If you have been busy salivating over the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot, Crystal Dynamics has released the Tomb Raider Trilogy for the PlayStation 3 to tide you over in the mean time. So is this a case of developers being lazy, re-releasing games to make a quick buck? Or is this a love-letter to fans of Tomb Raider? I am happy to say it is the latter.
Story
Since the three games are all re-releases the stories have not changed. That being said the plot’s hold up well and it felt good to be running around as the world’s most famous archaeologist who doesn’t share a nickname with a dog. If you have never played any of the games before the stories feature whirlwind adventures, and as with any good adventure there is plenty of shooting. Our British heroine saves many a day while pursuing her favorite hobby of archeology.
Gameplay
The platforming and puzzle solving are the star mechanics of the Tomb Raider series and that remains true here. The joy of flipping around and tumbling through the air are still as much fun as the first time you set eyes on Laura Croft. The puzzles are challenging, and the sense of accomplishment after finally solving some of the more difficult puzzles after staring at the screen until your eyes water is wonderful. The gun-play is a little dated, but still enjoyable as you can mix up the shooting by dipping and dodging around as you shoot.
Visuals
The Trilogy features some lovingly redone graphics that help bring new life to these games. I have been impressed with all of the HD remakes so far and the Tomb Raider Trilogy does not disappoint. The oldest two games in the series look much better than before while Underworld, already in HD still looks great. The audio holds up nicely as well, and very rarely do the cut-scenes feel to dated.
Overall
So is the Tomb Raider Trilogy a great deal? The answer is definitely yes. It is hard to beat the value of three Tomb Raider games for the price of one. Just Underworld and Anniversary alone would have made a good deal but throwing in Legend makes it a great one. If you are looking for a trip down memory lane with the most famous shorts in gaming then Tomb Raider Trilogy is a more than solid choice.
Tomb Raider Trilogy is available only on the PlayStation 3 for $39.99.