In Tomb Raider: Underworld (9), I can already say that Lara is going to:

• Mesopotamia
• Easter Island
• Australia
• Vatican
• Mexico
• Mayan Temples
• And an Underworld of some sort

Platforms - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC

Lara Croft Model

Lara's body reacts to the weather and environment - if it is hot, she will sweat. If it is raining, the water will trickle down her body. If it is muddy, dirt will cling to her and gradually wash off due to the rainfall. Her clothes will also react to changing environmental conditions. Lara interacts with environmental foliage, sweeping it away as she passes through it. Crystal Dynamics have introduced motion capture for the first time in a Tomb Raider game. Motion capture brings increased realism and fluidity to Lara's movements.

Lara will have high quality facial animations and lip-synch.

Environments

TRU uses a realistic and dynamic weather system including torrential rainpour, thunderclouds and lightning. An improved physics engine means that the whole world is reacts to Lara\'s presence and has memory. Lara leaves footprints in the mud. Debris and bodies will no longer vanish, providing valuable markers of where the player has been in the game world. An innovative lighting system moves beyond simple dynamic lighting to create stunning and realistic environments. The game is more open-ended than ever before, giving players the choice of how to tackle situations. Crystal Dynamics travelled on location to photograph the Mayan tombs ensuring a realistic look to the ruins. All cutscenes are made using the in-game engine.

Possible Characters:

• Alistair (Confirmed)
• Zip (Confirmed)
• Jaqueline Natla (Rumoured)
• Amanda (Implied)
• James Rutland (Rumoured)
• Anaya Imanu (Implied)
• Lady Amelia Croft (Implied)
• Lord Richard Croft (Rumoured)

Gear:

• Lara will have numerous costume changes throughout the game with more available as unlockables.
• Environmental objects can be used in a variety of different ways, both as weapons and tools to aid climbing.
• The grapple tool is back although it is unknown as to whether it is hooked or magnetic.
• Dual Pistols
• Grenades
• Lara's motorbike is the only confirmed vehicle in the game so far. It will have a greater role in puzzle solving.

Article 1

Wii Love Lara

To celebrate the forthcoming release of TOmb Raider: Anniversary on the Wii console, we've updated the site with some fittingly awesome renders of Anniversary Lara Croft, sporting the Wii. (These renders: http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tombraideranniversary/Laracroft_wii_renders.html)

Article 2

PLAY Magazine, CD-Action, PCJuex, PSM3 and PSM3UK have all released coverage on Lara's next generation debut, Tomb Raider: Underworld. TO celebrate, we've uploaded some awesome new scans for you to drool over. (Scans available on TRF).

Posted by: Sam on 04/02/08 | Comments ( 0 )

A new TR: AE screenshot has been released along with a new article on GamesRadar.com:

Click the thumbnails below to view the new screenshot, the PS2 cover for TR: AE and some extra screens found on Igram.net

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 26/01/07 | Comments ( 20 )

A new TR: AE screenshot has been revealed, take a look below, or check out more screenshots on the screenshots page.

Posted by: Lydia on 07/12/06 | Comments ( 3 )

A little more bits and bobs of info have been let out in a small GamesMaster magazine scan. The scan tells us that TR: Anniversary is supported by the Tomb Raider: Legend engine and that Lara won't be as equipped with ammunition as she was in the first game. The scan also tells us that TR: AE is due for release in 2007 and it will be out for the PS2, PSP and for the PC.

There are also some new GameStar screenshots.

Click below to view the screens.

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 05/12/06 | Comments ( 1 )

Computerandvideogames.com have written a review on Tomb Raider Legend and it's new changes compared to the efforts that Core Design came through with Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness.

'Guzenda: Going from the Angel Of Darkness model, she was very stylised at that point so we wanted to make her look more human. Obviously she still looks very perfect in a lot of respects, as far as dimensions go, but her proportions now are far more human. In AOD if you compared her to the other characters, the others were quite realistic but she stood out.'

The article explains how the previous and recent Tomb Raider storylines were linked together in Tomb Raider: Legend. The article also gives us information on Lara's 'team' and it also speaks of plans for a sequel.

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 03/12/06 | Comments ( 0 )

Tomb Raider Anniversary First Look

Play magazine have been given opportunity to paw over the latest Lara Croft adventure, Tomb Raider Anniversary, courtesy of publisher Eidos plc and an article in this month's issue offers a first taste of what fans can expect from a special game to mark the tenth anniversary of subterranean explorations.

"Tomb Raider Anniversary is inspired by Lara's inaugural adventure, but all new assets have been tapped to create a game that is as new as it is faithful. Some of the larger set pieces that worked like a charm are being embellished for much grander scope and scale.

"New paths are being added to open the world up, providing a denser, more challenging mode of adventure. Puzzles you remember, like the simple cog in the wheel, are being turned into tasks that require more steps and points of logical approach.

Play also comment on the Tomb Raider Legend engine being mobilised for Anniversary. "Thanks to the Tomb Raider Legend engine, this game looks incredible, with the sense of isolation that dominated the original experience being keyed in on."

