The sense of awesome nostalgia hit me when I was watching Gametrailers Anthology
where they were reviewing the first Tomb Raider game (link).
It still looked like such a good game to me. Even the graphics didn't bother me, somehow the pixelated world that is not-so-definitive give way for your imagination to fill in the space.
And someone who commented the video got my attention. This is what he/she wrote:
Originally Posted by core4more
[" I loved the feeling of isolation the game gave you, it was mysterious, creepy, and fun."]
The comment hit nail on the head for me: the feeling of isolation was a huge part of the adventure. I could feel so strongly that I was alone there in the catacombs, caves and wherever and noone could help me or know what happened to me. By just looking at the video I could get into that same atmosphere and feel that isolation, going on a lone adventure. I don't remember getting that feeling from any other game since. HL1 came close, but it was a bit different and you know what I mean.
This nostalgia rush felt very good and if I'd heard the music (I watched the video with no sound) I bet the rush would've been even better. It really made me want to play the game again. Too bad I sold it some years ago =( Well, I wouldn't have time to play it anyhow.
But seriously, if Anniversary didn't have those annoying QTE's I would've surely bought it. Shame.
Share with me your feelings on this game down the memory lane.

Confession: I installed the Nude Raider 'patch'. :P

It was ugly, the controls were clunky, it was mostly empty and it was clearly made up of squares
and it was freakin awesome! I spent more time on Tomb Raider than I did with pretty much any other PS1 game (my shitty PC wouldn't run it at the time). Spectacular soundtrack, my MUM loved it so much she made me burn a CD of it for her
Anniversary really didn't have THAT many quick time events and they were reasonably well designed (you did all the actions with the appropriate buttons at the times you'd expect to do them). Its well worth picking up if you can find it cheap, its got enough nostalgia for you to go "oh yeah I remember that!" but enough new elements to avoid saying "Meh, played this before"
You sad pathetic loser! I never managed to find it!

I agree. It really managed to instill a feeling of isolation. I also vaguely remember some guy hunting you, which I found super creepy back then.

I completely agree, I actually think the clunky controls helped with the pacing as you needed to be much more considered than in the modern ones. Every environment was a huge puzzle and even the ridiculously short draw distance fostered that sense of uncertainty which when you're 4 stories up and can't really work out where you are going to end up can be a little unnerving to say the least.
I also loved the sense of isolation which was brilliantly supplemented by the fantastic and sparingly used soundtrack. The combat was a bit meh, but since there was never really very many enemies it was never a problem. Such a shame that the sequels focused more on this and lost that sense of isolation.
I played through it again last year and if you can put up with the clunky controls and dodgy graphics it is still very enjoyable.

The isolation was definitely enhanced by the music, the title track and the other pieces that use its themes particularly so, just the single instrument opening really works.
I'd be sure to buy the PC version of the first 6 if it turned up on a certain popular digital distribution site with good extras (preferrably more than just the soundtracks, whilst they're awesome they HAVE been released as freeware now)

Oooh, thank you for the link, didn't realise the soundtracks had been released as freeware, downloading now. I'd also happily buy the games if they turned up here.

I thought Anniversary was fantastic*, and I've been unable to return to the original since then. Don't let the QTEs put you off; they're unwelcome but relatively unintrusive.
*yes, even though they completely ruined the single best moment of the original game

Iwasn't a gamer at the time the first one was released but I enjoyed anniversary alot I was already used to the QTE's so they weren't a problem. My favorite 'alone, creepy, isolated' part was the lost valley :)
Btw what was the single best part of the original?

it wasn't ugly when it released, it was amazing. I remember jumping in and out of pools just to see the transparency effect.
I think i'm the only one, but i rather liked the way that the levels were made up of a big grid. For one thing it reminded me of prince of persia, where you had to time your jumps based on the number of tiles... it made the levels into one big puzzle.
Handling wasn't great... particularly the annoying way you interacted with walls. But after playing tomb raider legend and hating it, going back to the old tomb raider style was actually nice.
I suddenly want to play TR2 again... the bit with the shark was awesome.

Oh I liked it, it was a great way to calculate jumps, after a while you managed to map the number of blocks missing and how long a runup you'd need to clear them, gave it an almost board game feel in a way

I bought Unfinished Business a few years ago, didn't play it and only just realised it has the original game in there. It's odd playing it after Anniversary. I don't like the quick time events either (when I played Legend I had no idea what I was supposed to do) but there are only about 2 in each game. They shouldn't be a reason not to get the games - the remakes are amazing.

Confession: I haven't played single Tomb Raider. Ever.

Condemnation: You'd better get on with it then hadn't you?
Sorry I seem to have been chanelling HK47 there for a second. Try Legend, its a good solid entry in the series, doesn't depend too much on prior knowledge and is old enough to be picked up cheap