What really gets me isn't how poorly done this remaster is.
Oy, these Tomb Raider remasters; they're so LAZY.
You all probably know my opinions on remasters in general (if you
don't, here's the hot take: I'm not a fan). It's actually a bit more
nuanced; I don't mind remasters IF they are done by fans. The "X-Wing Alliance" remaster (https://www.xwaupgrade.com/)? I'm all in! The
"Ultima V" remaster using Dungeon Siege? (http://www.u5lazarus.com/)? Awesome. Elder Scrolls Oblivion updated to use the Skyrim engine (https://skyblivion.com/)? Can't wait until it's done. Fuckin' "Black
Mesa" (https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5486-black-mesa.html)? Hell
yeah! These are products of love, made by resource-limited fans,
designed to celebrate beloved games with other gamers. I can get
behind that sort of devotion.
But I'm a lot less sanguine when a corporation does the same thing,
milking gamer's nostalgia to improve their own bottom lines. It's lazy
and safe, and I'd much rather they use their resources to either
advance a franchise or - better yet - create new properties and ideas.
Yeah, sometimes it can be done well ("Dead Space" and "System Shock"
are two prominent examples) but more often than not it's just a
sloppily made cash grab. The 2021 "Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Definitive Edition" is one such example of the latter.
Guess which category the recently released "Tomb Raider Trilogy"
remake falls into?
What really gets me isn't how poorly done this remaster is. I mean, it
is awful; there's a guy rebuilding "Tomb Raider II" using the Unreal
engine that blows the official efforts out of the water. He's finished
the first level and you can download it for free (http://tombraider-dox.com/downloads/). The official remake has barely touched-up visuals, awful controls, and a worse camera. Sure, they say
they want to be 'true to the original', but if that was really the
case they could just resell the originals. The official remasters are
in the state they are because that was the cheapest they could get
away with and still say they are distinct (and worth charging money
for) and get away with.
But that's not what really irks me.
It's that there already was a proper "Tomb Raider" remaster...and it
blows this newest effort out of the water.
Sure, "Tomb Raider Anniversary" wasn't without its issues. The
quicktime events, the way it tried to stuff the 'Crystal Dynamics'
universe into the classic adventure, the weird lock-on targeting... it
wasn't a perfect game. But it was an obvious attempt to modernize the original while still maintaining the core ideas (and as much of the
level and game design) of the original. It wasn't just a half-assed
engine swap and running the textures through an AI upscaler.
"Anniversary" required an understanding of what the original was
trying to do, and an effort to improve it.
If Aspyr had put that same effort into their remaster... well, I'd
still grumble about it being a remaster but at least you'd get your
money's worth. The developers might even have stumbled across some new
ideas while they were at it; ideas that might be used to create new
games.
Sadly, this game will likely be considered a success by Aspyr, and
only encourage them - and other publishers - to release similarly
soulless ports. Not because it will sell very well (although, with the
"Tomb Raider" brand associated with the games, and the nostalgia for
an era when modern AAA games weren't all crap, it probably will get
lots of sales) but, rather, because remasters like this are relatively
cheap to make. Why put effort into anything when you can half-ass it
and still rake in the cash?
That's a lot of reasons. I like remakes. While Wizardry:Proving
Grounds of the Mad Overlord isn't as engaging as Wizardry: 5 Ordeals,
it's still a fantastic game. The improvements to PGotMO are mostly >graphical, Wizardry: 5O is for the most part Wizardry 9. The only
complaint I have about it is ... a treasure chest EVERY combat. It
means I've got to get my thief out and see each time there is a fight.
Maybe 1% of battles don't have chests. Other than that, I'm advancing >somewhat regularly.
But the best remake of all was Avernum: Escape from the Pit. It's
really decided by how deep the remake goes. The more the better. I
would play Ultima IV too if it was remade.
But the best remake of all was Avernum: Escape from the Pit. It'sActually that is pretty much the only Ultima I do not want to see remade
really decided by how deep the remake goes. The more the better. I
would play Ultima IV too if it was remade.
Am 18.02.24 um 01:56 schrieb Lane Larson:
But the best remake of all was Avernum: Escape from the Pit. It'sActually that is pretty much the only Ultima I do not want to see remade >again. It has been remade several times, and the last time it was, it
really decided by how deep the remake goes. The more the better. I
would play Ultima IV too if it was remade.
was a money grabbing scheme for mobile gamers from EA! (Ultima Forever)
A game I instantly stopped playing when the first NPC told me that you
can go to the store to buy better keys to increase your loot box change! >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_Forever:_Quest_for_the_Avatar
Usually whenever an Ultima is being remade it is U4 or something which >references itself to U4!
If Aspyr had put that same effort into their remaster... well, I'd
still grumble about it being a remaster but at least you'd get your
money's worth. The developers might even have stumbled across some new
ideas while they were at it; ideas that might be used to create new
games.
On Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:45:45 +0100, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Werner P. wrote:
Am 18.02.24 um 01:56 schrieb Lane Larson:I would like to see a reboot of Ultima IX, where the entire story is
But the best remake of all was Avernum: Escape from the Pit. It'sActually that is pretty much the only Ultima I do not want to see remade
really decided by how deep the remake goes. The more the better. I
would play Ultima IV too if it was remade.
again. It has been remade several times, and the last time it was, it
was a money grabbing scheme for mobile gamers from EA! (Ultima Forever)
A game I instantly stopped playing when the first NPC told me that you
can go to the store to buy better keys to increase your loot box change!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_Forever:_Quest_for_the_Avatar
Usually whenever an Ultima is being remade it is U4 or something which
references itself to U4!
changed, the DX driver is usable, the Avatar is customisable beyond
"Aryan," and the horses are alive.
Oh wait, that's a full remake of Ultima IX. From the ground up. One thing
is for sure: It doesn't need Lord British's input. A full fan remake
would be awesome so we'd have some closure to the Guardian trilogy that doesn't make Baby Jesus weep.
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