If you can remember the release of the original Tomb Raider on PlayStation, then congratulations: you've survived for more than a quarter of a century. The game that kickstarted the many, many adventures of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider launched for the SEGA Saturn on the 25th October 1996, before hitting Sony's first console a few weeks later, on the 14th November. It's an incredibly clunky title by today's standards, but back in the 90s, Tomb Raider was a revelation.
Ms. Croft was a heroine who could do it all. Backflips, front flips, side flips... all while firing dual pistols. Or dual uzis. God, we loved the uzis. There was so much to like about Tomb Raider at the time, but perhaps the game's biggest achievement was the level design. Who could forget that t-rex encounter? What about the creepy flesh-tomb Great Pyramid near the end? Memorable stuff from start to finish.
Of course, Lara went on to have her ups and downs, but the most recent, rebooted Tomb Raider games from Square Enix have done well. Are you a big Tomb Raider fan? Never stop jumping in the comments section below.
Comments 46
Brillaint game. Absolutely superb, and nothing that came after did the tomb raidng aspect as well. Still, looking forward to another 25 years!
seems crazy that TR is 25 years old, really hope something new is in the works
Who do we have to bribe to get a remake of this? I want action hero Lara not waa waa everyone I know died and now I'm a murderer moany Lara.
Bring back Core Design!
TiMe FoR a ReMaStEr 🙄🙄🙄🙄
I remember buying the double box edition with a demo disc inside it, (can't remember the demo). A timeless classic. I would love a remaster of the original 5 games from the PSone in a single box. Similar to what Rockstar just did with GTA.
I've been meaning to replay Angel of Darkness. I don't know why it wasn't very well received. I never finished it on PS2. I will revisit at some point.
Are people asking for a remake forgetting Anniversary? Can't believe that was released only 10-11 years after the original. Upscale that and I'd be happy!
Both great games though.
All time classic. Cannot wait for the next Tomb Raider game. I wonder who will make it as it feels like Crystal Dynamics want to move on, and Eidos Montreal are busy with Guardians.
Lara has had her ups and downs over the years, but overall, these games have always been fantastic. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was more enjoyable than Uncharted 4 in my (controversial) opinion. Don't understand the apathy it got.
Lara deserved better this year in her 25th anniversary. It would be great if Square dropped a new game announcement in State of Play
I always liked the atmosphere of the PS1 Tomb Raider games. The devs did a damn good job at really selling the areas you were in.
Also, despite the clunky controls, I like how they never held your hand when you jumped from ledges and had to press a button to catch ledges.
Happy Anniversary, I’ve really enjoyed the Reboot games. Hopefully some new game is in the works.
The original and best Tomb Raider game. The atmosphere and ambiance are spot on, and the controls are so mechanical and precise that a good player can pull off some really amazing stuff. Other than surprise traps, it's a fair game that rewards patience, memorization and skill. Maybe I'll boot it up again in honor of the 25th!
Happy birthday to Tomb Raider. It was the game that started my love affair with PlayStation all those years ago!
Absolute love Tomb Raider - 1 and 2 were my first PlayStation games. 3 was always my favourite. I have enjoyed all of them to some degree. I found new Lara a bit annoying but enjoyed the games for what they were. Thought Shadow of the Tomb Raider was great and captured the Tomb Raider feel well up until you reach the village, went downhill from there for me and I never finished it. Hope they bring back a more confident, experienced, witty Lara for whatever is next
@Rob_230 I totally agree, in fact I prefer the recent TR Trilogy to Uncharted. More depth to the combat and platforming, better level design, loads of puzzles. Uncharted wins on story and set pieces though.
I had all the original, first three games on the PlayStation. Found them very difficult as a teenager, needed a guide to get through them. Very impressive and iconic games though.
Great series that has given great memories. But I just want to know if I'll have another TR game (single player thanks) Lol.
I miss this Lara she was fun and had personality
I’ve been playing this over the last month and actually enjoying it quite a lot. Onto the second last level now and yeah, it’s a total maze and the controls are wonky but it’s just good old-fashioned fun.
For Roblox she had some very respectable curves
Tomb raider,still have original five discs,fan from the beginning,liked even angel of darkness...
Last trilogy has being good to great,minor problems and one big problem terrible story's,mrs. Prachett go wright reboot melrose plase or Dallas,you suck
I’d be up for playing these all again just as they were on PSone but on ps5.
Wonder if thee will be a Tomb Raider announcement at the State of Play?
I’d love a remake of the five PS1 era games - keeping the original controls, music and level design but with updated graphics.
I’d also love a full on remake of Angel of Darkness. This game had an incredible atmosphere and soundtrack but was quite unfinished sadly. The controls were really odd too if I remember right. I think you gained strength by opening things with crowbars? “Hmm, I feel stronger now...”
I’d also love a remake of the Legend trilogy too. TR Legend was so good. One of my favourite TR games. Anniversary was great too but I didn’t love Underworld as much for some reason. I wish they had released more games with this gameplay and character design.
Finally, a brand new TR game - not related to the reboot trilogy. The reboot trilogy was good but I really want them to make a game with a more mature Lara again. A confident Lara who loves archaeology, exploring and adventure. The reboot Lara was ok but she spoke far too slowly (like the Onion Knight learning to read) - and it made her seem a bit dim. I don’t know if they were trying to make her sound sexier or what but it didn’t work.
