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It's International Women's Day! Join me today as I rank the 10 hardest levels Lara Croft has conquered.
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Dean Kopri for letting me use his bad-ass remaster of No Waiting Around Part 1
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For all of the newbies playing these awesome games for the first time, here are some tips from an experienced TR player: 1. SAVE YOUR AMMO AND MEDIPACKS!!! This game needs to be played like a Survival Horror game. I know it can be tempting to use brand new weapons when you discover them or use up your medipacks when your health is low. USE ONLY WHEN NEEDED. You do NOT want to screw yourself late game when enemies become much stronger, trust me. 2. SAVE YOUR GAME!!!!: Please do not forget to save. I know that some of you may be younger gamers who are used to auto save systems. BREAK YOURSELF OUT OF THE HABBIT. Save any time you reach a new area, complete a puzzle, pick up a key/ artifact or defeat a boss. 3. ALWAYS STAY VIGILANT: If something looks suspicious, it most likely is. These games are known for their deadly traps that will pop up out of nowhere. If you see a long hallway or an incline, that should be your first sign. If you enter a chamber and see a tasty item just sitting there that looks easy pickins, SAVE YOUR GAME and beware of your surroundings before attempting to grab it. 4. MASTER THE CONTROLS: This is by far the most important tip I can give to a new player. Practice, practice, practice those controls in Lara's Home. A lot of newer players will struggle with this, especially the younger crowd because of the Tank style controls which are out dated. But, platforming in this game is a puzzle in itself. Lara's jumping is EXTREMELY accurate and dont underestimate her. She can easily make a jump that you may think she cant make or is impossible. She can also very easily over shoot a jump sending her to her demise. I HIGHLY SUGGEST bucking up and getting used to the tank controls for optimal performance with these games and HAVE PATIENCE. Youll feel like a complete boss once you master these controls and you will say to yourself "IM COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF THE GAME". Some people have been complaining about the delay in her jump. Remember, she jumps at the last minute and the buttons ARE pressure sensative. I suggest setting your controller sensativity between 8 and maximum for faster and more responsive platforming. All of this also comes handy in combat. Once you master her jumps, back flips, rolls, etc, you will find that the combat in this game is very rewarding. You always want to be on the move. She will go in the exact direction that you point her in, people knock tank controls but they are HIGHLY ACCURATE. Give it some time, youll actually start to appreciate them. I also suggest using the D Pad for more precision, especially while platforming. 4. DONT BE AFRAID TO EXPLORE: Check every nook and cranny in these games. It can be very easy to miss a key item or some power ups/secrets if youre just running around aimlessly or getting frustrated. Try to think outside of the box. Some puzzles can be a little complex so be patience. Its definitely a virtue with this game. Have fun and happy Tomb Raiding people! Hope my advice helps!!!
That is some absolutely great advice. I'm gonna pin this comment to the top. Thanks for taking the time to write it!
Why i should use the tank controls if there are modern controls? Its easier to handle. And why are they made, if you dont use it? (you can play the old games on ps1)🙄
@@yoda3089 because the modern controls are very finicky. They arent the same as say, the rebooted TR series. Also, there are many instances where you MUST do back flips in order to platform properly. Perfect example would be the exit to Temple of Xian in TR2, where you have to perform a series of rolling backflips off of a series of ladders, while avoiding swinging blades at the same time. That CANNOT be done with modern controls because she can only perform back flips when her weapons are drawn which would make the platforming there basically impossible. On top of the fact the game was designed on a grid based system of squares which were designed SPECFICIALLY for tank controls.
@@yoda3089 I choose not to use the modern controls because A: I prefer tank controls and have been playing these games since they came out on PS1 so, over 20 years of playing these games. And B: for the reasons I stated in my comment above. Im not saying you MUST use the old controls I am SUGGESTING that you do, especially because they are virtually required to be able to perform certain platforming moments correctly without dying in order to advance. Would suck for someone who spent all that time learning modern controls to hit a spot where its impossible to use them, then decide to quit playing the game because of skill issue with tank controls.
