Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Reviews
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a nostalgic treat, with the remastered adventures of Lara Croft standing the test of time over the last twenty-plus years. Of course, it helps that Aspyr have done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing the classic adventures into a modern light, with the revamped visuals, cool gameplay additions, and inclusion of all expansions ensuring this is the definitive way to experience three of the most iconic video games of the 90s. There’s no doubting that the old-school gameplay won’t be for everyone and the modern control scheme does feel like a misstep, but Tomb Raider I-III Remastered still stands out as one of the most impressive remastered releases that I’ve ever played.
Minor technical issues and frustrations aside, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is genuinely one of the most faithful and well-executed remasters I’ve seen in a very long time – an exceptionally potent nostalgia trip and a fresh experience all at once.
Whether you’re a long-time fan reliving nostalgic memories or a newcomer discovering Lara Croft’s adventures for the first time, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered delivers a satisfying blend of classic gameplay and modern enhancements, making it a must-play for any fan of the iconic franchise.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a faithful re-release of the original games, although it lacks a lot of care and attention that is part of what made the original games so loved. While the game runs well, the controls are poorly explains, and very poorly modernized. The graphics are upgraded but there are some odd textures and a lot of clipping issues in both the new and old graphics.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a somewhat solid remaster with some interesting improvements, but the issues mentioned earlier can still cause what should be a fun experience to come grinding to a halt. While there are some interesting improvements and new features, it feels like this remaster could’ve been handled a lot better or instead turned into a remake to really reignite an old fandom that has long since moved on.
I had fun with this collection, but I can’t ignore its plethora of issues. Be it due to some really dated level design and controls, or a handful of glitches exclusive to this collection’s remastering efforts, those Tomb Raider games aren’t exactly the most fluid and easygoing experiences out there. With that being said, they are still incredibly charming and very ambitious for their time.
The Tomb Raider I-III collection is faithful to the originals and is a beautifully mastered collection. While I may be incredibly biased, as Tomb Raider is quite literally the reason I’m a games journalist today, it still holds up so well, and you can choose whether you want a modernized or a dated experience.
Tomb Raider I - III Remastered is a faithful recreation of the original Tomb Raider trilogy, however, its attempts to innovate and modernize the control scheme has left it in a weird state where it feels broken even though it isn't. In its current state, the game definitely feels weird, and until those issues are resolved, the game will remain an uneven remaster at best.
Nostalgia sells and playing with Lara again on current consoles is always good, even more so if it comes with playable and visual improvements. So if you like Tomb Raider and have never played the original games, or on the contrary, you want to relive its adventures with a renewed look, this compilation has everything you need by having the games and their expansions, which translates in many hours of fun and also frustration, especially if you are not used to the games of yesteryear.
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However frustrating Tomb Raider I-III Remastered may be to modern eyes, there’s no denying that these games perfectly capture the spirit of the originals. Whether any of that is enough to appeal to modern audiences remains to be seen, but if you want a game that caters to your PS1 nostalgia, this is definitely it.
Aspyr’s remasters of these classic Lara Croft adventures play it safer and don’t really add much to the overall experience, but still a bloody fun time for those who want to revisit these awesome classics – even with their flaws.
Having those extras would have upped the historical value of having such a compilation at the ready, but even so, at is it, Tomb Raider Remastered is still very much worth picking up, regardless of your experience with these games. It’s fun to think of an entirely new generation getting to pick what we had to play when these were new. Surely, they do take some getting used to, but the overall enjoyment comes from the challenge, and these three sure do have plenty of that.
For purists, the original code remains intact, with all the sharp edges and meticulous controls you remember. For those who've played the trilogy a dozen times before and want a fresh experience, modern visuals and controls change things up considerably — often for the better, sometimes for the worse. Throw in all the expansions and the novelty of photo mode, and you've got a wonderful celebration of the origins of the Tomb Raider franchise.
If there’s any way to summarize Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, it’s that it’s amazing to realize just how well those classic games have aged over the decades. I've enjoyed powering through the games with the new modern art, but it's the level design and gameplay that keep bringing me back. With minimal changes to the formula, the modernized appearance is all these games needed to gain a new lease of life. Tomb Raider was ahead of its time back in 1996, and this proves that even today Lara Croft still has what it takes.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a mixed bag of a remastered bundle. While it offers players new quality-of-life updates and great new features, the experience is marred by frustrating movement and an unreliable camera.