Tomb Raider - Sega Saturn Review

[@mrdth1987]

I liked that it had little music in it. It's more of a feel actually being in abandoned tombs and when the music does play it make feel more epic.

[@Dagnostic]

The lack of much music did add atmosphere, but I kid you not when you're in the zone playing away when all of a sudden the music kicks in, it scared the shit out of me! XD

[@SegaLordX]

You ever been in a cave before? There's wind, echoes, ambient noises. Tomb Raider is dead silent for a lot of the areas. It didn't feel realistic to me. Just empty like you're playing in a depravation chamber or something.

[@roberto1519]

I thought the same, the eerie silence, sounds of your footsteps and other sfx gave the TR original series this unique feeling, I also like KOF97 in this regard, as some stages has some background sounds or amusement park bg music (in the park stage), giving it that unique feeling as far as fighting games go.

[@SegaLordX]

I live in Appalachia bro, I've never been in a dead silent cave. Guess we only have noisy caves around these parts.

[@roberto1519]

@@SegaLordX So you went on Tomb Raiding yourself!

[@TacoDiceCosas]

This takes me back. In that time the fact that I was playing a 3D game for the first time was so spectacular that just walk and jump in Lara's house was enough fun for many afternoons. Yeah, even the training mode was a lot of fun just for the novelty of the 3D.

[@mrbig2648]

That mansion tutorial area was mindblowing for those of us who played it day one. It was a "Mario 64 moment" for many of us.

[@UltraUploadzTwo]

@@nokeksgiven I didn't even know this game was for Saturn, or perhaps I would have gotten it. I remember going over to a friend's house who had it for PS, and I couldn't believe how good the game looked. Nothing on my beloved Saturn had anything that even came close, so I assumed it was just another one of those amazing looking games that the Saturn couldn't handle graphically, along with Crash Bandicoot and Resident Evil. Of course, RE did eventually come out on Saturn too, and I snatched it up quick-fast. lol Still didn't look as good as the PS version tho -_-

[@olschoolTonyCarter]

@@UltraUploadzTwo I got it for Saturn, it's not as good as the Playstayion version imo.

[@adrient.1138]

I feel exactly the same way ! An incredible feeling.

[@FoxUnitNell]

@@UltraUploadzTwo I think the saturn had a bit processing to include different damage responses when wearing extra costumes which was cool.

[@Larry]

My launch copy of Tomb Raider on the Saturn had a bug where the game would always crash on the boulder section of the final level. Literally had to buy another copy to finish the game >.>

[@skins4thewin]

Dang, that must have sucked. I had this for the PS1 back when it first came out & played all the way thru without issue.

[@crosstie417]

Larry!

[@skins4thewin]

@@crosstie417 That's his name, don't wear it out.

[@youinanotherform1965]

Boulder: But! Goodbye, you!

[@LockeTheCole]

Well shit... I can't remember if I bought the game at launch. I know I got it pretty soon after it came out. I never beat it so I might have a bugged copy too. :/

[@RADCONDESIGN]

I would play this game while listening to the Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine album over and over. They went really well together.

[@cavernadofilme5651]

Your comment reminds me of me back in the day playing killzone online on the ps2 while listening to edguy albums. Good times

[@steelcurtain187]

I like your style

[@bkowa0921]

@@cavernadofilme5651 Edguy is awesome!

[@cavernadofilme5651]

@@bkowa0921 i agree, noble sir. Hellfire club is still one of my favorite albums of all time. I never get sick of it hahah

[@roblatter3347]

That's a terrible lie

[@WarlockX4]

I got a Saturn before a PS1. I remember my brother bringing this game and the strategy guide over. He read the guide aloud to me while I played. 100% the game in one sitting. Took about 8 hours. Great times.

[@CortinasAndClassics]

I absolutely loved my Saturn copy of Tomb Raider. I sat up all night with a friend back when it came out and we would swap the control pad if we died. It was great fun to do and we finished the game together. A great gaming memory for me.

[@chrismaddock5790]

I remember seeing the difference between the two versions visuals way back when. Thing is, I actually thought the levels in the saturn version (although visually inferior) made the most sense aesthetically. The tombs looked more dirty and in some places rustic, which to me seems the logical appearance for a part of the world untouched by civilization for a millennium. And the dark lighting in places I thought helped to add to the overall atmosphere of being alone in a large cavern-like area with all kinds of beasts potentially round the corner. I legitimately jumped outta my skin once when some wolf jumped out at me from the shadows. I understand that the ps1 version was visually more appealing (and in terms of gameplay - I always say that poor framerates have the potential to ruin gameplay at times) but for me, I do find the saturn visuals more charming.

[@64kram]

I actually believe we were spoiled having played the Saturn version first. All other versions ruin the feeling and experience for me. Ancient tombs with no sunlight shouldn't be so bright and clean.

[@hicknopunk]

There is something to the color hue I prefer on the Saturn gameplay. This comes from a PS1 owner too.

[@josevanz7654]

I remember feeling like I was actually trapped in a tomb, or in a dark cave.

[@zero-theaveragegamer1159]

Nice thoughts. That's the great thing about gaming. We all have our own preferences, and enjoy things differently. First thing I noticed was how much better the controls are on Saturn

[@DTM-Books]

I have the exact same feeling about Saturn Tomb Raider. Its moodier and more mysterious, like Minecraft with dinosaurs. What's not to love?

[@buckdancer421]

This was the first game we got with our Saturn, along with the VirtuaCop/VirtuaFighter2/DaytonaUSA starter discs. Absolutely takes me back, thank you!!