The tank controls are better and the way this game should be played, was like riding a bike playing again, I honestly can't play using modern controls. 😅 The first game isn't hard at all and a good learning curve for 2 and 3, which can be frustrating, I actually have teeth marks on my Ps1 controller from playing those. 😂 You can kill most enemies standing on boxes with your Pistols, it's very important to preserve ammo for later stages, as Egypt and Atlantis can be frustrating. TR II and TR III were more action based because her creator wasn't a part of the production, he wasn't pleased with them sexualising his character, he was back in Last Revelation, and you could see his influence. There is a documentary about the whole Lara evolution with the Ps2 version of Anniversary, very interesting to watch.
I miss the classic tomb raider games. They actually felt like an adventure you overcame. Beating them actually meant something.
Exactly! Very well said, I agree completely.
@@AxMania ATLANTIS ON PLAYSTATION 1 . U KNOW WHY ?? WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN 1996 WE DIDNT HAD SAVE OPTION ONLY CRYSTAL SOMEWHERE IN LEVEL. AND YES NO INTERNET IN CHILDHOOD TO SEE WALKTHROUGH.
@@PIP...33 Dragon in TR2 - I had no idea how to kill him and couldn't finish the game. Only years after I read how to and could finally finish TR2 🙂
I don't, ugly dogshit blocky levels.
True
What I always loved about classic TR is that the most difficult levels were often the most enjoyable, too. The sense of accomplishment is what made them so unforgettable for me. My first TR game was TR3 and I can still point out the places where I was stuck for days before I finally figured out what to do. I clearly remember a rainy day on spring break when I was on the Madubu Gorge level, searching for hours, going back and forth because I couldn't find the way, until I realised I just had to look up above me 😂 My grandma was making donughts in the kitchen. I remember like it was yesterday! There are no other games like TR ❤
I dunno.... Opera house, Lost city of tinnos and The Lost library suck every time! Temple of Xian looks amazing but is way too exhausting.
Exactly! This is especially how I feel about Temple of Xian. That level is amazing because of how hard it is. Hahaha, that's awesome! I love hearing about Tomb Raider memories like this. Nope, the classic Tomb Raider games are just one of a kind ❤️
You speak my mind here.. I have, in a certain sense, very similar recollections of playing through the 1st three games (and their expansions) - it was as if I was in a different world, but oddly, I have very clear and pleasant memories of the real one at the time I played them. The CD I was listening to while going through Coastal Village, the switch from high school to university as the background for TR1 (Sanctuary of the Scion did to me what Madubu Gorge did to you), etc.. Fantastic relational & perceptional memories. Besides games from the 8-bit era which I grew up with (still love playing my Atari 800 XL) and maybe Warcraft as my 1st PC game I ever played, there's nothing that comes even close. And I totally agree, the accomplishment in the end was immense and is still unparalleled.
@@AxMania ATLANTIS ON PLAYSTATION 1 . U KNOW WHY ?? WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN 1996 WE DIDNT HAD SAVE OPTION ONLY CRYSTAL SOMEWHERE IN LEVEL. AND YES NO INTERNET IN CHILDHOOD TO SEE WALKTHROUGH.
That's what the souls series is trying to replicate. Satisfacting through "hard" gameplay
The fact you showed us the full run to the secret on the final entry was so satisfying!! Thank you 😁
Thank you so much for watching! ☺️
That was amazing
Temple of Xian is a masterpiece. I recently beat TR2 again and was surprised at how the level just KEEPS GOING. In my memory it was like three different levels lol. Once it was over I felt such a sense of accomplishment. My favorite level in that game for sure.
I completely agree. Temple of Xian really is a masterpiece. It's like playing through an epic tale or something, because of the way it just goes on, and on, and on, and consistently at an exhilarating pace. It also looks fantastic, has a great immersive narrative, and is challenging in the best way possible.
