Difference between revisions of "Tomb Raider"

From Sega Retro

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[[Victor Soft]] developed an enhanced Japanese version of the game. They published the game in Japan, pluralizing the title to '''''Tomb Raiders''''' (トゥームレイダース).
 
[[Victor Soft]] developed an enhanced Japanese version of the game. They published the game in Japan, pluralizing the title to '''''Tomb Raiders''''' (トゥームレイダース).
  
Initially developed with the [[Sega Saturn]] in mind, the game was quickly ported to the Sony PlayStation and PCs.  
+
Initially developed with the PlayStation in mind, the game was ported to the [[Sega Saturn]] (whose version shipped six weeks earlier than the PlayStation due to a licensing deal with [[Sega]]) and PCs, becoming Core's most successful video game project to date and a video game icon.  
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
Line 40: Line 40:
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 +
===Development===
 +
''Tomb Raider'' was one of the first true 3D titles to be undertaken by Core Design, following a trip to the States in which producer Jeremy Heath-Smith caught wind of Sony's PlayStation console and asked the company to come up with ideas for 3D games. ''Tomb Raider'' was put forward by ''[[BC Racers]]'' animator Toby Gard, who did the bulk of the design work surrounding Lara Croft and her in-game animations.
 +
 +
Eidos and Core signed a deal with Sega to ship the game six weeks early as an exclusive title on the Sega Saturn
 +
 
===Legacy===
 
===Legacy===
 
With the Saturn's failure to attract the greater market share, development for the sequels were focused on Sony's console, and Lara Croft became an unofficial mascot for the system. The Tomb Raider series would not see a return to Sega platforms until ''[[Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation]]'' on the [[Sega Dreamcast]].
 
With the Saturn's failure to attract the greater market share, development for the sequels were focused on Sony's console, and Lara Croft became an unofficial mascot for the system. The Tomb Raider series would not see a return to Sega platforms until ''[[Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation]]'' on the [[Sega Dreamcast]].
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The original ''Tomb Raider'' was re-made in the 2007 release of ''Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary''.
 
The original ''Tomb Raider'' was re-made in the 2007 release of ''Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary''.
  
==Versions==
+
===Versions===
===Western Saturn version===
+
====Western version====
 
Despite being the target platform for the game, the Western Saturn version of ''Tomb Raider'' is widely considered to be the weakest of the three ports, primarily due to not being optimized for the way the Saturn hardware handles 3D graphics. There are also minor differences to level layouts (specifically some secret areas) because the Saturn version was rushed to launch three months before the PlayStation copy.
 
Despite being the target platform for the game, the Western Saturn version of ''Tomb Raider'' is widely considered to be the weakest of the three ports, primarily due to not being optimized for the way the Saturn hardware handles 3D graphics. There are also minor differences to level layouts (specifically some secret areas) because the Saturn version was rushed to launch three months before the PlayStation copy.
  
 
The Saturn ''Tomb Raider'' runs faster than its PlayStation counterpart in many situations. However, the Western Saturn version's graphics are simpler (particularly when it comes to lighting - it lacks reflections on the save crystals as well as alpha transparency), and the game is unusually dark in comparison. Pre-rendered videos are also slightly smaller in terms of resolution, although the Saturn's D-Pad is regarded as being more suitable to this game than the PlayStation's.
 
The Saturn ''Tomb Raider'' runs faster than its PlayStation counterpart in many situations. However, the Western Saturn version's graphics are simpler (particularly when it comes to lighting - it lacks reflections on the save crystals as well as alpha transparency), and the game is unusually dark in comparison. Pre-rendered videos are also slightly smaller in terms of resolution, although the Saturn's D-Pad is regarded as being more suitable to this game than the PlayStation's.
  
===Japanese Saturn version===
+
====Japanese version====
 
The Japanese Saturn version, released in 1997, was enhanced by [[Victor Soft]], with more detailed environments, higher texture quality, longer draw distance, and improved water effects. This version also has a higher resolution and frame rate than the Western Saturn and PlayStation versions, and the environments were more detailed than the Western Saturn, PlayStation and PC versions. This version was optimized to take advantage of the way the Saturn handles 3D graphics.
 
