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HOGmented Podcast Episode 3 - Arek Tomaszewski, Art Director
β–² 31 r/TombRaider

HOGmented Podcast Episode 3 - Arek Tomaszewski, Art Director

Latest episode of the HOGmented Podcast uploaded on FWH's YouTube channel.

Chapters are listed in the description of the video. I think the TR: LoA (aka the "real tea" lol) discussion starts around 21:00.

What do you all think?

---

ETA: So I've watched most of it (skipped some bits). Some things they've discussed in this episode were already talked about in the last mini-doc episode.

Some new things they've mentioned/discussed:

  • TR: LoA is in its final stages - they're currently working on pinpointing and fixing issues, and refining the game. (11:40 mark - Thank you, Suli, for highlighting this! πŸ’)
  • Response and reactions to the return of Lara's acrobatics and ponytail
  • TR1 and Crystal's work on TR: Anniversary
  • Lore greatly expanded based on what was already built (in TR1 and TR Anniversary)
  • World building details - Feeling of isolation, as well as lore behind Incan remains/ruins, hidden items and collectibles
  • Lara's outfits - elaborated more on the design process, including the life-size 3D-printed model
  • ETC...

Overall, I do appreciate FWH for putting this out. πŸ’ They really do seem genuinely enthusiastic and passionate about the game itself, as well as pleasing both OG and new fans. And insight into their design-thinking process is always welcome. πŸ‘

youtube.com
u/95mmaa β€” 16 hours ago
β–² 15 r/TombRaider

Society of Raiders Character Assessments: Sharp-tongued and sharpshooting make for a lethal combination.

New video showcasing Pierre and Larson’s new bios!

What do you guys think?

youtube.com
u/95mmaa β€” 20 days ago
β–² 7 r/TombRaider

Society of Raiders Character Assessment Video: 'Some alliances shape history, but these two manage to complicate it.'

Video recently re-uploaded on the Tomb Raider channel:

Description:

>Some alliances shape history, but these two manage to complicate it. #TombRaider #SocietyofRaiders.

Looks like we'll be diving into the Society of Raiders lore and stuff starting with TR Legacy of Atlantis instead of TR Catalyst. And it's nice we're getting a look into the bios and lore surrounding the characters in the Unified era. I think it's pretty cool! πŸ‘

Also, some interesting music. πŸŽ΅πŸ‘Œ I wonder if it'll be used in the game itself. πŸ€”

What do you guys think?

youtube.com
u/95mmaa β€” 23 days ago
β–² 11 r/TombRaider

Mini-Doc Series Episode 3 Article: Creatures of Peru

Article:

>Creatures of Peru

>Peru’s Lost Valley is a land lost in time. In Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, five returning creatures carry thirty years of player memory into a completely reimagined combat system. Each has been redesigned to feel authentic, dangerous, and unpredictable.

>β€œWe wanted the animals to behave authentically so encounters feel less like fighting game systems and more like surviving against living, unpredictable predators,” says Jeff Adams, Experience Director at Crystal Dynamics. β€œPeru feels like a land lost in time, and its overlapping microclimates allow a wide variety of dangerous wildlife to coexist.”

>Jason Epps, Design Director at Crystal Dynamics, describes the team’s first design rule: β€œWe wanted to ensure they were authentic. We modeled the wolf, bear, and bat on prehistoric animals from the Andes. We’ve added dens, water sources, bones, all to make the animals feel like they have lived there for a long time.”

>Wolves

>The wolves are the player’s first real threat, and they set the tone for everything that follows.

>β€œThe wolves move around quite a bit,” Epps says, β€œso using focus mode is crucial to take them out quickly and effectively.” Focus mode is Lara’s ability to slow time and line up precision shots, and it’s earned through acrobatic movement. β€œUse acrobatics to dodge and move around, and notice it will also fill the focus mode energy.”

>Returning players will recognize the moment immediately: the collapsing bridge, the ambush below. "We want all returning players to smile with delight as they rediscover their favorite moments reimagined," Epps says, "like falling on the collapsing bridge and being ambushed by wolves."

>Bats

>Bats fill the caverns of Peru and serve as the player’s introduction to ranged combat.

>β€œThe bats are a moving, squishy target that allows players to get used to shooting in third person,” Epps says. They’re the game’s way of building your comfort with the weapon systems before the real threats arrive.

>Bears

>If wolves teach players to aim, bears teach them to move.

>β€œBears are no joke and you have to move out of their way,” Epps says. β€œUse acrobatics in short chains to get away, and then use focus mode to shoot the rampaging beast in the head.”

>Where the original bear encounters were about patience, the reimagined version demands movement. Lara can’t stand still and trade shots. She has to be acrobatic, reactive, and precise.

>Velociraptors

>The raptors are fast, smart, and hunt in packs.

