Info about Tomb Raider: Anniversary:

Official game description:
**Tomb Raider: Anniversary** retraces Lara Croft's original genre-defining adventure — globe-trotting 3rd person action-adventure in pursuit of the legendary Scion artifact. Using an enhanced 'Tomb Raider: Legend' game engine, the graphics, technology and physics bring Lara's adventure and pursuit of a mystical artifact known only as the Scion right up to today's technology standards and offers gamers a completely new gameplay experience. Re-imagined, Anniversary delivers a dynamic fluidly and fast Lara Croft, massive environments of stunning visuals, intense combat and game pacing, and an enhanced and clarified original story.  
*   Epic Exploration - The lost city of Atlantis and ancient Egyptian pyramids are ripe for discovery: explore every hidden dark crevice and impossible heights; enter into strange, undiscovered lands and solve their deepest, darkest mysteries; open doors to new realms, uncover great rewards and unearth secrets to Lara's past.  
*   Acrobatic Gunplay - Deftly leap around charging enemies while you unleash a hail of bullets from your trademark dual pistols.  
*   Lethal Predators - The wilderness awaits with a wide range of bestial predators—from bats to wolves to bears—ready to defend their territory from human encroachment. New and improved AI means that all enemies will exhibit a more diverse behaviour set, providing improved combat challenges for the player.  
*   Supernatural elements are used sparingly to provide a mystical allure around the world, while maintaining the world's grounded core. The awesome T-Rex and intriguing Atlantean centaurs suck you in to the wonderfully intriguing and mysterious world of Tomb Raider.  
*   Death-Defying Environmental Playground - Leap over massive gaps, cling onto rock ledges, and swim through underground tunnels.  
*   Solve the Diabolical Machinery of the Past - seek to outwit the brilliant ancient designers of many epic puzzles and vaults in order to uncover their secrets. Be warned that they do not take kindly to 'meddling', and as such, the price of failure is extreme.

Release date: Jun 5, 2007

Categories: Action-Adventure, 3D Platformer, Environmental Puzzle, Third-Person Shooter, Exploration, Boss Rush, Quick-Time Events

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Tier 3: The Student; summary: User feedback is dominated by two themes: strong dependence on external walkthroughs or guides to understand progression, complex level design, puzzle mechanics, and boss fights; and serious technical issues involving ALT-TAB crashes and lost saves. No evidence supports farming, drop rates, loot tables, inventory management, crafting, or valuation concerns. The presence of instructional and guide dependency plus complex mechanics triggers Tier 3 The Student under the strict scoring hierarchy, despite frequent Tier 4 bug complaints.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well on Linux/Proton; summary: User feedback shows a strongly positive Linux/Proton compatibility picture. The game is playable on Linux using the default Proton configuration, runs perfectly on Steam Deck OLED at full resolution without needing a forced Proton version, and produces zero Proton issues. One generic platform comparison comment about Windows and Linux is not tied to the game's compatibility and does not indicate any Linux-specific problem.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: Audit of Steam Deck experience for Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Deck-specific performance is strongly positive: users report full-resolution OLED play, default Proton compatibility, and zero Proton issues. The main friction is controller support: advertised full controller support does not guarantee true analog input, some controllers work only in menus, and DualSense users must emulate an Xbox controller. General PC stability bugs appear in some reviews, but Deck reports do not confirm widespread instability. No evidence found for external launchers, small text, or battery drain.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The Windows cohorts show mixed outcomes by VRAM tier: the 12-15GB VRAM report is positive, while the lower-VRAM and 8-11GB VRAM reports are dominated by technical problems.
  - Sample size: 52 (7% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 26 reports): Two included reports are not recommended, citing missed ledgegrabs, softlocks, FPS-dependent jump timing, and impossible timing at 720p30 with a DX9 patch; one 6GB review reports stable 1080p60 play.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 11 reports): The included report is recommended and mentions only a few graphical bugs and the need to play at 60 fps.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 8 reports): Both included reports are not recommended and describe startup crashes, controller recognition failures, and save recognition issues.