[@michaeldorsey1394]

Oh my god I remember the starter disc!!!! Glad you brought that up! I was the one person who loved Independence Day for it lol.

[@buckdancer421]

That game was awesome haha

[@SavageMontreal]

This is a great game. Probably one of the best ever made. I've always seen it as the first real 3D platformer, considering it was released here in Australia several months before the N64 or Super Mario 64 was released. I must admit though, I've had a little trouble going back and playing it in the years since. I find myself falling off a ledge or dying, and getting these bad flashbacks as I have to replay that whole section again. It's disturbing when you play an old game, find yourself in a position like that, and realize "man, I have done this so many times before... do I really want to do it again?... how much time have I wasted on this?... what am I doing with my life?". It's funny how you remember all the good times you had when playing a game, but then play it again to remember how frustrating it was too. It's for this reason that I often find myself watching other people play through these games on the net. Great video. I always appreciate your honest perspective on these games.

[@cptnoremac]

It's a good one to play with friends. They can help you get through the trudgery of it by laughing at you.

[@kri249]

That's just growing up. As a teen I remember I'd kill an entire day on a good playstation game. Where as now I try to get the most out of each day. Especially if the weather is beautiful. I also went through many controllers out of game rage. But what was more frustrating was how much we got screwed out of a lot of classic games here Australia. That use to piss me off.

[@MatadorMedia]

just play tomb raider on the pc and you can save any time you want. even in 1996... i would save before every risky jump. when i learned the consoles had save positions i thought that sounded terrible.

[@michiganjack1337]

I absolutely adored this game and is one of my fondest Saturn memories. I don’t think the series was ever able to recapture the mystery or wonderment that the first game did. Also loved the look when underwater kind of reminded me of the water in the crystal palace from Conan The Destroyer. 😎

[@legrandgougoulilumine6940]

Tomb Raider Revelation had that same feeling as the first Tomb Raider..but it was harder. no more gun totting villains.. here you fight animals, skeletons and mysthical forces. Just like the first game. The architecture is also very much like the first game.

[@Mr_x_19922]

The main menu music was a blast

[@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252]

One of the defining Saturn games very much deserving of this review. Praise the Sega Lord.

[@MarkyV83]

It’s a shame we didn’t get Tomb Raider 2 on the Saturn. I wanted to lock the Butler in the Fridge on the Saturn version 😢

[@petermalek935]

In the cancelled Saturn version, the Butler was a ripped Rambo type. He would have shot his way out of the fridge. J/K but would be awesome, amirite??

[@MarkyV83]

Haha yeah

[@kri249]

It wasn't until youtube that I learned I wasn't the only one who did that.

[@SilverbackGorilla69]

As a kid I did that too lol

[@gedaman]

I don’t know why Sony decided the need to make Tomb Raider a PlayStation exclusive. Sony was already winning the console wars at the time. The Sega Saturn was on its way out by late 1997 anyway. Sony could have saved their money.

[@Astfgl]

About a year ago I played through Tomb Raider again on my PS1 and I was surprised at how much fun it still was. Of course it hasn’t aged particularly well and even on the PS1 the performance can be awful in some levels (looking at you, Cistern) but getting lost in these huge environments and figuring out where to go and what to do is as engaging as ever. Modern audiences surely won’t appreciate the trial-and-error nature of this game but to me it represents a lost art, a type of game you rarely see anymore these days.

[@EOTA564]

I played it when it first came out and my first impression was that it was a 3D Prince of Persia - the game mechanics are closer to the original PoP than the later 3D PoP games.

[@bkalmarhum3193]

The legendary 1st time encounter with the T-Rex

[@SockFullOfCatLitter]

Wasn't that in part 2? I remember you had to scale down a cliff to get to him.

[@KrystalCroft]

As someone Speedrunning this game for a really long time for the PSX, it was really cool looking at this documentary about the Sega-Version. Sure, the frame rate looked really staggering, but damn, sometimes the darkish environment gives the game a really cool tone!! I think I gonna get this setup and try playing it for once, so thank you for your really awesome documentary about the game of my childhood.

[@irkalla100]

So many fond memories of this game! This and Panzer Dragoon 2 were my two most played games on Saturn.

[@64kram]

My favourites too, along with Exhumed - all three do a great job of immersing you in their worlds. A remake of PDZ is on the way, I really hope they do it justice!

[@legrandgougoulilumine6940]

believe it or not but for me it was Virtual Hydlide. I know how bad it was rated but it was one of my first 3D kinda game and the fact that each time you started a mew game the map was different was pretty cool. I just love that Dungeon and Dragon-esque adventure game.

[@TRJ2241987]

I still remember the feeling of walking through that snowy corridor for the very first time Christmas '96 at my Grandparents house. This is one of the last games that my Father and I co-op'd the entire way through, we only played on the weekends and never played it without each other. Because of the gruesome spike deaths this was a game my Dad wouldn't let me play when my Grandparents were visiting

[@davidt3563]

So many memories of playing this on my Saturn. I still remember powering it up for the first time.

[@andrewmaasch1724]

I actually prefer how it looks on Saturn. The darkness adds to the atmosphere imo.

[@erwanlecainec3394]

Same here ! Even if I noticed more in this video that it's really more fluid on the PS version.

[@runarvollan]

Better underwater wave effects too I think..

[@Gilluria]

I always found that the darker shadows of the Saturn version gave the cave systems and tombs a bit more of a natural ambience.

