Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Review
Not many game franchises manage to ascend to the status of ‘iconic’, but Tomb Raider is undoubtedly one of them. Despite the original trilogy being released for multiple platforms, Lara Croft quickly became synonymous with the PS1, standing toe-to-toe with Crash Bandicoot as one of the console’s mascots. Since then, of course, Lara has been practically everywhere, yet 2024 marks the first occasion the original trilogy has been fully revamped for modern audiences via Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
Revamped Classics
We say ‘revamped’, but these are the same games you know and love from the late ‘90s, albeit with the additional expansions included for the first time on console. What developer Aspyr has done here, however, is give all three titles a much-needed lick of paint, boosting the visuals significantly while adding in an optional modern control scheme for those who might not get on with the ageing ‘tank’ controls — more on that later. Smaller additions include a surprisingly robust photo mode and health bars for boss encounters.
Visual Overhaul
First up, the visuals. This is the biggest change that’s been made to the trilogy, and goodness, is it a welcome one. What’s great is that you can flip between the OG graphics and the modern remaster at the touch of a button, much like 343 Industries’ Halo: Anniversary and Lizardcube’s Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. When you cast your eyes on the revamped graphics for the first time, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is how the games have always looked, but flipping back to the original style demonstrates just how much of an upgrade the compilation has received.
Everything’s been given a touch-up, including character models, environmental assets, textures, lighting, and menu screens. Not only that, but the new visuals also come with an upgraded frame rate, allowing all three games to run at a silky smooth 60fps, while flipping back to the OG graphics halves this. We’re especially appreciative of the frame rate boost, as it makes the somewhat archaic gameplay feel more manageable and fresh.
Gameplay and Controls
Onto the games themselves, if you’ve got no prior experience with the original Tomb Raider trilogy, it’s important to understand what you’re getting yourself into here. These titles represent the genesis of 3D action-adventure games, way before Uncharted came along and introduced some much-needed cinematic flair. With that in mind, there’s less focus on flashy shootouts in Tomb Raider I-III and a lot more on exploration and platforming. Think of them more like puzzle games with a bit of action sprinkled in and you’re on the right track.
A lot of Tomb Raider’s challenge came from the simple act of navigating the environment. Even jumping from one platform to another requires a certain degree of caution so as not to plummet into a pit of spikes. It represents a refreshing change of pace in an age where game difficulty is largely tied to enemy encounters, but those unfamiliar with how Tomb Raider controls may have a tough time getting to grips with it.
Quality of Life Improvements
Upgrades aside, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck with this collection. Three full games with three additional expansions is nothing to sniff at, and since each title will likely take around 10-15 hours to beat, you’re looking at a reasonable commitment. That said, you can almost certainly add more time if you forget to save your game, and this is one area that we sincerely wish was upgraded alongside the graphics. Manually saving is practically mandatory since there’s no autosave whatsoever, and it’s quite easy to be on a solid streak, make it through a couple of levels before dying, and find yourself right back at the start.
Conclusion
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is one of Aspyr’s most accomplished projects to date, successfully giving three of gaming’s most iconic titles a much-needed lick of paint while upgrading the controls to give newcomers a welcome leg-up. Some of the lighting is a bit off with the new visuals, and the need to manually save your game is a big no-no in 2024, but if you’re curious as to how Lara Croft got her start in gaming, then this is easily the best way to experience the original trilogy.