View Full Version : Recapturing the magic!
Having taken a break from playing Tomb Raider for a while, I decided to start a Tomb Raider marathon of all the main games. Obviously starting with the classic Tomb Raider. I honestly cant believe how absolutely awe inspiring this game is, definitely the best in the series. I have played this game countless times but replaying it again after a long break (at least a year) I can honestly say it feels brand new.
It's amazing that after all this time, this game can still inspire the imagination and make you feel like an actual explorer, something which the new games, although excellent, can only hope to achieve :tmb:
Anyone else feel the same way? :)
It's incredible, isn't it? When I first played TR1, I'd already played most of the rest of the series (including Anniversary) yet I was still blown away by the atmosphere of the original.
Whether or not it's the best game in the series is debatable, however. TR2 is my personal favourite, but TR1 and TR3 both tie for second place.
It's incredible, isn't it? When I first played TR1, I'd already played most of the rest of the series (including Anniversary) yet I was still blown away by the atmosphere of the original.
Whether or not it's the best game in the series is debatable, however. TR2 is my personal favourite, but TR1 and TR3 both tie for second place.
Dont get me wrong, TR2 and TR3 are a very close second when compared to TR1.
TR1 has something that is just truly unique. I still get chill's when I start the caves level, or when I first encounter Rexy, begin the SFF challenges, fight in the Coliseum, not to mention the perfectly designed and incredibly evocative Palace midas stage (fond memories of that one).
Also this is my fave Lara of all time, hard as nails, determined, sexy (without trying) and totally independent! :tmb:
I totally agree with you there. In terms of soundtrack and ancient wonder, I think TR1 is probably the best. The moments you mentioned all send chills down my spine as well (largely due to the musical scores in those sections) and Palace Midas is indeed brilliant; a worthy contender for best level of all time.
Best Game Ever :cln:
Indeed :tmb:
Anne Boleyn
25-06-09, 00:32
It's brilliant, isn't it? Although I love TR2 (it was the first one I ever *saw* played, and so has the most nostalgia attached), only the original and TLR have that sense of magic and awe. In fact, I'd say that my favourite is a tie between the original and TLR, with TR2 just narrowly missing out on the top spot (although I find it the most replayable!).
TR3, unfortunately, doesn't *do it* for me anything near as much as its siblings. It's a great game, to be sure, but it never engages me to the extent the others do, and comes off as a bit flat and overly challenging. I'm actually playing it right now, although I take huge breaks between the levels, something I can never do with the others - so addictive they are!
There is something in the simplicity of the original Tomb Raider, thats lost when they make the game world more and more complex looking....
Even though the grid is visually unrealistic, its never feels as flat as the worlds of the current Tomb Raiders do!!
Finding New Items, Hidden everywhere.... and looking at them up close in your inventory was one of the most enjoyable little aspects of the older games - And they got rid of that too!!!
It's amazing that after all this time, this game can still inspire the imagination and make you feel like an actual explorer, something which the new games, although excellent, can only hope to achieve :tmb:
TR1 has something that is just truly unique. I still get chill's when I start the caves level, or when I first encounter Rexy, begin the SFF challenges, fight in the Coliseum, not to mention the perfectly designed and incredibly evocative Palace midas stage (fond memories of that one).
Were we separated at birth or something? I feel exactly the same way.
TR1 will always be, in my opinion, absolutely iconic. None of it's sequels can claim its throne (though TR3 came close for me). There's a level of atmosphere in TR1 that all the others have failed to achieve (not to their detriment I might add, they're still damn good). I don't know if this is because TR1 was the first time I experienced such immersion, but the game still fills me with an almost child-like awe whenever I play it.
