For as much as I appreciate the Tomb Raider franchise, I can't say the same for the first game. It's one I like in concept, and I love watching others play it, but I've decided this game is just not for me when it comes down to picking up the controller and trying it out. I find picking up items frustrating. Keeping track of where I'm going while also making sure Croft's positioning is correct is a nightmare. Having no sense of direction as I hit endless corridors of dead ends, traps, and vicious animals behind me gives me endless anxiety. It has never been a fun time for me, yet I can understand how satisfying the gameplay is when something goes your way. Doing cool flips while gunning down your enemy is the most badass thing. What I can say has given Tomb Raider its lasting power is the cutscenes and ever-changing environments the deeper you progress. I know what fucked up shit happens in this game. Even with the advancement of game graphics, Tomb Raider wouldn't and doesn't feel as raw as it does without the blocky textures. Despite how primitive and dated this game is, it's also precisely why it works at all.