  - Caveats: 52 of 784 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $9.00
  - Reasoning: The clearest full-price anchor is a reviewer saying the game is worth $9, which aligns closely with the current $8.99 base price. However, another reviewer rejects the R$37.49 full price, roughly in the US$7 range, because of cited problems, and several others recommend buying only at deep discounts such as under $1 or 1 euro. This mixed evidence supports a fair base-game range below the current near-$9 ceiling, centered around $5 to $9, with moderate confidence because many price comments focus on sale prices rather than base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 20.0h
  - Story completion: 11.0h
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: 3.0h
  - Reasoning: One reviewer reports finishing the game in nearly 20 hours, so gameCompletion is set to about 20 hours. Another states the story takes ten-to-twelve hours, so storyCompletion is set to the 11-hour midpoint. Session length is supported by a report of playing for a few hours at a time, estimated at 3 hours. The final few hours are described as a distinct late-game stretch, supporting endgame at about 3 hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report fun in the first 2-3 hours, but the game then drops into repetitive levels, bugs, and sloggy backtracking; some positive puzzle-platforming moments do not consistently reverse that decline.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Tutorial only displays KBM prompts even with a controller plugged in.; I can't even get past the "tutorial" Croft Manor.; Grappling hook failing eighteen times before working on the nineteenth try.; Combat mode locks a direction even when I'm not pressing any keys.; Camera gets positioned in ways that obstruct the path.; Bugs that make Lara not grab onto ledges and other surfaces.
  - Unlock drivers: Traversal is modernized so players can spend time on puzzles without getting frustrated by the controls.; Grappling hook, swinging poles and climbable poles open up new possibilities for exploration and puzzle solving.; Platforming phases require precision and timing, which makes progression rewarding.
  - Conditions: Enjoyment depends on liking exploration and a long marathon pace.; Enjoyment depends on tolerance for repetitive levels and backtracking.; Enjoyment depends on precision and timing skill for platforming.; Enjoyment depends on not requiring strong narrative presence.; Enjoyment can be blocked by difficulty without a tutorial.; Enjoyment depends on tolerance for combat gimmicks and lock-on targeting.
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Classic Raider (buy)
    - Motivation: Reliving childhood memories and reconnecting with the classic Tomb Raider era.
    - Playstyle: Replaying familiar levels for nostalgia, savoring ambiance, music, and the return of Croft Manor.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old school; veteran raider
    - Reference games: Tomb Raider 1996
  - Puzzle-Platforming Newcomer (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploring atmospheric ruins and solving platforming puzzles.
    - Playstyle: Exploration-driven puzzle solving with jumping, climbing, and light boss combat.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: newcomer
    - Reference games: Tomb Raider 1996
  - Franchise Purist (sale)
    - Motivation: Seeing the original faithfully preserved and holding the remake to franchise standards.
    - Playstyle: Comparing remake content against the original and hunting missed artifacts and cut content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: die-hard fan; purist
    - Reference games: Tomb Raider 1996; Tomb Raider: Legend; Tomb Raider: Underworld
  - PC Port Skeptic / Value Buyer (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Getting a stable, good-value version of the game.
    - Playstyle: Tweaking settings and applying fixes to avoid crashes and glitches.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Impressive Graphics (weight 0.26): Clusters 3 and 4 note that the graphics are beautiful, sharp for the time, and an improvement over the original. Many appreciate the updated visuals in the remake.
- Excellent Puzzle Design (weight 0.25): Clusters 2, 12, and 18 praise the puzzles as well-designed, fun, and challenging. They are often considered better and more difficult than recent Tomb Raider games.
- Fun Gameplay Experience (weight 0.23): Cluster 1 and 11 describe the gameplay as fun, pleasant, and amazing, making it a great game overall. Many consider it one of the best.
- Better Than Original (weight 0.22): Clusters 4 and 6 state that the remake improves upon the original with better graphics, gameplay, and presentation. It is more playable and surpasses the original.