>β€œThe raptors feel good in both packs and solo,” Epps says. β€œTheir attacks telegraph so the player can and should dodge, but really watch out for their leap that pins Lara.”

>And yes, they have feathers. It’s one of the small details Raul Siqueira, Game Director at Crystal Dynamics, is most proud of: β€œNot just the fact that we made sure they had feathers, but if you pay close attention as you damage them in combat, you’ll notice as part of the damage decals some feathers start to come off.”

>T-Rex

>The T-Rex is the boss of all bosses for a Tomb Raider fan. It is the encounter the entire Peru level builds toward.

>β€œLara must outwit the T-Rex, as simply shooting it just won’t work,” Epps says. The encounter has been completely reimagined from its 1996 origins. β€œAt first we imagined the T-Rex fight to be an arena-based fight like the originals, but as the idea of the chase evolved, it just took over.”

>β€œHow you face that worthy opponent has been reimagined to be more blockbuster, spectacle-driven,” Siqueira adds. What was once a traditional combat encounter is now one of the game’s cinematic set pieces, giving the T-Rex a bigger presence across the entire level.

>Long ago, the Inca and the mysterious Qualopec bent this biome to their will, taming its dangerous beasts. β€œWith the Inca gone,” Adams says, β€œthose beasts now rule it once again.”

>Peru is their world now. Lara is just passing through.

What do you guys think?

Personally, I thought the part about the collapsing bridge and falling into the wolf pit was really interesting, because that's based on Anniversary's version of Mountain Caves. πŸ‘

Also, I like the lore at the end about the Inca and Qualopec. πŸ‘Œ

playtombraider.com
u/95mmaa β€” 1 month ago
β–² 92 r/TombRaider

Amazon's New Tomb Raider Game Star on Atlantis, Catalyst and TV Series

Article:

>Amazon’s New β€˜Tomb Raider’ Video Game Star on Becoming Lara Croft, Sophie Turner’s TV Series and the β€˜Really, Really Big’ Adventure Coming in β€˜Catalyst’

>On the heels of a big launch for its new James Bond video game, β€œ007 First Light,” and talks of another 007 film, Amazon is going all in on another classic British character with the upcoming debut of its β€œTomb Raider” video game franchise and a live-action TV show.

>First up will be β€œTomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis,” which is a remake of the original 1996 β€œTomb Raider” game. Following that game’s release in February 2027, the splashy new title, β€œTomb Raider: Catalyst,” will launch later that year. And while Amazon Games and developer Crystal Dynamics recently demo’d β€œAtlantis” for press at Summer Game Fest, little is still known about β€œCatalyst” beyond an initial plot description.

>There’s not much Alix Wilton Regan, who is the voice and performance capture actor portraying Lara Croft in both games, can say right now, but the β€œCyberpunk 2077” star toldΒ Variety it will be worth the wait.

>β€œI am excited for people to go on a really, really big new adventure with Lara, which I think is slightly going to blow people’s minds, because it blew my mind when I was reading this [script],” Regan says. β€œWhen I got the script, having had my mind blown, I then had to have a really big meeting with the writer β€” like, we need to talk. It blew my mind reading the scripts, so I think it’s gonna blow everyone else’s minds playing the game.”

>When announcing β€œCatalyst” last December, Amazon said the title β€œmarks a bold direction for the series as Lara Croft embarks on a new adventure across Northern India.” The game will be set in the aftermath of a β€œmythical cataclysm that has unleashed ancient secrets and awakened the mysterious forces that guard them,” and see Lara race to uncover the truth behind the incident while trying to stop the notorious treasure hunters who descend on the region.

>When Regan was cast in the iconic role, the actor didn’t know she would actually be playing Lara in not one, but two new β€œTomb Raider” games.

>β€œI was cast [in August 2022] and it was maybe 2024, something like that, when we went into full production on both,” Regan said. β€œThen I was like, this is big, whoa, this is really big. I didn’t know immediately, but certainly for about two years now, I’ve been working on both projects simultaneously.”

>The β€œTomb Raider” video games come amid Amazon’s production on a new live-action β€œTomb Raider” series starring Sophie Turner, which Regan says is β€œgoing to be fantastic.”

>Read below for more from Varietyβ€˜s interview with Regan.

>Did you approach Lara differently in the two games: the remake, β€œAtlantis,” and the new game, β€œCatalyst?”

>Yes, I did, actually. I’m trying to make Lara in β€œAtlantis” feel ever so slightly younger and more wide-eyed and slightly more innocent than in β€œCatalyst” because, of course, if you think about it logically, it goes β€œAtlantis” and then all the other games, and then we go to β€œCatalyst.” So I’m trying to keep the β€œAtlantis” one just a little bit younger, a little bit more wide eyed; hasn’t seen quite as much stuff, but she is very much a Lara who has lived through the β€œSurvivor” trilogy.

