-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
DF Retro: Tomb Raider - PS1/SAT/PC
- Thread starter Self_Destructive
- Start date
Shin-Ra
Junior Member
Couldn't find an Infinite Warfare thread but I think the high quality download 'Let's Play Call of Duty Infinite Warfare on PS4 Pro at 4K' video's corrupted. I've downloaded it twice now, just with my browser and a download manager and both times the video won't open.
It's fine on YouTube.
It's fine on YouTube.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
See I remember hearing the Saturn just couldn't do TR2 as they implemented stuff which just didn't work well with the Sega Saturn and that was from Edge magazine
The whole Sony paid for it not to be on Saturn I only heard here on GAF.
While I have no doubt Sony paid for it the Edge story seems believable too based just on what the Saturn version of TR looked like and the DF video kinda explains how that would be the case too.
Thanks for the heads up. We're re-upping it now!
Sevket-Erhat
Member
My first proper game on my laptop at that time. So many great memories
Correctomundo
Member
I know I say this in every Tomb Raider '96 thread, but I love this game so damn much and I'll be perpetually replaying it until I die.
Mama Robotnik
Member
A really interesting video! I have never followed the Tomb Raider series aside from playing a demo of the original on the Sega Saturn on the Core Demo Disc. Why this was bundled with the distinctly-average Saturn Power, and not the incredible Official Sega Saturn Magazine, is still a mystery to me.
Despite knowing very little about the series, its a testament to your work that the video was very accessible, entertaining, and provided wider insights into the gaming ecosystem at the time - the DOS/Win95 discussion was really fascinating to me! I also want to commend you in your efforts to make this older games accessible to a more modern audience - the coverage of modern unofficial patches and wrappers was really helpful.
Looking forward to your hinted coverage of Crystal Dynamics games, for obvious reasons!
Despite knowing very little about the series, its a testament to your work that the video was very accessible, entertaining, and provided wider insights into the gaming ecosystem at the time - the DOS/Win95 discussion was really fascinating to me! I also want to commend you in your efforts to make this older games accessible to a more modern audience - the coverage of modern unofficial patches and wrappers was really helpful.
Looking forward to your hinted coverage of Crystal Dynamics games, for obvious reasons!
Not nearly enough time to cover that even with the full video, heh. Anniversary is a great game and easily the best CD Tomb Raider, but compared to the original game there are many, many things either cut or redesigned around the Legend mechanics, or stuff like the T-Rex encounter now being a more standard boss fight affair.
I would have liked a mention of how good the PSP port is, though. Other than loading times, they fit the entire game with next to no compromises.
Salty Hippo
Member
Fantastic work as always. This is quickly becoming my favorite gaming series on all of Youtube, fascinating stuff. Can't wait for dat Banjo episode next year.
If you're not a DF patron yet please consider it even if you don't care about 4k video, just to support stuff like this.
If you're not a DF patron yet please consider it even if you don't care about 4k video, just to support stuff like this.
I remember, as a Sega fanboy back then, becoming so excited when I first learned about this game in a gamefan magazine. And then becoming so so salty when the ps version had become so much better
Just imagine if they had the frame rate graph back then!
I never knew the PC version was missing music. That was such an important part of the game.
IronicSonic
Member
I never played the original in Saturn, or in any system whatsover, but I want to try now the improved PC version with mods. I think keyboard is enough for that arcaic control isn't?
Novum_Veritas
Member
Well you can play it via keyboard, I just use Xpadder to play it with my Xbox One controller, for me this is more comfy.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
Wasn't that missing from the Sega Saturn version
Novum_Veritas
Member
One thing that wasn't mentioned is that, while the PC version has no "event" music, most of the ambient music is unique and not in the other versions (the PS1 one at least, but I'm guessing Saturn is the same), which only have one ambient track. So PC+plus the music patch is actually superior to any other version music-wise because you get both the event music and more varied ambience in-between.
I'll have to check out this ATI Rage version of TR1 on PC; I thought Dosbox was still the only real way to play it on modern systems, but a native Windows version does sound better.
I'll have to check out this ATI Rage version of TR1 on PC; I thought Dosbox was still the only real way to play it on modern systems, but a native Windows version does sound better.
Novum_Veritas
Member
Go for it, it is pretty easy to pull off, and you have it portable too.
Works really well.
Was there supposed to be more music, or what is it missing? IIRC the music is played from Red Book tracks.
edit: Ah, just found the relevant part in the video. That's interesting, never knew.
AgentOtaku
Member
YEEEESSS!!!!
Thanks DF!
Thanks DF!
Stallion Dan
Member
The combat wasn't about about the shooting, was about the dodging and evading enemies. It is a platform/exploring/puzzle game. Is why the new games that are 95% shooting are terrible Tomb Raider games.
Nachtfalke
Member
Great video as always! But I can't agree with the upscaled cutscenes. They look absolutely terrible like a smoothed out filter on an emulator.
I remember, as a Sega fanboy back then, becoming so excited when I first learned about this game in a gamefan magazine. And then becoming so so salty when the ps version had become so much better
OMG this is me exactly. Two of the reasons I picked Saturn over PS1 was because (a) I thought TR was Saturn exclusive . And (b) I thought Saturn was getting an Eternal Champions sequel.
Still love this game, and I think it still controls really well actually. But that's coming from someone with a lost of nostalgia for this, the clunkyness is part of the charm for me.
