The first three adventures of one of videogames' most popular heroines will be revisited by the authors of the latest installments.
Released in 1996, 1997 and 1998 respectively, Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II - Starring Lara Croft and Tomb Raider 3: The Adventures of Lara Croft have become almost cult references in the small world of video games. The first opus has already been remade with the 2007 release ofAnniversary, but now all three episodes are benefiting from this rejuvenation. Working hand in hand with Nintendo, Crystal Dynamics took advantage of the latest Nintendo Direct to announce the Tomb Raider I-III Remaster.
It should be noted, however, that this undertaking is by no means exclusive to Nintendo's machine. Of course, Tomb Raider I-III Remaster will be released on Switch on February 14, 2024, but it will also be available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as on PC via the Steam platform. What's more, all versions of the game will be available on the same day (February 14), with virtually identical functionalities, although we don't yet know whether the most powerful machines (PS5, Xbox Series X and PC) will benefit from additional enhancements.
For the time being, Crystal Dynamics, which is working with Aspyr Media, has mainly talked about its game in these terms: " immerse yourself in enhanced cult graphics, with an option to switch back to the original polygon at any time ". This is not a very clear way of referring to an option well known to fans of point & click remasters: with a single keystroke, it will indeed be possible to switch between the reworked version of the game and the original version, with its very "polygonal" graphics. Among other improvements, the two studios also cited an overhaul of the controls.
Even more interestingly, camera management has been revised, one of the major shortcomings of 3D games of the time. However, nothing has been said about the games' gameplay: will it be adapted to suit today's realities, or kept "as is"? We do know, however, that each of the three opuses will have its own directly-integrated expansion: The Unfinished Business for Tomb Raider I, The Gold Mask for II and The Lost Artifact for III. Last but not least, the game's Steam page has already been posted, giving information on its price: 28.99 euros, with a 10% discount for the duration of the pre-order period, effective immediately.
