Tomb Raider Featuring Lara Croft - The Original (Playstation)

I first played this game with my father back in my childhood. I've since completed this on my own many times. I play a game for pure enjoyment, graphics do not bother me in the slightest. I still find myself playing on older consoles such as the "Mega drive" and "Super Nintendo".

This game is excellent, It's easy to play once you know how. My favourite level is the "City of Vilcabamba". Killing the T-Rex is fun. There is also a whopping 5 secrets to find on this level too!

The music score is excellent too. I get very nostalgic upon hearing the numerous tracks within the game. The graphics by todays standards are old but I don't care one bit. For me this is the best TR game. TRII is excellent too.

I highly recommend this if you're into nostalgic gaming.

Thumbs up!

This game is so much fun! Difficult in places, of course, but if it were too easy it'd be boring. People often complain about the graphics, but despite the limitations of the time, the levels are enormous and complex. The creators' imaginations were in no way held back just because the graphics couldn't quite keep up.
I'd recommend this Tomb Raider over the newest ones any day.

Tomb Raider, PSone, released in 1996. I've already done a review on the remake of this game (Tomb Raider Anniversary), but I still thought I would write one on the original. Why? Two reasons. 1) Because I'm awkward like that, and 2) Being a 90's guy and everything I preferred this version anyway.

So let's recap. You play Lara Croft, the archaeologist-adventurer who fears no tomb nor enemy. For her debut outing Lara is hired by wealthy businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to find an artifact known as the Scion, a sort-of weird-looking frisbee with magical powers. The adventure sees Lara traveling to Peru, Greece, Egypt and finally a mysterious island.

I've played every single Tomb Raider game released on PSone, and after playing this first game again after many years I've noticed that the pace of the game is actually pretty slow. Compared to latter Tomb Raiders, like The Last Revelation and Chronicles, Tomb Raider can feel like a slow motion replay at times; although it's not so bad once you really get stuck in to the game's challenge. More on that in a moment.

The graphics are dated as well. The game doesn't have the same lighting effects (like light and dark areas) as the later installments; fire and water effects look rather basic; and Lara's pony tail is absent. Apparently the programmers were not talented enough to put it in (although it still appears in the FMVs). Other downsides include terrible acting; rough-around-the-edges FMVs; and a lack of tourist attractions at Croft Manor. It's just the main hall, the gym and the swimming pool.

Having mentioned all these negatives it seems like Tomb Raider has had its day and should be thrown on the gaming scrap heap. Not so, my gaming friend! The sense of adventure in this game is epic. This is helped by the music, especially TR's theme tune, which can be heard at the title screen and at numerous points in the game. Everytime you hear that orchestral score (strings, brass and all) a great sense of pride overwhelms you. You feel like you're making progress. You feel like you, yourself, are part of the adventure.

The amount of challenge in Tomb Raider is lighter than that of Tomb Raider 3, but there's still enough here to keep you on your toes. Here I am, a gaming veteran of 18 years, and I've completed this game several times. But everytime I whip out my pistols to shoot a snarling lion, or make a running jump over a pit of deadly spikes, I'm made to sweat as I wonder whether or not I can drag Lara to the next save point (blue save crystals that can only be used where you find them) before she pops her clogs. Not a lot of games these days have the ability to make me sweat, and the fact that Tomb Raider does is a sign what a brilliant game it is.

The music, the adventure, the balanced challenge, and the retro charm of the old level designs (despite the out-dated graphics) make Tomb Raider a must-have for PSone collectors. If you own a PS3 you can also download this game from PSN. Either way, just make sure you play the darn classic!