Temple of Xian was my fave TR2 level ever. I used to one shot it and i found it so fun. I struggled with TR1s Natlas mine tho, and TR2s Opera house so i dunno...lol
I agree man. I recently played TR2 for the first time. The first few levels i wasn’t particularly fond of but once you get to the underwater parts i really started enjoying it. But Temple Of Xian was like a whole other level completely (pun intended). That level felt like i was playing a level that had so much passion poured in from the developers. I was extremely impressed.
I was around 10 when I played this game and never completed this level before breaking the disc. Wasn't until my mid 20's, ten years ago, that I finally completed in on a pc using emulator 😁
Here, to make things easier 2:13 Floating Islands 3:30 Temple Ruins 4:52 Red Alert! 6:15 Crash Site 7:25 Underneath the Sphinx 8:45 Madubu Gorge 10:30 Lud's Gate 12:05 RX-Tech Mines 13:42 Temple of Xian 15:04 The Lost City of Tinnos
You know what's crazy? TR3 is and can be the hardest Tomb Raider game ever because of the fact that you can choose to do the 3 set of levels London, Nevada, South Pacific, in any order, and if you saved and done Nevada for last instead doing it first after India you end up losing ALL of your weapons and ammo and then when you get to the hardest level that is RX Tech Mines, Tinnos, and the brutal Final Boss... you're super Fudged 💀☠️ and did I mentioned the Final Boss in TR3 is i believe to be the hardest boss of the series? He one shots you if he catches up to you and one shots you with his fire powers he's insanely hard
I also love how almost half of this list are from Tomb Raider 3 😂 TR3 was awesome 👌 and no joke Correction this list has 6 levels from TR3 😂😂😂😂
@@charliemurphypendleton1071It's not as bad as people make it. What you really do end up missing by doing Nevada last is ammo supply and, far more importantly, medkits. This makes Antarctica tense as all hell, because you have VERY limited ways to fix yourself up, and there is a lot of damage-over-time situations that simply force you to take medkit or die (poison, hypothermia, surviving being on fire long enough to reach water etc). But you get ALL your weapons back even if you did Nevada last. Just not all the ammo. Medkits is where it really hurts, thou.
@@charliemurphypendleton1071i find Tomb Raider 3 one of the easiest games in the franchise
@Myrth1 yea thats right I remember how that went and in its own way it was fun in a challenging survivor horror kind of way
I played the classic Tomb Raider when I was 10 years old with my father. I learned swear words when we played some of these levels. But we still loved the game. There will never be another Tomb Raider like this.
Hahaha! Indeed. I might very well have had my first ever fits of gamer rage with Tomb Raider 😅
This comment accurately represents my childhood.
Except for the remaster!
What makes the classics so unique is their scale, I actually feel how lost I can get when exploring. The new games have that cinematic quality and everything is much more linear.
I agree completely, well said.
Yes, the new games aren't tomb raider anymore,...
@@Mr.Bombastic87 I thought the same until I played Shadow of the Tomb Raider, because at last, IT HAD TOMBS (and they were great)! I was so disappointed with the first reboot, I mean seriously, a game with no tombs where you have to hunt with a bow... It was one of my least favorite TR games. But Shadow of the Tomb Raider is one of my favorite, because I enjoyed the environment, even though one of my favorite things in TR games is when Lara visits a lot of different places during a game.
They are more Dark Souls then what Tomb Raider is now. In a sense they are Dark Souls but with more acrobatics :) I kinda hope the next TR trilogy with be like dark souls, where's there's a big world to explore, and she can pick up a sword if she wants to or use guns to shoot up some skeletons, would be cool.
