Exciting Glimpse into Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Unveils Impressive New Features

"Tomb Raider I-III Remastered brings a modern touch to the classic games, thanks to the collaboration between Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics, with updated engineering, gameplay, and art."

The remastered versions stay true to the originals while offering modern enhancements.
The team used the original source code and engine to preserve the pixel-perfect experience of the original games.
The game includes new features such as modern control options, boss health bars, and a robust photo mode to enhance gameplay.

In just under a month, fans of the iconic Tomb Raider series will have the opportunity to relive Lara Croft’s first three adventures in a whole new way. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is set to release on Playstation 4|5, XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC, bringing a fresh look and feel to these beloved classics. But how did this remaster come to be? Let’s take a trip back to 1998 in Austin, TX.

It all started with Aspyr, a video game company that launched Tomb Raider II on Macintosh computers. Aspyr continued to work on the Tomb Raider franchise until 2003, releasing several titles along the way. The idea of revisiting these games had always been on their minds, but they wanted to find the right approach. After years of deliberation, they reached out to their friends at Crystal Dynamics.

Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the modern Tomb Raider games, saw an opportunity to reintroduce audiences to the games that started it all. They wanted to honor the foundations of the franchise while making the original games accessible to modern players. And thus, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft was born.

During the pre-production phase, the team focused on three key aspects: engineering, gameplay, and art. They wanted to ensure that the remastered versions stayed true to the originals while also offering some modern enhancements.

In terms of engineering, they decided to use the original source code and engine. This allowed them to preserve the pixel-perfect experience of the original games. Players will even have the option to toggle back to the original look and feel if they desire. It’s a nod to the nostalgia of these games and a testament to how far gaming technology has come since the 90s.

When it came to gameplay, the team recognized that the core mechanics of Tomb Raider I, II, and III were timeless. They didn’t want to make drastic changes but instead focused on surprising and delighting fans. They introduced modern control options inspired by the Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld era of Tomb Raider. Classic tank-style controls are still available for those who prefer the original experience. Additionally, they added boss health bars, 3D item sprites, over 200 trophies, and a robust photo mode to enhance the overall gameplay experience.

Finally, the art aspect posed the biggest challenge. The goal was to make the games look the way players remembered them in their minds. Playtests showed that the team was on the right track, as some testers couldn’t even tell they were playing with the modern art toggled on. Working closely with Crystal Dynamics, they implemented baked and real-time lighting effects, a graphics toggle between original and modern, new models for Lara Croft and other characters, and additional updates to animations, textures, and visual effects.

The team behind Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is grateful to the passionate Tomb Raider community for inspiring this lovingly restored edition. The game is set to release on February 14th, and fans can look forward to re-experiencing these iconic adventures with a fresh twist.

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