This is a 1:1 remaster of the original games. The gameplay hasn't been altered. The original games used a default style tank control scheme. Objects sometimes pop in and out of existence based on where the camera was when the object is being rendered. That's normal, it's how the original engine functions. If you're looking for a remake, hit up Tomb Raider Anniversary (my favorite tbh). Gameplay: 10/10 Exploration is fun. Being able to swap between original and remastered views is cool. Remastered graphics employ shaders, fog, vast improvements to vegetation and set pieces. As an added bonus, some areas, like a long well-lit and bland tunnel in the original becomes a moody dark and foreboding area with the remastered graphics. Controls: 10/10 Controls either the original tank controls (default) or modern which makes the game play somewhat more like Soul Reaver. Still going to feel janky, but everything was preserved, which is the point. Sound: 10/10 Still creepy, doesn't flood you with music/sound effects. If something near you makes a sound, you hear it. Otherwise you'll be starved for sounds... which is the point. The feeling of isolation in a remote area. The lack of tons of extra sounds, usually with you just hearing only the sounds you make, enhances the environment and awareness of it. You're not half asleep and looking out the window on a car ride with the folks listening to your iPod. You're in a place where you need to pay attention. Sound can indicate enemies, running water and so on. Graphics: 10/10 Graphics are exactly like they should be for a remaster and honestly look amazing. Some of the ways they enhanced the graphics even cause me to use more caution when approaching an area simply because the environment is more immersive. As an added bonus, Lara's ponytail exists in the first game. I hope they also give the same treatment to The Last Revelation, or at the very least make it a DLC as that's my favorite of the classic games.
Amazing game with a surprisingly large amount of content given the standard in the genre. The classic game play is still there. I can't stress enough the amount of quality content. Typical of SHMUPS the main game has 7 stages, but the homage stages each have 7 levels per section (X, Y, Z) as well, each one being a throwback to an earlier R-Type title or rarely another Irem game property. So each of the DLC packs included is practically another full game. There's also stage variations. Stages: Main Game: 7 Homage stages: 21 Customization AND choice: -Customize the appearance of the over 100 unlockable ships with color choices, decals, patterns, or even turn the decals into patterns. I've spent dozens of hours on the Nintendo Switch version just customizing ships to make them my own. -Customize title screen image. -Customize loading screen image. -Change the title screen text of the game after beating it. -MAKE YOUR OWN COURSE. -Name your pilot. --Customize their appearance with some of the things you unlocked. --Customize pilot profile. --Custom greeting message. -Change menu color. -Cat decals. -7 Difficulty levels! (2 of which are unlockable) -Customize ship weapon configurations. Unlockables: Literally hundreds of unlockables. This ranges from ship decals, to score attack stages (available after clearing a level), to pilot medals for your profile (things like 'Beat a stage without rapid fire'), gallery images, , literally over 100 ships to unlock, lore for each ship, and most ships have something that makes them unique more than visually as the gameplay varies with them. There are even transforming ships if you want that Zeta Gundam/Macross/Robotech feel. Sound: Soundtrack is gorgeous. Homage stages have re-imagined versions of the original stage music, and the composers know how to use a bass line synth to make magic. Level design: Levels are designed well and aren't just backdrops as you'll need to navigate them. 100% worth it in every way.
Game runs well and natively on Mac/Linux (thank you)/Window. I use all three of those operating systems. No hiccups, no issues. I also own the Switch version and have had a friend use it to connect in multiplayer to my PC server, which is awesome. Runs on old/new hardware alike. Gameplay: Fantastic, classic crpg gameplay with hundreds of additional modules and even MMORPG style persistent worlds such as Ravenloft: PoTM. You can point and click with your mouse to do anything, or for faster input use keyboard shortcuts. I like using JoyToKey for mouse/keyboard emulation and using a 360/GameCube controller. Good and stable and runs smooth on any hardware I’ve tried. Sound: Great orchestrated music that captures the feeling of what you’re doing, only downside is some repetition of ambient background sounds which is only really annoying if you leave the game running for an excessive amount of time while cleaning house. If Andre hammering in Dark Souls doesn’t bother you, that won’t either. Voice acting is entertaining and well done. Graphics: Great! Anyone not liking or turned off by the low poly graphics can easily download the enhanced HD graphics pack from beamdog (either under extras or from their site), but performance does a slight hit on a lower end system. Story: Which one? Comes with many different campaign modules. I’ve liked them all so far. Pretty close to a tabletop D&D experience with GM who knows how to tell a story. Content: Literally thousands of hours of well made content between all the included first party and community campaign modules, and that’s before you connect to online persistent worlds. Easily add your own character portraits. Crossplay: Any version can play with any other. Steam/GoG/Switch/Win/Mac/Linux/Mobile vers. Additionally: You’ll see other reviews complain the original Neverwinter Nights Diamond was better, if you are in this camp for some reason, you’re in luck as this also comes with the original’s Diamond version.