Bought my mum a rose today and went to play Tomb Raider 3, her favourite and the only one she got to play at a friends house a bit ago. Happy moments today, happy womens day to all the raiders and non raiders and im sure this is another banger video(yet to watch) so nicely done Ax :)
That's awesome! 🌹Thank you so much, I hope you will enjoy the video 🥰
Ohh snap, I never realised that the direction of lara's braid moving in the air maze in the lost city of Tinnos was a clue - that's clever, I love that.
I didn't know it either, until someone told me here on KZhead. It's an awesome little detail 😃
The Level Design of these old TR Games were amazing. Today, everthing has to be "realistic" and this takes away lot of the fun.
Agreed. You are completely right.
@@AxMania Count me in her; the charm of Lara's blocky world is one of a kind. Unbeatable, in many ways.
@@buffalodebill7986 Couldn't agree more!
Not just realistic. They add what i call "christmas lights mode", where everything you need sparkles or shines including the path to follow
@@MrMapacheumr That pisses me off, too.. And just in case - it has a cut-scene for every door opened, every level pulled, every little something done.. And cinematics for all the rest, just to make sure you NEVER get lost and NEVER have to search for a way to progress. Yeah, modern attempts at TR games consider us, the players, arch-impatient & though-free (aka mindless) idiots.
Grew up with TR3, I can only laugh at how hard it was for me back then. I remember the first time I managed to kill Sophia Legg (found out about the last jump to access her area randomly) and I ran outside to tell my father about it near the garage because himself couldn't beat her and I was so excited to finally reach the Antarctica levels 😆
Haha, that's awesome! I love hearing about old memories like this. I can't believe I completed Tomb Raider III when I was 10 years old. Even now I struggle with some of the levels!
@@AxMania I hear everyone say that TR3 was amongst the most difficult ones and yet I struggle to find my path through TR1 or 2 that I downloaded less than two months ago and don't have much affection about. I love the different experiences and how nostalgia affected me for this precise game. Knowing that I managed to complete such a game when I was younger than 10 is humiliating now as I'm more used to getting assisted throughout entire recent games
Lol, Legg.
Same! I beat her on accident when I was young 😆 after using rocket launchers and just about all my ammo I finally figured it out like weeks later. This game would have me stumped! I bought all the ps1 tomb raiders now and trying to beat them all in order. I’m in gaming heaven! I wish they still made games like this.
It was my first tomb raider game too! Absolutely brutal- how did we complete things this hard without walkthroughs. Child me was a genius
Clearing the honorable mention room in Tomb Raider Remastered gets you a hidden achievement. Your video helped me unlock it!
Does the remastered III version allow you to save more frequently?
@@marisolmontesdeoca6247yep, unlimited saves. Although there is an achievement for beating the game with less than 86 saves (the number of save crystals in the original)
That's awesome to hear, thank you so much! 😃
Amazingly captured everything about Lost City of Tinnos. The frustrations is palpable, lol. Also, I wasn't sure if I was actually watching you collect the secret or just an outro until the door closed. That's an INSANE secret, I wonder who actually found that one without a guide (whoever did: kudos to you!). Anyway, another great list! Happy International Women's Day!
Thank you so much! Yes, it's absurd! I definitely didn't discover that secret myself, I had to use a guide. Again, thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words. Happy International Women's Day!
@@AxMania No we need an international day for guys like you who actually deserve respect, love, happiness etc.
they show you the door.. so easy secret to find
I must be the only person in the universe who enjoys that level 😂
@@tiagovideira6180 it's still a ridiculous journey to make for a secret
TR3 was my very first Tomb Raider game. I love it, especially the first level. So many good memories
Same here. The memories I have of making my way through that first level are very precious to me.
@@AxMania The number of people saying that TR3 was their first TR and that the first level is their favourite, is surprisingly big. We should all hang out having beers or something 🤣
@@Jordyssey Hahaha! The "Tomb Raider III Was My First Tomb Raider"-Survivors Group
The same. I dreamed about locations from India at night. And those damn piranhas😂
@@Jordyssey True. But after TR3 I managed to get TR2 and I fell in love with Venice.
