Brian

I'm sorry but this just looks awful. I've been a hardcore fan since day one when TR1 first hit shelves for PS1 and I've embraced many different possibilities with the series as it grew older. When Legend was about to be released, I had unbelievable high hopes for the series to be in the limelight again but that turned out being rather short-lived given the fact that Crystal Dynamics really are limited in their game designing. Anniversary really was the only CD Tomb Raider title to really stand out because the truth is, it was a hell of a game and they did the original justice but it really comes off to me as they needed a "helping hand" in which most of the level layout ideas were already present so all they had to do is redo them and tweak them here and there and add their usual signature "white ledges" everywhere. Underworld was a good game, don't get me wrong but out of all my PS3 games its probably my least favorite. It was just so limited, Lara reacted horrible, there was no point in collecting those treasures because there was no reward for finding them and the list goes on. Concept art is interesting ONLINE where you have the ability to zoom or print it out if you like it, not small thumbnails on a game that requires like 20 treasures to be found. Has no one ever heard of missions/bonus levels? Hopefully Batman: Arkham Asylum, one of Eidos' actual releases and the recent move to the gaming publisher (Square-Enix) responsible for games that can exceed 100 hours of play per game can give Crystal Dynamics the kick they need to realize a 13 year old kid can think of a better story and better gameplay concepts then they have shown with the previous 3 installments.

Sadly I am very bitter because I am sick of the constant comparison of Tomb Raider and Uncharted. Reading that people are only interested in seeing these two games go head-to-head rather than just make two good, independent games is a major turn-off. Unfortunately I'll always have my doubts considering I'm still waiting to be "wow'd" by their work but I suppose for a few dollars I can keep buying their games. As much as I'd love to have a spectacular Tomb Raider game again, I'd much rather see her die with dignity than the continuation of mediocre action games that only linger in the shadows of others. You have the technology now to create anything you desire with PS3 and 360, so "wow" me. Think outside the box for once instead of relying on the fact that Lara Croft has major sex appeal and you know most men are major dogs and will play anything with a hot woman in it.