>How much inspiration did you take from the original β€œTomb Raider” games or the films?

>The team was very clear that we are back in classic Lara territory. So there was a lot of inspiration taken from the first three β€œTomb Raiders,” and then the Angelina Jolie films, because it’s written with that kind of wit, that high level intelligence, that very dry sense of British humor. So there’s a lot of inspiration that’s been taken from all of those projects, whilst also paying close attention to what Camilla [Luddington] did with her Lara [in the β€œSurvivor” trilogy], because that is the previous iteration of Lara, technically speaking, and that’s what came before, where β€œAtlantis” kicks off, so I’ve looked at all of that.

>Sophie Turner will be playing Lara Croft on Amazon’s β€œTomb Raider” TV series. Have you all spoken about your respective castings? Have Amazon’s two Lara Crofts talked?

>The two Lara Crofts have indeed talked. Yes, we have. We know each other socially from London, and so it was really funny β€” I was already recording both of my β€œTomb Raiders” before Sophie got her job. But she was announced first, so I was like looking her in the eye at a party, going, β€œIt’s just so great! I’m so happy for you!” And I was doing this with my eyes, but not saying anything, because I was under NDA. So then, in 2025, when I was announced at the Game Awards, I asked the gods and the goddesses of Amazon HQ if I could talk to her, and they said yes, of course, you can. So I texted her, and she just replied all capital letters β€œAlix” in a text message, and β€œOh my god, can’t believe this. Oh my god, my mind is blown.” They were just solid capital for the whole time.

>Have you spoken with Sophie about how you are each approaching the character? Are you considering the differences in formats between TV and video games and how the audience engages with the story and character?

>I haven’t spoken to Sophie about her interpretation of Lara because I don’t think that would be either appropriate or fair at this point. She’s so immersed in her journey of creating her Lara. But between Sophie Turner and [writer] Phoebe Waller-Bridge, I think you’re in very safe hands. I have no concerns about this TV show. It’s going to be fantastic, because anything that those two do is really, really good.

>So, as far as my Lara is concerned, that is something that I’ve thought about, because you’re absolutely right on the difference between television and video games, because video games are quintessentially interactive and deeply immersive, and that’s why players love them. They feel like the protagonist in a way that film and television simply cannot match, and sort of never have. Film and TV, the audience can project onto those characters, but they can’t experience it in the same way. So, with regards to that, I am very conscious of the main thing I’ve been trying to do with Lara, which is keep her grounded, keep her strong, so that when you’re playing as Lara, you feel grounded, strong, and capable, and then inject a heavy dose of charisma and charm, so that you enjoy the experience of playing Lara Croft, whilst also staying true to the core of classic Lara, which was the directive for these new games. So that people step into β€œAtlantis” and go, β€œI remember this,” almost like a sense memory thing from our childhoods, whether you played it in ’96 originally or whether you just played the remaster in ’24.

>For the established β€œTomb Raider” fans, I want it to feel like a safe, familiar, and incredibly exciting world, and for the new β€œTomb Raider” fans who are going to join us in β€œAtlantis,” I want it to feel immersive, dynamic, and like a really exciting adventure that they want to go on. The biggest piece of feedback we’ve had from the demo is β€œfun.” It’s the number one world we’ve had, fun. It’s fun, it’s a really fun game. And I think that’s a really nice thing to have in such a complicated world at the moment.

>This interview has been edited and condensed.

What do you guys think?

Personally, I'm really curious about the script now. Sounds like they've expanded the story by a lot. Hoping there will be references to other games, especially the LAU games, considering that Catalyst is supposed to be set after Underworld.

Also, I really appreciate Alix's enthusiasm with how she's promoting the games, and the fact that she's doing something different with the voice acting for both LoA Lara, who is supposed to be slightly younger, and Catalyst Lara, who is supposed to be slightly older. Really appreciate the attention to details. Plus, she seems to understand what TR fans want from TR games.πŸ‘Œ

Keep it up, Ms. Alix! πŸ’–πŸ’

variety.com
u/95mmaa β€” 1 month ago
β–² 182 r/TombRaider

Legend (LAU) Trilogy Custom Wallpapers - Inspired by the Classic Remasters! πŸ’–βœ¨

Yes, I'm manifesting! Lol! πŸ™ŒπŸ˜†

I was just practicing using Affinity for the first time (I'm used to Adobe), and whipped these up just for fun. To maintain the symmetry, I mirrored/flipped Anniversary's render. Couldn't figure out how to do the rough edges like on the official remasters renders. If anyone has any tips for that, I'd appreciate them. πŸ‘Œ

No AI: Included screenshots of my screen. πŸ‘

Anyway, enjoy! πŸ’–

Download links for the two variations:

Original renders taken from Raiding the Globe:

u/95mmaa β€” 2 months ago
β–² 18 r/TombRaider

New Month, New Game! The Ideal Summertime Activity! πŸ₯³πŸ˜πŸ€©πŸ’–

Well, folks, after completing TR: Legend and TR: Anniversary, it's time I dive into the third and final part of the Legend (LAU) Trilogy, Tomb Raider: Underworld! 😍🀩

TBH, it's so exciting and also bittersweet because it's the final part of my favourite era and trilogy! πŸ₯ΉπŸ’–

This will be my very first time playing the PC/Next-Gen version of Tomb Raider: Underworld! πŸ₯³ Been really looking forward to this version! πŸ₯³

I've only ever played the PS2 version of this game, and I think I finished it once before...? TBH, it's been over 15 years or so, so I can't remember for sure... And I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with how... DIFFERENT the PS2 version of the game is. I do remember being taken aback by the graphics at the time, compared to the previous two games, but still managed to make the most of it. πŸ˜†πŸ˜…πŸ’β€β™‚οΈ

Over the years, during school, uni, work, and uni again (master's), I've watched so many streamers/YouTubers do playthroughs of TR games, especially the PC/Next-Gen console versions of the LAU games, out of shear curiosity and just for fun really. So, it's not like I'm going into these games completely blind, but I've always wanted to try out those versions myself.

Now that I'm in my (early) 30s and have the time, and access, to finally be able to play these games myself, it feels like I'm joining a special club of TR players. I grew up on the Classics and LAU games, so they'll always hold a special place in my heart. πŸ’–

Anyway, enough of that! Off we go!

The Seventh Age is upon us! πŸ™ŒπŸ˜‰

As usual, I'm running the GOG version, in case anyone's wondering. (I've read in a few places the PC version can be buggy but I'm not sure if they're referring to the Steam or GOG or any other version. Went with the GOG version just in case, since Legend and Anniversary both looked like they were in a better condition.) Also, FPS is already capped to 60 and I've also enabled V-Sync.

Wish me luck! πŸ‘πŸ‘

u/95mmaa β€” 2 months ago
β–² 144 r/TombRaider

Finally Completed TR: Anniversary for the Very First Time! πŸ₯³πŸ’– And My Wish List for TR: Legacy of Atlantis! πŸ™Œβœ¨

Ladies and Gentlemen and Others, the Seventh Age is Coming!

[Insert Sean Bean GoT meme here. You all know which one! 😜]

After more than... 17...? 18-ish...? years from when I first tried out TR: Anniversary on my cousin's PS2, and after spending several years watching YouTubers do play-throughs of this game (as well as other TR games) while I simply sat back and watched in AWE; for the first time in my life, I have FINALLY finished playing Tomb Raider: Anniversary! πŸ₯³ And it was a blast! πŸ₯³

While playing TR Anniversary, a number of things stood out to me in this first re-imagining of TR1, and I'd like to go through them one by one.

I will also be sharing my wish list for TR: LoA based on my experience with TR Anniversary towards the end. πŸ‘

Thoughts on the Visuals:

This game receives a lot of flack for looking "too gray", and while some environments could use a bump in saturation, as someone who comes from an Architectural and Urban Design background, I would argue that the devs were very intentional with the limited colour palette they went with:

  • Obviously, the colour palette of the game corresponded with the design standards at the time the game was released (2000s), which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It was simply what was expected at the time to make the environments look more "realistic".
  • However, I've noticed that they relied a lot on contrast in certain parts, namely The Lost Valley, Obelisk of Khamoon, the Fire Room challenge in Midas's Palace, Sanctuary of the Scion and The Great Pyramid.
  • Against the sea of beige, grey, and greige colours that exist in this game, you'll come across areas with pops of colour in the form of vegetation, lush greenery and foliage, vibrant teal-blue pools of calm water, the occasional bright torch or flame, few colorful Egyptian wall murals and hieroglyphs limited to specific areas, various ornate golden accents, glowing runes and decorations, and even the bright orange lava!
  • IMO, pops of colour = accentuating/emphasis
  • At the end of the day, I will say that TR Anniversary is still a BEAUTIFUL game and rich in environmental details! 😍🀩

Thoughts on the Overall Level Design:

Obviously, there are things that Anniversary gets right and does better than the OG, TR1, and then there are areas that leave more to be desired:

  • Peru Chapter: Overall, I would say they nailed re-imagining Peru. Lost Valley looks fantastic and I love how you enter the level FACING the waterfall. It just looks so grande!
  • Tomb of Qualopec: This level left more to be desired. Not an ugly level by any means, but the colours could definitely be more vibrant while still maintaining the "realistic" look. I can see they tried to recreate the checkerboard puzzle with the moveable pillars from TR1 in the main room in TR Anniversary, and they managed to recreate the room with the collapsible floor and wolves perfectly, but it still could have been a larger level - somehow.
  • Greece Chapter: Well, look, Greece in TR1 was mainly a sea of beige/brown. In TR Anniversary, Greece is mainly a sea of grey/greige. πŸ˜† However, the environments still look beautiful and I appreciate that they expanded some of the puzzles in St. Francis Folly and in Midas's Palace. And I like that the Coliseum actually looks like... well... a coliseum!
  • Midas's Palace: I just wish they included the royal garden with the sun-dial in Midas's Palace, along with the 'Party' room, that were present in the OG.
  • Merging Cistern + Tomb of Tihocan: YES! THANK YOU! By the time I reach the Cistern in TR1, I'm already experiencing fatigue. Greece was a long chapter in TR1 (5 levels), and Cistern and Tomb of Tihocan were just not that visually appealing for me, except for the Tomb room you fight Pierre in one last time. So, I'm glad to see they merged the two levels into one.
  • Egypt Chapter: No notes! Aside from the colours which I already wrote about above. Another chapter that I think got an amazing treatment! The 'death corridor' that everyone talks about didn't give me as much trouble as I thought it would. Maybe it was just my luck or skill. πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈπŸ˜‰
  • Lost Island Chapter: This is where things get tricky... I thought Natla's Mines was fine, perfect in length and I like that they expanded the puzzle to open the main door/gate of the Great Pyramid.
  • The Great Pyramid and Atlantis: Visually, the levels look amazing with all the lava, volcanic rock, some minor fleshy red substances on some walls, ornate golden designs and glowing runes. I like that the main atrium/shaft was expanded upon. You don't just go in and out like in TR1, instead, you actually have to traverse the area itself vertically, which I thought was really cool! However, overall, these levels definitely could've been longer, especially since these are meant to be the final set of levels, and there were so many puzzle rooms from TR1 that could still be carried over. Still a pretty cool recreation if you ask me!

Thoughts on the Music/Soundtrack:

No notes! LOL!

TR: Anniversary's main menu and Croft Manor themes are some of my favorite tracks in the entire franchise! I can listen to them endlessly! I have them downloaded so I can listen to them wherever, whenever. Sometimes, I like to have them playing in the background while I work on stuff or play The Sims 3.

Overall, Troels Brun Folmann did a marvelous job composing the soundtracks for all the LAU games! They all sound so ethereal! πŸŽ΅πŸ’–

Thoughts on the Storytelling:

It should be no secret to some of you by now that I LOVE the story and storytelling of the LAU games, and I think Anniversary did a tremendous job with expanding the lore surrounding the Scion and Atlantis, and how they managed to link the events of the OG game with that of TR Legend and TR Underworld:

  • I like the Lore surrounding the Scion and how Atlantis was the foundation of all civilizations.
  • I like how they highlighted Lara as the only person capable enough to search for and find the Scion.
  • One of my favourite parts of Anniversary's story: how Richard recognized that Lara was the ONLY person open-minded enough to consider the legends and theories surrounding the Scion and Atlantis, and the ONLY person he can trust and rely on to actually find the Scion.
  • Another favourite part of mine: how they linked the Scion to Amelia's fate; that they could use the Scion to uncover what happened to Amelia after she disappeared through the Stone Dais
  • I like how Lara is heavily 3-dimensional in this era; her curiosity (like in TR5), her obsession and compulsion (like in TR Underworld), and her desperation to finish her father's work and uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, all of these traits and factors contribute to her passion for adventure!
  • I just adore Lara's relationship with her parents. Like I said, it just adds so much depth to her character! ❀️
  • I really like the moment of tension and internal struggle Lara had in Natla's Mines when she came face to face with Larson for one last time. THIS IS THE LEVEL OF DRAMA AND DEPTH I WANT IN A TR GAME! πŸ”«πŸ”«

The Legacy of TR Anniversary:

See what I did there? 😜

If you think about it, TR Anniversary was the first attempt at unifying the Classic era and the Legend era of Tomb Raider. I just think it's sad it wasn't appreciated at the time, judging by its sales numbers. And, TBH, it still isn't appreciated as much as it deserves to be, IMO, especially for what it tried to accomplish.

If you read some of the books lying around in Croft Manor, you can find references to various other games and artifacts from the Classic era, such as the Dagger of Xian, Charles Kane, Venice, and even the Eye of Isis (referred to as Isis Stone).

However, after almost 20 years, it's nice to see others are starting to pick up the Classic and LAU games, and even appreciating them for what they offer. ❀️

Final Thoughts on TR Anniversary:

Need I say more?