Nice list! The thing about the Tinnos puzzle is that the blocks next to each switch show a type of food chain. Two of the food chains are wrong as they depict fish eating birds and trees eating moose or deer. Big carnivorous plants aren’t typically found near those animals and shark attacks on seabirds don’t sound that common. So the puzzle is easily solved by pushing only the buttons whose food chain blocks make sense E.g. humans eat fish, birds or deer who eat plants or fish.
Thank you! Ohhh, haha! You just solved this age old mystery for me. I knew it had something to do with the food chain, but I could never make the connection between that, and the combination that needed to be pressed.
Another fantastic video! Thank you! 90% of classic tombraider games were difficult for me because my brain at 10 years old was hollow ,but hell it felt great gaining IQ points from each level
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Exactly, haha! Solving all these difficult levels evolved our brains, man! 😂
Temple of Xian and Lost City of Tinnos are excellent examples on how and how not to do difficulty respectively. Xian is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish where the challenge was invigorating. I left that level feeling energized having conquered all the trials it threw at me, and wanted to play it again right after beating it. Tinnos however was a test of patience more than anything else, and instead of that invigorating feel I got from Xian, I just felt like the level just beat me up and left me feeling exhausted, and not in a good way. Aldwych is definitely up there when it comes to first time playthroughs, but goes from the hardest to easiest London level on subsequent TR3 playthroughs since its difficulty is almost all in the navigation and puzzles.
Exactly! This is exactly how I feel about these levels. It's the perfect showcase of high difficulty done right and wrong, in my opinion. You also hit the nail on the head regarding Aldwych, which is the exact reason why I did not include it in my top 10. Aldwych is really difficult, but it all comes down to learning the level's layout as it doesn't have anything besides that, that's too difficult, I don't think.
I couldn't agree more. Tinnos felt like they tried to smoosh together Xian und Floating Isles, but forgot what made these good. The trials felt lazy in design (so many mazes and things you need to find out by trial and error), and while the wasps were a cool choice "world-building-wise" (just turning the idea of antarctic cold upside-down), as enemies, they were just annoying. As you point out, the only skill you need to take them down is patience. No epic combat, no running or puzzle to trap them, no real trying to prevent them from spawning. Just standing and shooting them with the pistols (and try not to fall asleep) or having your life ruined.
@@MadameBernstein Your point about Xian and Floating islands seems backed up by how their backing ambience is the same (or almost the same). It's a real shame, since while Tinnos is a patience-straining ordeal to actually play, I love everything else about it. Conceptually, it might be my favourite area, as it doesn't get more mysterious than discovering a lost city underneath the the ice covering the most mysterious continent, especially after the icy water diving challenge in RX Tech Mines and the two times it was hinted at in the opening cutscene and the conversation Lara had with the tribesman after Crash Site. Atmosphere and visuals are excellent, and the advanced mutants and wasps were a great idea story-wise (mutants were even good gameplay wise!), and while Tinnos is horrendously difficult, it at least had the decency to the the last full-length stage of the hardest Tomb Raider game. Love me some Temple Ruins, but what the hell is a stage like that doing as the 2nd level in the game?! The pieces were there for it to be the ultimate Tomb Raider level. It just didn't stick the landing at all.
Aldwych was a nightmare on first playthrough both figuratively and literally 😅 still TR4 and 5 take the cake for me in terms of difficulty
I don't think anyone can solve Lost City of Tinnos without a level guide. It's absolutely back breaking in terms of difficulty.
Tomb Raider 3 was the most difficult game on the franchise for sure. TR4’s backtracking definitely makes the game hard but TR3’s levels definitely takes it to another level! Great video as usual! Hardest levels videos are always interesting 😊Thanks for the upload my friend and looking forward for more!
Thank you so much man, and you too! I love your Top 5 Hardest Levels video 😊 Thank you, and likewise!
