Tomb Raider: Anniversary Controls & Gameplay Notes

Updated: 4/11/08()

The following lists basic controls, as well as complex moves involving combinations of keys, and controls for combat and swimming. Lara can also do some nifty but non-essential gymnastic moves. I will add a separate page about these at some point. In the mean time, you can refer to the Tomb Raider: Legend acrobatic moves page, as these are similar.

Whether you are using a mouse and keyboard or a gamepad for the Windows computer game, or a gamepad-type controller, you can change the controls to suit your taste. Just go to the Options menu, select Controls, then follow the instructions on screen.

Information about the heads-up display (HUD), inventory, difficulty levels, saving/loading and checkpoints, combat modes, etc., is at the bottom of the page. Rewards and unlockable content are covered on separate pages.

Basic Moves

MOVE

CONTROLS
(PC/PS2/PSP/Xbox/Wii)

DESCRIPTION/NOTES

Run Forward/
Left/Right/Back

W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Stick

(See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.)

Walk

Alt + W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Stick

PC players: Hold Alt and press direction keys to walk. Console players: Press lightly on the control stick to walk; press firmly to run. Lara will step off edges while walking. (NOTE: The PC game manual incorrectly lists this key as Ctrl.)

Sneak

R + W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Stick

Sneaking is used for even slower, more cautious movement than walking. PC players: Hold R and press direction keys to sneak. Console players: Press very lightly on the control stick to sneak. Note that Lara will step off edges while sneaking.

Pivot

N/A

Not available in Anniversary.

Sidestep

N/A

Not available in Anniversary.

Jump

Space Bar
X
X
A
A

Makes Lara jump straight up. Where there is something for her to grab, she'll grab it automatically. More complex jumps are covered under combo moves, below.

Interact

E
Triangle
Triangle
Y
Control Pad Up

Similar to 'Action' in previous games except not needed to grab ledges, etc., since Lara now grabs automatically. Interact is used to manipulate switches and levers, grab movable objects, pick up objects on the ground, etc. Also used in conjunction with movement keys to climb/swim faster and for the saving grab, below. (Note that in the Wii version, Interact is used in combination with the nunchuk and/or remote to move objects and use switches and levers. The on-screen instructions show what to do in each case.)

Manual Grab

Ctrl
R2
n/a
RB
n/a

All of the other controls on this page that involve grabbing assume you have Manual Grab disabled in the Options menu. With Manual Grab disabled, Lara will grab onto ledges and handholds automatically whenever she steps off or jumps toward a grabbable edge. With Manual Grab enabled, you must press and hold Ctrl or R2 whenever you want Lara to grab and hang onto a ledge, handhold, etc. (As far as I know, Manual Grab is not an option on the PSP or Wii.)

Saving Grab/Balance

E
Triangle
Triangle
Y
Control Pad Up, Left or Right

Same key as Interact, above. Lara will grab most edges automatically when she jumps or falls. Occasionally, if she has to jump especially far or at an odd angle, she'll grab using only one hand. When this happens a warning icon appears (if you have Hint Icons on in the Options menu). Quickly press Interact to grab with both hands; otherwise Lara will fall. Similarly, when Lara lands on a tiny perch, or attempts to stand on one for an extended period, she may lose her balance. Press Interact to regain her footing. (On the Wii, you can also use left or right on the control pad to perform the saving grab.)

Duck/Crouch
Let Go and Drop

Left Shift
Circle
Circle
B
Control Pad Down

Used alone, Lara will duck or crouch. (Note that she cannot draw weapons while crouching.) Hold Crouch and use the direction keys (left analog stick) to creep forward. Press Duck once to make Lara let go if she is hanging. If there is a handhold below, she'll grab it automatically. Also used in several of the combination moves described below.

Crawl

N/A

Not available in Anniversary. (Use Roll or Crouch instead.)

Display HUD and Reset Camera/Rotate Camera

J/Move Mouse
L2/Right Stick
Triangle (hold)/Analog Stick
LB/Right Stick
C/Wii Remote

The first key resets the camera angle behind Lara and shows the heads-up display (HUD). To adjust the camera angle, use the mouse (PC) or right analog stick (PS2). On the Wii, tap C to center the camera behind Lara. Hold C and move the Wii Remote to aim the camera. The camera moves independently of Lara, so there is no separate 'Look' key. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.)