I might replay it again with that widescreen mod. I knew about the modders adding the missing music already, but this might give it just that little bit extra to give another playthrough a go. Oh hell, who am I kidding, like I need an excuse. I still replay this game every year around crhistmas time. Super relaxing/comfy to me.
It's funny how much I love this game and never really checked out the sequels. Should really fix that one of these days. I think I might even own most of them on GOG already.
I might replay it again with that widescreen mod. I knew about the modders adding the missing music already, but this might give it just that little bit extra to give another playthrough a go. Oh hell, who am I kidding, like I need an excuse. I still replay this game every year around crhistmas time. Super relaxing/comfy to me.
It's funny how much I love this game and never really checked out the sequels. Should really fix that one of these days. I think I might even own most of them on GOG already.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
I thought so, disappointed new Lara don't do it
Gave her character if ya know what I mean.
Than again new Lara isn't a gymnast
Just watched the feature. Great technical retrospective of the first Tomb Raider. Thanks for clearing up misinformation about the 'enhanced Victor Soft Japan port on Saturn'. I was just about ready to buy it too. No need now.
I have never seen the undistorted Saturn quad-sprites effect before, how weird!
Although the PS1 version is cleary superior in lighting and framerate and polygons from the (NTSC for me) Saturn version, I still enjoyed the Saturn version and was amazed at it. And replaying it on PS1, the extra PS1-dithering and warping kind of bugs me.
I've never played one of the PC versions, but I always though that the reduced lighting/blackout of distant polygons made the game have its atmosphere. Being able to see the entire room clear as day does reduce the fear and suspense factor.
I have never seen the undistorted Saturn quad-sprites effect before, how weird!
Although the PS1 version is cleary superior in lighting and framerate and polygons from the (NTSC for me) Saturn version, I still enjoyed the Saturn version and was amazed at it. And replaying it on PS1, the extra PS1-dithering and warping kind of bugs me.
I've never played one of the PC versions, but I always though that the reduced lighting/blackout of distant polygons made the game have its atmosphere. Being able to see the entire room clear as day does reduce the fear and suspense factor.
Yep.
It's super obvious when you play the original game that the combat is just there for pacing reasons, to give you some tension between platforming and puzzle solving sections, and to give the exploration a sense of danger because you don't know when there's going to be a tiger around that next corner.
runs in DOSBox
yesrushdt
Member
Yeah, you should check out TR2 as it's my favorite game of all time (narrowly edging out the first TR). There is a widescreen patch available for 2, 3 and Last Revelation as well which can be found HERE. Instructions on how to widescreen mod TR1 can be found HERE for those that missed the recent TR 20th Anniversary thread.
Beerman462
Member
I replayed Tomb Raider 1 and 2 on PC this year and it was fun to go back.
This is fucking crazy because I only played TR1 on Saturn and I remember doing that move yet now I see it wasn't on the Saturn version. I wonder from where my fake memories come from now lol
Corleth the Fey
Member
Thank you John so for yet another excellent DF Retro.
I did suggest that Tomb Raider needed the DF Retro treatment in the Sega Saturn 20th Anniversary thread. Mainly because I thought that the Saturn version had a longer draw distance than the 'in every other way' superior PS1 version.
Now you've got them running side to side it looks like I was incorrect. It just looks like the PS1 version had a different fade in on the most distant polygons. So they kinda pop quicker in the Saturn version rather than slowly fading in.
Props for mentioning the Anniversary version which is my personal favorite Tomb Raider. It's the perfect mix between the old isolationist and puzzle gameplay, but with more modern twin stick controls and feel. I probably replay this game more than any other. I don't I'll ever get bored of swinging, jumping, climbing, rolling and grabbing through that wonderful game.
I did suggest that Tomb Raider needed the DF Retro treatment in the Sega Saturn 20th Anniversary thread. Mainly because I thought that the Saturn version had a longer draw distance than the 'in every other way' superior PS1 version.
Now you've got them running side to side it looks like I was incorrect. It just looks like the PS1 version had a different fade in on the most distant polygons. So they kinda pop quicker in the Saturn version rather than slowly fading in.
Props for mentioning the Anniversary version which is my personal favorite Tomb Raider. It's the perfect mix between the old isolationist and puzzle gameplay, but with more modern twin stick controls and feel. I probably replay this game more than any other. I don't I'll ever get bored of swinging, jumping, climbing, rolling and grabbing through that wonderful game.
Thanks, I was just about to look for that mod! I think I'll play the first couple of levels again tonight.
PSX was the version I had back in the day. It's a bit strange to see the modded PC version now, the image is so stable compared to PSX.
But I'm not ashamed to admit that I actually prefer the Legend-Anniversary-Underworld trilogy over the original games. Love them, and Keeley Hawes is the best Lara.
You know, one of the biggest disappointments about the new TR reboots are that they didn't include the Nathan McCree's classic TR theme in there in any form, that I've heard at least.
Looking forward to seeing more Crystal Dynamics stuff, especially Soul Reaver. Soul Reaver is another one where the PC version lacks music if I remember correctly.
But I'm not ashamed to admit that I actually prefer the Legend-Anniversary-Underworld trilogy over the original games. Love them, and Keeley Hawes is the best Lara.
You know, one of the biggest disappointments about the new TR reboots are that they didn't include the Nathan McCree's classic TR theme in there in any form, that I've heard at least.
Looking forward to seeing more Crystal Dynamics stuff, especially Soul Reaver. Soul Reaver is another one where the PC version lacks music if I remember correctly.
