Some might understandably affiliate the Tomb Raider sequence, like WipeOut and Crash Bandicoot, with PlayStation. Lara Croft shot to prominence because the poster lady of gaming within the lad-mag period of the late-’90s and feels ceaselessly tied to the cultural cornerstone that’s Sony’s debut console.
Nevertheless, Core Design’s unique sport launched for Sega Saturn and PC, too, and whereas Sony negotiated console exclusivity for the sequel, the sequence has appeared on virtually each sport platform made because the flip of the millennium, together with Nintendo programs.
However what’s the very best Tomb Raider sport? That is what we’re right here to seek out out.
This ranked record of each Tomb Raider sport on Nintendo consoles is ruled by every sport’s Consumer Score in our database and is topic to real-time change relying on its rating, whilst you learn this! Merely click on the star ranking and assign a rating from 1-10 to exert your private affect on the rating. (You may need to refresh the web page to see the modifications, if any, take impact.)
Sufficient exposition. Let’s seize our weapons, pull on our relic-hunting pants, and uncover the very best Tomb Raider video games, beginning on the backside…
Santa Cruz Video games took the reins on this reworked side-on platforming model of the house console sport. This moveable model of Lara’s ninth official journey manages to cram in voiced cutscenes, together with the requisite stock entry on the touchscreen and continues the calm and calculated platforming of the Recreation Boy entries.
DS Underworld is not a must-play, but it surely’s not a humiliation to the Croft identify, both.
Lara Croft’s first enterprise onto the Recreation Boy Coloration, Tomb Raider is a side-on motion platformer which sees the titular raider of tombs scrambling up partitions, swinging throughout vine-filled ceilings, and leaping over chasms trying to find treasures and the like.
It is a extra cinematic, slower-paced plunder — extra Prince of Persia than Mario — however options some spectacular animation. General, a good 8-bit interpretation of Croft’s 3D adventures.
Developed by Ubisoft Milan, this can be a 3/4 top-down affair that includes Lara’s acquainted acrobatic platforming and that slow-and-steady run cycle of hers that makes her the envy of marathon runners the world over.
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy is an unremarkable however pretty pleasant jaunt that includes all of the environmental puzzling and gunplay you’d count on from lofty Crofty, though it will possibly’t maintain a candle to the house console video games.
Lara’s DS debut, this is not a foul effort — not legendary, however not unhealthy. Very similar to its moveable predecessors, Legend on DS is a good stab at translating the gun-toting, puzzle-platforming sensibilities of the 3D video games right into a side-scrolling format which is sensible on extra modest {hardware}, and the additional energy of this console over its predecessor meant that these handheld tombs definitely appeared higher than ever.
We would by no means select to play this over the full-fat model, but it surely comfortably beats the GBA entry that carries the identical identify.
Human Smooth developed each handheld variations of Tomb Raider: Legend, and that is the lesser of the 2. The sport is not unimpressive within the visible division, with clear animation and sprites created from renders (suppose Donkey Kong Nation) and a narrative that is conveyed by way of comedian book-style stills.
Lara’s repetitive grunts as she clambers across the surroundings quickly start to grate, although. Couple that with irritating motorcycle-shooting sections, and it isn’t a sport we’re determined to dig up.
Tomb Raider: Underworld represents Crystal Dynamics’ final try at what many deem to be ‘basic’ Lara Croft earlier than rebooting the franchise utterly in 2013. You would be forgiven for pondering that Underworld is a little bit of a moist lettuce by way of high quality, then, but it surely’s really a strong entry within the franchise that is properly price testing with some first rate motion-controlled puzzles to resolve.
Sadly, after a number of entries in fast succession, Underworld suffered from being ‘simply one other Tomb Raider’ and carried out properly beneath writer Eidos Interactive’s expectations.
This sequel to Lara’s first Recreation Boy Coloration journey had Activision on publishing duties and was launched simply a few weeks after Angelina Jolie’s cinematic debut as Ms. Croft. Curse of the Sword adopted the formulation of its predecessor, with the identical type of acrobatic, slow-and-steady gameplay taking you out of the tombs from New Orleans to New York.