- Praise for Tomb Raider Remake (weight 0.19): Cluster 5 and 6 highlight a fantastic remake of the original Tomb Raider, being faithful to the classic while modernizing it. Many call it one of the best remakes ever and better than the original.
- Best Tomb Raider Game (weight 0.12): Clusters 10 and 14 claim this is the best Tomb Raider game, even compared to newer ones. Many consider it the best in the series.
- Classic Tomb Raider Feel (weight 0.12): Cluster 5 mentions that the remake captures the unique feeling of classic Tomb Raider while being modern and pleasant. It faithfully recreates the original experience.
- Lara Croft Charisma (weight 0.08): Cluster 7 praises Lara Croft as beautiful, confident, charismatic, and well-written. She is a witty and likeable protagonist.
- Exceptional Level Design (weight 0.08): Cluster 8 highlights amazing level design with awesome attention to detail. The design is praiseworthy and like they don't make anymore.
- Excellent Remake of First Game (weight 0.08): Cluster 9 expresses enjoyment of the remake of the first game in the series. It is a masterful and interesting reimagining.
- Engaging Boss Fights (weight 0.07): Cluster 13 notes that boss fights are a step up with unique mechanics and require figuring out solutions. They are interesting and require finding specific things to do.
- Good Soundtrack (weight 0.06): Cluster 15 mentions the soundtrack is good, amazing, and excellent. It enhances the overall experience.
- Interesting Story (weight 0.06): Cluster 16 describes the story as amazing, lovely, good, and very interesting. It adds to the game's appeal.
- Satisfying Parkour (weight 0.06): Cluster 17 mentions many parkour elements and that parkour is satisfying to do. It is one of the most thought-out aspects.

Common complaints:
- Lara's Unreliable Platforming Mechanics (weight 0.23): Players report that Lara often fails to grab ledges, jumps inconsistently, and does not respond precisely to input. This leads to frequent deaths, checkpoint resets, and general frustration during platforming sections.
- Severe Bugs Block Progression (weight 0.22): Many players encounter bugs that make the game impossible to complete, such as getting stuck or being unable to continue. These issues are so severe that they render the game unplayable for some.
- Camera Control Issues (weight 0.2): The camera is frequently described as wonky, jittery, and erratic, sometimes causing motion sickness or preventing proper viewing during jumps. It often fails to focus on critical points, especially during wall climbing and parkour sequences.
- Clunky and Glitchy Controls (weight 0.11): Controls are described as quirky, bad, glitchy, and inconsistent, often leading to unresponsive actions and clunky movement. Players find Lara's movements stiff and unreliable.
- Excessive and Repetitive Puzzles (weight 0.07): Some players find the puzzles too numerous, repetitive, and tedious rather than challenging. This can become annoying and detract from the overall experience.
- Lack of Steam Achievements (weight 0.05): The game does not have Steam achievements, which disappoints players who enjoy completing them. This is a notable omission for the platform.
- Weak and Unengaging Story (weight 0.04): The story is considered mediocre, less compelling, and barely present by several players. It fails to engage or motivate continued play.
- Boring and Monotonous Gameplay (weight 0.04): The gameplay is described as boring, monotonous, and lacking joy, leading to disinterest. Some players find it brings no excitement or engagement.
- Minor Graphical Glitches (weight 0.04): There are graphical bugs and glitches that do not significantly hinder the main game. These are noticeable but generally non-game-breaking.
- Combat Feels Like Afterthought (weight 0.04): Combat is described as basic, scarce, and largely an afterthought. It lacks depth and fails to provide a satisfying challenge.
- Lara's Hair Glitches (weight 0.04): A specific bug causes Lara's hair to glitch, extending across the screen or stretching to unrealistic lengths. This is a minor but visible technical issue.

Gameplay feedback:
- Acrobatic movement and platforming (weight 0.28): Lara's movement includes automatic ledge grabbing, wall-running, pole swinging, and grapple hook usage. Platforming with jumps, climbing, and traversal is a core element of the experience.