The Japanese Saturn version, released in 1997, was enhanced by [[Victor Soft]], with more detailed environments, higher texture quality, longer draw distance, and improved water effects. This version also has a higher resolution and frame rate than the Western Saturn and PlayStation versions, and the environments were more detailed than the Western Saturn, PlayStation and PC versions. This version was optimized to take advantage of the way the Saturn handles 3D graphics.
  

Revision as of 14:08, 28 October 2016

n/a

TombRaider title.png

Tomb Raider
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Eidos (US/EU), Victor Soft (JP)
Developer:
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (56 tracks)
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-6010G
Sega Saturn
JP
(Satakore)
¥2,8002,800 T-9113G
Sega Saturn
US
T-7910H
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81086-50
Sega Saturn
BR
193516

Tomb Raider is a highly successful video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos in 1996. It was the first in a long line of Tomb Raider games.

Victor Soft developed an enhanced Japanese version of the game. They published the game in Japan, pluralizing the title to Tomb Raiders (トゥームレイダース).

Initially developed with the PlayStation in mind, the game was ported to the Sega Saturn (whose version shipped six weeks earlier than the PlayStation due to a licensing deal with Sega) and PCs, becoming Core's most successful video game project to date and a video game icon.

Gameplay

At the time of release Tomb Raider was considered a revolutionary title, combining platforming, puzzle solving and action sequences together in a 3D environment, something that, until this point, had not been done before. It was often said to be a 3D alternative to Prince of Persia (until, of course, 3D Prince of Persia games were released). Tomb Raider was also notable for starring a female protagonist, Lara Croft.

History

Development

Tomb Raider was one of the first true 3D titles to be undertaken by Core Design, following a trip to the States in which producer Jeremy Heath-Smith caught wind of Sony's PlayStation console and asked the company to come up with ideas for 3D games. Tomb Raider was put forward by BC Racers animator Toby Gard, who did the bulk of the design work surrounding Lara Croft and her in-game animations.

Eidos and Core signed a deal with Sega to ship the game six weeks early as an exclusive title on the Sega Saturn

Legacy

With the Saturn's failure to attract the greater market share, development for the sequels were focused on Sony's console, and Lara Croft became an unofficial mascot for the system. The Tomb Raider series would not see a return to Sega platforms until Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation on the Sega Dreamcast.

The original Tomb Raider was re-made in the 2007 release of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

Versions

Western version

Despite being the target platform for the game, the Western Saturn version of Tomb Raider is widely considered to be the weakest of the three ports, primarily due to not being optimized for the way the Saturn hardware handles 3D graphics. There are also minor differences to level layouts (specifically some secret areas) because the Saturn version was rushed to launch three months before the PlayStation copy.

The Saturn Tomb Raider runs faster than its PlayStation counterpart in many situations. However, the Western Saturn version's graphics are simpler (particularly when it comes to lighting - it lacks reflections on the save crystals as well as alpha transparency), and the game is unusually dark in comparison. Pre-rendered videos are also slightly smaller in terms of resolution, although the Saturn's D-Pad is regarded as being more suitable to this game than the PlayStation's.

Japanese version

The Japanese Saturn version, released in 1997, was enhanced by Victor Soft, with more detailed environments, higher texture quality, longer draw distance, and improved water effects. This version also has a higher resolution and frame rate than the Western Saturn and PlayStation versions, and the environments were more detailed than the Western Saturn, PlayStation and PC versions. This version was optimized to take advantage of the way the Saturn handles 3D graphics.

