Version differences?

[drizzsyn]

Hi,
just joined the forum and was wondering if someone could point me to a list of the differences among the Saturn/PSX/PC versions of TR1. I've played both console versions and it seems some sound effects were missing (due to SS TR1's earlier release?), not to mention various graphical differences.

Now from taking a look around here it seems the PC version is missing some audio tracks that the PSX version had. What about the Saturn version? Did it have all of them?

The whole reason for this is that I want to play through the whole series again, possibly the PC version if I can find it (since I never played Unfinished Business) and I'd like to know what I'd be missing. The music, while rare, was certainly a nice part of the game.

Thanks

[JasonDavies15]

Originally posted by drizzsyn:
Hi,
just joined the forum and was wondering if someone could point me to a list of the differences among the Saturn/PSX/PC versions of TR1. I've played both console versions and it seems some sound effects were missing (due to SS TR1's earlier release?), not to mention various graphical differences.

Now from taking a look around here it seems the PC version is missing some audio tracks that the PSX version had. What about the Saturn version? Did it have all of them?

The whole reason for this is that I want to play through the whole series again, possibly the PC version if I can find it (since I never played Unfinished Business) and I'd like to know what I'd be missing. The music, while rare, was certainly a nice part of the game.

Thanks

Hi drizzsyn , welcome to the forums.....

The differences between each platform of the original Tomb Raider have each qualities of their own. For example take the Saturn version which was the first platform for the game to be released onto, it had similar aspects about the PS1 version i.e. the save crystals, music and water colours etc....but the graphics compared to the PS1 differ, i'd say the Saturn version graphics are worse (many people reported a black line on the side of the screen at about an inch wide and just other bugs of other forms). Then the PS1 version had more improved features, i.e. faster loading times better screen reolution, a full score of the classic Tomb Raider music and just more popular then. When the PC version was released it offered just 256 colours graphics and either a 320x240 or 640x480 screen resolution with bad detail textures and high pixel based objects in the software version, in them days there were graphics cards such as 3DFX Voodoo etc.. which improved the PC TR's overall look, then when this 'Hardware Acceleration' was used it then became obvious in graphical terms that TR seemd far more detailed but the main disadvantages about the PC version was the lack of music, the game only incorporated 8 tracks, and no ambient music, whereas the Saturn and PS1 versions had 57 tracks, and sound on the PC wasn't very good quality as well. But against that was the freedom of saving the game when and where you want, instead of the crystals, and easy to save as well with a range of Hotkeys to Load, Save and toggle detail, lower screen output etc...

But now, many of us have had problem after problem with TR on the PC, many cases it is to do with Windows XP as when this operating system first came out it didn't intentionally want to let us play older programs, but with research and development we have found many programs to use which allow us to play TR with brilliant graphics like DgVoodoo and Glidos, then sound was then in place with VDMSound. But then again manufactured software like SoldOut (a cheap software company) released TR without valid audio tracks so then we lost the atmosphere of that lovely game. But with even more development Glidos has allowed Tomb Raider players to play TR with ultra high resolution textures with imported PlayStation audio files so in which PC players can play TR with the PS1 audio and much, much more (but Glidos costs money whereas DgVoodoo doesn't).

for more infomation regarding everything mentioned why not visit these links.....

http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr1/faq.html

www.tombraiderhub.com

www.tombraiderchronicles.com

www.tombraiders.net/stella

[Laralicious]

hey, welcome to the forums drizzsyn!

[ 12. July 2005, 20:50: Message edited by: Laralicious ]

[Joseph]

Originally posted by JasonDavies15:
the main disadvantages about the PC version was the lack of music, the game only incorporated 8 tracks, and no ambient music, whereas the Saturn and PS1 versions had 57 tracks, and sound on the PC wasn't very good quality as well.

I have to correct! The PC version DOES contain ambient sound. Whereas the Playstation version contains additional musictracks that are triggered in certain situations, locations, or 'pre-happening-fiddles' like warning you before a dangerous situation. Or the beautiful choir-pieces when you enter a new location. Those are missing on the PC version. Although, when you're not aware of these differences, you don't really miss them.
But as i said, PC version contains continuing ambient sounds which are very good, and make the desolate locations more dramatic and realistic and enhance the feeling that you're all alone in this adventure because there is no guiding music accompanying you. I have never missed the PS sounds.

(...) many programs to use which allow us to play TR with brilliant graphics like DgVoodoo and Glidos, then sound was then in place with VDMSound. But then again manufactured software like SoldOut (a cheap software company) released TR without valid audio tracks so then we lost the atmosphere of that lovely game.

Many of us (i do) have the original release, and they play on XP with full sounds belonging to the PC release. Later release by SoldOut sadly has some bad versions on which the soundfiles happen to be invalid empty files, but most SoldOut versions seem to be complete. I too have next to my original a SoldOut version which is 100% complete like the original.
Here you can read how you can check if your PC version contains the valid audio tracks.

But with even more development Glidos has allowed Tomb Raider players to play TR with ultra high resolution textures with imported PlayStation audio files so in which PC players can play TR with the PS1 audio and much, much more (but Glidos costs money whereas DgVoodoo doesn't).

Yes, there is a project to transport the PS audiofiles (all PS soundeffects) to the PC version in combination with VDMSound and Glidos. But it is a very ambitious, work-intensive project to build, so it is by far not finished yet. They have only finished and released the first two levels, i believe.

[ 12. July 2005, 21:48: Message edited by: joseph ]

[Joseph]

TR1, the original as well as SoldOut versions are still easy to find on eBay and similar online marketplaces. For cheap.

[Capt. Murphy]

If you put the Sega Saturn Tomb Raider into a CD player -- listen to the last track. I believe this is missing from the Sony PlayStation version.

TR was originally developed for the SS.

[drizzsyn]

Yeah, I noticed that, some odd leftover track from Thunderhawk 2. I bought that game later and until then wondered where the HELL you hear that in the game...*g*

[Tomb Raider Master]

Welcome to the forum, drizzsyn!