Lara's Gear

Use Small Medipack

V
D-Pad Up
Tap D-Pad Down
D-Pad Down
-

Small medipacks restore 25% of Lara's health. In addition to these hotkeys, you can select and use items like health packs from your inventory (below).

Use Large Medipack

B
D-Pad Down
Hold D-Pad Down
D-Pad Up
+

Large medipacks restore 100% of Lara's health. In addition to these hotkeys, you can select and use items like health packs from your inventory (below).

Grapple

Q
Square
Square
X
Nunchuk

Use of the grapple is covered in detail under Combination Moves, below.

Flashlight (Wii only)

Control Pad Left + Wii Remote

Press Left on the control pad to turn the flashlight on and off. Aim the beam using the Wii Remote. The flashlight is not available in other versions of the game.

Binoculars

N/A

Not available in Anniversary.

Weapons & Other Items

Tab
Select
Select
Back
1

Press this button to go to the inventory screen to use items or select weapons. These are covered in greater detail under Combat and Inventory, below.

Combination Moves

Push/Pull Object

E + W/A/S/D
Triangle + Left Stick
Triangle + Analog Stick
Y + Left Stick
Control Pad Up + Control Stick

To grab a movable object, position Lara against it and press Interact to grab and hold on. Then use the direction keys (or control stick) to move the object. Tap Interact again to let go.

Jump/Running Jump/
Flip

W/A/S/D + Space Bar
Left Stick + X
Analog Stick + X
Left Stick + A
Control Stick + A

Press the directional key (or press on the left analog stick) in the direction you want Lara to go, then press Jump. Or, for a longer jump, start Lara running in a direction then press Jump. Holding Jump keeps Lara in the air a little longer. When Lara has her guns drawn, press any direction key (or nudge the analog stick) and tap Jump, and she'll flip in that direction. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.)

Safety Drop

Ctrl + W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Pad Down or B

Walk to an edge (either by holding Walk + direction keys or pressing lightly on the left stick). When she reaches the edge, Lara will then step off and grab the edge automatically.

Climbing

W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Stick

When Lara is hanging from a ledge or other handhold, use the direction keys (or stick) to move laterally. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.)

Vault or Pull Up/Let Go and Drop

Space Bar/Left Shift
X/Circle
X/Circle
A/B
A/B or Control Pad Down

To vault up onto a ledge from which Lara is hanging, or to jump up and grab a higher ledge or handhold, tap Jump. To let go and drop, press Duck. If there's a handhold below, she'll grab it automatically.

Pull Up into Handstand

Space Bar
X
X
A
A

When hanging from a ledge, press and hold Jump to make Lara pull up onto the ledge into a graceful handstand walkover. This takes a bit longer than the normal vault upward, but it's fun to watch.

Jump and Grab (while climbing)

W/A/S/D + Space Bar
Left Stick + X
Analog Stick + X
Left Stick + A
Control Stick + A

When Lara is climbing, to jump a gap and grab a handhold on the other side, climb as far as possible in the desired direction. Continue pressing the direction key (or stick). Lara will lean out in that direction. Press Jump and she'll leap and automatically grab. To jump straight up and grab a higher handhold, just press Jump. If there's a handhold above, she'll grab it automatically. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.)

Climbing Vertical Poles

W/A/S/D
Left Analog Stick
Analog Stick
Left Analog Stick
Control Stick

Lara will automatically grab a vertical pole, chain, fixed rope, etc., when she runs or jumps toward it. Once she's hanging on, use direction keys (or left stick) to climb up and down or to pivot left and right. Jumping off or letting go, is the same as for climbing, above.

Climbing and Swinging on Horizontal Bars

W/A/S/D...Space Bar
Left Stick...X
Analog Stick...X
Left Stick...A
Control Stick...A

When Lara is hanging from a horizontal pole, use the direction keys (or left stick) to move hand-over-hand laterally or to swing around the bar. While swinging, press Jump just as Lara passes the lowest point in the rotation to leap off. Or, press Duck to let go and drop.

Climb Faster

E
Triangle
Square
Y
Nunchuk

While climbing along a ledge, vertical or horizontal bar, or ladder, tap Interact in time with Lara's movements to make her climb faster. On the Wii, snap the nunchuk repeatedly in the direction Lara is climbing (i.e., up and down or left to right) to climb faster.

