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サーフィン CLASSIC VIDYA REVIEW

Tomb Raider: Legend
(Completed on 23 Jan 2025)

The PS2 original is the “canonical version” of this game, considering all the remakes and ports that came out over the years
It’s a fun, low-stress adventure game which doesn’t demand very much of you
Gameplay-wise, it’s not demanding much of you, but the visuals and characters and music and settings are all so good that you’re sort of willing to go along with it
I had forgotten how much unlockable content that developers used to put in these games. While I did not do “100% completion” and get all of Lara’s little outfits and such, I can see myself going back to the game for those things. It is fun and a little jarring to see how developers used to give the fans what they want; today all that stuff would be DLC.
The game is short (even, I think, for the time) but in its’ small package, it accomplishes what it’s trying to do. The settings are very memorable and the story (which no one even really needs in a Tomb Raider game IWABH) is coherent and interesting.
Not all games reviewed on this site are very accessible to moderns, but I think this one is, and I can recommend it as long as you don’t come in looking for something too hardcore

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サーフィン CLASSIC VIDYA REVIEW

Overall did not have as much fun with this as with FF1, but somehow I do think it has more replay value
Because of the leveling system (no experience; you gain levels based on what skills and weapons the character actively uses) it is really easy to get yourself into a bad position and hit a wall where everything is killing you instantly. You can grind out of this but it is a SLOG
However, once you get what the system is and know what to expect, you can see how it was possible to much better prepare yourself early in the game, for things that will be happening to you later in the game. This is the thing that makes you want to replay it; the knowing how much easier you could have made it on yourself.
As with FF1, I think the Origins version is a great way to play the game. I did it on desktop but it would also be great with one of those “retro emulator” handhelds
Completion time of this (~20-30hrs) is probably the most I have to give. I am too old to play RPGs which are any larger than that.

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サーフィン CLASSIC VIDYA REVIEW

One of the great Squaresoft RPG’s. I had never played this game before, or seen the movie, but I did read the book, and the story plays WAY better as a video game
Thankfully NOT a 40+ hour grind as is common in the genre. I played pretty casually and finished in less than 12 hours. Didn’t attempt the EX run but might go for that later
It took me a surprisingly long time to understand the mechanics of using Tools to modify guns and armor. Other than that, there is nothing complicated about the game at all.
I also really like an RPG where there’s only a single hero instead of a party, like the original Dragon Warrior. Done right, it makes some situations and dungeons more intense and is more engrossing
The combat system is roughly the same as Chrono Trigger (designed by the same guy) and it feels very good. You can move around freely, I don’t think there are any enemies with attacks you can’t dodge, and it is surprisingly deep considering how limited movement options are.
Overall very fun, not too hard, and I’d recommend anyone play it during the Christmas season since that’s when the story takes place in-game.