Tomb Raider

- Reviewed on Switch 2 -

Tomb Raider released on October 25th, 1996.

Developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive, I’m reviewing this as part of the Tomb Raider I–III Remastered collection on Switch 2, which released on February 14th, 2024.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

In Tomb Raider, you play as Lara Croft, a young archaeologist with a sharp mind and athletic skills, traveling to remote locations in search of ancient artifacts and hidden secrets.

The story kicks off with Lara investigating a mysterious tomb filled with traps and puzzles.

Along the way, she encounters dangerous mercenaries, wild animals, and clues that point to long-lost civilizations.

The narrative is simple but effective, giving context to your adventures while letting the exploration and puzzles take center stage.

Right from the start, the game impresses with its world design and atmosphere.

Each location feels alive and full of history.

Puzzles and rooms genuinely feel like ancient tombs, giving you a true sense of discovery.

I found myself marveling at how immersive the environments were, even after all these years.

One of the most exciting features of this remaster is the option to toggle between the original graphics and the remastered visuals with a single button.

It’s incredibly satisfying to see how far the graphics have come and then switch back to that nostalgic 1996 look for comparison.

The remastered graphics are smooth, crisp, and overall fantastic, giving a modern shine to Lara’s adventures while keeping the charm intact.

The character design is top-notch.

Lara herself feels iconic, and enemies are diverse and engaging.

Weapon selection is excellent, letting you approach combat in multiple ways, and the enemy variety keeps encounters interesting throughout the game.

Music is another standout.

The soundtrack is incredible and perfectly complements the sense of adventure, tension, and discovery that the game thrives on.

It really elevates the experience.

Gameplay in Tomb Raider is a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.

The puzzles are clever and rewarding, often requiring you to explore every corner of each level.

Level progression can be frustrating at times, and I’ll admit I relied on a guide for some of the trickier areas—but even then, the sense of accomplishment after solving each puzzle is fantastic.

That said, there are some downsides.

The controls feel a bit clunky, especially compared to modern standards, which can make platforming tricky.

Dialogue is subpar, and cutscenes feel very dated—they weren’t remastered in this collection, which is a minor disappointment for a modern re-release.

Overall, Tomb Raider in the remastered collection is a blast for both new players and long-time fans.

It’s a classic adventure that combines exploration, combat, and puzzles in ways that still feel satisfying decades later.

Pros: 

    - Great character design

    - Lively, immersive worlds and atmospheres

    - Incredible music throughout

    - Puzzles and areas feel like real tombs / ancient secrets

    - Option to toggle original graphics

    - Smooth, crisp remastered graphics

    - Excellent enemy design and weapon selection

Cons:

    - Clunky controls

    - Subpar dialogue

    - Cutscenes are very dated

My Rating for Tomb Raider (on Switch 2):

4 / 5

-----

Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.