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TombRaiderLover
11-04-06, 20:24
TOMB RAIDER (1996) 9.4/10

In 1996, TOMB RAIDER arrived on the Playstation, PC and Sega Saturn. The world was introduced to everyone's favourite video game heroine Lara Croft, who has become a very famous fictional character on her own, and gamers discovered that puzzle-solving and exploration could actually be very interesting. Fortunately, there is a bit of action to go around too so things don't get boring.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen1.jpg

Lara is hired by Jacqueline Natla, head of 'Natla Industries,' to find an ancient artefact called the Scion. Lara's search begins in beautiful Peru, but she only finds a piece of it and from the words of Larson, one of Natla's trusty henchmen bent on killing Lara, the many pieces are scattered all over the world.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen34.jpg

The game takes place in several wonderful locations. The snowy mountains of Peru, as mentioned before, to dark Greece remains, to beautiful Eqyptian Sphinxes and to the literally blood-pumping depths of Atlantis, each one with huge puzzles to solve. Puzzles can include finding keys, timed jumps, pushing blocks onto platforms, pulling switches to open doors and going through even traps to reach them, etc.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen15.jpg

As I said before, action is also a big part of the game, although not as big as the wonderful puzzle-solving. Lara is equipped with several weapons, including pistols with unlimited ammo, a powerful shotgun, fast Uzis and her trusty magnums. There isn't alot of weapons, which I find disappointing.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen6.jpg

Also included in the game are many little secrets. Lara will find many hidden rooms which contain gun ammo and other things which will help you in your journey. The secret rooms are very difficult to find, so you won't help but feel proud of yourself when you find them.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen25.jpg

Of course, you have to remember that this game was made back in 1996. That's ten years ago. Time has changed. There has been a huge step of technology. Coincidentally, the graphics will appear very dated by todays standards, although though would have been ground-breaking back in their time. There are several texturing problems and there isn't much detail on Lara herself.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen16.jpg

Fans across the world would give their left arm to play this game again, because it really is a very good game. Despite the terrible graphics, the exploration, traps, puzzles, and action keep everything fascinating. Playing this game is a genuinely great experience . . . an experience that you will never forget.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/images/tombraider1_screenshots_01/screen44.jpg

Betal
11-04-06, 20:37
OOOhh thats what a good one:D I saw that you write that you gonna do this on general chat. Can't wait to read the next on tomb raider II:D Hope you do all the games:D

EK-MDi
12-04-06, 02:35
Like the good old days; I remember. I'm a little resisted to dig out the game and start playing it again, which is a bit worrying.

Lucy_Croft
12-04-06, 08:23
Tomb Raider, the original, the best, in my opinion. Can anything top it? The eerie noises, that music when you just KNOW something bad is about to happen, and I just love the whole feel of it. It had so many puzzles, many of them mind-boggling, and those Atlantis and Egypt levels are just WOW. That is what TR is all about. You've got your Sphinxes, you've got your traps, tombs, and puzzles galore, but you've also got this completely fantastical set of levels, which make you jump out of your seat. And if you remember St. Francis Folly, the designers knew a single lapse of concentration would be enough to send ya plummeting to your doom, so they put the normally pretty useless bats at crucial stages; that was genius. Not forgetting that bear that leaps out at you in the City of Vilcabama. Tomb Raider was, although it looked and played fairly simply enough, an intelligently-crafted piece of work. I think that's one of the things that makes it so special. And your review (good work =D) is right, it does make you want to play it again and again.

JasonDavies15
12-04-06, 09:28
Very intresting and again, brilliant, I have seen your other reviews. Thanks for your effort! Its nice to see fresh reviews of the TR series games and esspecially this game as it is a decade old and still brings joy to people's lives! :tmb:

kollosson
12-04-06, 10:39
i think the game stands up even now and i think the graphics are STILL awesome in places, everything moves around so well and it is an absolute peach of a game and one of the all time ' greatest ' definately my greatest gaming experience.

jackles
12-04-06, 13:57
I actually started playing the game again yesterday alongside of Legend...(i wanted to pace myself with it cos otherwise it be finished toooooo fast) and was intrigued to realise that it doesnt matter how dated the graphics are...its a pacey well thought out game, challenging and involving at the same time.....and its now well within the jackles comfort zone!!! :D :D :D

Tomb Raider Master
12-04-06, 14:17
Terrific review, TombRaiderLover! :tmb:

027huds
12-04-06, 16:01
I'm glad I've kept all the Tomb Raiders. I'm gonna restart 1 soon, then 2, then 3, then 4........

Lucy_Croft
12-04-06, 16:32
Yeah, I'm SO glad Legend has been released as now I'm ready and raring to delve straight back into the old Tomb Raiders! It's whetted my appetite alright. I love Tomb Raider I, it is without a doubt my most favourite Tomb Raider.

Apofiss
12-04-06, 18:43
Third screenshot from the top looks quite impressive! (even knowing it's TR1). Easy to read-through review :)