Tomb Raider I-III Remastered [PC] | REVIEW

We’ve seen plenty of classic titles get the remastered treatment over the last few years, but I think Tomb Raider I-III Remastered might be one of the best yet. Don’t get me wrong, the old school gameplay probably won’t be for everyone, but there’s no better way to experience Lara Croft’s original adventures.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered brings the first three Tomb Raider titles to modern platforms, with each title offering the exact same levels and layouts that you would have remembered from back in the day. Yep, that means you’ll be encountering the t-rex in Tomb Raider, speeding across the canals of Venice via speedboat in Tomb Raider II, and even visiting Area 51 in Tomb Raider III all over again, though this time you’ll get to do so with some fancy bells and whistles that completely reinvigorate the visuals.

What’s most impressive about the improved visuals is how they manage to stay true to the original titles. Whilst there’s a clear improvement in texture quality, the lighting helps bring areas to life, locales are more bustling thanks to the improved flora and fauna, and character models are more detailed (and you’ll actually see their mouths move this time around), it also has this sense of nostalgia to its implementation that makes the game look EXACTLY as you’d expect it to. It was really nice to explore some of my favourite levels all over again with this dazzling presentation, and whilst there are obviously some limitations in place due to the blocky design of the original titles, each game still looks really, really pretty.

And if you prefer playing with the old school visuals? All it takes is a button press to switch between the two on the fly. It’s something I found myself doing more often than I expected, not only to appreciate the improvements that have been made but also to remind myself of the world that I spent so many hours exploring in my younger years. The revamped visuals might be wonderful, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself spending long stretches of the game in its original (and still glorious) form. As a bonus, the same applies to the loading screen and menus, which shows Aspyr really have gone all out on the nostalgia factor in this release.

“Whilst there’s a clear improvement in texture quality, the lighting helps bring areas to life, locales are more bustling thanks to the improved flora and fauna, and character models are more detailed (and you’ll actually see their mouths move this time around), it also has this sense of nostalgia to its implementation that makes the game look EXACTLY as you’d expect it to.”

As stated, when it comes to core mechanics of the games, they each remain the same to play today as they did in the 90s – for better or worse. The precision platforming is still rewarding and adds a puzzle-like element to exploration, there are plenty of cool weapons to use in showdowns with enemies, the maze-like level layouts make it all the more satisfying when you finally find that hidden pathway that sees you progress to the next area, whilst it’s STILL a massive treat when you come across a vehicle to drive. I can acknowledge that it’s all very old-school in design (especially when compared to modern Tomb Raider titles), but it holds up so well. It’s been a real treat playing through each game again, with the Tomb Raider titles proof that good game design will always stand the test of time.

On the flipside, my appreciation for the titles might come from the fact that I spent so many hours playing them in my younger years, so those who are new to them might see these things from a different perspective. The platforming can be slow-paced and demand too much precision from the player, the gunplay can be over-simplified with the auto-aim, the levels don’t always offer enough guidance for the player, and the vehicle sections… well… they’re always fun, so there’s not much to complain about there. At the end of the day, these games were made in the 90s, so if you didn’t play them then or aren’t used to their old-school design, you might find it harder to appreciate what they offer. Personally? I still love them, but not everyone will.

One thing that has been done to try and make the game more appealing for new players is the introduction of a modern control scheme, but it’s not particularly intuitive. When it comes to movement in open areas or shooting enemies, the fluid control over Lara and the camera makes life a lot easier. However, when it comes to precision-platforming, it’s an absolute nightmare to line up your jumps – you can’t even backstep, which is a ridiculous design choice. I even found myself getting stuck in the environment at times when using modern controls, so it’s clear that they’re far from ideal. I’m hoping there’s an update to the modern controls because they could be functional with a bit of tinkering, but at launch, they’re hard to recommend.

Check out some screenshots down below:

There have been more worthwhile additions made to the game though, with things like the photo mode, trophies, and boss health bars all adding to the experience – it comes with all of the expansions for each game too, which is a particularly exciting addition as I didn’t get to play through them back in the day. Oh, and locking the butler in the freezer? There’s a special treat for those who can’t resist doing it all over again. It is a shame that things like save states, a rewind feature, or some ‘behind the scenes’ documents aren’t included in the package, but they’re minor omissions.

Developer: Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Aspyr
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2478970/Tomb_Raider_IIII_Remastered_Starring_Lara_Croft/