So yeah, I don’t want much really😁
Ya damn right it's been 25 years son
Still a favorite series. A shame how short sighted Square is being in not releasing the PS1-PS3 games as a collection for the 25th Anniversary.
That was the best era. Games were experimental and crazy af. You just walking through some empty environment, chill as can be and boom, T-Rex! You don't get that often today.
I remember chipping in my £2.50 pocket money with my bro to get the official playstation magazine that had the demo for this. We must have played it a hundred times. Will never forget the first time taking a running jump into the water from a high drop and being absolutely floored and excited about the future of video games. What a game.
The butler used to scare me so I always locked him in the freezer 😂 , the last revelation was my favourite classic tomb raider game
Got this with my Sega Saturn for Xmas along with sega rally and it's probably the last time I was genuinely amazed by "next gen"! Blew my little mind at the time. Still love the atmosphere of tomb raider it's a genuinely immersive experience
I want so badly a return to raiding Tombs and solving puzzles. The new games were not the same.
I smell a remaster/remake 🙏
@johncalmc
Crystal Dynamics first Tomb Raider reboot is still the better set of games IMO. I loved Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld.
I want that core gameplay and exploration back. They can do away with Lara's overly sexy appeal, I don't care, but we didn't need Lara to become the savior of all mankind and a one woman army to do away with the sexism.
@fR_eeBritney Not at all! I also desire the same games, and there's prob more people who want it as well.
Core's Tomb Raider 1 and 2 were the best - the first one looks a bit clunky but plays OK on the Vita.
I think a retro-inspired remake of the first two would be epic.
By the time we got to 3, it seemed a bit formulaic and just difficult for difficultness' sake (jumping over tigers was hit and miss!)
Can't remember if I had Anniversary on the PSP or the Vita? Might need to check through the Vita's download list as I can't use the new garbage online Store because the PS3 and Vita clearly were just a figment of my imagination.
The reason I got a PS1 after playing this round a mates house. Just blown away by it. I still have the original disc in the double case that some PS1 games came in. Fond memories and if I try I can see still hear her screams when she fell from the tower in St Francis' Folly level and the fact it was that high she actually stopped screaming before the bone crunching landing at the bottom!
I didn't get into Tomb Raider until Legend primarily since I didn't get a PS1 until very late in its life cycle but I've played every one since. I would love a Crash trilogy style remake collection of the PS1 titles.
Also hopefully Avengers will run its course soon so Crystal can get back to Tomb Raider. Anyway congrats Tomb Raider!
Thank goodness for Vita! Yes, I did download Anniversary on the PSP or Vita so it's downloading again now!
OK, I feel old now!
I still remember walking into the Virgin Megastore in Dundee back on release day and picking up my PSOne copy of the game from the shelves.
That store long closed so Lara lasted longer!
Funfact - I still have my original PlayStation boxed copy in my trophy cabinet of favourite things...
Be cool if the various older games and HD remasters got ported to ps4
I played this on PC but yeah, I do remember. The way the character moved was super impressive at the time.
@Kang81
Yup, fantastic games, I had obviously known about the series before but Legend was the first TR game I decided to play, great stuff. Also really enjoyed Anniversary and Underworld is still probably my favorite of all the TRs. A shame SE didn't really do anything big to celebrate 25 years.
@Gamer83
Yeah, I had heard of the series long before I played it. I was never a PC gamer, but I did try a demo for the original game long before CD handled the first reboot. It was nigh unplayable for me. I wasn't going to bother.
The first CD reboot was sooo good. Yeah, I get that she was still hyper sexualized, but nothing as bad as some other games I've seen, particularly many coming out of Japan.
I'm fine with the new Lara Croft, though I do really miss her better than though arrogant tone. Haha
More than anything, I miss the puzzle and exploration design of the first reboot. Jumping off the boat into the ocean in the start of Underworld was great. The new games just don't compare to the sense of wonder in the exploration and puzzles of the previous trilogy.
I hope the next Tomb Raider game goes back to its roots.
I agree, the fact SE did nothing for the 25th anniversary is a bummer. I'd have even taken remasters of the first reboot.
Of you haven't played them, the isometric Diablo style Tomb Raider games are equally amazing. I want more of them as well, remasters would be great too.
@Kang81
Oh yeah, I'm a big fan of Guardian of Light and Temple of Osiris. I have both on PlayStation and Xbox systems and will be adding them to my Switch collection as well. Great stuff. I also love Lara Croft Go, it had performance issues on Vita but the PS4 version is great.
@Gamer83
Lara Croft Go was fun, as was the Uncharted mobile puzzle game.
Wait! GoL & ToO on Switch??
Checks Google
OMG!!!
You just made my day, thank you!!!
Loved the original Tomb Raider, 2nd game was great as well. Would love to see a remaster one day. The team went onto make Project Eden on the PS2 after that. Good fun, lots of fun puzzles.
@kyleforrester87 Anniversary is such a fantastic game
@fR_eeBritney I think you must be the only person in history wanting more Angel Of Darkness 😉😅
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