Climbing Ladders

W/A/S/Dr
Left Stick
Analog Stick
Left Stick
Control Stick

To climb a ladder, just approach it and press the Up direction key or press upward on the left control stick. Use direction keys/stick to climb up, down and side to side. To climb faster, tap Interact as you go. To let go and drop, press Duck. Or press Jump in combination with direction keys or control stick to leap off the ladder toward another grabbable object.

Forward Roll/
Somersault

W/A/S/D + F
Left Stick + Circle
Analog Stick + Circle
Left Stick + B
Control Stick +

While running, tap Duck to do a somersault. When Lara has her guns drawn, run in any direction and tap Duck, and she'll perform an evasive roll.

Handsprings, Somersaults & Other Acrobatic Maneuvers

(various)

Along with the basics, Lara can perform a number of gymnastic feats using different combinations of basic movement keys. These aren't necessary to gameplay, but they're fun to do. Until I am able to make an updated list for Anniversary, please see the Legend Acrobatic Moves page.

Rope Swing

W...Space Bar
Left Stick...X
n/a
Left Stick...A
Control Stick...A

To grab a dangling rope (vine, etc.), point Lara toward it and take a running jump. She will automatically grab it. While she's hanging, position the camera behind her, press and hold Forward to swing back and forth. The longer you hold the key, the higher she'll swing. Press Jump to leap off or press Duck to let go and fall.

Climb and Pivot (when hanging from rope)

E + W/A/S/D
Triangle + Left Stick
Square + Analog Stick
Y + Left Stick
Control Pad Up + Control Stick

When Lara is hanging from a rope, cable, etc., hold Interact then press Forward/Back or Left/Right (or use the control stick stick) to climb up and down or pivot.

Grapple

Q
Square
Square
X
Nunchuk

Lara's grapple can attach to certain objects in the environment. If you have Hint Icons enabled in the Options menu, you'll see a blue circle over an object that can be grappled. Press the grapple key (or snap the Wii nunchuk forward) to throw the grapple. Generally, Lara will automatically aim at the nearest viable target. Once the grapple is anchored, you can move as usual using direction keys (or left stick). Press Interact (or snap the Wii nunchuk back) to pull on the cable. Press Grapple again to release the cable if necessary.

Manual/Accurate Aim with the Grapple

Z...Q
Right Stick Button (R3)...Square
D-Pad Up...D-Pad Left
Right Stick Button...X
Wii Remote...Nunchuk

(Manual Aim is covered below under Combat.)

Grapple Swing

W/A/S/D + Space Bar + Q
Left Stick + X + Square
Analog Stick + X + X
Left Stick + X + A
Control Stick + A + Nunchuk

In certain areas where there are hooks or rings mounted on the ceiling, Lara can use her grapple to swing across gaps. To do this, jump into the gap you want to swing across. Then quickly release the direction and Jump keys and press the Grapple key to throw the grapple at the hook or ring above. To swing, climb and pivot while hanging from the cable, and jump off, use the same controls for ropes, above. (NOTE: Except in the PSP version, the move in Legend where you can double-jump to grapple, no longer works in Anniversary.)

Wall Run

W/A/S/D + Space Bar + Q
Left Stick + X + Square
Analog Stick + X + X
Left Stick + X + A
Control Stick + A + Nunchuk

Where there is a hook or ring mounted high on a wall, rather than on the ceiling, Lara can do a wall run maneuver to cross a wide gap. Jump into the gap you want to cross. Then quickly press the Grapple key (or snap the Wii nunchuk forward) to throw the grapple at the hook or ring above. Instead of swinging through the air, Lara braces her feet against the wall. You can then climb up or down the cable (Interact + Forward/Back), if necessary, then start running from side to side by pressing Left and Right alternately. As Lara runs back and forth, she builds momentum. When she's running high enough, press Jump plus the direction you want her to go.

Combat
(Some combat controls differ depending on which Combat Mode is selected. See Combat Modes & Targeting, below.)

Target Lock

Right Mouse Button/G
L1
D-Pad Up
LT
Z

Used to draw and holster guns, as well as to keep a lock on a specific target. How it works varies depending on which Combat Mode you select. Also, if tapped repeatedly, this key cycles through the three different Combat Modes.

Fire Weapon

Left Mouse Button/H
R1
Square
RT
B

This makes Lara draw weapon, target the nearest enemy and fire. (NOTE: Except when using the mini SMGs, you must repeatedly press the button to shoot instead of just holding down the button to fire continuously.)