- Remake of original Tomb Raider (weight 0.27): Many players note that this game is a remake or reimagining of the very first Tomb Raider title from 1996, with redesigned levels and structure. It is built on a new engine and continues the Legend-style gameplay.
- Puzzle-solving core gameplay (weight 0.25): Puzzles are a central and heavily emphasized part of the game, with many noting that puzzle-solving is the main gameplay focus. The puzzles are often logic-based, require observation, and are more difficult than in previous titles.
- Boss fights present (weight 0.14): The game features boss fights throughout, some of which require specific strategies or combo moves rather than brute force. Each boss often has unique mechanics or gimmick-based encounters.
- Quick-time events included (weight 0.12): Quick-time events (QTEs) are present in action scenes and cinematics, including the adrenaline dodge mechanic used in boss fights. Some players note that these are QTE-like sequences.
- Dinosaur and T-Rex boss (weight 0.11): A notable boss fight involves a T-Rex or dinosaur. Combat also includes fighting animals, dinosaurs, and mythical creatures with guns.
- Action-adventure platformer genre (weight 0.09): Players describe the game as a cinematic platformer or action-adventure with platforming, puzzles, and traps. It is a third-person adventure with a mix of exploration and action.
- Iconic global locations (weight 0.06): The game features iconic locations such as Peru, Greece, Egypt, and Atlantis. Other specific areas include St. Francis' Folly and Natla's Mines.
- Mix of puzzles and combat (weight 0.06): The game includes jumping puzzles, shooting sections, and boss battles. QTE moments are also integrated into these sequences.

Performance notes:
- Startup crashes and black screens (weight 0.12): The game frequently crashes or closes immediately after the intro video, sometimes showing a black screen. This prevents players from even reaching the main menu.
- VSync and framerate dependencies (weight 0.12): Many bugs, including stuttering and physics problems, are tied to framerate and VSync settings. Players must enable VSync and cap at 60 fps to avoid issues.
- Graphical glitches and downgrades (weight 0.1): Players note graphical bugs such as missing shadows, texture warping, and hair glitches. The PC port is also considered a graphical downgrade from consoles.
- Poor PC port quality (weight 0.09): The PC version is widely criticized as a terrible port, with bugs, poor optimization, and control errors. It is considered the least stable among similar games of its era.
- Alt-tab crashes and freezes (weight 0.07): Multiple reports indicate that alt-tabbing or using shift-tab causes the game to crash or freeze. This is a common stability issue that can lead to progress loss.
- Bugs block game completion (weight 0.07): Many players report bugs that prevent finishing the game, such as progression-blocking errors, impossible jumps, and mechanisms not working. These issues severely impact the gameplay experience.
- Stable performance on classic PCs (weight 0.07): Some users find the game generally stable and running well on their PC systems, often without any fixes. This contrasts with the widespread crash reports.
- Janky physics and movement (weight 0.06): Movement and physics feel janky, especially on newer hardware, with laggy movements and inconsistent ledge grabbing. These issues affect core gameplay.
- Windows 11 crashes to desktop (weight 0.05): Players on Windows 11 experience frequent crashes to desktop, sometimes with specific errors like 'OUT OF TABLE RANGE'. This indicates compatibility issues with the newer OS.
- High refresh rate causes glitches (weight 0.05): Using a refresh rate above 59Hz or 60Hz leads to ghosting, screen tearing, and other glitches. Players need to lower the refresh rate to play properly.
- Steam Deck runs flawlessly (weight 0.05): Several users report that the game runs perfectly on Steam Deck, both docked and handheld, with no bugs or performance issues. This suggests good compatibility with the platform.
- Screen freezes and blackouts (weight 0.05): The game occasionally freezes or goes black, sometimes when switching screens. These issues can interrupt gameplay and require restarts.
- Runs well with modern hardware (weight 0.04): On some modern systems, the game runs well at high resolutions and framerates without crashing. This indicates that newer hardware can handle the game.