[@sierra.taekwondo.8559]

Tomb Raider will always be my all time favorite game for the Sega Saturn. Its the very first Tomb Raider I beat without any cheats. Took me about two years to do it and countless deaths. The feeling you get when you figure out a puzzle or a new pathway is amazing. Pierre would always piss me off, no matter how many bullets you put in him, he'd always find away to escape til the final battle. The big open world and the music really set the tone. I remember my step father asking me "Who wants to play Tomb Raider" and I'd take the Sega Saturn controller and play the night away. I remember when your Lara moving a block backwards and the grunts she makes my step father would make a funny joke lol Those were the days of picking up a game like Tomb Raider and figuring out the puzzles with your family.

[@WebVManReturns]

Tomb Raider 1, The Last Revelation, and Anniversary are the only Tomb Raider titles I have beaten without codes.

[@itsdeonlol]

The OG Tomb Raider on the SEGA Saturn was so amazing bro!! It still is today!!!

[@DGJX]

In France, the Saturn version was released about 1 month before the PS1 version, and I bought it day one. What an adventure at the time, it was like a crossover between Indiana Jones and Rick Dangerous. The Saturn version is indeed darker, but I don't know, I think the overall atmosphere is better in this one.

[@nanoua27]

imagine si TR1 avait pu sortir "juste" avant Mario 64 sortit quelques semaines avant... La baffe !

[@odinsplaygrounds]

I've been reading old gaming magazines lately, and I had almost forgotten how much of a hit Tomb Raider originally were. It was being praised as the best game on the Playstation in 1997, even above Final Fantasy VII. The hype for Tomb Raider 2 were also just insane. This was also when Lara Croft started appearing in advertisements, all magazine covers, and even went on a tour with U2. I think it's easy to forget, since we ended up getting too stagnant sequels, eventually some quite bad ones and then she disappeared for a few years before returning with her current look. Lara-fever wore off.

[@thetickingman]

Lara Croft was huge! I remember the Lucozade adverts in the UK and the film with Angelina Jolie was a pretty big deal (although not a particularly good film). I actually have a soft spot for The Last Revelation (TR4), esp the Dreamcast version.

[@TRJ2241987]

There was also an obsession with rumors that you could get her nude in the game, I even had a gaming magazine in '96 that posted links to nude artwork of Lara online

[@odinsplaygrounds]

@@TRJ2241987 Yeah I read a feedback letter from an outraged fan of why they would create nude lara code (the person didn't know it was all bogus).

[@TheRelen222]

@@odinsplaygrounds Basically a Rick Roll before there were Rick Rolls.

[@vigoroushero8623]

I remember my cousin getting TR with Sonic Jam and Street Fighter the movie game for Christmas one year. He played this one the most though.

[@ThatOldSchoolMagic]

Never played a TombRaider game growing up. So, I Gave this game a shot about 2 years ago and was liking it a lot but then I stopped once the levels were taking more time to complete. After seeing this I’ll probably return to it soon.

I played this for the first time last year. Liked it in the beginning, but it's a bit too long. Started on the second game, but quickly felt I had enough by then.

[@sideswipe1261]

Same. I was a proud Saturn owner, and always wanted to give this game my all… but the controls (is this the same control scheme as Resident Evil? Did RE ever change that scheme in sequels or remakes? I just can’t adapt to “Up=Forward” playing in 3D games. If the Dreamcast RE:2 & 3 added *sane* controls, I’d have played them, Code Veronica, Tomb Raider and more w/that scheme replaced. I get confused quick! :)

[@ThatOldSchoolMagic]

@@sideswipe1261 Yes Tomb Raider has the Same Control style as Resident Evil (Tank Controls). Although the difference between the two is resident evil uses adjusted camera angles for most of their early games while Tomb raider places the camera behind the player for a 3rd person view. The controls style for RE has never changed. Only the way the camera is focused on with the player. I think the control style you want is Free Movement(Similar to Mario64) its in some games like RE2 N64 and RE1Remake on Current Gen but not many games use it in the horror genre.

[@cireza_]

I actually replayed the game in its entirety a couple weeks ago. I personally prefer the PAL version, it has a much better in-game aspect ratio. The game is PAL optimized, so it fills the screen, but everything in it has the proper aspect : Lara is smaller, the blocks are perfectly square etc... In the NTSC versions, everything feels stretched a lot. I personally prefer the Saturn version to the PS1version because of the colors. I find the PS1version to be washed out, and prefer the higher contrast we get on Saturn. Texture warping is also really bad and a distraction. Textures already "move" a bit on Saturn because on how they are refreshed when getting closer, and this is already a bit disturbing. But on PS1, walls feel like they are moving... The Japanese version is much easier and has more save points for information. With that being said, Tomb Raider is a legendary game and the overall game-design is fantastic.

[@olevet75]

wow is that really a case PAL has less save crystals compare to ntsc?

[@nbdante]

I never played Tomb Raider on Saturn but from the footage, some scene looks better because of the darker look, especially in the underwater tunnels! Man I miss the old style Tomb Raider games! The exploration and puzzle was in for forefront it made the early games feel more mystical and intimate experiences!

[@KevinsYouTube]

I had the sega version for my 8th birthday. Still my favourite game. I occasionally get the Saturn and PSX versions booted at the same time and compare graphics by changing channel on my TV. Classic Tomb Raider doesn't get nearly enough love. Thanks for the review.

