty of fun little puzzles to keep things interesting but never slow the pace too much. It is challenging without ever becoming frustrating. I was only a third of the way through when I felt my money had been well spent and was thinking - this is how I want all of my old favorite games to get remade!  
There have been numerous articles, commentaries, cartoons and pictorials through the years regarding Lara Croft and her ... um ... assets. That reality hasn't changed - she is still very beautiful with some very unlikely bodily dimensions that would not work well with her daily routine of spelunking and stunt-jumping. But for Tomb Raider Legend the look was toned down significantly while retaining the fundamental characteristics - she still has improbable dimensions, but has a softer and more athletic feel instead of the fantasy pin-up look of some prior iterations. Her obvious attractiveness is not lost on the males she encounters throughout the game, with plenty of subtle and not-so-subtle flirting on both sides. But it does not demean her character - it is clear even while playing flirtatious games that she is mentally sharp and tough and constantly thinking and focused on achieving her goals. There is still plenty of harrowing violence, and the combination of the sexual innuendo and particularly the battles that can be quite intense make this an appropriately T-rated game that I am giving a 14+ GamerDad Seal. That said, this is a game that many kids between 10 and 13 would have no problem with in terms of gameplay or content - it is a very mild game compared with many first person shooters, and therefore parents considering this game can consider this if their slightly younger child shows an interest.
Other Platforms: PC: Looks great, solid game throughout, nice controls. Best visuals. PS2: Same content, excellent controls. PSP: Same as the other versions, lacks some flexibility in controls, but still quite good. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Tomb Raider: Anniversary |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