Reload

E
Triangle
Hold L + R + Triangle
Y
Wii Remote

Lara will automatically reload when she runs out of ammo. To force reload, press Interact while weapons are drawn. On the Wii, when weapons are drawn but Lara is not actually shooting, flick the Wii Remote downward to reload. (For more info on individual weapons, see Combat and Inventory, below.)

Switch Weapon

-/+ keys or Mouse Wheel
D-Pad Down
D-Pad Right
D-Pad Left/Right
Control Pad Right

Press to cycle through available weapons. The HUD shows which one is currently selected.

Change Target

Right Mouse Button/G
L1
L and R
Right Analog Stick
Wii Remote

When fighting multiple enemies, press Target Lock to lock onto the enemy Lara is nearest or most directly facing. To change targets, face the new target and press Target Lock again. On the PSP, press L or R to cycle through available targets. On the Xbox 360, when locked on, flick right thumbstick to change to the next available enemy. On the Wii, release Target Lock, use the Wii remote to point the targeting reticule at the new enemy and press and hold Target Lock again. (As far as I can tell, there is no key to cycle through available targets on the PC.)

Evasive Leap & Roll

Right Mouse + Direction Keys + Space Bar or Left Shift
L1 + Left Stick + X or Circle
Hold L and R + Analog Stick + X
LT + Left Stick + A or B
Z + Control Stick + Control Pad Down

During combat, when locked on to a target, jump or roll in any direction to evade the enemy.

Adrenaline Dodge & Headshot

Right Mouse Button or G + Direction Keys + Left Shift...Left Mouse Button
L1 + Left Stick + Circle...R1
Analog Stick + Circle + Square
LT + Left Stick + B...RT
Z + Control Stick + Nunchuk or Control Pad Down...Wii Remote...B

This is a special series of moves used in certain combat situations. It is a bit difficult to master, so detailed instructions are included in a separate section below.

Break Free

A/D (Left/Right)
L3/R3 or Left Stick
Analog Stick
Left Stick
Nunchuk

When an enemy bites or grabs Lara and holds on, alternate pressing left and right keys—or wiggle the left analong stick (or Wii nunchuk) from left to right—in rapid succession to break free.

Recover after knock-down

Space Bar
X
X
A
A

If an enemy knocks Lara off her feet, quickly and repeatedly tap Jump to spring back into action.

Manual/Accurate Aim

Z
Right Stick Button (R3)
D-Pad Up
Right Stick Button
Wii Remote

Note that on the consoles this involves pressing straight down on the right thumb stick (i.e., toward the inside of the controller). You'll feel the stick click into place when you do this. Manual aim is comparable to the laser-sight view in previous games. It's used for stationary targets or distant enemies. Press this key to enter manual aim view, center the targeting reticule on the enemy or object. The reticule turns red if the enemy is within range, though you can still hit some of the time when the reticule is gray. It turns blue if the object can be grappled. Press Fire or Grapple. Press Manual Aim again to return to normal view. On the Wii, whenever Lara has weapons drawn, you can use the Wii remote to aim. No special button is required.

Swimming

Surface

Space Bar
X
X
A
A

When Lara is swimming underwater, press Jump to swim toward the surface.

Dive

Left Shift
Circle
Circle
B
B

When Lara is swimming underwater or on the surface, press Duck (B on the Wii) to dive deeper. Note that tapping Duck just briefly will move Lara downward just a bit—handy when trying to reach an object or lever underwater. Hold the button to continue swimming downward.

Swim

W/A/S/D
Left Stick
Analog Stick
Left Stick
Control Stick

Use direction keys (or left stick) to swim on the surface or underwater. Or just press Forward and move the camera (with the mouse or right stick) to steer Lara. Combine with Surface/Dive to move up and down underwater.

Swim Faster

E
Triangle
Square
Y
Nunchuk

Tap Interact (or shake the Wii nunchuk forward and back) repeatedly to make Lara swim faster underwater or on the surface.

Exit Water

W/A/S/D
Left Stick
Analog Stick
Left Stick
Control Stick

To climb out of the water, swim toward the edge and keep pressing Forward (or whatever direction Lara is facing) and she'll automatically climb out if the edge is low enough.