[@retrogames3404]

One of the best videos on the channel. Thank you for that. I have my Saturn Tomb Raider in storage and will never sell it. It has a lot of history since 1996, exclusivity was a differential this year.

[@jimbobunn5195]

I love the Saturn port of the first TR. It's my favorite version. I don't really know why. But i wish the 2nd one got a Saturn port too. Breaks my heart

[@kevinaguado1650]

Sega lord yanking memories long forgotten from my childhood and bringing back front and center

[@fatbelly2438]

it was like movie night evrytime i played this on my saturn,,the whole family sat down to watch...

[@Unclejack328]

We used to watch my Aunt play. You are absolutely right 💯

[@RazorEdgeBullie]

Currently doing a playthrough of this on Saturn. I also have the ps1 version which I'll play afterwards. I remember being SO impressed by this game back then!

[@pauldurst3901]

Just finished Tomb Raider 2 on the PS1 and have been slowly becoming a Tomb Raider fan lately so this is really nice to see(:

[@EliteGamersUnited]

after TR 3 ur on a nice and steady decline. It gets better when Tom Raider for X1, PS4 release. so ignore everything between 3 and TR2013(?)or 2014 Although the Tomb Raider Temple of Whatever the hell, the isometric TR game was actually a fun MP game

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

"after TR 3 ur on a nice and steady decline" No. Aside from The Last Revelation being a really strong game (not as fun as 1 & 3, but much more so than 2), the trio of Crystal Dynamics games in the late 2000s are highly polished games with fun set pieces and design.

[@EliteGamersUnited]

Is God really cared for the last revelation is the hydrogen 3 I'd say 2 was the high pois the high point with some is some elements that really sucked but didn't hurt the game completely in the way it should have

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

@Elite Gamers United First: Try again, I can barely understand what you're saying. Second: what's hydrogen? Last: Fuck the combat and over abundance of poorly placed human enemies in TR2. It rivals Alone In The Dark 2 in terms of sheer awful game design.

[@EliteGamersUnited]

i was driving and voice to text really screwed that up lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@DenkyManner]

Loved it on Saturn. Don't care that it was better on PlayStation, it was good enough and nothing about it hurt my enjoyment. It was the first fully 3d game where you could go anywhere that I had and I was fully enthralled.

[@robertdanker6193]

100% agree!! I was hyped to get this for my Saturn when it came and really enjoyed it! I played through the whole game and was very happy with the experience!

[@marakarthegreat]

same

[@autumnshade84]

This was so much fun to play! I loved working my way through this one. The lack of music or dark visuals didn’t bother me, more the higher pixalisation the Saturn version has over the Saturn. But the gameplay was great!

[@olevet75]

over PS1..?

[@swooperd]

Great stuff as always. I tend to agree with a few others on here that the darker Saturn game made it more atmospheric, which tied in nicely to the eery silence of the tombs. I do wonder if some of the lack of polish is due to the Saturn version launching first as a timed exclusive, another month may have made the frame rate more stable in line with the PS1, but then we wouldn't be able to day that one of the most iconic gaming franchises started life on Saturn

[@georgeweeman9057]

I owned the Saturn version, and played the Hell out of this one! I dont mind the tank controls...It gives it that old school charm, that younger players wouldnt understand. Great video!

[@6c122]

Huge 3d environment, lol nice one. Btw congrats on over the 100 thousands subs. Keep up the good work and thanks for your content. Saaaga.

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

one of my favourite games and still is today

[@stezo2k]

Best theme tune in the whole series

[@costumeninja1914]

100% agree some of the best video game music of all time

[@segagamerguy]

Great review sega! I liked the side by side comparison and I liked the darker tone of the Saturn. I feel it gave the Saturn a bit of a fear factor. Both versions look different, the ps1 version plays so smoothly!

[@Ezyasnos]

Back in the day I got this with a demo disk for my 3DFX card, along with games that before than only were released on consoles. It was glorious.

[@Spietler]

This was my first PS1 game. Coming from the Sega mega drive, and not used to 3d gaming back then, it took my hours to complete some of the later levels. Got this in 1996, when i was in my first year of highschool. It took me forever but eventualy beat the game. Never bought TR2, so TR3 felt like a mayor upgrade when i got it on launch.

[@itsthinking]

You've been a busy man this week! Another great video. Thank you. This is my favorite youtube channel.

[@EpicLebaneseNerd]

i was lucky to play the best version, the IBM-PC DOS version and even had the pleasure to play or rather watch the tech demo with no sounds that came with a magazine at the time, i just loved this game, and loved the little touches like doing a dive in the water or that fancy way that she pulls herself up the ledges , also not to mention the fabled nude patch with her pointy bust that made us all ever so excited......good days, not to mention , i was the owner of the nokia ngage version and it was cool.

[@BeB02090]

I passed on the nude patch, but dang did I play this on PC with a smile on my face. While frustrating at times , many I might add, its a great game. Love the way it just came together.

[@wyldink1]

Major kudos for being one of the few who can pronounce Lara's name properly.

[@64kram]

Lahh-ra? That's how we Brits say it.

[@wyldink1]

@@64kram And that's the correct way. I'm American, and not only do far too many of us misspell her name as "Laura" (like they can't fucking read), they pronounce it that way as well. Our boy Sega Lord X always manages to shorten the first "a" in her name appropriately. I don't know whether it's the endemic ignorance of the name or endemic apathy that most of us suffer from that accounts for the error's prevalence, but it's always nice to hear someone saying it correctly.