Magazine articles

Main article: Tomb Raider/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #87: "October 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
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Print advert in EGM² (US) #29: "November 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #89: "December 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:Expand
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #91: "February 1997" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:Expand
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #95: "June 1997" (1997-0x-xx)
also published in:Expand
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Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-03: "1997-03 (1997-02-14)" (1997-01-31)
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Print advert in Saturn Power (UK) #1: "June 1997" (1997-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Ultra Player (FR) #39: "Janvier/Février 1997" (199x-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #40: "März 1997" (1997-02-12)
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Physical scans

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
100 №181, p74-76[2]
78 №424, p31
95 №49, p34/35/36/37
94
94 №50, p28-33[6]
90 №69, p85/86/87
93 №86, p40/41/42/43
92 №13, p70/71[7]
67 №1997-02, p222[8]
90 №, p9[9]
Sega Saturn
89
Based on
10 reviews
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
90
[10]
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
100
[11]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
100
[2]
Digitiser (UK)
93
[12]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
78
[13]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
100
[14]
Gambler (PL)
83
[15]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[16]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[17]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
86
[18]
Hacker (HR)
94
[19]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
94
[20]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-U
100
[21]
Joypad (FR)
92
[22]
Level (TR)
75
[23]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
89
[24]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
94
[25]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
90
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
94
[6]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
100
[27]
Player One (FR)
98
[28]
Power Up! (UK)
88
[29]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
76
[30]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[31]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
97
[32]
Secret Service (PL)
90
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
93
[34]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[35]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
67
[36]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
90
[9]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
97
[37]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
97
[38]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
100
[39]
Sega Saturn
90
Based on
33 reviews

Tomb Raider

Saturn, US
TombRaider Sat US backcover.jpgTombRaider Sat US cover.jpg
Cover
TombRaider Sat US disc.jpg
Disc
Tombraider sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
Tomb Raider Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
TombRaider saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
TombRaiders Saturn JP Box Back.jpgTombRaiders Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
TombRaider Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
TombRaider Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Tomb Raider Sega Saturn Japan Manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, JP (Satakore)
TombRaiders Saturn JP Box Back Satakore.jpgTombRaider Sat JP Satakore cover.jpg
Cover
TombRaider Saturn JP Spinecard Satakore.jpg
Spinecard
TombRaider Saturn JP Disc Satakore.jpg
Disc
TombRaider SS jp manual Satakore.pdf
Manual
Saturn, BR
TombRaider Sat BR cover.jpg
Cover
TombRaiderSaturnBrManual.pdf
Manual

References

  1. File:CVG UK 180.pdf, page 49
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:CVG UK 181.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 181.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
  3. Ultra Game Players, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-31), page 54
  4. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1997" (US; 1997-0x-xx), page 78
  5. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1997" (US; 1997-0x-xx), page 89
  6. Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  7. File:SSM_UK_13.pdf, page 70
  8. File:SSM_JP_19970131_1997-02.pdf, page 224
  9. Jump up to: 9.0 9.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content
  10. Ação Games, "Março 1997" (BR; 1997-xx-xx), page 26
  11. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 84
  12. Digitiser (UK) (1996-11-06)
  13. Famitsu, "1997-01-31" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 1
  14. Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 82
  15. Gambler, "1/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  16. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 12: December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 20
  17. GamePro, "January 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 112
  18. Game Informer, "November 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 12
  19. Hacker, "12/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 57
  20. Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68
  21. Intelligent Gamer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 85
  22. Joypad, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 82
  23. Level, "5/97" (TR; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  24. MAN!AC, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 72
  25. Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 78
  26. Mega Fun, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-20), page 44
  27. Next Generation, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-17), page 182
  28. Player One, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  29. Power Up!, "Saturday, November 16, 1996" (UK; 1996-11-16), page 1
  30. Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 187
  31. Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 5" (JP; 1997-02-28), page 98
  32. Saturn+, "Issue 5" (UK; 1996-12-19), page 7
  33. Secret Service, "Styczeń 1997" (PL; 1997-01-01), page 62
  34. Sega Power, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 40
  35. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 70
  36. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-02 (1997-01-31)" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 224
  37. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 32
  38. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 60
  39. Videogame Advisor, "Volume 2, Number 10: October 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 41