Swan Dive

W/A/S/D + Space Bar + Left Shift
Left Stick + X + Circle
Analog Stick + X + Circle
Left Stick + A + B
Control Stick + A + Control Pad Down

To swan dive off a high cliff or ledge into water, start moving forward toward the edge and then press Jump followed immediately by Duck. Lara can also swan dive on dry land, as long as the drop is not too far. She'll hit the ground, tuck and roll.

CAMERA & MOVEMENT CONTROLS

Players who are not accustomed to this style of control should note that Lara now moves relative to the camera. For example, if she is facing left and you press Forward she will turn and run away from you, not to the left (i.e., forward based on the way the camera is pointing). Similarly, if Lara is climbing and you want her to jump in a certain direction, you must press the key for the desired direction on screen plus the Jump key (e.g., Back + Jump makes her jump toward you, regardless of which way she's facing before she jumps). Or, you can make a habit of pointing the camera in the direction you want Lara to go, then just press Forward each time. Or, tap the Display HUD key before jumping to move the camera behind Lara. Then the camera's right, left, forward and back are the same as hers. (This doesn't work in some tight places, but it usually does the trick.)

On the PSP, press the L or R button to move camera from side to side, or hold Triangle and use the analog stick for free camera rotate.

In the Nintendo Wii game, the camera is controlled with the Wii Remote. Press and Hold C and move the Wii Remote to control the camera angle. To center the camera behind Lara, tap C and release.

HEADS-UP DISPLAY (HUD)

When you press the HUD key during combat, or for a few moments when gameplay resumes after reloading, the complete Heads-Up Display will appear on screen. At the top left is Lara's health meter (a blue bar). This shows how much health Lara has left. The number of small and large medipacks in your inventory are shown below the health bar. If Lara's health bar gets low, use a medipack to restore her health. If Lara is swimming, her air meter (also blue) will be shown at the top left. If she is underwater and her air runs out, she'll start to lose health rapidly. Unless you get to the surface, she'll drown.

When fighting a large enemy or "boss", that enemy's health meter is displayed at the top right corner of the screen (a yellow bar). When you injure an enemy enough to deplete its health meter, it will die. Below the health meter is a rage meter (red bar). Repeated attacks increase the enemy's rage meter. When the rage meter reaches maximum, the enemy will do some sort of special attack. These situations are covered in the relevant sections of the walkthrough.

Lara's currently selected weapon is displayed in the HUD at the bottom left corner of the screen. The numbers below the selected weapon indicate the number of rounds remaining in the gun over the number of rounds in inventory. (Pistols have infinite ammo.) When the ammo in the selected weapon is depleted, Lara pauses to reload. You can also reload manually by pressing Interact with weapons drawn. If you run out of ammo for one of the alternate weapons, Lara automatically switches to pistols. You can switch weapons on the inventory screen (below). Or, to cycle through available weapons, use the -/+ keys or Mouse Wheel (PC), D-Pad Down (PS2), D-Pad Right (PSP), D-Pad Left/Right (Xbox) or Control Pad Right (Wii).

The bottom right corner of the HUD is usually blank, unless you are replaying a level in Time Trial mode. In that case, the clock showing the remaining time is displayed there.

INVENTORY

The Anniversary inventory system is a kind of hybrid of the classic and Legend styles. Hotkeys (above) enable you to switch weapons and use medipacks on the fly, but you can also use and examine items from a separate inventory screen. To access inventory, press Tab (PC), Select (PS2/PSP), Back (Xbox) or the 1 button (Wii). The first inventory screen is for Gear. It shows any medipacks, weapons and ammunition you've collected. Small medipacks restore 25% of Lara's health; large ones restore full health. To use a health pack or select a weapon from inventory, use Left/Right keys (or D-pad left/right, or press Left/Right on the control stick) to rotate the inventory ring until the item you want comes to the center. Then press Enter (PC), X (PS2/PSP) or A (Xbox/Wii) to use or select it.

To view the Special Items section of the inventory, first go to the main inventory screen. Then press Down/D-Pad Down. On this screen, you can cycle through the various keys and other special items you've collected. To examine any of these items, press Enter/X/A. To actually use things like keys, puzzle pieces, etc., you'll generally need to stand near the keyhole or other spot where the item belongs. Then press Interact to bring up the items screen. Often the item you want will already be centered. If not, rotate the ring to center it. Then press Enter/X/A to use it.

