Remastering or remaking acclaimed games has quickly become one of the hottest trends in gaming, with the current generation of consoles allowing for sparking iterations of games like Dead Space and Final Fantasy VII. However, when it comes to classics from consoles like the PS1, it can feel like studios are taking advantage of nostalgia with our wallets. That’s why the new Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered collection is such a breath of fresh air.
Developer Aspyr could have easily charged PS5 and Xbox players upwards of $50 for some of the best games ever made. Yet, the Tomb Raider remasters will only set you back $29.99/£24.99. That’s three whole separate experiences retrofitted for modern day audiences, making the most of current-gen hardware. I’ve spent some time with the remasters recently, as I’ve managed to tear myself away from one of the best co-op games of the year, Helldivers 2.
The sheer love and attention paid to the first three Tomb Raider games is genuinely heartwarming. As Nathan McCree’s iconic music begins to play over the main menu, it all feels right. The tank-style controls transport me back to hours of mashing my PS1 controller, flailing around trying to shoot tigers or avoid a grizzly death from that dastardly T. rex. A simple press of the start button switches the game seamlessly between its updated textures to the low-polygon charm of the PS1.
For newcomers, there are plenty of options to feel at home, too. Aspyr implements a modern-day control scheme, which has now become my go-to way of playing these beloved games. If you’re a savvy trophy or achievement hunter, there’s over 200 of them to earn. And yes, there’s one for locking the butler in the freezer. Oh, and there’s a photo mode as an additional treat.
Aspyr’s care for Lara Croft doesn’t just shine in how these remasters feel, but in working with the Tomb Raider community itself. Timur ‘XProger’ Gagiev, creator of the unofficial project OpenLara, was brought in as a technical advisor to recapture the magic that fans love so much. Although there is so much to admire about these remasters, not everything is perfect. Clear uses of AI to upscale textures don’t always look pitch perfect, but it is nowhere as bad as another notable remaster collection – the GTA Definitive Trilogy.
It isn’t hyperbolic to say that the Grand Theft Auto series is bigger than Tomb Raider. Just look at how many versions of GTA 5 there are. When the original trilogy was touted as an essential trio of new PS5 games and new Xbox games, it should have been a slam dunk for Rockstar Games and Grove Street Games.
My experience with Vice City was the strongest of them all, but GTA 3 and GTA San Andreas were riddled with bugs and issues beyond saving at the time. Sadly, the release felt like a slap in the face. A mere cash grab to capitalize on the franchise’s legacy, in a time when everyone is desperate for something new in the form of GTA 6.
I’m so happy that the Tomb Raider legacy isn’t tarnished as severely with these remasters. They’re an absolute love letter to the games, the fans, and the original studio Core Design. Entertaining the notion of pricing akin to most triple-A games would be foolish. At a time when every dollar needs to go a long way with our gaming purchases, perhaps more than ever, Aspyr could continue to set a new precedent for other studios to follow regarding remasters. Not even the Spyro or Crash Bandicoot remasters from Naughty Dog retailed this cheap.
Aspyr could have another hit on its hands soon with the Star Wars Battlefront Collection, another set of classic games that, again, are hopefully set to respect your wallet.