Even Lara Croft would be disappointed with Tomb Raider I–III Remastered

The question of preserving and transmitting video game heritage is a huge debate, as interesting as it is crucial to our media. Of course, with the aim of making the glories of the past very easily accessible and under good technical conditions, every initiative should be greeted with as much kindness as enthusiasm. This is at first glance what prevails in the face of this Tomb Raider I–III Remastered

. The compilation is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC from February 14, 2024.

Lara Croft in the museum

” I’m talking to you about a time that people under the age of twenty don’t know “,” said the poet – and old freelance journalist. First when it came out in late 1996 Tomb Raider There is an authentic revolution. We’re then in the middle of the second wave of games from the first PlayStation, at the beginning of the 3D era in video games, and here’s a small team of five developers and an English developer delivering us an action-adventure game. The smash hit was immediate, worldwide, devastating, to the point that its heroine (this simple fact itself was incredible at the time) went on to attain the status of a pop culture icon. He appears on the cover of mainstream magazines, in TV commercials for cars or on stage alongside U2.

But then, 1996 – as evidenced by my aching lower back and the gray color slowly taking over my three-day-old beard – was a long time ago. Today, for many players, Lara Croft is just this annoying girl in the famous Reboot From 2013 and its two sequels morphed into Killing Machine, bravely embracing their fairly generic action-adventure AAA status. So it’s a safe bet Tomb Raider I–III Remastered This will be their first exposure to the founding episode. And that’s what bothers me.

A tank named Lara

For old men and women like me, there is no need to worry. This Remaster Works: We get the three games and their extra content in their original state, pixel-perfect. If you enjoy its rudimentary 3D blocks with clunky textures, a simple click on Start at any time (during loading time or even in the menu) switches the game to an improved graphic version. Evolution is there: very detailed Lara Croft, some assets In 3D (replacing the Sprouts of the past) and above all completely reworked textures as well as more advanced lighting rendering. So the nostalgic trip for the eyes of 2024 can be fuller or more subdued, while maintaining a certain… vintage touch. Unfortunately, Aspyr forgot to offer brightness adjustment to suit our modern 4K TVs and certain passages in dim light (especially on Tomb Raider 1 (where the torch was not yet implemented) is therefore extremely difficult to play.

But above all there is a real ideological concern with this integration. It can be summed up in one question: Are these three games really playable in 2024? First step: curb their manipulation. Particularly harsh and uncompromising, by 1997 it already seemed anachronistic. Super Mario 64 Shown the way in June 96, the following year Sony launched its DualShock which offered us two analogue sticks giving unparalleled flexibility of handling. Suffice it to say that today, Lara Croft’s extreme accuracy is very appealing – even though, personally, I think it’s an integral part of the charm and quality of these episodes.

Aspire tried to remedy this by offering “modern” handling (free movement, combined with camera management using the right stick), but the observation is constant: the architecture of layers and Gameplay Almost incompatible with this option. To gain momentum for just one jump, it takes ten minutes in the “modern” versus one second in the old style – a matter quickly realized. For newcomers, it will take some effort to create, but we have no doubt that it will be far from insurmountable.

a Level design That makes you crazy

On the other hand, due to the complexity of the games you can quickly go to YouTube or find solutions on fan sites (at that time, I already ruined my parents with a 36 15 JOYPAD). No Tomb Raider IIThe Level design The games become labyrinthine and twisted, even if the meaning is illogical and bordering on the absurd. The thing is, there’s really no logic to it except for its creators: twenty-somethings at Redbull who worked until 4 a.m. 7 days a week and struggled to figure out who would be able to create the most complex levels, especially Tomb Raider III… For players now used to linear structures drawn in white or yellow to clearly show possible paths and maps filled with icons and objectives, the contrast can be stark. Very rough.

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This is where Aspire should throw all its energy and creativity into offering options to soften the experience: visual aids, hints, difficulty settings (from II With his numerous enemies, he becomes anything), easy access Cheat codes (From the PC version it still works, phew!), the selection of levels, safe mode, icons… there were so many things to reduce this absurd growth of traps, dead ends and detours without distorting the initial experience. We are on a tribute compilation for legendary games that will be released in 2024; Making them accessible in every way should be part of Aspire’s mission. For total absence of slight bonus (artwork, The construction of…), it leaves a hole in my old heart…

Wait, I have a solution!

I am therefore obliged to make this sad observation: I fear it very much Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Will only satisfy the old fans of the license who once bled over these outrageous and yet memorable titles. But fear not, I have a solution for the youngest who want to experience the original spirit of the series without the insurmountable distance for them. First of all, awesome anniversary Released in 2007. Already pushed by Crystal Dynamics, it is a modern re-reading (that is to say with an accessible and effective handling) of the first episode that does its job perfectly of reinterpreting the basic title.

Then you can try to dive in Underworld, a vastly underrated episode of the saga. Released in 2008, it took the full brunt of the second wave of PS3 and Xbox 360 games (Unknown And Assassin’s Creed on your mind). In comparison, it wasn’t really to his advantage, that and his very sensible and classical approach. However, one of them remains Tomb Raider The most successful “old fashioned” ones. It still has the virtue of being very beautiful and playable even today. Good news: anniversary And Underworld Most are on sale and displayed for monetization on Steam. If you don’t know them then go for it.

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