The full article - along with three brand new screenshots - can be collected in Play (U.S.) magazine, pinned on all good newspaper stands now.

Source

Posted by: Lydia on 01/12/06 | Comments ( 2 )

A few more 'Game Star' magazine scans have been revealed.

In the full German article there are a few more screens. To follow up the first page of the article, the second page of the article contains info on Lara's new 'fitness program' and some Lost Valley screens. The third page of the article compares the original game briefly with the new remake and contains a blurb on Karima Adebibe who's also going to be the Tomb Raider model for TR: AE. There is also aparently some concept art for the cover of the game.

"Happy Birthday, Ms. Croft" - Article Transcript

For her 10th Birthday the maker of Tomb Raider Legend send Lara through her first part of her famous series. Only a remake? No! Here is quite more than super looks. What for a year! Not 2006, because December is still left for a complete review. No, let's look a decade back - to the year 1996, in which happend a memorable moment: For example the young animation studio Pixar broke every visitor records with "Toy Story", the first film, which were complety made by computers. As the last EU-Country Belgium got rid of the death penalty and the german soccer team won the European championship againgst the Czech Republic with 2:1. But what the games of videogames is most momorable, is the birth of a pixellady named Lara Croft. Now, ten years later the development team, who helped the clever archeologist to get her former glory with "Tomb Raider: Legend", accord respect with her former debut: Tomb Raider: Anniversary is the remake of the first part in a modern look - and more. We visited the publisher Eidos in London to find out more about Lara's newest old adventure - and to light some birthday candles of course.

About Lara and King Kong

Right at the beginning Toby Guard corrected a big rumor: "No, Tomb Raider Anniversary is no 1:1 remake of the original one. Instead we were inspirierd by Peter Jackson, who made his remake of King Kong very succesfull: To take over highlights from the original part with a modern look." So, the team didn't build the original Tomb Raider stone for stone again, but provide the "new" game with remarkable single scenes from once. Is there a fan that doesn't remember the wooden cogwheel device and the waterfall in the Peruvian temple ruins? Or the T-Rex' scary and spectacular entrance? Unfortunately, Toby absolutely refused to show us the latter. Instead, we see Lara in another cutscene, standing at the bottom of a postcard compatible valley, staring at the camera in horror and barely able to stand due to quake-inducing footsteps (Jurassic Park, anyone?). The presentation stops right before the primeval animal appears. "Come on, gotta have a little suspense left", Toby jokes. Well, he's got it.

New Fitness Program

Even though Lara's arsenal of moves was revolutionary in the original Tomb Raider game, her jumping and crawling looks quite clumsy by today's standards. Remember long jumps, for example? Those worked more or less like this: Carefully walk up to the edge, hop back a full step, get some momentum, jump at the right moment and don't you forget that button to hang on! The programmers at Crystal Dynamics have adopted Lara's modernized abilities from Legend. You'll be able to reach far ledges even if you don't jump right at the very last moment. However, you'll have to grab again by hitting a key or your heroine will slip and fall. In general, you'll remember a lot of the jumping and climbing from Legend: Lara dives horizontally from ledge to ledge, swings on all kinds of bars and even hurls herself up to ledges above her. Of course the helpful grapple will return, which Lara uses to swing across chasms and to pull metallic objects towards herself. But Miss Croft has also learnt some new moves and balances on scarily narrow wooden poles - gamers using a gamepad with an analog stick will have a clear advantage.

Tell Me Again!

For those who can't remember: In the original Tomb Raider, Lara was hired by a mysterious organization to dig for a magical artefact called the Scion in the Peruvian mountains. As soon as Lara's found all of the three parts of the treasure, power-hungry Jacqueline Natla takes it from her and tries to kill her. Lara escapes and climbs, puzzles and shoots from now an through Greek and Egypt till Atlantis to get the Scion back. But honest, didn't you still know that? No? Well, we didn't. "I admit, we didn't tell the story well", Toby Gard confesses. "We want to make that better now." Like Tomb Raider: Legend there will be many cutscenes in the game's engine. But they weren't finish at the presentation. We assume that the cutscenes will be as stylish and furious as in Legend.

Like 10 years ago!

New movements, new level design, new graphic - will there still be left the original charm? "Of course", Toby answers. "For example Lara fights in Peru against many bats, wolves and bears. These has been the most type of enemies in Tomb Raider. But the team built in more nostaglia and they even rummaged from the design drawer the rotating ring menu and the same inventory from former days. Crystal Dynamics especially pays attention to take over the great atmosphere from the original Tomb Raider to Anniversary. "Lara's fans especially loved her isolation in the first part", Toby explains. "She was totally alone down there with all these enemies and had to explore old ruins by herself." To reach this oppressed atmosphere, the designers sent Lara's colleagues, who gave her hints over the headset and occasionally makes jokes, into virutal retirement. From which Lara is far away. Even 10 years later the pixellady from former days jumps as fresh and charming through her exciting adventures like then that some modern action hero could get anxiety.

