Tomba! Special Edition
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Critic Reviews for Tomba! Special Edition
Tombi! might just be the most 8/10 game ever, and absolutely no higher than that. I personally love it; but the esoteric quests, remarkably easy boss fights, and slightly wonky controls at times do make it a hard sell. However, if you want a daft and weird little curio to spend some hours in, this will keep you as happy as a pig in – well – you know. Oh, also, if you loved the demo on the demo disc, you owe it to yourself to see what's beyond the 100 Year Old Man, believe me.
Games as special as this one continue to attract attention decades later. Some facets of control and exploration have aged regularly, but their charisma and depth are still appealing to this day, especially with all the extras Limited Run has incorporated.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Tomba! Special Edition is a thorough remaster of a classic underappreciated title from PlayStation history that manages to stand out among a sea of other mascot platformers. A pioneering force in the popularisation of the 2.5D platformer, I enjoyed being given the chance to see where this subgenre began. While there are definitely relics of archaic PlayStation-era design, these are almost an expectation rather than a point of heavy critique. For those familiar with the antics of this cave boy, you'll feel right at home. And the bonus materials sweeten the deal too.
Tomba! is still a weird and mostly wonderful little platformer, packed with character and charm from beginning to end. Some of its more convoluted design elements can frustrate, and the backtracking's a bit of a slog at times, but the core, grab-happy gameplay remains satisfyingly fun. And, with the addition of unlimited saves and a rewind function, it's hard not to appreciate and enjoy this revived PS1 oddity.
Tomba! Special Edition is a fantastic and unique game. Even though I had hoped for a full remaster, the original is still fun just the way it is. The added content and features-like saving anywhere and rewinding-are great, and despite some dated mechanics, the colorful world and quirky side quests make it a rewarding, fun experience that is definitely worth playing. While the 34 year old me scores Tomba at an 8.5, purely due to outdated mechanics, the 7 year old me gives it a 10/10 ;)
Tomba! Special Edition perfectly preserves the 1997 classic. The game is just as good as it was back then, and perhaps even better now with tons of quality of life features and extras. This is an incredibly special game, and I hope it finally gets the recognition it deserves.
Tombi! Special Edition is a great example of how something like LRG's Carbon Engine can be used to help preserve a game accurately and respectfully while also modernising the experience enough to make it compatible and palatable for future audiences. The bonus materials could be better-presented, and the game's original blemishes remain by virtue of its preservation, but it's a great way to re-live an underappreciated classic in the genre.
Tomba! Special Edition is first and foremost a preservation operation. It is a definitive edition of a classic PlayStation game with some extra and some quality of life improvements.
Review in Italian | Read full review