- Controller recognition issues (weight 0.04): Some players report that the game does not recognize controllers, though keyboard and mouse work fine. This can be frustrating for those preferring gamepads.
- Audio and cutscene glitches (weight 0.04): Audio randomly stops working, and cutscenes stutter or drop below 60 fps. These issues detract from the cinematic experience.
- Save recognition and saving problems (weight 0.03): The game sometimes fails to recognize saves or does not save at all, potentially causing loss of progress. This is a critical issue for game completion.
- Launcher instability and issues (weight 0.03): The launcher is unstable, and some players cannot launch the game at all. This prevents access to the game itself.
- Fullscreen and windowed mode problems (weight 0.03): Players report issues with fullscreen mode and an inability to switch to windowed mode. This limits display options and can cause crashes.
- Mac compatibility dropped (weight 0.02): The game no longer runs on Mac OS Catalina or later, leaving Mac users unable to play. This is a significant compatibility issue for Mac owners.
- Conflicts with OBS (weight 0.02): The game conflicts with OBS, causing issues for streamers. This can hinder content creation.

Recommendations:
- General Recommendation (weight 0.19): A large number of reviewers highly recommend this game without any specific conditions. It is praised as an excellent video game that is definitely worth playing.
- Essential for Tomb Raider Fans (weight 0.17): Many reviewers consider this game a must-play for fans of the Tomb Raider franchise, especially those who played the original games. It is also seen as a great entry point for newcomers to the series.
- Recommended for Genre Fans (weight 0.14): The game is recommended for fans of platforming, adventure, and puzzle games. Those who enjoy exploration and old-school adventure games will find it particularly appealing.
- Good Value for Money (weight 0.1): Reviewers feel the game is worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. Many recommend buying it as it offers good value.
- Compared to Other Tomb Raider Games (weight 0.08): Some reviewers consider Tomb Raider: Legend superior in story, gameplay, and music. Others recommend playing Legend before Anniversary, or skipping this entry in favor of Underworld.
- Conditional Recommendations (weight 0.07): Some reviewers only recommend the game for completing a Tomb Raider collection or for die-hard Lara Croft fans. Others cannot recommend it to everyone.
- Nostalgia Appeal (weight 0.06): The game is worth playing for those who feel nostalgic about the 2000s era or the early Tomb Raider games. It provides a perfect way to relive the good old days.
- Negative Recommendations (weight 0.05): A few reviewers strongly advise against buying this game, even on sale, and suggest watching a walkthrough instead. The PC version specifically cannot be recommended.
- Mixed Ratings (weight 0.03): Some reviewers gave numerical ratings ranging from 8/10 to 9/10, indicating generally positive but not perfect scores. These ratings reflect a good but not exceptional experience.
- Alternative Suggestions (weight 0.03): Instead of this game, some reviewers recommend playing Tomb Raider 1 with the remasters or the original PS1/PC version. They believe those offer a better experience.

Other player notes:
- Remake of Tomb Raider 1 (weight 0.4): Clusters 1, 2, 3, 33, and 46 consistently describe the game as a remake or reimagining of the original 1996 Tomb Raider, created for the series' 10th anniversary with redesigned characters and levels.
- Comparison to Tomb Raider Legend (weight 0.19): Clusters 7, 11, 22, 29, 34, 37, and 44 frequently compare the game to Tomb Raider: Legend, often noting similarities in engine and gameplay, but some reviewers prefer Legend or find the game less impactful.
- Released in 2007 (weight 0.17): Clusters 1, 25, and 31 indicate the game was released in 2007, with some mentioning first playing it on PSP or PS2 around that time.
- Graphics and gameplay improvements (weight 0.16): Clusters 3, 40, and 9 mention improved gameplay and graphics compared to the original, including upgraded visuals and modernized versions.
- Comparison to original Tomb Raider (weight 0.15): Clusters 6, 9, 27, and 32 directly compare the game to the original Tomb Raider or its remaster, with opinions varying on which version is superior in gameplay, graphics, or story.
