Lara Croft has been through a lot. Honestly, more than most digital icons. She’s been a collection of sharp triangles, a gritty survivor, and a literal superhero. But back in 2007, things were different. People were actually worried about the franchise. After the mess that was Angel of Darkness, the series needed a win. It got Legend, which was great, but then Crystal Dynamics did something risky. They went back to where it all started.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary isn't just a remaster. It’s a total ground-up rebuild of the 1996 original. Think of it as a "greatest hits" album where every track has been re-recorded with a modern orchestra. It was meant to celebrate ten years of raiding tombs, though it actually landed about eleven years late in June 2007.
Why Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary Still Matters
Most remakes today try to change the story or add massive open worlds. This game didn't do that. It stayed lean. It kept the isolation. You’re alone in Peru, Greece, Egypt, and a weird lost island. No headset chatter from Zip and Alister—just you, some wolves, and a really angry T-Rex.
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That T-Rex fight? It's legendary for a reason. In the original, you basically stood on a ledge and shot it until it died. In Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, they introduced the "Adrenaline Dodge." You have to time your move perfectly to trigger a slow-motion headshot. It turned a boring war of attrition into a cinematic duel. Some purists hated it. Most people thought it was cool.
The game uses the Tomb Raider: Legend engine. That means Lara moves like a gymnast, not a tank. She can use a grapple hook to wall-run. She can perch on tiny wooden poles like a bird. It feels fluid. But here’s the kicker: because she’s so much more mobile, the levels had to be redesigned. St. Francis Folly went from a blocky vertical climb to a massive, sprawling architectural puzzle. It’s arguably the best level in the entire trilogy.
The Weird History of the "Lost" Version
Not many people realize that Crystal Dynamics wasn't the first choice for this project. Core Design, the original creators of Lara, were actually working on their own version. It was called Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition.
It looked amazing. It stayed closer to the "grid-based" movement of the 90s but with beautiful textures. Then, internal politics happened. Eidos (the publisher) cancelled Core's project and gave the keys to Crystal Dynamics. For years, Core's version was just a myth. Eventually, a playable build leaked online, and fans finally saw what could have been. It’s a bit tragic, really. Core's version had a certain grit that the final game lacked.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often call this a "one-to-one" remake. It’s definitely not. Crystal Dynamics cut a lot of the fat.
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Take the Egypt levels. In the 1996 version, they were grueling. In Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, they are much more streamlined. Some fans argue it's "dumbed down." The colors are also a bit... beige? The original had these vibrant, almost neon blues and reds in the Atlantis sections. The remake opted for a more realistic, muted palette. It looks "better" technically, but it lost some of that surrealist 90s charm.
And then there's the sales. Despite being a critical darling, it’s actually one of the worst-selling games in the franchise. It moved about 1.3 million copies. Compare that to the 7 million+ of the original or the reboot. It was a "niche" hit. A love letter to fans that the general public mostly ignored because they were too busy playing Halo 3 or Modern Warfare that same year.
The Secret Stuff You Probably Missed
If you’re playing this today, don’t just rush the story. The unlockables are the best part.
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- Croft Manor: This isn't just a menu. It's a full-blown level with its own puzzles. You have to find artifacts to unlock music and concept art.
- The Outfits: You can unlock the "Classic" low-poly Lara model. Running through high-definition ruins with a character that looks like a cereal box is peak 2000s gaming.
- Commentary Tracks: If you find the "Commentary Crystals," you can hear Toby Gard (Lara’s creator) and the developers talk about why they changed specific puzzles. It’s basically a masterclass in game design.
Is it Better than the 2024 Remasters?
This is a hot debate right now. Last year, we got the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection. Those games keep the original 1996 level layouts exactly as they were, just with a fresh coat of paint.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a different beast. It changes the geometry. It changes the boss fights. If you want to feel the "scale" of the 90s and the difficulty of "tank" controls, play the remasters. If you want a smooth, cinematic experience that feels like an adventure movie, play Anniversary.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to revisit this classic, here is how to get the best experience:
- PC is King: Buy it on Steam or GOG. It runs on a potato, but you’ll want to look for a "Widescreen Fix" or "TR Anniversary Multipatch." Modern monitors can sometimes stretch the image or make the camera act funky.
- Play the Time Trials: Don't just beat the game. The Time Trials unlock cheats like "Infinite Health" or "Golden Shotgun." It changes the way you play the levels.
- Listen to the OST: Troels Brun Folmann’s score is incredible. He took the original motifs and turned them into sweeping orchestral pieces. It's available on most streaming platforms.
- Check out the "Core" Leak: If you're a hardcore fan, search for the Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition (Core Design) footage. It’s a fascinating "what if" in gaming history.
This game was the end of an era. It was the last time we saw Lara as a classic "tomb raider" before the 2013 reboot turned her into a gritty survivalist. It might be a bit beige, and the sales might have been low, but it remains one of the most respectful remakes ever made.