[@64kram]

@@wyldink1 In all fairness I'm sure many Brits might pronounce it differently too, we have many regional accents and dialects that may influence that, but Tomb Raider and Lara Croft were absolutely huge over here at the time, as I'm sure they were in America too, and I never heard the name pronounced differently on the TV or other media - until I started watching KZbin!

[@EliteGamersUnited]

saturn water transparency/effect call it whatever, in tomb raider whomped ps1 water in the testicle sack

[@itchy.tasty.]

It is not a transparency though.

[@drunkensailor112]

It also had way better draw distance

[@itchy.tasty.]

The blue save icon IS a proper transparency and PSX indeed whomps SAT's sack ^^

[@itchy.tasty.]

@@drunkensailor112 and way worse framerate. I mean way worse.

[@drunkensailor112]

@@itchy.tasty. Not really. Only in some instances. The saturn had more vibrant colors, way less image distortion and best of all: a way better controller

[@sega-re-trop-vieux]

The Saturn is a powerful machine that could easily handle a tombraider 2 with a better graphic and framerate than the first episode. The use of both cpu and the sound cpu together has the ability to create games like shenmue Saturn version. Great video 👍

[@madfinntech]

Sure, but who and with what money had interest to develop that for the failing platform. Sega didn't exactly support their third party developers very much and tend to keep the best tools for themselves. I enjoyed my copy of Tomb Raider II on PlayStation back then very much.

[@avalond1193]

@@madfinntech sad but true

[@BeB02090]

@@avalond1193I read this, as Metallica plays in my head.

[@mrnicktoyou]

I'm still amazed that Sega couldn't see that the future of gaming was 3D but instead gave us a 2D powerhouse with the Saturn. Especially since they were leading the way with cutting edge 3D games in the arcade. All we wanted was a cut price Model 2 home console.

[@LockeTheCole]

I think they likely knew it was the future. My guess was they thought it would be too expensive to make a system built around 3D so they made one that was a 2D powerhouse that could ALSO do some 3D.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

It turn out to be a blessing in disguise on hindsight. PS1 era 3d games doesn't aged well at all while Saturn 2d games almost look timeless after more than 2 decades. Who would have know? The irony.

[@avalond1193]

@@anglo-saxonconnor817 and what's funny is back then gamers scoffed at 2d and only wanted 3d but now those old 3d psx games look terrible and not many want collect or play them unless serious nostalgia but ALOT are collecting and playing Saturn 2d games now that prices skyrocketed for them

[@m.jordan5181]

​@@anglo-saxonconnor817An unfortunate, but true reality.

[@m.jordan5181]

​@@avalond1193Sony even had a "no 2D" policy at one point.

[@philmason9653]

Even back in the day I wasn't a fan of the tank controls. I got the Saturn version of this a couple of months back and wow...in 2021 it felt like navigating a parkour course with a forklift. This video kinda made me want to go back & give it another chance though.

[@erwanlecainec3394]

Sega Lord X, my hero, Jaguar XJ220's track on the game over screen at 5:50. Just legendary ! And it was a Core design game on Mega-CD !!! Well done, bro !

[@silverwings21]

8:42 Nope, no one I knew back then ever talked about a framerates; if you can play it, it's fine. It wasn't until like 2013 where framerates became a big deal. The only time where games became literally unplayable was on the PC, one I specifically recall was a Hot Wheels game, where it ran like a frame a second. At that rate you couldn't stop running into the walls of the track and could never reach the end in time. People complain 30 FPS is unplayable or 20 FPS is unplayable [It's seems a lot of N64 games run around that framerate, I'm currently trying to beat every North American game on it {296}, so far I haven't had a problem playing and beating these games], try 1 FPS, then you will know what unplayable truly is. As long as it isn't 1-frame as second or 1-frame every 5 seconds, it's fine. The whole framerate talk is overrated.

[@manoo2056]

Yeah, we were talking about 60Hz as that was a big deal in PAL territory. We played most of these games at 50hz and you can tell the difference. I have the pal version of Panzer Dragon Saga and what a difference (not to say the black strips). So we didn't talk about framerates but the 50Hz was a huge thing in Europe.

[@silverwings21]

@MrGriff305 That's news to me.

[@AutomotiveCNC]

If you play on a CRT TV, then your eyes see a double framerate due to the nature of the scanlines used to render the picture every second line while half of the previous frame is still visible, with a lot smoother movement and zero lag. This is why the 32-bit and 64-bit games running at 15-20 fps felt and played so smooth and were perfectly responsive. No modern TV has zero lag, unlike the CRT technology. Also, the CRT matrix made the picture much, much smoother and colourful due to the diagonal "pixel pattern" (holes) it had. Old games running on 30 fps literally felt like a 60 fps game.

[@silverwings21]

@@manoo2056 Ah, I see. Having the unoptimized games; playing games meant for 60HZ systems played on 50Hz systems causes it to play slow. I have 1 PAL game, "Terminator" for the Sega Master System, when I play it on my NTSC system, it has the opposite effect where the game is sped up where it shouldn't be. Makes the game harder at points, where you have to dodge the terminator's gunshots at TechNoir. That's more of an unoptimized issue than a framerate issue.

