Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

100 or More Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

When this game was first released back in fall 1996, I remember seeing it being advertised a lot in my PlayStation magazines I used to get. At this time, I was pretty young and I remember just seeing the cover art because of this advert time and time again. I kept thinking to myself "I really want that game!" regardless of the fact that I knew absolutely NOTHING about it, even with the fact that it said "TOMB RAIDER" on it. That's right, somehow the word "TOMB" just didn't click with me at the time, and I was looking at the picture a lot thinking that Lara (or "that woman") was just standing outside on a street, which sounds pretty silly and funny now!

Little did I know that my dad was interested in this game (he was a gamer back then too), so of course, he got it. I remember being amazed at this game and always wanting a go, but it was very shortly afterwards that me (and my brother) got our own game of it on the PlayStation. Back then I never was able to get very far... it was a mix of getting lost in the second level, City of Vilcabamba, and the fact that those animals just creeped me out. If back then I was able to get to the third level The Lost Valley though... I wonder what my reaction would have been!

I didn't actually complete this game until in the early 2000's, regardless of the fact that I played the Tomb Raider series a LOT. Back then I spent a lot of my time in Lara's Mansion (Tomb Raider's 1-3) and the first few levels of the games. But when I did get to The Lost Valley... it was a mix of shock, awe and a very big feeling of "FREAKED OUT!!"

Since then, I have completed the game many times, however, so either way, I have completed the game many times years ago.

Speaking of getting freaked out, the entire game has that effect on you. The atmosphere is just completely amazing (even now!) and is actually probably a LOT more atmospheric than most games today. That isn't just because I am a big fan of Tomb Raider either, I really am pretty confident when I say that. It is the general feeling that you have when you are playing the game... everywhere you run and all of the areas that you check out, the game will still manage to freak you out a little. It is because of a mix of sound effects, epic music, LARGE open areas, dark areas... everything you could ask for. As strange as this may sound if you have never played Tomb Raider, I would say that this game can be as freaky as the early Resident Evil games, if not more at times!

Let's not forget about the protagonist, Lara Croft. Lara is one of the biggest video game characters of all time and this is where the whole adventure started. This game alone made Lara the first ever big time female video game character, up there with the likes of at the time Duke Nukem, Doomguy and B.J. Blazkowicz. These guys aren't particularly the most popular video game characters anymore, but Lara is still up there fighting with the best. I would still say that Lara is the best female character in any game of all time, beating the likes of Claire Redfield, Ada Wong and Jill Valentine from the Resident Evil series. Something else that is really interesting and unique about the Tomb Raider series is the fact that there was an official model for EVERY single main Tomb Raider title (minus the 2012 release later in the year, which is kind of disappointing as it's kind of become something that is a part of the game).

But what use would a great formula and main character be if the game wasn't actually any good? that is where the levels come in.

I feel that the first four levels of the game (Caves, City of Vilcabamba, The Lost Valley and Tomb of Qualopec) are simply amazing. There isn't one thing about the levels that I dislike, I love everything about them from the locations to the music used to the length of the levels. That makes the entirety of the Peru section of the game really awesome.

The next set of levels, the Greco-Roman levels, which includes St. Francis Folly, Colosseum, Palace Midas, Cistern and Tomb of Tihocan, are yet again a great set of levels. Perhaps my least favourite is the Cistern. I have never really been a big fan of that level for some reason, but it isn't particularly bad by any means. The Colosseum, Palace Midas and Tomb of Tihocan are all fantastic levels and they are great fun but the gem of this lot is the first of the set, St. Francis Folly. This level in itself is just really unique and original that this level still amazes me sometimes when I get to the main area. It's just the overall thought put in to the level that makes me realise that it is amazing. This set of levels is also a lot harder and will take a lot longer than the first set does, which, on a first go, may take you around an hour or so (actually, maybe longer, depending on how good you are in general with video games). But really, those levels are pretty easy in comparison to the rest of the levels, but don't worry if it is your first time and you are taking a while as you are simply exploring and finding out about them.

The next set of levels which are in Egypt, only includes three levels which are entitled City of Khamoon, Obelisk of Khamoon and Sanctuary of the Scion get even harder. Don't let the fact that there are only three levels fool you. Even for me, I sometimes get a little lost and confused myself in some areas of these levels, but not to a great amount like they used to, they just take me a little longer than the others. These levels are also really fun, but perhaps personally not as fun as the Greco-Roman levels... perhaps.

The final section of the game, Atlantis, is where the game starts to feel epic but in a different kind of way which I not speak of... but that's only after you grind yourself through the pretty boring (in my opinion) level that is Natla's Mines. Probably not as bad as you are thinking right now, but when the whole game has been surrounded by lonely, large tombs all over the world, this level just feels disappointing and out of place. Every time I play through this game I feel like I can't wait to complete the level. But the level isn't entirely disappointing, as there are some surprises in store later on. It is also neccessary to get to the next area, so if they didn't include this level it wouldn't make any sense as to where you appear next, Atlantis. Atlantis is also a really fun level. While it doesn't necessarily feel like a tomb (actually, it feels like it could have fit in perfectly with some of the later levels of Tomb Raider II), it is still a great amount of fun and it will also test your abilities thus far in to the game. The last level of the game, The Great Pyramid is just the epic final minutes of the game that will keep you on the edge of your seat! some of the stuff you will see during Atlantis and The Great Pyramid will make you want to throw your TV out of the window. Note: I said TV, not controller. That is because it can get pretty freaky at times. Not as freaky as it used to seem for me since I have completed this game many times, but still pretty horrible.

The controls may also be quite hard to get used to at first. But this is mainly because Lara feels like she is moving pretty slow, but it won't take you too long to get used to this. The main problem here is the fact that there is this delayed jump thing that you have to get used to. Said delayed jump is not in any of the other games of the Tomb Raider series, and she actually moves a bit faster come Tomb Raider II as well.

You definately should not let the controls put you off though, because everything else about the game is just amazing from the story, the levels, the music, the atmosphere (which goes SO well together with the music) and the length of the game is all spot on! (actually maybe just a TINY bit short... but then again, I have completed the game many times so I know exactly how the controls are and what to do pretty easily in the first few levels and I know what to expect when I get stuck etc now as well). Perhaps my only complaints about the game include the slow movement and jumping, and to an extent, the Natla's Mines level.

One of my favourite games of all time, perhaps just behind Tomb Raider II. If for some reason you are still unsure about this game... you shouldn't be! if you asked me I would say "stop! drop everything you have in your hands right now, and go and buy this game from somewhere". You shall probably NOT be disappointed by this game. If by any chance you are, I would definately give it another chance with the second one, but really... Tomb Raider 1 is a fantastic game which is really awesome. If you are unsure about it at first, just spend some time with it and you should grow to love it too!