Tomb Raider Remastered Celebration ft Lori_en and Steve of Warr 

This is the dream team of Tomb Raider youtubers, thank you for sharing this

While it has the occasional flaw that is hopefully patched, I would say that this collection is an absolute must for any Tomb Raider fan. Aspyr have treated these games with the respect they deserve. Once they fix those issues, I would be happy to consider these the definitive versions of these games. They absolutely need to do the remaining 3 Core games, and there were hints dropped in this remaster that they hope to do them (radars in Area 51 point to one of the locations in Egypt from TLR).

Loved this episode. I just can't believe they've remastered them this well. I'm hoping and praying for them to make the last revelation at least 🤞

23.36 She's right! A hybrid between the two control systems would work!...My suggestion: Anolgue sticks adopt new controls, and the dpad for the old ones. That way you can switch between them on the fly. Most people using tank controls would be sticking to the dpad anyway.

The Cistern drove me nuts! I didn't know which key I was missing. I thought I'd have the same problem in TR2, but the keys were much larger and more visible. Still, I absolutely love that we're being treated to these beautiful remasters. I feel lucky to be a Tomb Raider fan.

For me I'd like it if they add a level select for each games. I'd like to replay some levels without preparing a savestate at the beginning of each level (and of course they'd have to adjust the number of items you got if you start at any leve). Except from that, these remasters give me everything I hoped !

Thank you, Chris, Lori and Steve! Very heart-warming podcast to listen to! Like XProger said, we listen to all the feedback. Hope you will enjoy the upcoming patch!

Talking about hybrid controls, I really think that they could do something similar to Resident Evil 1 Remake where, when you choose the “modern controls”, you can also switch to tank controls by simply using the D-pad instead of the analog to move the character around. So in Tomb Raider's case, maybe this can be implemented in the modern control scheme (obviously maintaining the button mapping of this mode to avoid confusion).

The biggest pleasure of playing these games for me, apart from the music and level structure, is the skyboxes. It was always great in the originals, but in the remasters, levels like Lost Valley, Opera House, Kingdom, Lara's Home, Thames Wharf and so many others are the reason i like to play Tomb Raider. When you look in the distance it really makes you feel like you're in this unique place and you can see the whole world around you.

I feel like most people just expect to be able to change character costumes in games now. For me, ever since Arkham I’ve loved changing up what they’re wearing in each play through. So if they could make that a thing, it’d be great!

Of course Steve makes his own physical case for TR Remasters! Way to go. I agree with all. And it was me! I said because that's what I felt playing them first time around - that the remastered graphics are literally the visualization of how our minds have filled out the gaps and blanks of the visuals for the OG games!

I said we need a modern controls hybrid, like using the d-pad for tank and then stick for modern would be great, i like how freeing modern controls feel, especially in open spaces and combat but for platforming it doesn't work (well). I did a lot changing to make the modern controls as close to the original (square for jump, R1 to walk etc) and it feels more natural

So far, I'm really loving all of what they have done. I'm still on the fence about the holes in the ceilings to let light in. While it creates beautiful effects, my mind is always thinking that, if there were these many openings into these chambers, how has nobody found them before? It just breaks a bit of my suspension of disbelief.

Great video! Regarding the controls, I do believe there's big room for improvement in the modern ones, particularly with the camera, it is such a struggle with tight spaces, especially when I can't place it in Lara's back. However, I prefer them to tank controls due to the placement of the D-Pad in the Xbox, I even think they make some platforming challenges (Like the fire room in TR1) more fluid to traverse.

26:26 Not that anyone asked me, but personally what I'd hope to see is that some areas maybe get touched up a tad bit more. I felt there were a few areas that didn't quite get the love they deserved. For example, the large waterfall in Coastal Village (TR3) still looks quite bland at the bottom. It looks a bit better now that there's a fully encompassed skybox instead of just being a black void down there, but there's still a very clear demarcation where the map ends. I thought that might be the kind of thing they would disguise with new 3D elements, like trees or bushes to mask the map edge (look at the beginning of the Jungle level for example; instead of just keeping a flat, plant textured wall behind her at the start, they added depth and 3D objects to it, fantastic). To truly turn it into a fantastic view. Idk, maybe I should have tempered some of those expectations lol. But griping aside, I am extremely pleased with these remasters! I am very happy overall to have these new, in my mind, definitive ways to play the classics! (But please fix the All Hallows bug Aspyr! LOL)

Chris, Steve & Lori, love you all! ❤️ Loved this episode too! Definitely agreeing with all you've said. I did stream TR1 up to the Cistern on the first day and gave up because I couldn't find the keys 😅 Need to get back to streaming the rest of it some time! I was great to see Lori again in Norwich, hoping to see you all again in Derby 😀

