shaddow085
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 272
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PSN: Wesker85
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Post by shaddow085 on Mar 25, 2019 8:34:53 GMT
I missed the original Tomb Raider back then and only started the Series with TR2 for the Ps1. But now after many years I became intersted in the original Tomb Raider again.
As I care about the Saturn much more than the PS1 one I want to give the Saturn Version a try. It should be a worthy adition to my Saturn Collection and it was the original Tomb Raider after all.
So from the collectors Point of view there is no doubt that TR 1 is worth picking up. I have got a Japanese Saturn, so I have to go for the Japanese Version which is good. Because they seem not to be very expensive.
But what about the Gamers perspective? Is the Saturn Tomb Raider still worth playing today? Or are the controlls worse than the PSX and the PC Version?
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rossi46
#LFGM!
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Post by rossi46 on Mar 25, 2019 9:16:03 GMT
I say yes, to put it simply.
Apart from some dodgy sound clips and the lack of the 'swan dive' move, there's nothing to tell the Saturn and PS1 versions apart.
Maybe some rougher textures here and there, but the controls are the same.
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exodus
Saturn Gamer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 208
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Post by exodus on Mar 25, 2019 17:44:31 GMT
I mean it's definitely the worst version, but if you like the game enough to want to spot the differences nothing should stop you!
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Post by bultje112 on Mar 25, 2019 18:00:19 GMT
unless you have strong nostalgic connections to it (like me) you will hate it. let's face it. it plays like shit today.
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Post by linkt101 on Mar 25, 2019 20:52:22 GMT
On the plus side it's inexpensive. However, I stick to playing the PC version which has patches that make it look a couple of generations ahead of it's time.
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Post by warmachine3000 on Mar 26, 2019 3:07:44 GMT
I'd say yes but I wouldn't rush out and play it. If you can't play it on a PC and want to play it on the Saturn then get the JPN vesrion, the Pal version plays like shit.
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shaddow085
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 272
Location:
PSN: Wesker85
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Post by shaddow085 on Mar 26, 2019 9:07:00 GMT
unless you have strong nostalgic connections to it (like me) you will hate it. let's face it. it plays like shit today.As I have already mentioned missed the first one so I would not say that I have nostalgic connection with it. Rather call it nostical interest. I somehow like the 3d look the Saturn has to offer. Like it more than the ps1 look although the ps1 one look was superior most of the time. Getting the japanese Version of TR would also be a good Addition to my Collection.Some People recommend playing the PC Version. Might be possible it is very cheap on gog now but I was never the best Thomb Raider Player in the world, playing it on PC would make it even worse. Tried to Play Tomb Raider 4 on the PC. Chose the PC Version over the pc Version due to the better graphics. But I really sucked with the controlls. So I ended up waiting for the Dreamcast Version and finished TR 4 there.
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Post by Team Andromeda on Mar 26, 2019 9:13:55 GMT
No, not only has the gfx aged but the game controls like a dog these days. It's so painful to play Tomb Raider with its controls (on any classic system) All Tomb Raider classic games controlled quite a poor mind, until Crystal Dynamics took over.
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Post by barryburton on Mar 26, 2019 11:12:39 GMT
It's the type of game that has dated the most in my opinion. While the graphics still have a rough charm, the slow frame rate, awkward controls and lack of quality of life features* are frustrating. It's not hugely fun anymore. * few save points, no auto-grab, lots of falling off ledges by accident, extremely thin margins for landing jumps etc etc. I read someone describe it as the Dark Souls of platformers, and I think that's a fair description.
If you can look past all that and put yourself in a 1996 mindset, it is still a well made game with a memorable atmosphere.
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rossi46
#LFGM!
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Post by rossi46 on Mar 26, 2019 19:45:50 GMT
I don't get the comments about TR's graphics 'not aging well', if I'm honest. They look exactly like they always did. How can anyone say, on a retro-gaming forum!, that the visuals haven't aged well? Does that apply to all 32-bit graphics? Panzer Dragoon (and Zwei) look rough nowadays, but that doesn't stop them being great games. Sega Rally vehicles look like they're made of Lego, but it's still the benchmark for a lot of people where racing games are concerned.
The playability comments are fair because, it always was a Marmite game. One pixel too far left or right and it was frustrating to pick up health packs, especially whilst being attacked. Same goes for Resident Evil: I personally disliked the controls and really struggled with the game.
