Tomb Raider

From Sega Retro

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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

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. For some reason, Victor Soft, who published the game in Japan, pluralized 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.

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.

Saturn Version

Despite being the target platform for the game, the Saturn version of Tomb Raider is widely considered to be the weakest of the three ports, primarily due to 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 graphics are simpler (particularly when it comes to lighting - the Saturn 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.

History

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.

Promotional material

  • TombRaider Saturn US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

  • JP flyer

  • TombRaider Saturn UK PrintAdvert.jpg

    UK print advert

  • FR print advert

  • GR print advert

  • Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) Print advertisement

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
100 №181, p74-76[1]
16 2006-07-08
78 №424, p31
91 December 1996
95 №49, p34/35/36/37
79 1996-12-01
94
94 №50, p28-33[2]
90 №69, p85/86/87
93 №86, p40/41/42/43
92 №13, p70/71[3]
67 №1997-02, p222[4]
90
Sega Saturn
 83
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
90
[6]
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
100
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
100
[1]
Digitiser (UK)
93
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
78
[9]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
100
[10]
Gambler (PL)
83
[11]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[13]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
86
[14]
Hacker (HR)
94
[15]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
94
[16]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-U
100
[17]
Joypad (FR)
92
[18]
Level (TR)
75
[19]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
89
[20]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
94
[21]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
90
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
94
[2]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
100
[23]
Player One (FR)
98
[24]
Power Up! (UK)
88
[25]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
76
[26]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[27]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
97
[28]
Secret Service (PL)
90
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
93
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
67
[32]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
90
[5]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
97
[33]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
97
[34]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
100
[35]
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
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ File:SSM_UK_13.pdf, page 70
  4. ↑ File:SSM_JP_19970131_1997-02.pdf, page 224
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
  6. ↑ Ação Games, "Março 1997" (BR; 1997-xx-xx), page 26
  7. ↑ CD Consoles, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 84
  8. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1996-11-06)
  9. ↑ Famitsu, "1997-01-31" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 1
  10. ↑ Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 82
  11. ↑ Gambler, "1/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  12. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 12: December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 20
  13. ↑ GamePro, "January 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 112
  14. ↑ Game Informer, "November 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 12
  15. ↑ Hacker, "12/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 57
  16. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68
  17. ↑ Intelligent Gamer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 85
  18. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 82
  19. ↑ Level, "5/97" (TR; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  20. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 72
  21. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 78
  22. ↑ Mega Fun, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-20), page 44
  23. ↑ Next Generation, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-17), page 182
  24. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  25. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, November 16, 1996" (UK; 1996-11-16), page 1
  26. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 187
  27. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 5" (JP; 1997-02-28), page 98
  28. ↑ Saturn+, "Issue 5" (UK; 1996-12-19), page 7
  29. ↑ Secret Service, "Styczeń 1997" (PL; 1997-01-01), page 62
  30. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 40
  31. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 70
  32. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-02 (1997-01-31)" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 224
  33. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 32
  34. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 60
  35. ↑ Videogame Advisor, "Volume 2, Number 10: October 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 41
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