[@Sly2Cooper]

Back then we didn't care about frame rate for sure. I played through Killing Time on 3DO several times and finished 3DO's Doom overnight and they were infamous for horrible frame rate. But at least I could experience new generation graphics. So what I see here on on Saturn is not half bad. Tomb Rider gave me the feeling of huge spaces when camera zoomed back while Lara jumped down the waterfall on the second level. And that dinosaur! All those huge complex dungeons and enemies in full 3D. With z-targeting year before Ocarina of Time. It was a sight to behold. When I got my PlayStation, Tomb Raider 2 has been just released and the series is still one of my favourite. I'd love to see your review of Tomb Raider Revelation on Dreamcast. Loved that game. It looked great on PlayStation, but Dreamcast was on another level with 640*480, antialiasing and smooth 60 fps.

[@erictbe4079]

I remember playing this with my cousin when I was 10 years old! Best days of my life! Thanks for the great content bro

[@danielrecommends]

I used to love climbing as high as possible and doing a backflip off to my death. I never beat this game because it became too frustrating. But the feeling of falling from a high place was captured perfectly in this game.

[@hicknopunk]

The saturn has a god tier sound chip. How is the audio from the guns so out of left/right balance?

[@Gamevet]

@@Longlostpuss No, the Yamaha sound chip was awesome. The Saturn couldn't used compressed sound, but Tomb Raider wasn't really an impressive sounding game to begin with, so it's not like its 512K of memory couldn't handle it. Check out the Saturn's version of Street Fighter Alpha 2, with it's very impressive soundtrack and sound effects.

[@Gamevet]

@@Longlostpuss I had (and still do) all 3 consoles at the same time. The Saturn with its Red Book Audio CD sound, along with the Yamaha sound chip, sounded the best of that generation. If a game had jacked up sound, it was because of it being ported from the PlayStation. There's no excuse for Resident Evil, or Tomb Raider, to have sound issues on the Saturn, other then the devs being lazy and not optimizing it for the Saturn hardware.

[@Gamevet]

@@Longlostpuss Yes, Tomb Raider started out as a Saturn title and then Sony slid some money Eido's way. There were early screen shots of the Saturn game in Gamefan Magazine, back in the day. I remember when people started talking about the next big PlayStation title and I was wondering why the Saturn wasn't being talked about for that game. Then Sony slid some more money their way and made Tomb Raider 2 exclusive to the PlayStation. Like I said, there's nothing special about the sounds in Tomb Raider. As matter of fact, they sound pretty low in quality, on either console. Still, I wasn't referring to just those 2 games. 3rd parties, in general, developed the game for the PlayStation and did their best to make it work on the more difficult Saturn. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the sound hardware didn't also get the same treatment. Capcom certainly didn't mail it in with Mega-Man X4, or any of their fighters for the Saturn. What are you referring to with PDS? The soundtrack is on the CD and you can play it on your PC, if you have a DVD drive. Yeah, sound effects are nothing to get too excited about, but sounds of the wings flapping and the dragoon making its death scream sound good. The explosions and cannon fire sound clean as well. They didn't really need to be massive sample sound samples to get the job done. It's not needing to be something like the sound Sara Bryant's roundhouse in Virtua Fighter, or the co-pilot's voice in Sega Rally. I was referring to the sounds of Tomb Raider and Resident Evil being ported over to the Saturn. Not the graphics! Mega-Man X4 doesn't sound like that lackluster stuff. It has beautiful sound effects, with nice reverb. I've been playing all of my consoles on surround sound since 1992, so it's not like I was listening to it through cheap 2 channel stereo speakers. Honestly, I never liked Fighting Vipers. I thought that it was a pretty lame fighter and I sold my copy back when the Dreamcast came out. I really don't miss it, or its music. It was a step back from Virtua Fighter 2 on the Saturn.

[@WebVManReturns]

I so disagree. The 3DO had a god level sound chip.

[@hicknopunk]

@@WebVManReturns i won't diss the 3do, but the subtractive synth, fm synth and pcm type channels make the saturn chip insane. No modern console has audio abilities close to it.

[@Old_Man_Jay]

Man, I really wanted to love this game as a kid. And to an extent I did but I could never beat the game unless I used cheats. I don’t know why but I just couldn’t wrap my head around the level designs.

[@The_Prizessin_der_Verurteilung]

The PS and PC versions are fun, but I always go back to the Saturn version since the dark tombs actually being dark, combined with the greater draw distance really made it feel so much more immersive.

[@ReinMixTape]

Same. The PS1 version looks visually washed out etc. It's too bad this port didn't use both of the Saturn's CPUs. If it did, the performance issues noticed would be gone or damn near unnoticeable.

[@-PLAYER0NE-]

I just added a saturn to my collection and I’m loving it so far. It can be a very daunting console to get into because of the absurd prices!! Thank god for action replay and pseudo kai. I’ll admit as an owner and avid user of all of this consoles competitors, the Sega pales in comparison to not only the power but also the exclusive game library. I don’t care though it’s a console i always wanted as a kid and it’s so quirky and different. It’s such a shame Sega went down the way they did because the Saturn and the Dreamcast were so far ahead of their time, i feel like they were just so stubborn and couldn’t recognize that having a loyal fanbase in japan wouldn’t sustain them in the long run

[@DavidSmith-bv8mv]

Sure thing, mate. It's well known today that the Saturn was more powerful than PS1. Its like stating the PS3 pales in comparison to Xbox360. Those PS3 launch years were rough and somes games ran at 30fps while 360 ran those same games at 60fps in certain comparisons yet we know why that was, it wasn't because it was more powerful, it wasn't. It was just very complex to make games for just like Saturn.