Up to 'City of Khamoon', completed TOT last night (one of the best levels In TR history, Anniversary basically destroyed that level :() The Egyptian level's are my fave set of levels in TR1, can't wait to get to the Sphinx, the obelisk and those Atlantean mummies! :D
Anne Boleyn
25-06-09, 14:29
Up to 'City of Khamoon', completed TOT last night (one of the best levels In TR history, Anniversary basically destroyed that level :() The Egyptian level's are my fave set of levels in TR1, can't wait to get to the Sphinx, the obelisk and those Atlantean mummies! :D
Enjoy! I don't think any Tomb Raider moment can top the feeling that one still gets walking out onto the back of the giant sphinx in The Sanctuary of the Scion. Sheer epic! I love the sunny, dusty feeling of Egypt, and the contrast with the areas of lush greenery and water. It's a shame we had to wait until Cleopatra's Palaces before the series gave us a similar atmosphere...
Enjoy! I don't think any Tomb Raider moment can top the feeling that one still gets walking out onto the back of the giant sphinx in The Sanctuary of the Scion. Sheer epic! I love the sunny, dusty feeling of Egypt, and the contrast with the areas of lush greenery and water. It's a shame we had to wait until Cleopatra's Palaces before the series gave us a similar atmosphere...
I totally agree with you there. TRLR also had that ancient, mysterious, dusty feel to it. I think only TR1 and TR4 really nailed that ancient awe inspiring atmosphere!
Really cannot wait to play through the whole series again, it's been too long. So happy to be back in Egypt! :D
I liked that the enviroments were a little bland and undecorated in Tomb Raider..... it actually made them more convincing.
In the new games, the ancient ruins and tombs are too photogenic. You could swear they just pulled the plastic wrapping of them yesterday!!!!
I liked that the enviroments were a little bland and undecorated in Tomb Raider..... it actually made them more convincing.
In the new games, the ancient ruins and tombs are too photogenic. You could swear they just pulled the plastic wrapping of them yesterday!!!!
lol yes I understand what you mean! There is something so simple (like you said) that makes the game so much more complex, than any other attempt to emphasize "this is an old tomb, look! you can even see the cobwebs, and the dust particles".
:D
Up to 'City of Khamoon', completed TOT last night (one of the best levels In TR history, Anniversary basically destroyed that level :()
Don't even get me started on the crime Crystal committed when it comes to The Cistern and Tomb of Tihocan. Anniversary was supposed to be an homage to the original, but in the case of what they did to those levels (and a few others), the game is an insult to the original :mad:
I don't think any Tomb Raider moment can top the feeling that one still gets walking out onto the back of the giant sphinx in The Sanctuary of the Scion. Sheer epic!
Absolutely spot on! Sanctuary always has been my favourite level of all the TRs for that moment exactly. Awe inspiring doesn't even come close to describing the shivers that went down my spine when I first saw that sphinx.
it's really amazing how other tr games got their elements from tr1. and it's really sad at the same time that they lost some great tr1 elements. but it's maybe because it was first game. you know first stuff is always cool
I'm now back at 'Atlantis' (wish me luck!). God I just love this game so much! :D
chocolate.girl
29-06-09, 13:23
You're so right. This game has a great atmosphere. The story is interersting, the levels, music - just everything. I love it.
But I would also say TR 2 and 3 are just as well and TR4 is also great. They all have this typical TR atmosphere.
Completed it last night, first time in a long time I've stayed up really late to play TR (2 a.m I finally finished!)
What I love about the last two level (Atlantis in particular) is the whole progression of the level. Ascending the central shaft and the puzzle room's gradually becomming more and more difficult (another level that TRA hacked to bits :().
I have to say this the last level of TR1 is just so EPIC! The shaking pyramid, the traps, the music not to mention the final showdown with Natla.
So happy I replayed TR1 all the way through again, it never bores me! Started TR2 today, so looking forward to progressing through this one again. Currently at Bartoli's Hideout, cannot wait to get to Tibet! :D
All this talks makes me want to replay it again.
This game is epic and can't be touched. If they were to remake this, I'd only want the graphics to be remade. That's it. HD remixed. That's it.
TR1 and 2 are the best for me , with TR3 as close third .
I want to play them again and again .....
lots of fun with TR2
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