Jonster
06-06-2004, 09:01 PM
OK, this is born out of sheer boredom.
I mean I literally have nothing to do (well that's a lie, I have games I could be playing, but I'm having trouble deciding right now - as ever), so I've decided to try writing an opinion column about videogames (well it's pretty obvious being in this forum).
If it's good or whatever I may do more.
If it turns out to be total shit, then it won't happen again.
Also if it happens again, it would need a better title... :shifty:
So here goes, Jonster's Videogame Talk #1 (and why not start off big)
The Tomb Raider Series
Tomb Raider
One of the best known games in the world. Ever.
Think of Tomb Raider and instantly you think of...
Lara Croft
She's appeared on the front of various magazine's around the world, and is easily one of, if not the most recognisable videogame's characters. Ever.
I'm not here to talk about Lara Croft though, that's a whole different ball game, I'm here to talk about Tomb Raider.
Now I'm going to say something that a lot of people will disagree with.
I think that the Tomb Raider games, are utter rubbish.
Now I can't speak for Angel Of Darkness (as I haven't played it - but even the reviews show hatred for that), but I have played Tomb Raider 1 through 3.
The first Tomb Raider was revolutionary, it was full of good ideas, you know what the game was, chances are you played it. Even then, I didn't like it.
Believe me I tried to like it, but it was just felt too sloppy.
The controls were unresponsive, there was a lot of pointless wondering, swimming sections were a pain and the camera was free enough, and because of this, it was often unclear where to go next.
Tomb Raider 2, well they made lots of money off the first one, why not release a sequel?
This was Tomb Raider with the action turned up a few notches and the puzzles turned slightly.
The graphics looked a bit better, and they changed the save system to make it harder (if I remember rightly, in the first you could save anywhere, TR2 had checkpoints), other than that there weren't any changes. A few new weapons and I think vehicles were added too.
The gameplay? Still rubbish.
Tomb Raider 3. I think 3 introduced crouching. more weapons, and more vehicles. This tried to find a balance between action and puzzles, and then a new save system (find crystal, using crystal means you get to save).
They also decided to make the levels absolutely huge.
Again the gameplay was rubbish.
I still didn't like it.
I'd assume Tomb Raider 4 introduced more weapons and vehicles, and fine tuned things even more.
I'd assume the gameplay was, again, crap.
I never actually brought any of the games (well I got given Tomb Raider 3), but I repeatedly borrowed for long periods of time (enough to play) to try and like them.
I thought I was missing out on something, something other people could see but I couldn't (like those magic eye things).
I gave up and declare my dislike after each time I borrowed it, then a while later would borrow them again, give up again declare dislike, repeat.
For each game.
However Tomb Raider, despite (in my opinion) being rubbish, had an interesting side effect.
As I said a lot of people liked it, and by a lot I mean it got people buying consoles, and it and Lara Croft helped make gaming more mainstream.
Now that could be considered a real plus as it could be argued that gaming wouldn't be where it is today without Tomb Raider, but that's another story.
So, erm, and thoughts on the writing, opinions, whatever?
And if you want me to do another, and have an idea for which to write about, suggest it and I'll see what I can do.
I mean I literally have nothing to do (well that's a lie, I have games I could be playing, but I'm having trouble deciding right now - as ever), so I've decided to try writing an opinion column about videogames (well it's pretty obvious being in this forum).
If it's good or whatever I may do more.
If it turns out to be total shit, then it won't happen again.
Also if it happens again, it would need a better title... :shifty:
So here goes, Jonster's Videogame Talk #1 (and why not start off big)
The Tomb Raider Series
Tomb Raider
One of the best known games in the world. Ever.
Think of Tomb Raider and instantly you think of...
Lara Croft
She's appeared on the front of various magazine's around the world, and is easily one of, if not the most recognisable videogame's characters. Ever.
I'm not here to talk about Lara Croft though, that's a whole different ball game, I'm here to talk about Tomb Raider.
Now I'm going to say something that a lot of people will disagree with.
I think that the Tomb Raider games, are utter rubbish.
Now I can't speak for Angel Of Darkness (as I haven't played it - but even the reviews show hatred for that), but I have played Tomb Raider 1 through 3.
The first Tomb Raider was revolutionary, it was full of good ideas, you know what the game was, chances are you played it. Even then, I didn't like it.
Believe me I tried to like it, but it was just felt too sloppy.
The controls were unresponsive, there was a lot of pointless wondering, swimming sections were a pain and the camera was free enough, and because of this, it was often unclear where to go next.
Tomb Raider 2, well they made lots of money off the first one, why not release a sequel?
This was Tomb Raider with the action turned up a few notches and the puzzles turned slightly.
The graphics looked a bit better, and they changed the save system to make it harder (if I remember rightly, in the first you could save anywhere, TR2 had checkpoints), other than that there weren't any changes. A few new weapons and I think vehicles were added too.
The gameplay? Still rubbish.
Tomb Raider 3. I think 3 introduced crouching. more weapons, and more vehicles. This tried to find a balance between action and puzzles, and then a new save system (find crystal, using crystal means you get to save).
They also decided to make the levels absolutely huge.
Again the gameplay was rubbish.
I still didn't like it.
I'd assume Tomb Raider 4 introduced more weapons and vehicles, and fine tuned things even more.
I'd assume the gameplay was, again, crap.
I never actually brought any of the games (well I got given Tomb Raider 3), but I repeatedly borrowed for long periods of time (enough to play) to try and like them.
I thought I was missing out on something, something other people could see but I couldn't (like those magic eye things).
I gave up and declare my dislike after each time I borrowed it, then a while later would borrow them again, give up again declare dislike, repeat.
For each game.
However Tomb Raider, despite (in my opinion) being rubbish, had an interesting side effect.
As I said a lot of people liked it, and by a lot I mean it got people buying consoles, and it and Lara Croft helped make gaming more mainstream.
Now that could be considered a real plus as it could be argued that gaming wouldn't be where it is today without Tomb Raider, but that's another story.
So, erm, and thoughts on the writing, opinions, whatever?
And if you want me to do another, and have an idea for which to write about, suggest it and I'll see what I can do.