Overall, I loved TR Anniversary! It understood the main requirement of the assignment: tapping into nostalgia! It's a fantastic remake/re-imagining of TR1! I totally had a blast playing it! 😁 It may not be perfect but it's certainly amazing and totally worth playing! πŸ’–

My Wish List for 'Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis':

Level Design:

  • Expand on all levels as much as possible, especially the Lost Island Chapter.
  • Keep Cistern and Tomb of Tihocan merged! I'm sorry, but I just prefer the way Anniversary did it and I hope the same can be done here.
  • Combine the gory-body-horror design of TR1's Atlantis with the more fantastical-ornate designs of TR Anniversary's. πŸ‘Œ
  • Bring back the secrets, relics and rewards that have their own piece of history for players to read.
  • Croft Manor, obviously!

Storytelling:

Storytelling and character development in TR games matter A LOT to me.

So, as part of Unifying the timelines, I hope they can carry over some of the story elements from TR Anniversary and rewrite them in a way to link the events of the Survivor era with the LAU era, as follows:

  • Expand the lore surrounding Atlantis, the Scion, and maybe even the Seventh Age, as much as possible!
  • Maintain the idea that Atlantis is the foundation of all civilizations.
  • Include a chamber in The Great Pyramid, in Atlantis, with the same Stone Dais from the LAU games to tie in everything.
  • Maintain the plot element that Lara and Richard were already aware of the Scion's existence - before Natla even approached them.
  • Alongside Lara's own hunger for adventure, Amelia and Richard's deaths in the Survivor Trilogy could still be used as an incentive to find the Scion.
  • Maintain the idea that Lara is the ONLY person who can actually find the Scion, the same way Richard believed in her in TR Anniversary.
  • Richard teaching Lara when she was a child about the legends surrounding Atlantis and the Scion because he believed that one day she will be the only one capable of finding it.
  • Richard explaining to Lara (through Journal notes) that the Scion could be used to uncover what really happened to Amelia, and maybe even RESURRECT Amelia!
  • Maintain the chemistry or "romantic-tension" between Lara and Larson, for the sake of drama!
  • Since Larson will no longer be her first human kill after the Survivor Trilogy, perhaps they should focus on the chemistry part to allow Lara to have that internal struggle, and perhaps Larson could be even more manipulative.
  • This way, Lara can still have an internal struggle when she faces Larson one last time in Natla's Mines, when she begins considering eliminating him, taking him down for good. πŸ”«πŸ”«
  • Lara questioning how far she's willing to go, and questioning whether or not killing Larson would be worth it to reach her goal. Why? As I said before, FOR THE DRAMA! ✨
  • I personally believe all these points will add layers to Lara's purpose on this adventure and will add depth to her character, and like I said, it could be the culmination or confluence of her curiosity (TR5), obsession and compulsion (TR Underworld), confidence, hunger for adventure, and the sense of desperation due to the possibility that she can resurrect her parents, and even deceased friends, all these factors push her to search for the Scion!

Music/Soundtracks:

  • I hope TR: LoA's main menu theme, and soundtrack in general, takes inspiration from both TR1's and TR Anniversary's themes, building on top of them and tapping into the nostalgia!
  • The music needs to sound atmospheric, instrumental and ethereal! ✨

What Comes Next...

Legend and Anniversary are now both completed, so I'm really looking forward to the third and final part of this trilogy, Tomb Raider: Underworld! Can't wait to get into it! πŸ₯ΉπŸ™Œ

Stay tuned and hope you'll enjoy the curated TR: Anniversary gallery above! πŸ˜‰πŸ‘

u/95mmaa β€” 2 months ago
β–² 96 r/TombRaider

Joined the Club Today! Deluxe Edition! Can't Wait! 😍🀩πŸ₯³πŸ₯Ή

Might also go for the PS5 version as well, that is once I travel back home and get a PS5 Pro, in case my gaming laptop ain't good enough. πŸ˜πŸ‘

ETA: For those asking about the price, I’m from the Middle East and when I selected my country it gave me the price in USD, so it probably has something to do with regional pricing. πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

u/95mmaa β€” 2 months ago
β–² 28 r/TombRaider

Perfect Time to Play TR Anniversary! (For Real this Time!) πŸ₯³πŸ€©πŸ˜πŸ₯Ή

Just received my new controller today - after my last one got damaged (issues with the joysticks - maybe stick drift). Talk about perfect timing! πŸ₯³πŸ˜†

I'm just so excited to FINALLY be able to play TR Anniversary (and hopefully finish it) because I never got to finish it before. I've only ever played through the first two or three levels on my cousin's PS2 - and that was back in middle school or the beginning of high school! Nevertheless, I just immediately fell in love with the game (naturally)! 🀩😍

For years, I used to just watch streamers play the Legend Trilogy games because I didn't own a PS3 at the time (and my PS2 wouldn't work anymore). Plus, with college, I just didn't really have the time to play them, so it's nice to be able to play these games myself now. πŸ₯Ή

One thing I really want to say is...

