We grew up with Tomb Raider and played most of the games in the series, but at some point they all started to feel the same. Sure, Lara's breasts continued to inflate, but very few gameplay innovations were introduced. So it is was refreshing to see the franchise updated with Legend -- a makeover whose improvements translate to Anniversary. Never mind that Crystal Dynamics has brought Lara's physique back to reality -- she's no longer a Pamela Anderson-on-crack look-a-like, but of a more athletic build all around.
The fact is, the controls have been largely tweaked for the better, which is what the series has needed all along -- not more guns or deadlier enemies. On Wii, this means that you can maneuver the heroine around large 3D environments using the analog stick, and she's more responsive. The process of turning in any direction is quicker and as a result Lara feels less like a tank and more like a human being. She can still climb platforms, hang from and shimmy alongside ledges and leap to protruding poles (which have a way of being conveniently placed among ruined cities), and these maneuvers still work adequately and simultaneously increase her bodily arsenal. Some subtle enhancements have also been introduced. For instance, Croft can jump diagonally to grab onto objects and she can balance atop very thin platforms. Also, when making a particularly big leap of faith, you will actually have to press up on the D-Pad as Lara grabs onto a ledge so that she doesn't slip off -- a small inclusion that demands you pay attention and ups the tension as you navigate deadly terrain.
Compared to the original Tomb Raider, the controls powering Anniversary are highly evolved. However, games as a whole have come a long way since Croft changed the landscape of 3D adventures and when you dare to pit Lara's latest against the control responsiveness and environmental interactivity found in a Prince of Persia game, well, she just can't compete. This truth becomes apparent as you progress through the game. Although speedier than ever before, Lara still feels slow to turn and heavier than we'd like. Furthermore, the camera, which can be controlled manually on Wii by holding the C button and dragging the screen with the Wii remote, tends to get in the way just as much as it helps pave the way. Too often your view will be obstructed by a foreground object or the action will be shot from an angle which makes it difficult to gauge depth, a problem when attempting precision jumps. The camera is at its worst when the heroine is under attack by multiple enemies, especially if you're backed into a corner, at which time your viewpoint may go haywire as the system fights to orient itself.
While Tomb Raider's debut on Wii could technically be called a port, it as at least an enhanced one. We suppose it had better be since it's here so much later than the other versions. Crystal Dynamics has made use of the Wii remote and nunchuk in some good and bad ways, and we've already mentioned some of those above. We do really appreciate the ability to point the Wii remote at the screen and shoot at enemies or target objects. It does feel very natural. The same goes for using Lara's flashlight, which is conveniently mapped to the Wii remote's pointer functionality. We also like the Wii-exclusive puzzles --- for instance, using the controller to point at and pick up objects, or to scroll pieces, and so on. It's clear that the developer really thought about how to capitalize on the remote in order to add an extra layer of interactivity to the experience. On the other hand, we're never happy when precision maneuvers -- using the grappling hook, for instance -- are mapped to motion controls on the nunchuk. For the most part, the benefits the Wii controls bring to the title outweigh any drawbacks, though.
Anniversary on Wii looks like its PlayStation 2 predecessor with a few minor enhancements. The locales Lara explores are varied in design and feature jutting architecture. Some are surrounded by bodies of water with shimmering transparencies. Lighting and particle effects help enhance the visual make-up. Meanwhile, Lara is generally well-animated and some of her maneuvers are just as fun to watch as they are to perform. On the other hand, the framerate really takes a hit in certain situations and we really can't figure out why considering that far better looking titles run smoothly -- at 60 frames, even -- on Wii. To its credit, the game features some truly atmospheric music that is sometimes-subtle and yet it always helps maintain the air of character isolation that is, like Metroid, a staple of this series.
Verdict
Tomb Raider: Anniversary for Wii is a competently executed enhanced port of the previously released PlayStation 2 affair that also happens to be good fun at its best and frustrating at its worst. Croft controls and looks better than she ever has before and yet she still has a long way to go if she's to provide real competition to the Prince of Persia, who has, in my mind, out-Tomb Raidered Tomb Raider in recent years. The Wii control additions really do add to the experience and the game looks pretty good, too. The end product is not exemplary, but it is a step in the right direction and it's also entertaining, particularly when you're jumping from ledge to ledge or swinging across chasms to the beat of moody music.
Although I think it's just as good as previous versions of Anniversary, I've lowered the score of the game on Wii because little effort has been made to capitalize on the added horsepower of Nintendo's console. That the framerate regularly suffers in wide-open levels is really disappointing. I wouldn't call it a deal breaker, but an unfortunate oversight.