3:34am! Watching this and I agree with most of the stuff you guys mentioned :D Great work!! (Also, I just finished TR1 for the first time ever without cheats and walkthroughs lol)

Lovely discussion! I think I agree with pretty much everything you said, although I haven't finished 2 or 3 yet so I can't speak for the whole games. Also I don't use a controller or modern controls so I trust you about about what you say about those :D As for one little complaint I would add, it's the inability to change gamma in the original version of TR3. I'm used to PC and the PS graphics are super super dark (or is there a way to change gamma that I didn't notice?). And along with that, add a toggle to make the UI look like on PC so I can really experience full nostalgia. Wait, along with that, also the PAL versions of the logos :) But yeah, that hardly takes priority when there are still some fixes to focus on. Overall, this remaster really is a dream come true!

20:43 I was so lost in this level last night 😅 the new waterfalls hide all the ledges you're meant to jump on.

Steve is such an Icon ❤

I absolutely love the Tomb Raider remaster! Unfortunately, some of my cut-scenes are not playing at all in TR3. Have not heard anyone mention that. Also kinda wish sprint button was added to TR2.

hahaha XD the keys! i 'm still to arrive to the cistern. i'm playing for the first time looking out for an all secrets run!

I've also been enjoying levels I was less keen on before due to the new lighting changing the feel of them. I think the best parts are when they're set outside with further draw distance and lots of foliage. I was amazed by how good The Great Wall looked 😳. I'd like some more options in photo mode and yes, fingers crossed that the next 3 games also get a remaster. Revelation is one of my favourites.

Just finished The Cistern, which was always one of my favorite levels. To think it has been nearly 28 years since I last set foot in each of these environments, and they are all just as magical as I remember.

Been playing through the collection since release and I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I still enjoy these. The only real criticism I have is that there should've been a lot more control and accessibility settings than what they ended up including (like a tank/modern hybrid scheme)

What I'd like to see for future updates as well, is togglable console/pc options for the UI, sounds, and other elements that were a bit different for each.

Nice! but to be honest I would first wait till they update and patch remasters 1-3 before they work on 4. There is still a lot to improve in my opinion. There are sections in TR 2 that feel rushed(Platform, Maria Doria) and not as polish as tr1 and definitely not tr3. Expansions also feel left out - yes amazing models high resolution textures and skybox but there is simple not the same effort as in TR1 and TR3. Great example is furnace of the God in golden Mask it have basically gold river they could do the same thing like in madubu but its basically 1:1 - disapointing . Game need some extra options to change outfits maybe unlock some old concept art ( yes we all saw it but could be just nice touch and reason to play the game over and over again). Photomode also need improvement besides things you mentioned it would be nice if lara have way more poses ( maybe based on some iconic renders), and facial expresions.

Aw 3 amazing Tomb Raider Creators! I was kinda waiting on such a video from each of you, this is even better now. The things I disliked about the games (TR1/2 done, started 3 today) are fairly simple: camera of modern controls in tight spaces, like Steve said lighting in TR1, pickup being too small or blend in too much with the environment and would have loved if they remade the cutscenes with current models. Apart from that I enjoyed everything so far. It's like revisiting childhood again. Like Chris said, I haven't been in some levels for a very long time and rediscovered them now in an absolutely stunning asthetic. edit: Has anyone noticed that there are screens on the oil rig which show a running "Lara" model? these little details are SO good. I do hope they remaster 4/5 (of course lvl editor included with 5) and remake AoD (there are some amazing fan mods for AoD which make it really enjoyable to play - imagine what they could do to it 😱😱). Or, which I ABSOLUTELY DOUBT - but it would be very awesome, if they remade 4 and 5 and then rebuild AoD from the ground up as its trilogy or at least two games that the story concludes. But in a million years that won't happen it's just dreaming. I think they nailed it. Everyone who worked on these remasters has done incredible job. It really feels like a love letter from fans for fans and it shows, too. I could not be happier at the moment. (Only thing that bothers me is that the success of these games is once again overshadowed by politics and in some cases TR fanbase vs TR fanbase.)

Its funny you saying about how it makes the game look like we thought it looked when it first came out, and then Steve improving his opinion on the Cistern. The Cistern very much looks like it always had in my head now

This was a charming chat with a great group. I am very familiar with Chris and Steve but only seen a small amount of Lori’s stuff but I’ve enjoyed the let’s plays of her showing her friend Rosie the game so it was nice to see her here cos I’ve not seen overview videos with her before. And since Steve brought up physical, I can imagine them waiting until after they do a second collection so they could put all the core games onto one blu ray cos I think I read this collection is only 5-6gb so lots of space on a disc left to use plus it would feel neater having it all together. Just some small constructive criticism on the video production itself (I feel awful for bringing it up when it’s near perfect) Chris’s feed gets a little dark at times and I wish the calls could take up more space in the full video but I assume that’s just a tech limitation since so many discord/zoom call vids on RU-vid are set up this way.