TR1 and TR Anniversary are both going to be way more relevant now than ever with TR: LoA on the way. I'm sure we'll be seeing many videos of people comparing all three games. It's just so exciting! πŸ™Œ

For the sake of Unifying the timelines...

Bear with me on this one, please, but one thing I hope TR: LoA does is that it includes a Journal in Lara's inventory, just like the one in Anniversary or TR6, that includes entries on some of the lore and story details that were included in Anniversary, like:

  • Lara, and her father, Richard, already being aware of the existence of the Scion as an ancient, legendary artifact
  • how the Scion is a vast library of information
  • and how using the Scion (and its powers) could tell them exactly what happened to Amelia, when her plane crashed (like in the Survivor Trilogy).

I know that some/many people are tired of hearing about Lara's parents...

However, for those of us who actually do not mind the family backstory, whether from the LAU or Survivor games, I think having all the lore and narrative details mentioned in a Journal would be such a cool way of addressing past events/games without it being directly in the player's face. And this way, most of the events and lore remain canon (or even relevant).

With that said, I don't know what it is about TR Anniversary's story, and the extra narrative details they added, but I just found it so endearing that in the beginning, Richard knew and recognized that Lara was the only person intelligent and open-minded enough, that he could rely on and trust, to actually look for the Scion - unlike all the academics/colleagues who turned their backs on him.

I just love the way the LAU games portrayed Lara's relationship with her parents overall. πŸ₯Ήβ€οΈ

Now, I'm running the GOG version, in case anyone's wondering. FPS is already capped to 60 and V-Sync is also enabled.

Wish me luck! πŸ‘πŸ‘

u/95mmaa β€” 3 months ago
β–² 10 r/TombRaider

Something Worth Mentioning about Natla in TR: LoA and the Unified Timeline...

Hey!

First of all, I'm so excited for the game after that second trailer we got! πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

Now, I just realised that there's something about Natla that no one's talking about, and it's to do with Underworld and Catalyst as well:

Natla cannot be killed (by bullets)!

It's been established, at least in the Legend (LAU) trilogy, that Natla cannot be killed easily because she's supposed to be an Atlantean deity. You need other means to get rid of her, as shown in TR Underworld and its DLCs; Thor's Hammer and/or the Eitr. πŸ’€β˜ οΈ

TR: LoA will be the first entry in the Unified era of TR, and we know that TR: Catalyst, also part of the Unified era, takes place after the events of TR: Underworld.

So, what does this all mean for Natla in TR: LoA? πŸ€”

They HAVE to give Natla an ambiguous death (or open ending)!

Just like in TR: Anniversary, they have to leave things open-ended enough with her (by burying her under the rubble) for the Unified timeline to make sense. Because I can't imagine them just killing her off so easily (like in TR1) when they're trying to Unify previous eras of TR. Right?

What do you guys think?

P.S. I need that Unified timeline book nowww!!! 😭

u/95mmaa β€” 3 months ago
β–² 22 r/TombRaider

TR Anniversary Cutscene in Blender - by Raq

Hey! Just wanted to share this video by Raq where they managed to import a TR Anniversary cutscene map (with animations) into Blender. You can see how the different character models move and snap into positions too. The whole thing is just so cool! As usual, brilliant work by Raq! πŸ‘πŸ˜πŸ‘πŸ€©

youtu.be
u/95mmaa β€” 3 months ago
β–² 358 r/TombRaider

Just Completed TR: Legend (Again) after Almost 20 Years from When I First Played It! πŸ₯³πŸ’–

Hey! So, yeah! I finally did it (again)! I finished TR: Legend for the second time in almost 20 years! πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

I first played this game with my cousin, who was sleeping over, during a summer break. Good times! πŸ‘Œ

I think I was in Year 7 or 8 in middle school, or Year 9 in high school, when we first played it and we managed to finish the game in like 3-4 days. I do remember having a blast playing it back then, and I can say that the second time around is no different! πŸ₯³πŸ™Œ

Based on my second play of TR: Legend, I feel I can say that TR: Legend (along with the rest of the LAU games) understood the assignment: provide an engaging story with fabulous characters, several tombs to explore, and build up excitement for what comes next! It's simply an amazing game! The entire Legend Trilogy is just super awesome and it's my favorite era of TR (so far)! πŸ˜πŸ€©πŸ˜‰πŸ‘

As for the technical side of things, the OG graphics still hold up! TR: Legend is still a beautiful game! 😍🀩 Now, even though the GOG version might've fixed most bugs here and there, there are still some lingering (graphical) issues, specifically with the Next-Gen content. I've had several random crashes, in Kazakhstan and I believe in England or Nepal - forgot which. There was no point in keeping it on, so I did turn it off eventually, which is a shame. πŸ™ˆ

This is why people keep asking for a PROPER remaster of the Legend (LAU) Trilogy! πŸ™Œ

Anyway, TR: Anniversary is next! Looking forward to it! Stay tuned and hope you'll enjoy the curated TR: Legend gallery above! πŸ˜‰πŸ‘

u/95mmaa β€” 3 months ago
β–² 80 r/thesims2+2 crossposts

For Anyone Interested in Creating Custom Neighborhood Terrains for The Sims 2 using SimCity 4...