[@zeroyagami7753]

oh hey, i recently picked this up for saturn! i never actually played the og tomb raider

[@BeB02090]

This takes me back SLX! A time of the delightful 3dfx splash screen, and sweet sounds of my Soundblaster16. PC gamer at heart, but I have much respect for my console brethren, and their respective console of choice. Thank you good sir. Another 💎for the collection.

[@VoiceParodies]

I loved Tomb Raider on the Saturn. The only issue I really had was the framerate in certain areas but back then it wasn't really a big deal as many games suffered in framerate here and there anyway. I loved the darker graphics in comparison to the PS1 version. Made the atmosphere feel more dangerous to me. RE1 on the Saturn gives me the same feeling.

[@Buttyshag]

This title was incredible to play on the Saturn - when you mentioned framerate drops, I had a flashback to the camera panning away from Lara as she walks out of the Sphinx , and everything slowing down - at the time, everyone was so used to framerate drop that it didn’t even register as an issue!

[@crash5522]

This is one of the games that I played a lot of it. I actually was feeling nostalgic a few months ago and bought a pc version though I havent dug into it yet. I remember getting past the Greece section but its been so long that I dont recall exactly. I do remember all those cheap deaths due to mis-jumps lol Great content. Love it. Keep it up.

[@wetwerd2003]

Thx u for this. When I got the sat this was the first game I got so TR is very nastolgic for u. Damn 20 years, where did u go...good memory’s

[@NEONTRASHPRODUCTIONS]

Great review! I’m happy that SEGA LORD X expressed how important this game was (and still is) to the genre of 3D platformers today! It was truly a sight to behold in the mid 90’s!

[@LockeTheCole]

I've always preferred the 'darker' Saturn version. IMO it made the game more atmospheric. I find the PS1 version is overly bright in a way that somewhat ruins the mood.

[@avalond1193]

The psx version was really too bright and colors had a cartoony look on some parts. But parts on the Saturn made it hard to figure out what you are seeing because it looked so bad

[@efuuu]

What the fuck, the ps1 version looks hd in comparison.

[@FunkyRive]

I came here just to say the same thing

[@64kram]

Same here. I will always remember the game as a more scary, moody and isolated experience thanks to the Saturn. The PS1 and PC visuals made it look too clean and bright - these were ancient tombs with zero sunlight after all.

[@jonathanfenton5496]

agreed. Also, the PS1 seems to use simpler textures with less details, and has more color overall. (except the water, PS1 has a cool color effect)

[@FoxUnitNell]

I was playing this and mom was on the computer and after the saturn intro - Lara says she needs to change and my mom thought the character was going to get naked.

[@Nihat86]

Would've loved part 2 on the Saturn , one of my favourite games as a teen

[@creativemaker3271]

Hi would the background music around 545 be from wolfchild i loved that game

[@jubiladoatope]

You forgot to mention it released on the Saturn first,btw cool video man,love it.

[@gamersxpsn1822]

You touched on audio on your review. The Playstation version supported Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound. I never played the Saturn version unfortunately. It is always nice to see how the other half lived.

[@deathofkings5633]

I get why people have issues with the save crystals but I loved the extra strategy and clever level design (like when all paths lead back to a crystal) they offered. Plus the feeling of every jump in these lost places being important as you can’t just spam the save state and trial and error your way through. Perhaps the 3rd game found a balance with save crystals but as a inventory item. Better then the save anywhere of the second excellent game.

[@brettdulaney697]

I also bought this game not long after release on Saturn, me and my brother liked it,though it was dark,can't remember if Mario 64 was out or not, but we thought the graphics were pretty good and over all game is pretty decent,we didn't care for tank controls but also we didn't know any thing else

[@ravagingwolverine]

I recall Mario 64 being out, in the US at least, a month or two before Tomb Raider. I remember playing it in a store before Tomb Raider, which I got for the Saturn as soon as I knew it was out, which I believe was in November of 1996. I pretty much had the same reaction as you, that it was pretty good at the time. At the time, I was happy to have something more serious in theme and presentation like Tomb Raider over Mario 64, which didn't have enough shooting for my taste at the time.

[@StillTheVoid]

In just in time to celebrate this franchise's 25th anniversary, thank you for providing an insight to viewers to give the saturn a try. However, Digital Foundry made an awesome comparison video a few years back explaining the dreadful frame drop for the saturn. But let me tell you, if you think the ps one would've blown you away with the constant framerate and responsive controls, you aint seen NOTHING yet when adding 3DFX voodoo card. The ultimate way to play the Tomb Raider (perhaps even in the franchise after 2 or 3 decades) is for PC.

[@parazels83]

Still too many vintage games have not been ported on the modern consoles! I know TR got a remake in 00s, but I would prefer to get a remaster.

[@SavageMontreal]

The remake is pretty shit in hindsight. It came out around the time when "quick time events" were popular, so they added that into the T-Rex battle, with you having to press a button to dodge its attacks. Ironically, in their attempts to "update" the game, the remake seems much more dated as a result due to its inclusion of gameplay elements that were popular at that particular time.

[@ouroldhouse3674]

@@SavageMontreal Agreed

[@lloyddobler1650]

youre the bomb sega lord x. we love you buddy

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

When 32 bit consoles era arrived they show the future of 3d development and how far technology have advance in 27 years. Only the legacy of this significance aspect live on and not the 3d graphics from the 32bit era. What live on and age well to this date from the 32bit era are 2d spirite works and CD quality music. These two things are still very pleasing to the eyes and ears til now.