One thing that has bugged me more than absolutely anything else that I’ve not seen anybody saying is the fact that we can’t replay levels. It’s so sad because I wanna play through the Temple of Xian and the Great Pyramid again but I don’t want to have to play through the whole game just to get to those levels again. And also the ability to restart levels is gone as well. I’m on Antarctica from TR3 rn and I just realised that I’ve royally screwed up some of the level and I would LOVE to have the ability to restart it from the beginning so I don’t have to suffer so much through the rest of it. Can someone with a platform PLEASE bring this up so Aspyr sees this because it is driving me nuts!

Great episode my friend. For me the items disappearing is a big one, it shouldn’t happen but with that being said I’m ok with it as I am continuously swapping between modern n old graphics so it helps. And of course the modern controls are not great but my question is if they didn’t give us the option to go back to tank controls, would the modern controls be more acceptable? And would we be ok with it? (I’m happy that we have tank controls cause personally I think it would kinda destroy my experience but for first timers, it probably wouldn’t… not sure… what d u all think? 🤔

I've been looking these remasters for years and as someone who streams and does challenge runs of tomb raider, these remasters are perfect ❤

I've played through the Peru and Greece levels so far and I'm extremely satisfied and all of this feels like a dream come true! I hope they fix some things, like the issue with the keys that you guys mentioned in this video. They are nigh IMPOSSIBLE to spot with the remastered graphics if you don't know what you are looking for and don't have the little exclamation mark thing turned on! By the way, there is also an additional painting glitch at the end of the Colosseum level when you drop into the water and turn around - a whole wall is a painting! I'm not fully sure how I feel about the fact that they added little passageways for sunlight into every level, in several rooms... It's a small thing really, but I think it changes the feeling of isolation somewhat - and the feeling of being really deep underground. Also I think the old water textures had a more mysterious quality to them compared to the modern ones - often the little shifting surface texture blocks what's underneath, and it created quite a nice feeling of not knowing what will happen underwater! The remastered water gives everything away immediately. But regardless, I really, REALLY love this remastering!

I love the modern twitch controls personally, yes there are quirks with the camera that can be improved, but I've been loving the new controls The only hurdle for me was figuring out how to hop back one square space (gotta have her guns out to do so)

I grew up with these games. I challenged myself to use modern controls. Currently I’ve completed TR1 and have started TR2. I did have to reassign a few commands….but it’s quite usable once you figure it out. The camera definitely needs to be fixed.

The only thing I have to say about the potential for 4 and 5 is TAKE AS LONG AS YOU NEED. Both games suffered from crunch, chronicles especially with its numerous bugs. They cannot and should not be rushed for the sake of unrealistic expectations.

Steve took the words right out of my mouth in regards to having physical copies. I don't like having to download games digitally and was gutted to see it was digital only but I wouldn't mind waiting if it meant they fixed the problems you guys bought up before making physical copies

Hold L1and R1 in loading screen it puts lara glasses on just found out

The only downfall so far is the no level select of levels you already beat. Hopefully after completing the game they fix that or update it.

Right now I'd hope Saber and Aspyr would focus on glitvhes and mugs. Such as the texture swaps and walls/objects not appearing in the "Remaster Mode" The lack of texture of moving streams of water and the lack of waving effects on the mud and quicksands would be great. The "N" logo on the left magnum beeing reversed should be fixed. In tearm of "more work". Moddeling the proper shotgun and grenade launcher for Tomb Raider 3 is realy needed. Xp The Ingame cutscenes could have a bit more tweaking. Like diminishing the head bubbling and changing same weird hand movements. The peak would be to have remade FMV cutscenes with the Remastered models. Like Nightdive did for Quake 2 and Star Wars Dark Forces... may be a dream... Regarding mode. More poses and faces for photo mode. Having a level selection screen once we beat the game. More costumes (I'm not over the lack of "Viva Las Vegas" outfit)

My only gripe with the improved visuals is that it doesn't have the "black fog" the originals had. A lot of the suspenseful unease I felt playing the originals came from that... "What lies beyond the darkness?" essentially. I know this isn't going to happen, but if they could put an option in the settings menu to turn on/off the "black fog" while playing with the remastered graphics, it would be perfect, in my opinion.

Playing classic tomb raider on older television back in the 90's looked better since most TV's wasn't hd quality like TV's today

At least in TR3, I've been noticing I have some difficulty making out switches and levers from the damn walls, leading to some situations where I'm stuck wandering around the level switching between old graphics and new, trying to find whatever I missed. In Nevada some levers under water were practically invisible on the wall, but seeing as I knew they were there it wasn't much of a problem. However, I decided to take the temple path in the river Ganges, which I had never done before, and this happened quite a bit. Also, some of the lighting changes took away from the iconic ambience the set pieces had, so far that room in the temple ruins with the floating scientists was the most egregious example. And some of the areas of Nevada desert were way too dark.