Hello! Just wanted to let everyone here know that SimCity 4, which is the game you can use to create custom neighborhood terrains for The Sims 2 (.sc4 files), is heavily discounted right now on GOG. (You can also get SC4 along with SC 3000 and SC 2000 as part of a bundle, if you're interested in those as well.)

I only found this out because someone else in the GOG sub shared an entire schedule/timeline of discounts over the past few years for SC4: https://www.reddit.com/r/gog/comments/1ta14bn/patience_paid_off_boys/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

And I didn't even know SC4 was on GOG. Anyway, I just thought I'd share this here in case anyone's interested in creating neighborhoods for The Sims 2 from scratch. πŸ‘Œ (I myself went ahead and got all three games! 😁)

Happy Simming! πŸ™Œ

P.S. Wasn't sure which flair to use so went with the closest thing. πŸ‘

gog.com
u/95mmaa β€” 3 months ago
β–² 14 r/TombRaider

Hello! Just wanted to share this wonderful video that showed up on my feed by CroftCore. They examine the history behind Lara's Home (Classic era) and Croft Manor (Legend Era), both in terms of level design and the in-universe history of each manor. πŸ‘

They also touch upon the tie-in comics, TR: Sacred Artefacts, and how they reference certain events surrounding Croft Manor in the Legend Trilogy. Simply amazing! πŸ‘Œ

Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CroftCore

u/95mmaa β€” 4 months ago
β–² 33 r/TombRaider

Hello! Patch 2 for Challenge Mode has been released! (Thank you for the heads up, u/Suli_Croft! πŸ’)

Patch notes from Aspyr's website:

Out Now for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 1 & Nintendo Switch 2, PC, iOS, and Android. This patch includes fixes to graphics and platform-specific fixes. Patch 3 is also in progress.

All Platforms

GRAPHICS

  • Fixed Lara’s Model Breaking: Lara’s model no longer breaks when sliding down mountain slopes.
  • Fixed Textures: Black textures no longer appear on some items in the game, missing textures and pixilation on textures have been fixed.
  • Corrected Spelling: Updated β€œChallenge” to be spelled correctly.

PHOTOMODE GRAPHICS

  • Improvements to Outfits: Smoothing, textures, and clipping have been fixed.
  • Fixed Lara’s Braid: Lara’s braid no longer freezes in photomode.

AUDIO

  • Fixed Object Pickup SFX: Sound improvements when picking up objects.

iOS

  • Fixed Controller Behavior: Controller behavior addressed when disconnecting multiple controllers.
  • Improved Modifiers: Fixed weapon modifiers and enemy type bugs.
  • Fixed Weapons Draw on Modern Controls: Weapons can now be drawn while using modern controls.

Android

  • Fixed Cloud Saves: Downloaded cloud saves now save unlocked outfits.
  • Fixed Clipping: Character clipping into objects.
  • Improved UI: Fixed various bugs associated with UI (incorrect button icons, misalignment, missing buttons).
  • Updated Controller: Fixed various bugs associated with controllers (lagging, navigation, menu highlighting).
  • Updated Subtitles: Fixed subtitles not appearing during cinematics and remaining on screen in Croft Manor.

PlayStation 5 & PlayStation 4

  • Fixed Crashes: 3 crashes addressed (random crashes).
  • Updated Subtitles: Fixed subtitles remaining on screen in Croft Manor.

Xbox

  • Fixed 40 Fathoms Water: Fixed missing water (progress-blocker) in rooms on the 40 Fathoms level.

PC

  • Fixed New Game+ Saves: Now able to make NewGame+ saves.
  • Fixed Challenge Mode Unlock: Challenge Mode levels now unlock for those who have beaten the game.
  • Fixed Outfit Unlock: Outfits now unlock for GoG and EGS players.
  • Fixed Outfit Reset: Equipped outfit no longer resets to default after level completion.
  • Fixed Camera Clipping: Fixed camera clipping into walls and objects.

______

What do you all think?

Let us know how things are going with this latest patch! πŸ‘

IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember to report any bugs you encounter directly to Aspyr, on their website, by clicking on 'Submit a request'. Make sure you list the proper steps to show how the the bugs can be replicated on their end (with screenshots if possible). πŸ‘Œ

u/95mmaa β€” 4 months ago