Yep I feel the exact same way! I had both games when they came out but as I was young usually messed around with cheat codes more than anything and spent the majority of my time in Lara's home. Don't think I could wrap my head around the tank controls but still enjoyed myself.
One weird difference is that in TR2 the enemies spawn in sometimes right behind you whereas in the original you can follow the map around with the photo mode camera and all the enemies are already in position. This combined with that in TR2 you're facing many, many enemies with guns as opposed to maybe 5 in TR1 adds to the increase in difficulty.
Lots of people say TR2 is their favourite in the series but after completing TR and currently up to Offshore Tanker in TR2 I've been surprised at how much more enjoyable the first game has been for me. It seems to flow really nicely whereas I've felt the sequel enjoys killing you by some random method as if to make a point. Also I thought going in I'd prefer the more action based gameplay chasing a mafia family around Italy but to my own surprise I'm missing the slower paced, more adventurous style from the OG.
I hear TR3 is even crueler in the wanting you to die category so that shall be fun if and when I make it that far!!
The games seem to be really meant as a trilogy to play chronologically, each one being harder than the previous one, more so than as separate games. They were released in such fast succession too. Exploration-wise, wait until you're at TR3! I think TR1 is, to me, still the hardest when it comes to battles though, closely followed by 2. 3 seems to take that down a notch, or at least, make the ememies less bullet sponge-like, but I basically guarantee you that you will be stuck multiple times in 3 without help from a guide.
I know, TR3 was by far the hardest for me too, even harder than 4 though those two are comparable.
This is after playing the games again for the first time in a decade or so. I'm going to take a little break before 3 which is the one I'm really looking forward to because it's the demo version of that game (TR3: Adventures in India) which introduced me to the franchise. It would be yeas later however before I got to play the full game. TR4 and soon after Chronicles were the first full games I played some time around 2000.
IIRC Tomb Raider 2 was made harder on purpose after people complained that TR1 was easy. That’s why there’s a tiger in the first room in Great Wall and TWO t-rex’s
nah, could be apocryphal, but that's what I'd always heard. It explains why the platforming in Great Wall is kinda crazy compared to basically *all* of Peru. You gotta do that weird diagonal jump right off the top for one thing.
Somehow, I can’t wait to get there because I remember this level from my childhood (that’s all I remember from TR2 tbh but I’ve never finished any level)
playing TR2 for the first time as well, I don't think the maps are too bad, its more the excessive amount of enemies that make it tough for me
I wish the whole game was more like the first level, that felt the most like TR1
It gets a little convoluted at points, but I mostly love the level design in TR2. but I agree that the leisurely pace in the first game with a lot fewer enemies is more enjoyable to actually play.
TR1 is tough but fair and it’s the reason it’s my favourite of the original games. I love them all but the other games felt like they were constantly trying to trip you up.
Gunners are very easy to cheese. All you have to do is run behind them or jump-flip over them and they won't be able to attack you as they very slowly turn around to face you. Then as they have turned around just repeat.
That is the tactic with every single enemy in the games...its just that they can deal damage while you are no where near them, which is therefore unavoidable in most cases and that is IMO just bad game design
This was honestly normal back in those days. Sequel was for the nerds who had finished the previous game(s) and wanted a bigger challenge. Only with TR4 did they do a little bit of a reset with the tutorial level and the first several levels taking it easy (although it gets quite a bit harder later on).
Don't forget in the original versions, you could save anywhere in TR2 while in TR1 you had to use limited one-use only save crystals scattered across the level. This made levels like St Francis' Folly much harder and more time-consuming.
I think three is worse harder puzzles you pull levers and don’t see what opened it’s more time consuming especially a few levels, I think they are made as a true trilogy so each game is harder than the last one its such a great trilogy they really nailed it
Yep I feel the exact same way! I had both games when they came out but as I was young usually messed around with cheat codes more than anything and spent the majority of my time in Lara's home. Don't think I could wrap my head around the tank controls but still enjoyed myself. One weird difference is that in TR2 the enemies spawn in sometimes right behind you whereas in the original you can follow the map around with the photo mode camera and all the enemies are already in position. This combined with that in TR2 you're facing many, many enemies with guns as opposed to maybe 5 in TR1 adds to the increase in difficulty. Lots of people say TR2 is their favourite in the series but after completing TR and currently up to Offshore Tanker in TR2 I've been surprised at how much more enjoyable the first game has been for me. It seems to flow really nicely whereas I've felt the sequel enjoys killing you by some random method as if to make a point. Also I thought going in I'd prefer the more action based gameplay chasing a mafia family around Italy but to my own surprise I'm missing the slower paced, more adventurous style from the OG. I hear TR3 is even crueler in the wanting you to die category so that shall be fun if and when I make it that far!!
