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What
is Tomb Raider Anniversary Edition?
TR:AE’ is a remake of the 1996 title Tomb Raider. It
was going to be released in summer of 2006 and was a
celebration of Tomb Raider and Lara’s Croft’s 10th
anniversary.
Who
was making it?
Core Design was developing the game. It is believed
that work on Tomb Raider Anniversary Edition started
towards the end of The Angel of Darkness, so a lot
of the original ‘Tomb Raider Team’ would have been a
part of the game.
Why wasn’t it
released?
The simple answer is that Core was sold to Rebellion
before it was finished, and as Eidos own Tomb Raider
they could no longer legally produce Tomb Raider
games. Why Eidos commissioned a brand new version by
Crystal to be made instead of finishing the first
version is not known.
(Press
release)
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines2754.html
So Eidos didn’t
release the trailer?
They had nothing to do with it. The trailer was
leaked and immediately Eidos asked that it be
withdrawn.
What
platforms was it going to be released on?
The unofficially released trailer stated the game
was for the PSP. However in discussion that followed
the trailers release developers of the title
announced that the trailer footage was that of the
PS2 build, claiming that the graphics were far too
superior for the PSP. Given this, it is extremely
likely they had intended to release the game for PS2
and PC also. This is somewhat authenticated in the
Tomb Raider Anniversary extras DVD.
When the Tomb Raider timeline documentary begins
discussion of Tomb Raider Anniversary you can see
footage of the Lara Croft model, T-Rex model, Raptor
model and a bear model taken from Anniversary
Edition. These characters are convincing as being
PS2 standard models.
What
engine was being used?
Developers had built an entirely new engine for the
game. Animations that resemble those seen in Angel
Of Darkness can be seen in the trailer so it’s
thought that it’s an updated version of that engine.
Will
it ever be released?
Unfortunately this is highly unlikely. Eidos have
full legal rights over the game but as Tomb Raider
Anniversary has sold so successfully world wide
there would be little gain to them by having the
game finished and released.
Why
can I see equipment from Tomb Raider Legend in this
game?
Richard Morton, Lead Level Designer for Core Design
has since stated that while making Tomb Raider:
Anniversary Edition Core Design had made a conscious
decision to keep the same graphic style as that of
Tomb Raider Legend. They chose to design their
version of Lara to look quite similar to the one
featured in Legend.
This
version looks very similar to the original.
Whereas Crystal Dynamics have approached an
anniversary game as ‘a new game inspired by the
original’ Core’s project was intended more as a
remake with additions. As you can see level design
is about 80% accurate with a lot of cosmetic
changes. E.g. Viking boats in Caves, the cog puzzle
is now 3D and much larger and in general everything
is much more organic.
Members of the Core Design team have since stated
that they used the original level maps as a basis
for the remake of the original Tomb Raider title.
Some rooms seen are either brand new or updated
beyond recognition. Lara also has moves carried over
from Legend allowing her smoother movement through
the environments such as shimming between levels.
And there’s brand new dual targeting.
Why is
the video played to Star Wars music?
The piece of music used it called Duel Of The Fates
and is taken from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom
Menace. It’s significant to the game as Episode 1 is
essentially all about the past and the beginning of
the Star Wars film saga. And Tomb Raider Anniversary
Edition is about the beginning of the Tomb Raider
games and franchise.
Hey, a
T-Rex throws a Raptor in Crystal’s game, why the
copying?
Anniversary Edition was in production long before
Tomb Raider Anniversary. So any ideas you see in
both games were taken from Core’s project
originally.
I have
a couple more questions.
Unfortunately we have no concrete answers. But
you’re welcome to share any thoughts or questions in
the forums.
http://pli.planetlara.com/
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