The timing couldn't be better, just discovered your channel while I just started replaying the classics! The list is absolutely spot on. I would add there are levels that are apparently on the easy side but get hard when you do things in the "wrong order". You end up in an area that you were supposed to visit later on and you obviously miss *something*. If you play short sessions and you tend to forget easily it's as frustrating as the hard levels. And that's the beauty of the classics. Press X on a lock, thinking you have the right key only to get a slap in the face by hearing a bare "NO" 😂
Hahaha, exactly! 😂 Nothing is more crushing than Lara's "NO" when you think you got the right key. That's awesome, enjoy your playthroughs! 😎 And yes! That's a very good point. Going somewhere you are not supposed to go yet, and running aimlessly around for hours, is one of those frustrating Tomb Raider experiences I think we all had to go through! 😂
I'm surprised Aldwych didn't make the cut. That level is ALWAYS a headache for me, no matter what. I've completed TRIII a dozen time at least and I still can't remember by heart where to go and have to try and guess by exploring and running back and forth. It's such a long and confusing huge level.
Absolutely, for me too. There's no denying how confusing and frustrating Aldwych is, but I don't know if I would call it hard? It's really all a matter of learning the layout of the level, and while that is pretty hard to do, I don't think of the level as one that necessarily requires a lot of skill to conquer. It's mostly just a slog to get through, where levels like Crash Site or Madubu Gorge are more stressful and exhausting.
I like how you showcase the entire last Tinnos secret to show how epic it is. I usually safety grab and fall into the water from the top platform after pulling the lever, so I forgot how tight the intended route can actually be!
Haha! Yeah, I was actually told about this method just the other day, I'll try it out this weekend. It sounds like it must be quite difficult to pull off though.
@@AxMania It's a little scary but I use it to get from the top to the bottom of the room regularly lol. Not to say I haven't failed and fallen straight down a few times tho ;)
The Kula World reference is spot on, as the game was on the European demo disc together with TR3 in the late 90s
Oh, I didn't even know this! I had Kula World on a demo disc with MediEvil, Tomba/Tombi, Ghost in the Shell and a few other games, I recall. Good times.
"Temple of Xian is their daddy. And daddy is on steroids..." Oh my gosh you're hilarious man. Also great vid :D
😂 It's the truth! Thank you so much man, I really appreciate it!
@@AxMania XDDD. Sure thing. Keen to see more in the future amigo!
Truly one of the best game series EVER and the original 5 games have a special place in my heart; I’m proud to own them. Now I want to replay all, minus the second. ❤️❤️❤️
Also, I have zero shame using cheats in general, but especially for such unforgiving games like these.
I agree completely, of course. No games have ever had an impression on me, quite like the classic Tomb Raider games, and I still enjoy playing them.
I miss the classic series and I hope people play them more often again and share their experiences with those amazing games! Happy womens day!
I agree completely! Very well said. Thank you for watching ☺️
Why don't men get a "men's day"?
@@Gh0stGamingincEvery day is men's day.
You might enjoy Suzanne the raiders channel. I've been enjoying her play throughs
Thanks for the memories! I loved playing and conquering all the Tomb Raider games so many years ago. What fun it was to see this video and relive the good times! Thank you!
Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it! I'm happy you liked the video!
Rx Tech Mine and Temple of Tinnos are truly nightmares. But Temple of Xian is really great and is fun to play. All challenges are fair and absolute doable. My mother and i switches while playing it because its so long. That's always a beautiful mother/daughter moment then we played it again. Thanks for the great video. Love your Tomb Raider videos😁
That's awesome, what a nice memory 😃 You have a very good point. Still, I think you need a lot of skill to pass that level. It doesn't have the same cruel BS that those Antarctica levels have, but you need to be good, because it throws so much at you.
I agree with this list. Especially the lost city of Tinnos. I couldn’t stand that one!!
