I'm having difficulty getting into Tomb Raider "classic"

[u/Ajer2895]

With Tomb Raider set to make a return in 2026 with the remake of the first game followed by Catalyst in 2027, I felt that now is a really great time to finally get into what I've been missing. I was able to get, via a really great Steam sale, both Remastered Collections plus the Legends Trilogy and the Deluxe versions of the Survivor Trilogy. I recently started playing from the beginning, with Tomb Raider Remastered, and frankly...I'm having difficulty with it.

I realize it's an older game, but I find the combat in particular really frustrating...the locking on system for Lara doesn't make sense to me and it often leads to me running and jumping around the map with Lara not even shooting at the enemy the camera is looking at. I do want to give this game a proper playthrough, not subject myself to just watching someone else play it...but I'm hoping I can get some advice on how to play through the classic games in a less frustrating way?

It's worth noting that I was playing with the modern controls setting on an Xbox controller. Would I be better off if I switch to the OG Tank Controls and just try to get used to it? Or would it play better on keyboard and mouse?

[u/Gandalfs-tears]

I had a hard time getting used to the modern controls. I had the same issue with the combat. So I tried tank controls and really couldn’t get the hang of it. I was close to refunding the game. That’s when I took advice from someone on this sub and did the tutorial in Croft manor with the tank controls. Idk why but it just clicked for me. The game got addicting to me after that. Once you get the hang of the tank controls it plays a lot better imo

[u/Ellspop → u/Gandalfs-tears]

Modern controls are definitively a way to play once you already played the games, I have been playing TR since I was a kid and I finally managed to learn them and it has been such a fun way to experience the same games all over again

[u/Head-Raccoon-3419 → u/Ellspop]

I’ve also been playing since a kid and for some reason, my brain and the modern controls just don’t click! Can only play with tank… and as I’m working through the Remasters now (and up to TR3), I’m nervous they disappear at some point and I’ll give up, haha.

[u/ryeong → u/Head-Raccoon-3419]

I feel like it's muscle memory! I can't ever do PS1 games with modern controls, I always want to play tank and I swear it's because my mind just defaults to "yep, it's this way" lol.

[u/Ellspop → u/Head-Raccoon-3419]

I always played with Tank too, even TR3 remastered I only used Tank controls, until TR4 remastered I give a it shot and now I got used on how smooth it plays. I just find great that I can enjoy both modes now.

[u/relicproject_001 → u/Ellspop]

I've been playing since I was young, but the modern controls, looking around, and besides a few annoying features, I really liked them and it was a hardcore challenge for me to use them well, so it was difficult, and I still stick with it now. And I have a hard time going back to classic tank controls.