[@panadolf2691]

If we talk about first Tomb Raider PC>PS1>Saturn I played and and beat it on my Pentium MMX 200 Mhz and Voodoo 2 and it run very smooth and looked great (wihout texture warping) and keyboard controls are great for tank controls. And on PC you can save anytime you want so it's much easier.

[@darioprime]

this was the first game i went all the way through, and will aways cherish my memories of giving my backseat gaming mom motion sickness with the look button on the jenga tower section.

[@marakarthegreat]

Unpopular opinion, I actually prefer this over super mario 64. (I have the japanese saturn version)

[@MrEandc4life]

I can’t see why that’s unpopular ? Like I know plenty of ppl who never even owned an n64 they got a PlayStation and never looked back. I know a couple people that never played a Mario game but they play COD on a ps4

[@AznMetalHead]

I'm with you on this 💪

[@1RadicalDreamer]

😳😳😳😳

[@bawitback]

same here!

[@drunkensailor112]

I thought super Mario 64 was utter trash when I got it in 97

[@Awinnerwasyou]

Definitely one of my favorite games of all time. I actually played the PC version a few months back and I'm not joking. I had such a great time that I beat it nearly three times. It may not be for everyone these days, but it's very rewarding for those who put the time and effort in. On another note, the Saturn version has a secret missing in the Cistern. It was hidden behind a movable block near the doors where you used the Silver Keys, but in the Saturn version there's just a brick wall behind it.

[@minimobilereview6570]

my first ever Tomb Raider

[@mattb6522]

You have to really give a lot of credit to Core Design! Tomb Raider really seemed to set the standard for many 3D action/adventure games in the mid to late 90's when full 3D was still in its infancy and developers were still figuring out all the ins and outs. There were a lot of games on the Playstation and N64 that followed Tomb Raider's blueprint. Much like how Super Mario 64 set the bar for 3D platformers for many years. 1996 was quite an exciting year for video games!

[@visionop8]

I had a hard time as a kid defending my choice of getting a Sega Saturn when all my friends had Playstations. It was ROUGH lol. I still have my launch Model 1 Saturn and I still use it. To be honest though, if it weren't for all the incredible Japanese 2D games and Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2 I would have sold it decades ago.

[@dustingd1]

My experience as well!

[@kriskeilman2087]

Same here but I ended up selling my Saturn and bought a PS1.

[@blastfromthepast3073]

I really love the silence of Tomb Raider. A truth (and calm) Adventure on such a high Level wich no other game would reach again. Sadly Saturn and PS1 have massive Framedrops and reaches barely 30fps. So i prefer the PC Version on 3dfx Voodoo Rush. Tomb Raider is a Masterpiece even on Saturn and PS1. Thank you for your great Review! Good work!

[@panadolf2691]

Tomb Raider 1 and 2 on Pentum MMX and Voodoo 2 are my chidhood. Great games and great performace on PC.

[@blastfromthepast3073]

@@panadolf2691 yes! Tomb Raider on Voodoo 2 is Overkill! ☺

[@jakebournejones3999]

that crumpled snap noise was great especially diving onto her neck in the second one off the great wall of China lol loved tomb raider back in the day although I attempted to play again on my android TV with a PS4 controller and damn learning the controls was sooo difficult

[@YujiNanaya]

I'll forever have a soft spot for Tomb Raider 1 on the Saturn, that Christmas in 1996 was an happy one indeed.

[@MegaDeox]

It's cool to see the little differences between this and the PS1 version. The lack of texture warping noticeable, but I wouldn't say it looks better, just different. I still feel the PS1 version in emulation with upscaling, texture correction and overclocking is the best way to play this game.

[@mleolv426]

They definitely both have their issues. Ps1 texture warping and Saturn has very unstable textures that are always moving about.

[@RolandoMarreroPR]

I was surprised to see how much better the Saturn version was without the warping the PS1 had! I had this on PS1 back in the day, will have to give this version a try!

[@DafyddBrooks]

would have been great to see what tomb raider 2 would have been like on the Saturn :)

[@nediswierd5342]

I just bought a Saturn today!!! And the first game I ordered is tomb raider :)

[@nediswierd5342]

Update, as a Saturn owner of 4 months i definitely have gotten my hours in on Tomb Raider, it’s a phonominal game however it definitely tanks in performance sometimes

[@MINI_91]

I love the new Tomb Raider games, but I prefer the older ones. There is just something special about the ambient soundtrack, acrobatic comeback and actual large tombs to raid. Such a classic.

[@isntchrisl]

Finally! I've been holding off on buying this for the last 25 years until we got your review.

[@SegaLordX]

Better late than never!

[@DreamcastQ]

Such a fantastic analysis of the progression of gaming as the 32bit gen first hit in 95

[@canUsaythis]

1st time I ever saw this game was 97 when I was 10 years old at a mates house on the Saturn. It still remains 1 of my favourite games as it seems each year that goes by I Appreciate this game more as there was nothing like this before. The ability to side Jump, Back Flip and jump forward whenever you were on the ground OR going down a ramp, Climbing, exploring and shooting just mmmmmm and the Sound Track no mater what the 1st Main Theme is one of the greatest bits of music ever. Yes I do enjoy this game alot

[@SegaNibiruBro]

One of the best games on Saturn

[@SonnyBCreative]

I could never get passed the first area in Tomb Raider 1. lol

[@legrandgougoulilumine6940]

You mean, The opening movie ? LOL

[@JCdragon81]

Tomb Raider 2 brought me back to gaming. Hopeful of the future. Went back to one and bloody loved it.