Once you have found it in the Croft Manor level, Lara's Journal is also available in the Items section of your inventory. You can refer to it for Lara's thoughts (hints) on the current situation.

Although Lara can carry as many medipacks as you can find, the amount of ammunition she can carry for the more powerful weapons is limited. Once that limit is reached, Lara won't pick up any more ammo for that particular gun until you first use some of the ammo you have. If you have less than a full supply of ammo, try reloading manually (by pressing Interact with the weapon equipped). After reloading, you'll be able to pick up new ammo to top off your supply. The maximum number of rounds Lara can carry for each gun is included in the table below.

WEAPON

AMMUNITION*

DESCRIPTION/NOTES

DUAL PISTOLS

40/infinite

Lara obtains the default pistols in the training level, Croft Manor. Even if you don't play that level, she'll still have the pistols at the beginning of the Mountain Caves. These guns are not too powerful but they never run out of ammo. It's possible to use them throughout the game, but of course certain fights will take longer. Be sure to switch back to these whenever heavy firepower isn't needed (e.g., shooting weak enemies, inanimate objects, etc.) to conserve ammo for the more powerful weapons.

SHOTGUN

8/40

Powerful at close range but somewhat unwieldy to aim and slow to reload. Also, Lara isn't as maneuverable during combat when holding this weapon.
Obtained in level: Lost Valley, Tomb of Qualopec, Natla's Mines
(Select the line of text above with your mouse to see the spoiler info.)

DUAL
50-CALIBER PISTOLS

30/150

A slightly more powerful version of the default pistols. Good against tougher foes in the middle levels of the game.
Obtained in level: The Coliseum, Tomb of Tihocan, Natla's Mines
(Select the line of text above with your mouse to see the spoiler info.)

DUAL MINI SMGs

50/250

Powerful and fast. These are the only weapons capable of sustained fire when you hold down the fire button. Convenient when fighting powerful enemies, but runs through ammo very quickly.
Obtained in level: Sanctuary of the Scion, Natla's Mines
(Select the line of text above with your mouse to see the spoiler info.)


*AMMUNITION: Listed as maximum number of rounds that can be loaded at one time over the maximum number of rounds that can be carried.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Difficulty level is first set at the beginning of the game, but it can be changed during the game just before starting any new level. There are 3 difficulty settings: Easy, Medium and Hard. I'm not sure exactly how the difficulty setting affects gameplay, but I assume it has to do with things like enemy toughness, damage Lara sustains from enemies and hazards, etc.

A fourth setting, Time Trial is available when replaying levels you have completed. (See the Rewards page for details.)

SAVING/LOADING GAMES & CHECKPOINTS

Each level includes numerous checkpoints (indicated in the walkthrough). Every time Lara passes a checkpoint, the game is autosaved. If Lara dies, the game automatically reloads at the previous checkpoint. In-game prompts also remind you to save manually at the end of each level.

You can save or reload manually from the Pause menu (accessed by pressing Escape on the PC, the 2 button on the Wii, or Start on the other consoles). Select 'Save', then scroll to the bottom of the list of existing saves to where it says 'New saved game'. Then press Enter (PC), X (PS2/PSP) or A (Xbox/Wii). To load a previously saved game, select 'Load' from the Pause menu (or from the Load/Save option in the Main Menu), scroll down to the save you want and press Enter, X or A again.

Although you can save anywhere, reloading a saved game places Lara at the previous checkpoint. For PC players, who are accustomed to unlimited saves, this takes some getting used to, but it has the advantage of preventing you from saving as Lara is about to die. I strongly recommend saving manually at least a few times in each level. Then if you miss an important pick-up, decide to do something differently or encounter a bug in the game, you can choose from several saves instead of being stuck with only the autosave. This can prevent you from having to replay the whole level to get one artifact or get past a bug.

The console games game allows you to save your progress in Croft Manor so you can restart this level from where you left off. The PC game is not quite so forgiving. That is, it should allow you to do this but the Manor save is buggy. If you play Croft Manor and exit before completing it, the game will remember which artifacts you've found, but it may not remember anything else, and you could end up having to replay most of the level in order to re-obtain the pistols, grapple and various puzzle objects.

Note that the checkpoint system can also help conserve health packs. If Lara's health is low, try and make it to the next checkpoint. Once you've passed it and the game autosaves, either kill her, quit the game, or save the game manually and then reload. When the game resumes, Lara has full health without using a single health pack.