3:32 Ironically I've installed a metric ton of outfit mods 😆

Now I have to get a PS5 I need to play these

Nice video. I already played 18 hours 😊😅 finished 3, half 2 and unfinished business 😂😂😂

I agree that a "Hybrid" version of Tank controls could be better. Modern controls as they stand atm are truly awful. Tank controls are great, and that's mainly because they're the controls that the games were BUILT with. But a few modern tweaks to the Tank controls might make the game a lot smoother for the modern audience.

my biggest gripe with the game is that as you progress you do not get the story so far mode where you can replay each level from the start, i dont know why they did this, other than that im really enjoying it, TR 2 AND 3 are just bonuses for me i bought the game for TR1, as thats where the magic is

It's refreshing to go back to an old game that trusts itself to be good. Nice to play a Tomb Raider game again and not Gears of War game with a Lara skin. The only two issues that absolutely blow my mind that they're even a thing are why is there no quick save? I might be wrong btw. I might have just missed it but good god why if not? And secondly.. the controls. They're not awful or anything but I just don't understand why the "modern controls" aren't just the analogue stick moves like a modern game and everything else is just like the ps1 controls. I genuinely don't understand why you need to go into the menu to change them when literally all you need to do is d-pad=tank controls and left analogue stick or modern movement. These aren't massive issues for me but it's just the simplicity of the "fix" so to speak that completely boggles my mind

Really hoping they will improve on Lost Artifact visuals through patches, even Maria Doria was done dirty with then 2D lamps.

Hi! :) thanks for that! One question. You didn't bring up the textures not connecting to each other. Looking very patchy. And in some levels looking very unfinished. It's most visible in TR3. In the jungle for example. Or in Scotland Is it something you noticed as well?

I'm generally happy with the remaster, and I love that they're actively working to resolve issues, however my biggest gripe are the AI generated textures. Some look perfectly fine but others look really bad and the worst offenders just don't fit the art style at all. I spotted quite a few of them in the egypt levels of TR unfinished business. But I'm also spotting some in TR2 rn with typical AI issues. Undefinable objects, weird distorted faces on statues, etc. This is really bothering me, and I'd love if they went back and replaced some of those textures

I hope they fix the camera issues on modern controls and if posible drop the dynamic camera angles while playing in modern control tank controls work fine but on modern the camera is an issue plus they seem to have raise the camera angle on modern graphics mode which bugs the camera(it does not do it if the graphics are the old ones)

Madubu was always the best looking level of TR3. I dont know why its hated. The kayak is fun too. The only problem is the climbing animation is too slow. And the colours are more vivid in the 98 version. I’d like it to be more PURPLE VS SUNSET ❤

Hopefully the legendary series will get remastered.. with original voixe acting.. The last CD produced TR, Shadow of.. was pretty boting with endless npc chatter and a phoned in performance from Lara voice actor..

Is there a SELECT LEVEL option in these games? On ps1 they were on the load section. If there isnt I would ask the devs to bring it bacl. Maybe I’m dumb and cant find it 😂

As soon as I saw that the original Tomb Raider games were on Steam, I wasted no time buying them.

TRLE!

I feel like... levels also don't seem to have gotten the same love as others. Generally, the first number of levels of each game look great, but some just uh... don't quite have the same additions and details of others. Like, The Cistern was mentioned as having dripping water, puddles, all these details added in that are lovely and make total sense for the environment. I find it SHOCKING that the whole Maria Doria section has none of those. You're literally on a sunken ship, why is there not... anything like that? I feel also the expansions packs are relatively flat and not updated, compared to the main games, which is especially a shame when looking at The Lost Artefact. I mean I get it, players will focus on the main games, it's amazing the expansions were included, let alone with the HD textures! But... Idk, I still find it a little sad that the hard work of the creators on making such a vibrant, diverse, and engine-pushing game... well now looks behind the main games in quality.

I'm not knocking their efforts here, dont want anyone thinking that. Every video I have seen about the remakes have had one thing in common, they all include 'They need to patch XXXXX' sounds wrong hearing that a 30 year old game needs patching to fix what they have made better.

9:41 I was literally grumbling to myself about having to trudge through this level, then I got to the main room and literally gasped. Cistern got a deserved glow-up, cuz everyone hates that level (myself included)

Probably too much to ask but after they do TR4 & 5 I'd love a new TR game in the classic style (Or just another Gold Expansion with 4-6 new levels). Like what they did for the Duke Nukem 3D Anniversary (adding new 5th episode with 8 new levels). Wouldn't have make any new weapons, enemies, mechanics, etc just re-arrange and texture swap what they already have in TR1-5