In 1996, the world was introduced to everyone’s favourite Tomb Raider, Lara Croft. This polygon-heavy video game debut sparked a fire in adventure titles.
With Indiana Jones-like traps and dungeons, prehistoric bosses, bad guys, secret rooms and treasures; Croft was an absolute hit.
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Now, 28 years and over 20 releases later, the three original titles have had a make-over.
Updated visuals are at the forefront of this trilogy remaster, but the base game is still exactly how we all remember it — frustrating controls and all.
Gameplay and Controls
The controls are jarring; Lara’s inability to move backwards without jumping, the precise angles needed to scale obstacles and a camera that can’t move against walls… It was a lot to deal with.
It’s a far cry from the mechanics of games today where we actually get to look up – you know, the direction we’re jumping? – I was having a hard time. I had to recruit a friend of mine who had experience with 90s Lara to get me past the first jump. Yes, the first jump.
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But when this close friend (shout out to you, Tom) whispered the secrets of Lara to me, I was finally able to turn, jump, grapple and swan dive.
Oh, and it turns out, the mode in the menu named “Lara’s Home” features a movement tutorial.
Pro Tip: Do this before playing.
After I was released from the first jump, I was all over it — taking Lara to the next jump, and the next, and then on to China, Italy and onwards. I was traversing thugs with baseball bats, wearing masks and even fighting Doberman dogs!
Once I settled into a gaming session and got the hang of her movements, Tomb Raider became a wonderful game to play.
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There is an option for a modernised control scheme, but it doesn’t quite hit. The original controls are significantly better — and that says a lot. The new controls are seemingly adapted from 2006’s Tomb Raider Legend, as well as Anniversary and Underworld.
My favourite kind of puzzle was the dodging sort, where Lara needed quick feet to avoid a punishing fate. Specifically Tomb Raider II, in the depths of Italy, Lara had to leap out of water and over a fiery platform, hoping to equally not get burned or drown in the process. These puzzles, or rather challenges, got my heart racing and tested my reflexes.
It was also a good opportunity to experience the original controls in a high-pressure moment, which led to funny visuals like Lara’s poor crumpled body on the ground, set alight by the inferno!
Guess I just wasn’t quick enough with those timed jumps… Sorry, Lara!
Graphics and Audio
The vintage audio of the thugs, paired with Lara’s ‘oof!’ and ‘aah’, really took me back to the early days of gaming.
In Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, you’re able to instantly change from the original renders of the game to the remaster. This was extremely satisfying, and in some instances actually handy.
The vast difference between visuals, hard angles and odd shapes really reminded me of how far gaming has come. Newer times bring smoothness to the game and almost a calmer feeling — not that being hunted by a T-Rex is calming… But this nostalgic world is now teeming with life.
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Little details, like rippled wallpaper, now add a greater sense of immersion. The water is now reflective and doesn’t look like it’s straight out of Minecraft.
Some levels in the revamped version were quite dark, so instead of busting out a flare I toggled to the classic graphic settings and I could instantly see what was going on.
Cheating? No. Smart? Yes.
Speaking of cheats, all the original cheat codes remain in the game. From unlocking weapons to skipping levels — even making Lara explode! But that’s not a visual I’m overly keen on.
Are remasters like this sustainable?
I wonder how these remasters keep going. Developers focus on making old games look good but often neglect fixing their mechanics. They start off fun but quickly become frustrating due to outdated controls, despite the appealing graphics.
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How far can nostalgia carry these games? It’s a question worth asking, especially when later generations might be put off by clunky controls.
Don’t get me wrong, playing this remaster wasn’t smooth sailing. It took days of trial and error to get used to the old-school mechanics. Talking to friends who gamed in the ’80s and ’90s reminded me that those controls weren’t easy even back then.
So, don’t expect an easy ride; it takes time to adjust. But once you do, diving back into Lara Croft’s early adventures is a blast from the past.
Hopefully, this remaster will introduce younger gamers to a beloved classic, even if they need a bit of guidance. The revamp makes it more appealing, creating a tangible piece of gaming history.
Tomb Raider I – III Remastered is out now on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC. It retails for around $45 — this includes all three original games and their expansions.
Quest Daily scores Tomb Raider I – III Remastered:
7/10
A copy of Tomb Raider I – III Remastered was supplied by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