Note also that artifacts and relics are recorded in your game profile, rather than in the individual game saves. So, if you obtain an artifact or relic and Lara subsequently dies before reaching the next checkpoint, you will still have the item when the game reloads. So there's no need to go after it again. (For more information on savegame and profile files, see here.)

COMBAT MODES & TARGETING

Combat in Anniversary also differs from previous games. First, you have a choice of three different Combat Modes (four on the PC). In the Options Menu under Controls, select Combat Mode, then choose one of the following:

During gameplay, you can also select Manual/Accurate Aim Mode. This is similar to the laser-sight view in previous games. It is also covered in the Combat section, above.

NOTE: In the Nintendo Wii game, there are no alternate combat modes. The Wii Remote is used for Manual targeting in all combat, as well as for targeting inanimate objects. Holding Target Lock (Z) is not required to hit a target, but it can help Lara keep a lock on when she's moving while firing.

THE ADRENALINE DODGE

During combat, some enemies will become enraged. When that happens, you'll have the opportunity to do a special move called the Adrenaline Dodge. When you perform this move successfully, the enemy will then do something that either causes it to injure itself or allows you to fight it in a special way. The walkthrough for each boss battle describes exactly what you need to do. For normal enemies, a successful adrenaline dodge causes Lara to do a head shot, which usually results in an instant kill.

Here's how to do the move:

  1. If the enemy is a boss, shoot it until its rage bar maxes out. When the enemy becomes enraged, then the screen will blur slightly and the enemy will charge at Lara or do some other distinctive behavior indicating it's time to use the adrenaline dodge. For normal enemies like bears, etc., just shoot rapidly until the screen blurs slightly and the enemy charges.

  2. Make sure you have a target lock on the enemy. Either set the combat mode to Advanced Toggle (above) before starting the fight, so Lara will maintain a lock on the enemy throughout, or press and hold the Target Lock key (right mouse button or G on the PC, L1 on the PS2, LT on the Xbox 360, Z on the Wii) as you do the rest of the moves.

  3. Also make sure Lara has plenty of room to maneuver, at least in the direction you plan to roll. If she hits a wall or other obstacle before completing the move, it won't work.

  4. To do the dodge, while facing the enemy, move in a straight line to the left or right (using the direction keys on the PC or left control stick on the consoles). As Lara is moving to either side, press Duck, as though you were doing a regular evasive roll. She will then leap to the side while keeping a lock on the enemy.

  5. If your dodge is successful, you'll see two separate targeting reticules converge on the enemy's head. In order to see this, you may need to move the camera to point directly at the enemy. When the reticules overlap, immediately shoot.

This maneuver is a little different on the Nintendo Wii: While facing the enemy and maintaining a target lock (holding Z), move in a straight line to the left or right (using the control stick). As Lara is moving in either direction, shake the nunchuk from side to side or press Duck, as though you were doing a regular evasive roll. Lara will then leap to the side while keeping a lock on the enemy. A red targeting reticule will appear over the enemy's head. Use the Wii Remote to aim inside this target and then fire.


Main Controls Page | Anniversary Walkthrough | Main Page


UPDATE HISTORY: 6/11/07 - First posted this page online.
6/13/07 - Fix incorrect Walk key for PC. (I trusted the manual and didn't notice since I changed my own controls. Sorry.) Added alternate Fire and Target Lock keys for PC and Manual Grab key for PS2. (Thanks to Scott for the PS2 info.)
7/14/07 - Moved the Adrenaline Dodge move to a separate section with step-by-step instructions.
7/26/07 - Refined the section on using checkpoints to restore health, thanks to Randy.
12/31/07 - Added info about maximum amount of ammo that can be carried and the weapons chart. This info was previously included in the walkthrough but I thought it would be good to have here as well.
1/13/08 - Added Xbox 360 controls, thanks to Tiffany, and Wii controls. Also made a few minor tweaks to other descriptions and added controls for the handstand walkover, climbing ladders and sneaking.
2/19/08 - Added the PSP controls, thanks to Russell M.
4/11/08 - Added note on artifacts and relics to the section on saving and checkpoints.

Special thanks to the following players for help with the controls for the consoles I don't own: Tiri Li, Teej, Rai and Tony (PS2), Tiffany (Xbox 360), and Russell (PSP). I couldn't do it without you guys!