- Comparison to newer Tomb Raider games (weight 0.13): Clusters 5, 13, and 23 compare the game to newer Tomb Raider titles, noting differences such as less action, simpler story, and more puzzle-focused gameplay in the older game.
- PC version bugs and porting issues (weight 0.1): Clusters 14, 17, 19, and 38 mention bugs, drawbacks, or poor porting in the PC/Steam version, including crashes and comparisons to console versions.
- Part of Legend trilogy (weight 0.09): Clusters 12, 28, and 43 indicate that the game is part of the Tomb Raider trilogy by Crystal Dynamics, specifically the Legend trilogy including Legend and Underworld.
- Classic and old game (weight 0.07): Clusters 8 and 15 describe the game as a classic that should be known and having limitations typical of its era, being quite old.
- Game length varies (weight 0.06): Clusters 26 and 45 report different completion times, with some finding it short and others noting around 10-30 hours for completion.
- Faithful to original spirit (weight 0.06): Clusters 24 and 41 describe the game as keeping the spirit of the first game intact and being a nostalgic tribute to the original 1996 Tomb Raider.
- Compared to Underworld and Legend (weight 0.05): Clusters 21 and 35 compare the game to Underworld and Legend, with some finding it more fun or noting that Underworld is still good.
- Availability on sale (weight 0.05): Clusters 30 and 42 note that the game was cheap or purchased on sale, often available at low cost during discounts.
- Announcement of new reimagination (weight 0.05): Clusters 16 and 39 mention anticipation for a future release related to Legacy of Atlantis and a new Tomb Raider reimagination announced at The Game Awards.
- Played on multiple platforms (weight 0.05): Clusters 18 and 31 report playing the game on various platforms including PS3, PS2, PSP, and PC.
- Reviewer never played original (weight 0.04): Cluster 10 indicates that some reviewers never played the original 1996 game and do not plan to try it.
- Compatibility with Windows 11 (weight 0.03): Cluster 36 confirms that the game works perfectly on Windows 11.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.5): Persistent bugs, glitches, and technical issues cause repeated failures and block progression, making the game feel unplayable. Clunky controls, inconsistent platforming mechanics, and a problematic camera lead to missed jumps, failed ledge grabs, and unfair deaths, often requiring checkpoint resets. Difficult puzzles, timed sections, and boss fights further compound the frustration, especially when compounded by performance problems.
- Disappointment (weight 0.26): The remake fails to live up to the original, with cut content, simplified levels, and an underdeveloped story that feels like a cash grab. Technical problems such as bugs, poor graphics, and a broken PC port ruin the experience, while missing features like achievements and localization add to the letdown. Overall, the game feels unfinished and lacks the nostalgic charm or polish expected from a Tomb Raider title.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players find the game fun due to its engaging gameplay, well-crafted puzzles, and enjoyable platforming. The exploration, atmosphere, and story contribute to a positive experience, with many praising the challenging yet rewarding mechanics. Despite some issues, the core adventure remains entertaining and memorable.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Satisfaction stems from solving challenging puzzles, mastering precise platforming, and experiencing rewarding progression. The game's well-designed levels, modernized controls, and sense of accomplishment when overcoming difficult sections provide a fulfilling experience. Many appreciate the faithful remake that captures the essence of the original while improving accessibility.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.1): Nostalgia arises from fond memories of playing the original Tomb Raider or this remake in childhood or adolescence. Familiar levels, music, and characters evoke a strong sense of revisiting a classic, with many recalling specific moments and the impact the game had on them. The remake's faithful recreation of iconic scenes reinforces these sentimental feelings.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Annoyance is caused by frequent bugs, camera issues, and control problems that hinder gameplay, such as Lara not grabbing ledges properly or auto-aim targeting the wrong objects. Repetitive combat music, forced checkpoint fights, and quick-time events in cutscenes further irritate players. Minor but persistent glitches and poor design choices detract from the overall experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation is felt for the game's beautiful environments, elegant level design, and atmospheric ruins that capture the spirit of the original. The remake's improved graphics, controls, and additional content are seen as a valuable tribute to the series' origins. Many commend the developers for creating a fun and faithful experience that honors the classic.