The "If you can look past all that and put yourself in a 1996 mindset, it is still a well made game with a memorable atmosphere." comment from Barry sums TR up best, IMO, because at the time I remember the clamour and noise and anticipation around this seminal title. All the mags were desperate to play it, all gaming talk was TR this and Lara Croft that. It was a phenomenon and it opened the floodgates for a deluge of copycat and better titles. It seems a bit disrespectful to dismiss TR in a sentence like "Meh, it looks shit nowadays", when pretty much everything from the early days of 3D looks ropey when viewed through a modern gaming lens.
I post this respectfully to open debate, not to start a flame war, but the gfx aging thing I feel is such a hackneyed and meaningless saying.
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Post by darkman01 on Mar 27, 2019 9:56:59 GMT
Its a good game, but only if you have no issues with tank controls. Personally Im ok with them (or at least tolerate them) so I still really like the game, but everyone's tolerance level for them is different.
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shaddow085
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 272
Location:
PSN: Wesker85
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Post by shaddow085 on Mar 27, 2019 10:37:52 GMT
Thanks for the further replies. Well I have no Problems with tank controll. Still love and Play the old RE games regularly up to this day and never had any issues with that type of controlls.
The graphics discussion is interesting too but not necessary. For some People the first 3d games did not age well and they cannot look at them any more. I am not among These People. I seriously believe that These old graphics have lots of charm even today. I especially like the way the early 3d Saturn titles look.
So neither the graphics nor the controlls should be a Problem for me.
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Post by darkman01 on Mar 27, 2019 10:51:33 GMT
Worth noting of course that Resident Evil is a bit easier to control as there isn't any platforming.
Flawed as they may be, the controls in Tomb Raider were still better than alot of the clones that came out years later.
Heck , its more playable than Croc.
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Post by Team Andromeda on Mar 27, 2019 11:23:27 GMT
I don't get the comments about TR's graphics 'not aging well', if I'm honest. They look exactly like they always did. How can anyone say, on a retro-gaming forum!, that the visuals haven't aged well? Does that apply to all 32-bit graphics? Panzer Dragoon (and Zwei) look rough nowadays, but that doesn't stop them being great games. Sega Rally vehicles look like they're made of Lego, but it's still the benchmark for a lot of people where racing games are concerned. The playability comments are fair because, it always was a Marmite game. One pixel too far left or right and it was frustrating to pick up health packs, especially whilst being attacked. Same goes for Resident Evil: I personally disliked the controls and really struggled with the game. The "If you can look past all that and put yourself in a 1996 mindset, it is still a well made game with a memorable atmosphere." comment from Barry sums TR up best, IMO, because at the time I remember the clamour and noise and anticipation around this seminal title. All the mags were desperate to play it, all gaming talk was TR this and Lara Croft that. It was a phenomenon and it opened the floodgates for a deluge of copycat and better titles. It seems a bit disrespectful to dismiss TR in a sentence like "Meh, it looks shit nowadays", when pretty much everything from the early days of 3D looks ropey when viewed through a modern gaming lens. I post this respectfully to open debate, not to start a flame war, but the gfx aging thing I feel is such a hackneyed and meaningless saying. Panzer Dragoon is set in a fantasy world that doesn't age as much imo, plus the game features better art direction and runs in a higher res mode, features a better frame rate ect ect. It's the controls that kills Tomb Raider game for me, they weren't very good back in the day, and they are just terrible today. And saying a game looks old and has aged, doesn't lessen the game impact it had back in the day. Virtual Fighter on both the Saturn and Model 1 Arcade hardware as aged; That still doesn't lessen the impact the game had back in the day, some 3D games age more than others. I remember being jaw dropped playing NFL 2K on my Dreamcast, going back to play the game today, the gfx have aged quite badly. That doesn't look to lessen the impact the game had back in 1999 though
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shaddow085
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 272
Location:
PSN: Wesker85
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Post by shaddow085 on Mar 27, 2019 11:46:01 GMT
Worth noting of course that Resident Evil is a bit easier to control as there isn't any platforming. Flawed as they may be, the controls in Tomb Raider were still better than alot of the clones that came out years later. Heck , its more playable than Croc. I am aware tat the old tomb raider are quite hard to controll. I finished 2 and even 3 on the playstation and 4 on the Dreamcast. Especially 3 was really hard and took me lots of time over many many years.
So I am aware what I am getting into. I only wonder who well the TR controls work with the sega saturn pad. For the TR games I just used the ps1 and the dc pad so far.
But I think with some practise I should be able to figure it out. I like the saturn controller in general so It should not a big problem, at least not a problem that cannot be worked out.
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