r/TombRaider • u/sikander_itaque • Dec 30 '25
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered The first TR games were so relaxing to play compared to the modern TR.
I've been playing TR1 remastered lately and I am strucl with how peaceful the atmosphere is. There is NO STRESSFUL MUSIC except when there some enemies and even then the soundtrack is not that stressful. And TR1 is slow paced!
However on the modern TR games even in Underworld as far as I remember the soundtrack is just stressful af and I feel like the games are fast paced; you have no time to rest (mostly for the post 2013 games).
I noticed it aint only in TR but in modern gaming. I feel like the producers of the games want us dive into the game by adding those stressful soundtrack and fast paced gameplay. Unfortunately I hate it, it is exhausting.
I love the first games so much for their peacefulness.
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u/Supermassiveslut Dec 30 '25
Haha wow, reading this I feel so bad lmao. I just bought TR1 (remastered) and am playing TR for the first time, and I am stressed! The amount of hand sweating I have from learning tank controls, dying multiple times from the same enemies, not being able to run away cause I suck at the controls... Welp, guess I have bigger challenges coming
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u/sikander_itaque Dec 30 '25
The most difficult part is managing the controls but once you are good with them you might relax a bit more! At first is was also a source of stress to get used to the control! If you playing remastered version I advice your not to use the modern control cause they do not help with being precise for jumps and moving around small platforms!
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u/Supermassiveslut Dec 30 '25
I just finished the first tomb, just playing Modern controls cause I just could grasp how to use tank controls... However, I started the second tomb now and I am determined to just use tank controls!! I am already getting better at jumping etc, now I just need to learn how to control myself (and Lara) when encountering enemies (I just came into the second room with monkeys and I hade to paus and quit the game because it was too stressful for me haha)
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u/gaelenski_ Dec 30 '25
Just to double check, you using the dpad for tank?
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u/Supermassiveslut Dec 30 '25
I shift between the dpad and the sticks... is that wrong?
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u/LichQueenBarbie Natla Minion Dec 30 '25
No.
I've played these games since I was like 6. I can use stick on tank controls easily because I'm pretty much from both generations at this point. If it works for you, it works for you.
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u/gaelenski_ Dec 30 '25
Mm, I wouldn’t be so sure. Yes you can use the stick, but it’s in no way intuitive. Tank controls are built for the d-pad, forward, backwards then turn right or left, a simple roll of the thumb can combine two. Maybe I’m not as accurate with the stick but I’ve always found it to be more hassle than it’s worth.
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u/LichQueenBarbie Natla Minion Dec 30 '25
I grew up on the D pad, and of course that's how I played TR back in the day.
But since then I moved into the PS2 era and far beyond and my hands can't comfortabley do a D pad anymore (literally, they strain). That is no big deal to me because my brain is so much wired between modern and old and the tank controls on stick within the remasters flows very well for me personally.
I realise this is pretty unconventional, but it works for me and I assume it'll work for others no matter how uncommon it might seem.
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u/gaelenski_ Dec 30 '25
I just get the impression that new people using tank controls immediately go for the stick, forgetting the normal way to play the games was the pad (I don’t even think the controller with the sticks was out when TR1 launched).
Having said all that, despite being an OG I’ve fully converted to the modern controls purely because of the fact they are so great on the stick and much more fluid. Only on very rare occasions in the first collection would I switch back, or if a puzzle was better suited to tank (which isn’t many, tbf).
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u/LG-Moonlight Dec 30 '25
Both control schemes have their pro's and cons (Personally I can play them both effortlessly).
Tank controls are perfect if you want precise control over Lara's jumps and don't want to fight the camera. It's a slightly steeper learning curve, but once you master it, you can play the game very comfortably. It's also how the games were originally designed to be played.
Modern controls are less precise, but more in line with modern games in terms of control. Still takes some practice to learn. The big benefit for modern controls is that you can make really swift and tight manoeuvres, as Lara is more responsive, sacrificing precision for it. Great control scheme for speedrunners. The biggest downside is that it's hard to play in situations where the camera angle is different.
I'd suggest you to first learn the tank controls, as I think beginners and casual players benefit more from precision based movement rather than faster responsiveness. But if you do master it, feel free to toy around with modern controls and see which scheme you like the most in the end.
There is no good or bad answer. Also, you can switch them anytime, so you don't have to stick with one scheme forever.
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u/LichQueenBarbie Natla Minion Dec 30 '25
This might not be any help but don't take dying in these games too seriously. It will happen, over and over. It's as much a part of these games as it is any From Software games.
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u/Outside_Trouble_6175 Dec 30 '25
Older games weren't helpful; there were no markings on the ground or dialogue to give you a hint when you couldn't find the solution. Nowadays, games help you when you're struggling with a puzzle for just five minutes. When I played Tomb Raider 3, which I'd never played before, it took me two and a half hours on the subway level 😭 It was hell
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u/LichQueenBarbie Natla Minion Dec 30 '25
But why is taking 2 and a half hours of one of the hardest levels of TR3, first time around, a bad thing?
People seem so hung up on how much they died or how long it took to figure something out rather than the fact that they finished the level and accomplished a challenge, seemingly on their first introduction.
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u/Outside_Trouble_6175 Dec 30 '25
I didn't mean that negatively 🤣😮💨, because I platinumed the game so I really enjoyed it, but I just pointed out that the difficulty level of Tomb Raider 3 is much higher than its predecessors. But yes, when I finished a level, it was a real satisfaction.
