Tomb Raider: Underworld -- Final Impression.

I've completed Tomb Raider: Underworld for the Xbox 360 with a current Gamerscore of nine-hundred points. I'm not done though, as I am going back through the game for that last one-hundred points and that final achievement for completing the game on the hardest settings. I can say that Underworld is the best Tomb Raider since Anniversary. The story is great and comes to a satisfying conclusion. Even before the two download packs are released. The graphics are nothing short of great. Lara Croft has never looked better and she's never explored better looking environments. She controls as well as she ever has. There is a lot of new animation in her actions that I enjoyed a lot although some people have complained that the extra animations cause control issues. I didn't really find that to be the case. The only real control issue that remains is the camera during combat. They've implemented some changes to the formula. You no longer find any weapons or ammo within the levels. You get to decide on an outfit, and your secondary weapon before each level. You only get the ammo you take in with you for the secondary weapon. Her twin pistols still come with unlimited ammo. For the most part the ammo isn't going to be an issue as overall Underworld is thin on combat. It's so thin on combat that there aren't actually any bosses. The bosses in the game are more environmental puzzles instead of combat. Speaking of the puzzles the game contains probably the most enjoyable puzzles of the series. The game also contains what amounts to the best action set pieces in the series. The game moves along at a rather breakneck speed and you're not going to be getting lost. There is a large deal of collection in the game with one-hundred and seventy-nine treasures to be found for an overall smaller Tomb Raider. I'm giving Tomb Raider: Underworld a 9.