“Tomb Raider I-III Remastered” Video Gameplay (Aspyr/Contributed)
The original Tomb Raider game turned Lara Croft into an iconic '90s character. As the series has undergone changes, longtime fans have disputed that the original trilogy remains the pinnacle of the series. Now that Tomb Raider I-III Remastered has been released, gamers can return to that legendary trilogy.
The game's star, Lara Croft, is an experienced treasure hunter who travels the world in search of rare and legendary artifacts. The original game was revolutionary in the new wave of 3D action games. As the name suggests, this new package features remastered graphics and updated controls while retaining the same level and core gameplay elements.
Those playing these older titles for the first time will need to familiarize themselves with the controls, as Lara's movements definitely show their age. The basics of running and jumping are easy, but jumping accurately or crossing large gaps can be difficult. Even with the updated control scheme, things like platforming and camera movement remind you that this game is almost 30 years old.
There are also various puzzles. Some are intuitive and cleverly designed, while others are difficult to understand and will leave you banging your head against a wall trying to understand them. This is one of those games where the solution to a seemingly complicated puzzle can be so simple that it can make you feel stupid while playing the game.
Combat is also another outdated aspect of the game. There's a charm to shooting enemies with Lara's dual pistols, but it often feels lacking in finesse or strategy. Many of the enemies are animals and creatures that charge at the player, so fights often devolve into awkward dances until someone dies.
These games were groundbreaking for their time, but they still don't hold up well today. The original developers were so focused on the innovation of combining so many gameplay elements that the polishing required to make them all work seemed to take a backseat. It's a shame, because the core concept and variety of locales are great.
Playing these games made me wish the studio had completely remade the trilogy. A fresh coat of paint is nice, but it's not enough to bring the game up to modern standards. If you played it back in the day, you can get a good remaster for a good price, but it feels too old for most beginners.
The game doesn't do a good job of communicating certain things, so using a guide feels like a must for first-time players. This makes the game run more smoothly and allows players to really understand the better aspects of the trilogy. Another great feature is the ability to switch between the original graphics and the remastered look on the fly.
I understand what these games have brought to the industry in the past, but these remastered titles bring too much baggage. People who already play these games shouldn't have too many problems returning to them. And it will be a great nostalgia trip. I wish something more was done to further polish the platforming and combat. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered received 3 stars out of 5.