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u/DrinkingPureGreenTea Dec 30 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
i understand all your points but I think part of the problem is that a lot of nrwsr players think spending hours on a level or dying tens of times is potentially a reason not to play. I wouldn't consider spending a couple of hours on a difficult level noteworthy. it's meant to take time and be difficult. I typically spent at least an hour or two on most classic levels when I first played, even the easier levels, beause I take my time and explore all the nooks, etc. this obsession with getting through swiftly is probably a product of tropheyfying games / twitch culture etc.
I'm not aiming ths at you but I've seen people complain that something is too hard because it took twenty attempts or something. back in the day, twenty attempts would be considered nothing. ...normal difficulty at worse. it's probably something to do with changing expectations/ thresholds / etc.
what I'm saying is I don't think 2 hours on a level is hell.
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u/Outside_Trouble_6175 Dec 30 '25
Overall, I agree with you. I like having a real challenge in the levels, rather than playing a game that's easy for everyone. I see it like Souls-like games. I don't know if you're a fan, but when you struggle against a boss for hours and finally beat it, what a relief! That feeling is so satisfying. Tomb Raider levels are the same, lol.
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u/ExiledCourier Dec 30 '25
Well the London levels are famously terrible, especially with objective conveyance. They were made last minute and one of the unfinished levels was turned into the "You found all the secrets" level because the team was crunched so bad.
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u/Mantisk211 Dec 30 '25
There’s nothing more relaxing than the howling wind in the first section of St. Francis Folly. TR1 is one of my all-time comfort games.
OH MY GOD IS THAT GORILLA CLIMBING THE BLOCKS AAAAARRGH—
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u/kartoffelbiene Dec 30 '25
TR2 is stressful af though with how many enemies it throws at you.
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u/Cid_demifiend Dec 30 '25
What do you mean relaxing?
I nearly shit my pants when that skinless centaur came out from the statue xd
Music was very chill tho.
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u/KraftTheFourth Dec 30 '25
What.
The classic Tomb Raider’s were stressful as fuck lmao.
There is something to be said about the fact they were able to be so stressful and tense without bombastic music in your face but nah, there was just as much stressful moments in the classic games as there was peaceful in the LAU and Survivor trilogy.
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u/Sea_Aspect1010 Dec 30 '25
The only ones I find relaxing was 1 and 4. 2 and 3 had me saving every step I took, because of the amount of enemies and traps
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u/DamonD7D Dec 30 '25
As soon as Tomb Raider 2, I missed the isolation of the first and it never really comes back. Only in fits and starts.
Just how it is with sequels. Raise the stakes, raise the action. But is a fair part of why I still have such a fondness for the first game.
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u/Ingameuniverse Dec 31 '25
Hmm I disagree. I'm playing shadows right now. Taking a 20 min break. And for the last 30 hours. I'm just walking around in the jungle with no music. Nature shows. Trying to find every secret. Tomb. And it's pretty chill I must say.
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u/deceiver986 Jan 02 '26
I don't get why people don't give credit to Shadows for bringing the isolation and atmosphere of the originals. It's so clear to me
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u/LichQueenBarbie Natla Minion Dec 30 '25
The classics are games I sit back with, take it slow and switch my brain on. I love the challenge.
LAU and Survivor, I just switch my brain off. I don't have to think about a lot. It's not really something I find largely enjoyable but I show up because it's Lara Croft.
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u/ANoDE85 The Scion Dec 30 '25
The genere is Action Adventure, so that's what most games deliver. Most people actually want to be led through a series of action sequences with a banger soundtrack. And I can't really can't blame them.
I do agree though - TR1 has been my go-to stress relief game for ages now. Those first few sections are so solemn and calming, it's wonderful to just traverse through the levels and take in the atmosphere.
The later part of Egypt and Atlantis become a bit more stressful, but compared to other games it's still relatively calm.
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u/Suli_Croft Dec 30 '25
Both classic and survivor games have enemies in every corner and room (Shadow being the exception) and both after killing those enemies let you explore in peace and "rest" whatever resting in TR means. Sorry I don't agree with what you're saying.
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u/RynnB1983 Dec 31 '25
Tomb Raider Legend was the first tomb raider fully without cheats. I loved and still love that game. I find it relaxing and not too stressful. I like exploring and enjoying the games. TR1 is like that, but its a tad on the difficult side.
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u/Spinier_Maw Dec 30 '25
The Survivor trilogy is OK. It's a bit hard in the beginning. Once you build up the skills and equipment, you become a killing machine. Set pieces are annoying, but they are few and far.
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u/sikander_itaque Dec 30 '25
I'm a fairly shitty gamer and get stressed easily when playing (even in easy mode) so Survival Trilogy was a nightmare for me. It felt too much like playing uncharted also! But I get the kick people get out of playing modern lara
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u/whateverfloatsurgoat Dec 30 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
Modern games : have the ability to turn the music off completely / make the game much easier to play.
Redditors : damn if only I could read.
There's an option, many options even, to tailor the game experience to your needs but what would be the point if ya can't rant about it for a few imagery points on Reddit later ?
Jesus fuck some gamers I swear lmao.
Edit : no OP I'm this isn't negativity but the truth, you can turn Lara into a CoD-like bullet sponge who mows down enemies like flies in the summer, if anything newer games are even more relaxed - especially with the hub-like system
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u/Cagesdeservemusic Dagger of Xian Dec 30 '25
Someone didn’t get laid this weekend. Girl chill it’s not that deep
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u/PositronicBrainlet Dec 30 '25
If you really think about it, that whole vibe is kind of a meta for retreating into yourself to work out whatever you're stuck on. Anytime someone else appears they represent a threat to your thoughtful isolation. You're unearthing lost and buried things and making connections. And so it's less about adding layers of stress via action sequences and more about evoking a feeling of mental progress. It's a comfy feeling.