- Love (weight 0.05): Love for the game is expressed through deep affection for the Tomb Raider series, with many considering it a masterpiece or all-time favorite. The engaging story, memorable locations, and enjoyable gameplay mechanics, including puzzles and combat, contribute to this strong emotional attachment. Even with occasional crashes or flaws, the overall experience is cherished.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom results from repetitive gameplay, tedious puzzles, and monotonous level design that lacks variety or context. The slow pace and focus on climbing and puzzle-solving without engaging story elements can make the experience feel dull. Combat and boss patterns are also seen as repetitive, leading to a lack of excitement.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Admiration is directed at the game's superb design, majestic reimagined scenery, and excellent level design that pays tribute to the original. The graphics, soundtrack, and boss redesigns are praised for their quality and faithfulness. Many view it as one of the best remakes, showcasing the enduring appeal of Lara Croft and the series.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement comes from the game's intense combat encounters, especially against animals and dinosaurs, and the thrill of revisiting iconic locations from the first Tomb Raider rebuilt on a new scale. The many well-thought-out puzzles, traps, and acrobatic moves keep players engaged. The prospect of future remakes like Legacy of Atlantis also generates anticipation.
- Confusion (weight 0.03): Confusion arises from unclear game mechanics, such as the saving system and puzzles that require tutorials to understand. Players get lost in exploration or struggle with bugs that cause unintended actions like Lara dropping instead of crawling. The lack of clear guidance or context leaves some feeling unsure about what to do next.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is fueled by game-breaking bugs, errors, and progression-blocking issues that make the game feel unplayable and a waste of time. Difficult and unfair parkour sections, broken boss fights, and technical problems lead to extreme frustration and even destructive behavior. The perception that the developer released the game in a poor state exacerbates the anger.
- Immersion (weight 0.02): Immersion is achieved through the excellent atmosphere of ancient ruins and trap-filled chambers, enhanced by sound effects, music, and level design. The sense of isolation in ancient tombs and the captivating extended scenarios draw players into the game world. The combination of ambiance and environments creates a deeply engaging experience.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is experienced from the pleasure of playing Tomb Raider: Anniversary after being annoyed by older titles, and from fun puzzle sections with physics-active elements. The excellent implementation of graphics, cinematics, controls, and level design contributes to a joyful ride. The overall enjoyment of the franchise and the game itself brings happiness.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Awe is inspired by the jaw-dropping environments with varying verticality and great detail, such as breathtaking views of Egypt and Greece. The T-rex encounter is a cinematic 'wow' moment, and the beautifully recreated world with detailed indoor environments leaves a strong impression. The visual grandeur evokes a sense of wonder.
- Loneliness (weight 0.01): Loneliness is felt because Lara does not communicate with anyone during missions except in cutscenes, contrasting with the lively team dynamic in Legend. Navigating massive tombs entirely alone as the only character creates a sense of isolation throughout the experience. This lack of companionship contributes to feeling lonely.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Fear is elicited by the game's fauna, such as wolves, bears, dinosaurs, gorillas, and mummies, which still scare players. Frequent jumpscares and specific events like the sherpa being eaten by wolves at the beginning heighten the sense of terror. These elements create a frightening atmosphere at times.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement is derived from buggy platforming and glitches that are funny rather than frustrating, especially early in the game. Bosses being harder than Dark Souls and ragdoll physics without gore add humorous moments. These unintentional comedic elements provide lighthearted entertainment.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness stems from the game being too damaged to fully appreciate despite its visible original beauty, and from bugs doubling playtime. The phrase 'What Tomb Raider Anniversary gives you, it also takes away' feels like a stake in the heart, and souring on a game loved growing up brings melancholy. The sense of loss and disappointment contributes to sadness.}