At the beginning of the year and almost 25 years after its original release, the original trilogy of the Tomb Raider saga is given new life. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will be released on February 14th for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC. Far from being a simple facelift of these cult adventures, this edition promises many improvements to appeal to long-time fans and newcomers alike. The Aspyr studio responsible for the collection announced news about the project on the official PlayStation blog as launch neared.
While Crystal Dynamics is responsible for continuing the world of Tomb Raider in new and increasingly grandiose episodes, it is time for players to rediscover the three titles that made Lara Croft's reputation. To honor the franchise's legendary legacy, Aspyr developers have focused their efforts on improving the original versions using their original source code. Since the studio was already responsible for porting the franchise to Mac OS up until the episode “The Angel of Darkness,” its teams are certainly best placed to breathe new life into the historical works. Before you pre-order the game or purchase it at launch, here's what you need to know about the new content in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
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Technical improvements of all kinds
The first trailer already revealed the trilogy's graphical facelift. Players have the opportunity to enjoy these three adventures with new textures and different 3D models. However, the most nostalgic fans can opt to retain the original graphics – albeit with a bit of an upgrade – for a more authentic experience.
But Aspyr was not satisfied with a simple “renovation”. The gameplay of the titles has also been revised for greater comfort. These are offered Different control options, modern for birthday and legend fans or classic for nostalgics. For greater clarity, the most robust bosses will finally display a life bar that remains discreet enough not to detract from the minimalist look of the original interface.
All of the game's 2D sprites – such as ammo, health packs, and even certain treasures – have been replaced with brand new 3D models. However, the most surprising graphical achievement remains the attention to detail and nostalgia that Aspyr applies. The studio wanted to maintain the title's retro vibe by offering new visual elements that were intended to “represent the way players imagined the game at the time.” Graphics from previous games often appear different in our memories than they do on our screens, but these versions of Tomb Raider I, II and III should resonate with early fans.
Switching from one graphics mode to another is possible at any time, even in the new photo mode. Achievement hunters will also be happy to know that more than 200 achievements can be unlocked across the three titles. Better yet, all of these new items, designed for a perfect Tomb Raider experience, cost €28.99: a more than reasonable price for a collection of this kind.
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