A surprising lack of tomb raiding for the bulk of the game.

Obviously there’s still a bunch of climbin’ around and trippin’ off ledges, but also way more auto aim combat. If for some reason you play Tomb Raider for the combat, this game is for you, but almost every area had at least one very boring level. I appreciate most of the additions, including vehicles and ziplines, but as a whole I’m more of a Tomb Raider I guy.

My playthrough had occasionally buggy lighting in the classic mode, but worked flawlessly in the modern graphics style. I think this game lends itself better to the new art better than the previous one. I’d still recommend this, as it maintains the careful platforming gameplay and beautifully solitary atmosphere of the first game, even if it is significantly more tedious in the middle.

“Lara Croft is a major babe…“
-Roger Ebert

I love tank controls. Every movement and every jump in this game has to be deliberate or else Lara Croft will fall 200 ft and crumple on the ground. Moved slightly to the left? Dead. Mistimed the jump? Dead. Nothing against the Tomb Raider reboot, but I think you lose the inherent thrill of danger when everything is so choreographed.

So I played through this with tank controls, obviously (after trying the modern controls for approx. three seconds), but I also played through mostly in the classic graphics style. I think the aesthetic changes in the remaster are more faithful than say, Halo:CE Remastered, but I’ll always be a classic graphics soldier (even if I also own the trilogy on original hardware).

Reminds me of the time when I was a baby and my dad and uncle were playing through the PS1 version, when my uncle accidentally saved over their last level save file when starting a new game. Horrifying! I have a baby now too, and I think he’s at about the age I was when my Dad played through it. Weird, but cool.

Speaking of the last level, I’ve always loved that you spend most of the game raiding tombs, but then it’s suddenly Turok 2 at the end. I personally think the Egypt section is the best in the game, but I’ve always loved an Egypt level. One of my favorite generic gaming aesthetics.

I recommend trying this game, but if you do, I suggest not using the modern controls, because they suck. Also quit being a baby and just use the tank controls, unless it’s for accessibility reasons, in which case good luck bc the modern controls feel busted. Just kidding do whatever you want. The modern controls do suck though.

I love this game. Not as much as Tekken 8 but it’s pretty dang good!

“Nintendo trynna copy that shit. They know they can’t compete if they don’t got Final Fantasy. I don’t even care if any other systems get Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy sucks ass now.”

-Chad Warden

Because they hate me, Square and Nintendo got together in the ‘90s to make a Mario RPG game, thereby forcing me to suffer through Smash Bros requests for Geno for almost my entire life. Having played this remake, yeah it’s weird he didn’t eventually get on the roster, but his exclusion is still not the crime against humanity people act like it is.

That aside, this game was real good. Goated beginner RPG. I’m sure the original is great. Intuitive, witty, varied, and packed tightly; Super Mario RPG is here for a good time, not a long time.

I am confused about one aspect, though: why are there characters in this? Mario ‘characters’ should adhere to a very strict “goomba with a mustache” creativity limit, lest they irreparably damage the brand. Bold of them to assume my brain can handle encountering unique personalities and designs. Making basic household items like hammers into enemies is a step in the right direction, although if it were up to me I’d get rid of any anthropomorphization. Too confusing. 0/10