What are the best three Tomb Raider games?

[DeathAdder]

This is a series I've never tried, but feel I should.

What do you consider to be the best games in the series? On any console, that is, although I won't be picking up any PC games.

I don't mind games whose controls are now hard to get to grips with. I play a lot of pre-Dual Shock games.

Thanks for your recommendations.

[noobish hat]

You have to play the original. It's a masterpiece. The sound design is some of the best in any game (not just the quality of the tunes, but the use of them, and the use of silence). Scarier than anyone gives it credit for too, I think, but maybe that will be different for someone who's never played it and is used to modern games. If I were you, I'd play it on the PS1 rather than the Saturn. The only advantage of the Saturn version that I recall is less tearing in the scenery. Literally everything else is superior on the PS1. The water effects on the Saturn are particularly crappy, probably thanks to the difficulty of doing transparencies.

[Sam The Man]

The first 3 games are the best but the very first one is special. As noobish hat mentioned the music and sound effects give the game a special atmosphere and the level design is i.m.o the best of all time. The PS1 version is better than the Saturn version as the graphics are slightly sharper & cleaner looking. The sound effects are also better and there are a few small areas missing on the Saturn version.

The 2nd and 3rd games are also brilliant with some terrific levels, set pieces and puzzles.

[Wools]

In order, I would play the original Tomb Raider on PSone as its a classic that still retains its haunting atmosphere. Then Tomb Raider II as it keeps the block movement gameplay but expands with some wonderful locations but did not become too complex to play like the PSone era games that followed.

Finally, I would play Tomb Raider underworld as it's very underrated but the title retains some hallmarks of the original series, has some spectacular environments along with some of the best underwater levels in Videogames where you have a oxygen tank to breath. No time limits!

[DeathAdder]

Sweet. Ordered Tomb Raider one for starters, after reading the comments. On PS. Will see if there are any more opinions before choosing two more to get.

[Neon Ignition]

Depends on what kind of experience you prefer, the series has swung a lot between puzzling and action. The latest reboot entry is great but less focused on puzzles etc. Underworld is a cracking entry too.

Then again, I didn't mind Angel of Darkness

[Dogg Thang]

Yep, the first one is still amazing. I replayed the first three (and half of the fourth) a year or so ago and enjoyed them immensely. Worth going in knowing that the first game is right at the early days of 3D and looks incredibly blocky and basic. It did take me a while to readjust to the graphics. But once I did, the world is so immersive. The blocks become rocks, caverns, moss etc and the sound as mentioned is wonderful.

The level design of that first game is superb and it couldn't be replicated with more modern control schemes.

The second and third games are both great too. The locations in the second game I didn't find quite as interesting (a little less Tomby) but each game takes certain elements up a notch and adds new elements too. The jump in the graphics is noticeable between 1 and 3 as well. I have a real soft spot for TR3. It's a little rough around the edges but some of the locations are fantastic. Back in the day, I remember being critical because I felt the game was far too easy compared with 1 and 2. As an adult, I have no idea what I was thinking because on replay I have found 3 to be devilishly hard.

So yes, I'd recommend 1-3. Although you would be playing three quite similar games if you went that route - different but they're a progression of each other. So alternatively you could try to get a broad spread and play TR1 and then go for maybe Tomb Raider Legend which is different and I have criticisms but is still a really enjoyable game in its own right and then perhaps the most recent game (which I haven't played but everyone raves about).

[Pikate]

1. Tomb Raider
2. Tomb Raider 2
3. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Although usually I'd say Uncharted 2 is the best Tomb Raider game, the Tibet levels in that are some of the best I've ever played in any game.

[Lebowski]

id Recommend the ps3/xbox version of Tombraider trilogy, it has a more polished version of one on it and its cheap as chips to get hold of. if you have never played the ps1 original this might be a better place to start these days, I quite enjoyed the other two last gen versions of tombraider on there too.

[Dogg Thang]

Worth pointing out on Lebowski's post above that Anniversary is loosely based on 1 and does not retain most of the precision platforming because it wouldn't work with the controls. Many levels are abridged, compacted and one or two might even be missing. The locations and story play out the same but it's a different game. Personally, I'd recommend sticking with the original if you haven't already played them.

[nakamura]

1. Tomb Raider
2. Tomb Raider 2
3. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Although usually I'd say Uncharted 2 is the best Tomb Raider game, the Tibet levels in that are some of the best I've ever played in any game.

Uncharted 2 is nothing like Tomb Raider. Would have been incredible had it been more about real platforming and puzzle solving. [emoji3]

[Team Andromeda]

The water effects on the Saturn are particularly crappy, probably thanks to the difficulty of doing transparencies.

The Water effects are better in the Saturn version , there's no real tranparent effects on the Water so to speak , the ones used on the stuff like the shadows do look better on the PS though

I woulkd say my fav Tomb Raider games are

1) Tomb Raider (but that's looking back with rose tinted glasses)

2) Tomb Raider Underworld

3) Tomb Raider (360/XBox One PS 3/4)

[MrKirov]

Uncharted 2 is nothing like Tomb Raider. Would have been incredible had it been more about real platforming and puzzle solving. [emoji3]

WRONG- it stole Tomb Raider Anniversaries control scheme and no one noticed when they were praising them so highly!!

So it at least controls the same hahah

[beecee]

Tomb Raider. ( PSONE version ) dont get the aniversary, it messes with the game too much (control and puzzles) imo.
Tomb Raider 2.
Tomb Raider Legend. ( under water controls are a pain though)

[noobish hat]

The Water effects are better in the Saturn version , there's no real tranparent effects on the Water so to speak , the ones used on the stuff like the shadows do look better on the PS though

I woulkd say my fav Tomb Raider games are

1) Tomb Raider (but that's looking back with rose tinted glasses)

2) Tomb Raider Underworld

3) Tomb Raider (360/XBox One PS 3/4)

Well maybe it's not that, but as I recall (been a while since I played the Saturn version), in the PS1 version the screen has a bluish greenish filter over it when you're underwater, whereas on the Saturn there's nothing, so it just looks like you're flying around. And/or there's no wobble effect on the Saturn? I really can't remember to be honest, but everything else is poor overall so the PS1 is still better. I definitely remember that the bubbles on the surface of the water look like scrambled up pixeljizz on the Saturn.

Edit: Interesting side-by-side comparison: http://www.game-rave.com/psx_galleri...ider/index.htm