I'm happy to hear that you agree with my list 😃 I definitely think Lost City of Tinnos is the hardest level in the series!
I agree with you. "Lost City Of Tinnos" is definitely one of the hardest levels in the series and the "Secret" you mention is really the hardest. Although I looked up the solution, it took me ages to get it because it's also timed. I'm missing the level "Aldwych" from "Tomb Raider 3". I find it difficult because you have to repeat a certain path over and over again. If it's not difficult enough, it's at least the most boring for me. I hate this level.
Yeah, Aldwych might very well be my 11th hardest level. I always get lost in that level, and I think that's the main reason why it's difficult. So IF you memorize where everything is, and the order of where to go, I don't think it's that bad. But I still haven't learned to do that 😅
Those flying monsters in Floating Islands are actually the resurrected Terracotta Army. I have realized this many years later...
Oh yes, that's right! That's really cool actually.
So Lara Croft destroyed a portion of a national treasure to save the world. Well, they say you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs x)
Never realised this!
I loved how there were only certain spots you could save in the old games and not auto saves every 5 seconds. Made the game so much more difficult
Absolutely, that's why Tomb Raider III in particular is absurdly difficult.
When we needed him most he returned… Cheers for the videos mate they’re amazing! Keep up the great work 👍
Thank you so much man, I really appreciate it! Thank you for your kind words.
Would love, as a video idea to see you do a run/walkthrough of Willard’s Lair on T3. Regards Sarge
I bought Tomb Raider II on Steam a couple years ago and my favorite level was Temple of Xian, for sure. It keeps you on edge the whole time and by the time you finish it you really feel accomplishment, it feels like your final exam before getting your degree in Tomb-Raiderology.
Hahaha, that's a perfect way of describing it! I would love to have a Master's Degree in Tomb Raiderology 😂
Great video! I loved your description of Madubu Gorge, especially knowing that it’s your favourite level xD
Haha, thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
This was so fun to watch! Excellent video, can't wait to look at some others of yours. I have to go and play with my beloved Lara immediately omg.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Enjoy your playthrough, haha!
Underneath the Sphynx is widely considered one of the most difficult levels in entire TR, because they didn't explain how to do anything we need to do there. Lost Library is also quite difficult. TR4 in general has "multi-levels" connected to each other like Karnak or Alexandia or Kairo. They are shorter but combined with each other. Temple of Xian is terrifying. I'm in shock that i once passed it. But i must say that for the Tomb Raider 2 players, the first big challenge and scare will always be the Opera House. It's has a ton of enemies, and TR2 gives few times less medipacks than TR4. I have around 4 big and 12 small medipacks at this 4th level of TR2. In TR4 i would have 30+ at this point.
These are excellent picks. I actually had The Lost Library in mind for this list as well, but it's mostly because it's difficult to navigate. It's so easy to get lost! That's a really good point about medi-packs. I never thought about this when I was a kid, but when I played through all the classic games recently, I noticed how The Last Revelation is much less stingy with them.
I am not scared of the Opera House, whether in 1997 when I was 21 or now.
The most challenging part of classic TR was the loading time between deaths by mistimed jumps 😂 The loading time on the PC version was so long, especially in TR4, that many a time I had to restrict myself from throwing the whole PC out the window after dying 20 times and having to wait 6 billion years each time 🤣
Haha, good point 😉 Loading times - The most difficult struggle for any gamer.
I feel your pain...
Yes new video!!! whoo hoo! binge time just before my holiday starts 😍😍
Haha, thank you! Enjoy your holiday ☺️
Really enjoyed that, it brought back some wonderful memories, thank you
I'm very happy to hear that, thank you so much for watching!
These are always really good, one of the few channels I'll literally drop everything to watch a new video. Not really much to add except Lud's Gate deserves a higher ranking because there's a spot you can softlock yourself - there's a single block slope the devs thought you couldn't get to that leads directly into a wall so you just keep sliding forever and can't jump out. It's not huge but if you have to replay the whole level because of it, you remember...