Given the constraints of the system, Core Design did one other first rate job distilling the core tenets of Lara’s 3D exploits for the GBC.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is considered one of Aspyr’s most completed tasks, efficiently giving three of gaming’s most iconic titles a much-needed lick of paint whereas upgrading the controls to present newcomers a welcome leg-up.
A few of the lighting is a bit off with the brand new visuals, and the necessity to manually save your sport is a giant no-no for us lately, however a sequence of patches have addressed varied points since launch and for those who’re curious as to how Lara Croft acquired her begin in gaming, that is an impressively trustworthy rendering of some classics – simply one of the best ways to expertise the unique trilogy.
Crystal Dynamics’ first foray with Lara after taking the reins from originating studio Core Design, Tomb Raider: Legend centres on Croft’s seek for Excalibur, legendary sword of King Arthur. And a John Boorman movie.
Legends was a extra modern-feeling tackle the tomb-raiding formulation following the poorly obtained Angel of Darkness on PS2. Keeley Hawes took over Lara’s voice on this entry, and with its new strategy to the basic character, this reboot helped get Lara again on her ft after a stumble, bringing her correctly into the twenty first century and introducing the ’90s icon to a brand new viewers.
The Lara Croft Assortment noticed two glorious Tomb Raider spin-offs from Crystal Dynamics hit Swap in a profitable package deal that provides loads of puzzles, slick fight, and enjoyable native co-op motion.
Comprising 2010’s Lara Croft and the Guardian of Gentle and the 2014 sequel, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, there are a number of efficiency points within the latter, and the shortage of on-line co-op for each video games is a disgrace, however general we nonetheless advocate choosing this double pack up for those who’re Lara-curious.
They could initially appear like watered-down takes on the principle franchise, however make no mistake, these are two of Croft’s easiest outings.
A co-developed undertaking between Crystal Dynamics and Buzz Monkey Software program, who dealt with the Wii port of the sport, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a 2007 remake of Core Design’s unique 1996 Tomb Raider, and varieties a part of the ‘Legends’ trilogy, which was capped off with Underworld the next yr.
This remake modernised varied elements and overhauled the visuals, with the Wii model including movement controls and unique puzzle gimmicks, too. As with many a waggle-filled Wii port, the movement controls have been cute and immersive to some, and an irritation to others.
However general, Anniversary was a comparatively stylish reimagining and for a few years remained the one means for Nintendo avid gamers to expertise Lara’s very first journey.
Sadly not as definitive because the title implies, Aspyr did the work to make Tomb Raider (2013) — the primary sport within the Survivor Trilogy — run at a strong 60fps on a handheld (on Swap 2; the Swap 1 model struggles to take care of a 30fps goal).
Nevertheless, it appears the price of that smoothness was graphical constancy at virtually each flip. To not point out the weird implementation, or lack thereof, of movement controls and unwieldy mouse choices on Swap 2.
Fortunately, although, this entry within the Tomb Raider mythos stays one of many easiest, and intelligent visible design signifies that your journey by way of Yamatai is way from ugly, so long as you don’t examine too carefully. Crystal Dynamics’ reinvention of Lara Croft simply could be the very best entry on this decades-old franchise, and for the asking worth, you’re getting an exciting motion romp that’ll maintain you hooked till the credit.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is an odd launch in that solely considered one of its three video games may be thought of a real basic. But regardless of this, it is nonetheless a set we would tentatively advocate testing if solely to understand how such an iconic online game sequence was virtually utterly derailed.
The remastered visible upgrades – notably within the fourth and fifth entries – do not all the time work, however the addition of 60fps efficiency alongside the retro aesthetics could be very welcome. When you’re a fan of Tomb Raider or take pleasure in revisiting flawed curios from days passed by, this could be price trying into. However this is not important like Aspyr’s earlier Tomb Raider assortment.
Some actual treasures in there, together with a handful of unpolished gems. Disagree with this Tomb Raider rating? Keep in mind, you’ll be able to price the video games you have performed even now and affect the rating in real-time. Simply click on on the celebs on every entry to assign a rating from 1-10.