The Original

Tomb Raider was published in November 1996 and revolutionized the genre of 3D action games. The brilliant mix of shooting, tricky puzzles and more tricky leaps as well as the smart and attractive female hero caused excitement all over the world. Tomb Raider were sold at millions as PC version as well as for Playstation and it has seven parts until now. Mid November the developer Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider: Legend) confirmed their work on the 8th part.

The new "real" Lara Croft

Six months ago when the newest part of Tomb Raider were published the Brand Manager Matt Gorman introduced Karima Adebibe (known from the movie Alien vs. Predator) the new and sixth Lara-Model. For the next two years the 21 year old Englishwoman represents Tomb Raider at game conventions and TV spots. To get prepared for her role, Karima absolved a recruit training at the SAS, the Anti-Terror-Unity at the british army and a hand-to-hand combat training and weapon training. "That is quite the greatest challenge to me as a model and actor and I want to hold it with both hands.

Details
Genre: Action-Adventure
Date: first quarter 2007
Developer: Crystal Dynamics/Eidos
Status: 90 % finished

Daniel Matschijewsky: "I'm a skeptic about remakes, for they are old games with a new technology - without fresh ideas. Tomb Raider: Anniversary shows how it could be: The level design were clever modernized, Lara's movements were gently adapted but the flair of the original is kept. The fans can looking forward to a lot of scenes, which 10 years ago were amazing. I finally want to see that T-Rex!"

Source

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 30/11/06 | Comments ( 0 )

The German Magazine 'Game Star' has reported that Tomb Raider AE is more than just a remake. In the preview for their article (german) they state that anniversery addition will not just be a remake of the orignal with a slightly different level structure but similar puzzles to complete, no word yet as to whether midas will return or not though.

Thanks to Tomb Raider Girl.com and Gamestar.de

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 29/11/06 | Comments ( 0 )

Some new official conceptual art for the Tomb Raider: Anniversary Edition game has been let out into the world of Tomb Raider.

"As most of you may already know, Tomb Raider: Anniversary has drawn its inspiration from the original adventure that started it all. It is a celebration of Lara Croft and the people who helped make her what she is today – her fans. Right now it is a time of Thanksgiving, and there isn't a better time for us to send our message of thanks to the people who have supported Lara throughout the years.

But as most know, actions speak louder than words, so to show our thanks, we have selected six fan site webmasters to be inducted into the credits of the game. These members have been chosen based on the quality of their work, time spent in service of the franchise, as well as their dedication and loyalty to the Tomb Raider brand.

Also, since we understand that there are other ways to contribute to the Tomb Raider community than running a website, each of these websites have been given an opportunity to induct one Tomb Raider fan into the credits of the game. These competitions will be coming soon, so please visit each of their websites for details.

The inductees are as follows:

Stella Lune - Tomb Raiders.net

Chris Ridgeon - Planet Lara.com

Tom Waskuc - Lara Croft Online.com

Daniel Bevers - Tomb News.com

Shahriyar Imanov - Tomb Raider Community.com

Justin J. Farr - Tomb Raider Chronicles.com

To say that these members have been “dedicated” would be a large understatement - these people have poured their heart and soul into this franchise, and have done so for a very long time. They have helped spread the word about Tomb Raider, and together, have reached millions of people.

Eidos appreciates the hard work and dedication shown by all of the members of the fan community, including those who are no longer in active roles. These initiatives are not with the intention of minimizing the outstanding work that has been done by people not included on the above list, as we understand it is the combined efforts of all that continue to make the Tomb Raider franchise what it is today. To everyone, we give our thanks.

Also, since we understand that there are other ways to contribute to the Tomb Raider community than running a website, there might be some opportunities for a few fans to get their names into the credits as well… but more information about that will come in the future."

Posted by: TheOriginalTombRaider on 24/11/06 | Comments ( 1 )

New Message and Screenshot about TR anniversery edition. The screenshot shows the lost valley as you will remember from TR1 this is where the T-Rex was found.

Eidos is pleased to announce some special news directly to the Tomb Raider community.

The official name of the next Tomb Raider game is Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, and the first screenshot is going straight to where it matters most - the people who have supported Lara across the years.

As most of you may already know, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a revitalized version of the original adventure that started it all. This game is more than just a remake; it is a celebration of Lara Croft and the history of the Tomb Raider franchise.

One would need to be blind to not see the impact that Lara Croft has had, both on gaming in general, as well as pop-culture. She is a character that people connect with, a character that transcends the media in which she was originally presented. However, Lara's rise to fame didn't just magically happen. There has been a very powerful, dedicated fan base that has not only tracked her every move over the last 10 years, but helped transform her from being just a video game character, to an international digital celebrity.

Every time a new Tomb Raider game has been released, the fans have asked for a remake of the original. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is our answer. This game is for the fans. It only makes sense that the first information, as well as much more to come, goes directly to the fans. We hope you enjoy the screenshot, and keep your eye out for more information soon...

Posted by: Lydia on 28/10/06 | Comments ( 0 )