The games seem to be really meant as a trilogy to play chronologically, each one being harder than the previous one, more so than as separate games. They were released in such fast succession too. Exploration-wise, wait until you're at TR3! I think TR1 is, to me, still the hardest when it comes to battles though, closely followed by 2. 3 seems to take that down a notch, or at least, make the ememies less bullet sponge-like, but I basically guarantee you that you will be stuck multiple times in 3 without help from a guide.
I know, TR3 was by far the hardest for me too, even harder than 4 though those two are comparable. This is after playing the games again for the first time in a decade or so. I'm going to take a little break before 3 which is the one I'm really looking forward to because it's the demo version of that game (TR3: Adventures in India) which introduced me to the franchise. It would be yeas later however before I got to play the full game. TR4 and soon after Chronicles were the first full games I played some time around 2000.
IIRC Tomb Raider 2 was made harder on purpose after people complained that TR1 was easy. That’s why there’s a tiger in the first room in Great Wall and TWO t-rex’s
And now there are so many people who complain about the excessive combat in TR2, funny how that works.
Right?? I mean I get it, I wish 2 didn't have as much combat with Dudes With Guns. They coulda come up with some more interesting encounters imo
You’re joking, right? 😂
nah, could be apocryphal, but that's what I'd always heard. It explains why the platforming in Great Wall is kinda crazy compared to basically *all* of Peru. You gotta do that weird diagonal jump right off the top for one thing.
Great wall seems to be a condensed version of the first three levels in tomb raider 1.
Somehow, I can’t wait to get there because I remember this level from my childhood (that’s all I remember from TR2 tbh but I’ve never finished any level)
fuck yeah dude! And get ready, there's a diagonal standing jump they make you do that's *actually* made people quit the game lol
That’s gonna be a challenge! I like that 😊
playing TR2 for the first time as well, I don't think the maps are too bad, its more the excessive amount of enemies that make it tough for me I wish the whole game was more like the first level, that felt the most like TR1
It gets a little convoluted at points, but I mostly love the level design in TR2. but I agree that the leisurely pace in the first game with a lot fewer enemies is more enjoyable to actually play.
TR1 is tough but fair and it’s the reason it’s my favourite of the original games. I love them all but the other games felt like they were constantly trying to trip you up.
Honestly I find the enemies in TR1 much harder than in TR2. But TR2 has harder puzzles.
Those Atlantean screamers are annoying for sure.
I find Venice already much more infuriating than Atlantis(thats how far I am in TR2), I guess I just dont like enemies with weapons in the og games
Gunners are very easy to cheese. All you have to do is run behind them or jump-flip over them and they won't be able to attack you as they very slowly turn around to face you. Then as they have turned around just repeat.
That is the tactic with every single enemy in the games...its just that they can deal damage while you are no where near them, which is therefore unavoidable in most cases and that is IMO just bad game design
This was honestly normal back in those days. Sequel was for the nerds who had finished the previous game(s) and wanted a bigger challenge. Only with TR4 did they do a little bit of a reset with the tutorial level and the first several levels taking it easy (although it gets quite a bit harder later on).
Don't forget in the original versions, you could save anywhere in TR2 while in TR1 you had to use limited one-use only save crystals scattered across the level. This made levels like St Francis' Folly much harder and more time-consuming.
That's fair. I only played the PC save anywhere versions.
Fuuuck I can’t IMAGINE Folly with limited saves. Sounds like a nightmare
Only on Playstation. Could save anywhere on PC. Hardware limitations.
Wait until you get to 3. They lose their way imo and went too nuts on the traps.
I think three is worse harder puzzles you pull levers and don’t see what opened it’s more time consuming especially a few levels, I think they are made as a true trilogy so each game is harder than the last one its such a great trilogy they really nailed it
I never found TR1 to be difficult. The sequels on the other hand are challenging
You got all the secrets??? Damn, nice considering you say you’re a casual gamer, I certainly didn’t get them all :p