Why do things need to change? Mainly, it’s about making forward progress with something, like changing the way you play a game (Metroid Prime) or even changing the nature of the character itself, though not always for the better (Bomberman: Act Zero).
But sometimes things don’t need to change, they’re just fine the way they are. And that’s how we feel about Tomb Raider. Though Crystal Dynamics’ new ventures aren’t slouches, there’s something about rediscovering the classic Tomb Raider games we grew up with that feels magical.
And that’s the reasoning for Aspyr’s Tomb Raider I-III Remastered trilogy, which takes the original three console releases and revamps them with new visuals, an optional control style, and the ability to switch between classic and revamped visuals with the push of a button. There’s a lot to unpack here.
Though there could be some questions with the lighting and some slight control hiccups, the Remastered trilogy is an impressive feat – and has us wondering what classic era games could come next.
Back Into the Tomb
So in case you’re unsure, Remastered features the original Tomb Raider, along with Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III. You can start any of the games however you please, though nostalgists will clearly tell you that the first game is the way to go.
There are some cool options to play with here. The first is the ability to go with “modern” controls, or the traditional “tank” controls when it comes to Lara’s movement. The modern set-up isn’t too bad, though grabbing ledges from mid-air takes a bit of getting used to. The “tank” controls are as dependable as always, though some people might be irritated using the D-pad to try and turn 90-degrees in a firefight. It’s up to you, but both gameplay methods are fine by us. (We were born in the PlayStation era!)
Also, it’s fantastic to see the option to switch between classic and revamped visuals with the push of a button. You can play through the classic PS1 filter, or go with all new, 60 frames per second visuals. We’ll dive into this feature in the next section.
These three games offer tremendous value, and at only ten bucks a pop, too. You’d be a fool to miss out on something like this (unless you weren’t crazy about Lara in the first place, I suppose — but maybe this will make you a fan?).
They Got Us With That Presentation
Now, regarding the graphics.
On the one hand, the new visuals are astounding, and really set the pace with their design. However, on the other, the lighting can be really off in places, making it difficult to navigate through smaller areas. Only by switching to the older graphic style do you get a sense of where things are. A small issue when it comes to overall navigation, but better to know now than to find out later.
Still, the option of switching between old and new visuals – on the fly, no less – is really impressive. Another win for Aspyr and their team of fan artists (no, really, they hired fans that were working on Tomb Raider mods!).
As for the sound, it’s not changed much. But it doesn’t need to. The classic Tomb Raidermusical cues are fantastic, particularly when you find yourself battling a bear or, I dunno, a frickin’ T-Rex. The voiceovers are still classic as well (we never get tired of older Lara’s voice), and the sound effects are nice and atmospheric.
Overall, the presentation for each game is top-notch. Aside from some lighting, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Also, um, did we really need a content warning about the “older” games, Crystal Dynamics? Nah, we didn’t. Anyway, back to tomb raiding.
We Never Met a Lara We Didn’t Like
Aside from lighting problems and getting used to the game controls (using either method), Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a triumph. It’s reasonably priced, has absolutely great technical features, and gives us the classic gameplay that made us fall in love with Lara to begin with. Some of those visual tricks are nice as well, and, hey, we’ll always tackle Photo Mode if that means more Lara wallpapers for the fridge. (We’re running out of space, however. Time to put ‘em on the walls!)
Kudos to Aspyr and their team for putting in solid work. Now then, um, perhaps it’s time to give The Angel of Darkness the tweaks it needs.
GAMERHUB RATING: FOUR (out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Aspyr for the review code!
