- Publisher: Aspyr
- Release Date: Feb 14, 2024
- Also On: iPhone/iPad, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
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Apr 14, 2024At the time of writing, my heart is in the balance, because it's still pretty damn great to have Lara back. Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is undoubtedly the ultimate compilation for those who want to enjoy Lara's first adventures in the best possible conditions. For around thirty euros, you'll be able to enjoy almost forty hours of gameplay, with all the sensations of the time and content that will be new to many. Three really great adventures, with a few bonus levels and new features such as New Game Plus, which holds a few surprises in store, and some particularly devious challenges. On the other hand, there are also some major problems besides the lack of affordable gameplay. Even though the games are more beautiful than ever, not everything is rosy. Features are missing and, above all, there are still a host of technical problems, some of which are as old as the games themselves. A lack of finish or an almost masochistic desire to keep the games intact? A good question, but it's not always pleasant, not to mention the fact that while the graphical overhaul is certainly present, it can also detract from the experience by drastically changing the original ambience or revealing what was once hidden and should still have been. An eagerly-awaited return, but unfortunately not as perfect as hoped.
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PLAYMar 5, 2024Literally the old games running under new skin. The Modern controls are dreadful and III is stretched and frustrating, but the first game remains a masterpiece. [Issue#38, p.94]
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Feb 29, 2024I fell in love with Tomb Raider the moment I played the first episode on my PC a very long time ago. That is why the ups and downs of the series hit me on a more sensible and emotional level. I was hyped about this remaster, and I have to admit I got what I hoped for: the original three games, with new shiny graphics and controls that are closer to the standards of 2024. But after playing through the remastered trilogy, I have to admit that my memories about the game were romanticized compared to reality. The gameplay and level design that worked over two decades ago, today feel dated and clunky. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is hard to recommend for anyone but the hardcore fans of the series.
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Feb 16, 2024Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a carefully crafted repackaging of Lara Croft's most loved early adventures. With warts and all, it has been genuinely enjoyable to dissect the decisions that shaped these games. There's several options to smooth over some of the bumps. I think the modern control scheme, despite some compromises is certainly capable. Including the expansion packs makes this a great value proposition. It still doesn't escape the shackles of time but this is probably the best way to experience classic Tomb Raider.
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Feb 13, 2024Tomb Raider I-III Remastered finds itself in a tough spot because what it aims to do is replicate the original trilogy with all of its content on modern hardware and it does it well. The biggest problem it faces is that the new coat of paint is largely just that -- the core gameplay is still rooted in early 3D jankiness and feels awkward to play now -- and in some ways, it's harder to wrap your mind around it now since no control scheme offered up feelings as natural as anything featured in a Tomb Raider game since the PS2 days onward. The new visuals look good in theory, but have odd clipping problems in motion and the animations being rooted in the PS1 games hurts the modern-day wrapper as well. It very much feels like a lot of effort went into making this feel authentic to the originals -- but to a fault.
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Feb 13, 2024Tomb Raider I-III Remastered feels like it wants to be a loving tribute to the franchise's origins, but comes across like a half-effort instead.
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Mar 3, 2024As nostalgic as Tomb Raider I–III Remastered might be for some fans, the fact is that the outdated gameplay mechanisms have no appeal to modern-day gamers, no matter how polished and good-looking the final product is.
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Feb 26, 2024I found myself pretty torn on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. It combines three classic PS1 games in one package and these now look and play even better than they ever have done before. On the other hand though, its archaic features such as manual saves, awkward camera, and hard to master controls, I can see presenting a barrier to entry for newcomers.
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Feb 21, 2024Lara’s original trilogy has been lovingly restored with the launch of these remasters, offering a definitive collection that bundles the core games and their expansions. However, dusting off these old relics in the name of nostalgia may come with a nasty surprise. Don’t worry, there are no mummy curses, snake pits, or swinging pendulum axes, though the clunky controls will definitely take some getting used to (again).
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Feb 14, 2024Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered offers an appealing new visual style but retains all of the frustrating mechanics of the originals. Hardcore fans will probably enjoy it, but it's not for everyone.
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Feb 13, 2024These are still great games and this is a nice way to play them, but don’t go expecting a sleek and beautiful package that feels like a modern game.
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Feb 27, 2024Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft takes a franchise that was flawed even in the 90s and does nothing interesting to update it. The new graphics are nice when they aren’t ruining the atmosphere of certain areas, but the modern controls somehow make these games a worse experience. There are plenty of great adventures out there starring Lara Croft. Her last trilogy was excellent, and even the 360-era titles, starting with Tomb Raider Legend, largely hold up. These original releases, though, have simply been eclipsed by far too many games at this point and are only really worth returning to if your nostalgia demands one more trip into these tombs.