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Oh, really? I'm trying to figure out where this block slope is located in the level, but I'm not sure? But yeah, Lud's Gate is brutal. It's one of those levels where you need to kind of mentally prepare for it, because of how frustrating the underwater part is.
@@AxMania Think it's in the big chamber near the end with all the crates and windows, pretty sure one of the guys died near it and I had to do some acrobatics to get to him just in case he dropped ammo. The geometry in that room is pretty weird anyways so it might have been a case of needing to add a room but not having enough time to playtest every little aspect of it.
I still have moments where I think about Lost City of Tinnos' last secret, I honestly feel doomed.
Haha, yeah. They give you less than two minutes to run across the entire level! 😫
Im gonna enjoy tomb raider remaster next year
Me too, I can't wait!
Ahhh!!! I can’t believe I missed this video! I’ve been mainly hiding offline to avoid HL spoilers, but I finished the game now so I have re-emerged 😂😂😂 Such a great video! I have absolutely thrown a few controllers in my time as a kid playing the classic Tomb Raiders 😅 The death room is so frustrating to try and survive. It’s the ultimate Tomb Raider challenge for experienced raiders 😍 I see Red Alert is on the list. Have to say I’m dreading playing that one on my channel 😂😂😂 the kayak section had me laughing so much 😃 Great video and I love all of your choices! Hope you’re well and doing good 🥰
I don't blame you, I'm also very cautious with what I watch from the game, because I plan to play it myself very soon 😅 Thank you so much for your kind words Suzanne, I really appreciate it! 🥰 If you can survive the death room, I think you can survive anything! 😂 Thank you so much, I am, how about you? 🥰
@@AxMania I would recommend the game it is amazing 😍 your videos always brighten my day ☺️ that’s great to hear! I’m doing ok. Still not very well but I hope to get back to recording this week at least 🤞❤️
As always a nostalgic pleasure to watch!
They are unfair the first time it happens, but the player learns they only suddenly come when the light on the side changes colour, which is activated by coming near it. Oh, man, Aldwych. I still remember my first time playing it. I had a cold and no idea what I was supposed to do; it almost made me quit Tomb Raider 3 altogether. Fortunately, I pushed on and eventually finished it. I like Aldwych much more after repeat playthroughs, but some parts still bore me.
I don't know, but my reaction was to agressively reload 😂
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Aldwych could very well be my 11th place, so I made sure to at least show it in the intro. I get lost in that level EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. And yes... the trains! Haha, it's a super frustrating level, but at least it gets easier the more and more you learn to memorize it's layout.
Ice Palace in Tomb Raider II is insane. The yetis and the mercenaries make it very difficult but challenging.
... and the jump pads! Yes, definitely a challenging level.
Ice Palace has a cool secret with an invisible platform. Only invisible platform in TR2 i think
Thank you for all the TR content!!!!!
Thank you so much for watching! ☺️
I really enjoyed this. Thank you. I love that half the entries are from TR3. That game was no joke!
Thank you, I really appreciate it! Tomb Raider III is brutal! 😅
Tomb Raider 1: The easiest yet most challenging of the bunch. There's some nonsense here and there, but most of it felt satisfying to overcome. Tomb Raider 2: A ridiculous spike in difficulty, and yet the challenge is far lower. An unintuitive first level mixed with poor enemy design and over-emphasis on shooting made for an unrewarding experience. Tomb Raider 3: Easily the hardest, but some of it harkens back to the more intuitive design of the first. More satisfying challenges, enemy design and variety help to distract from some of the nonsense, particularly confusing sections that expect you to have a walkthrough. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation: Less difficult than 3, but less challenging also. The puzzle-solving ranges from satisfying to unintuitive, and there are more occasions of needing a walkthrough. Most of the bad is saved for the last two areas, so the player gets to see all the good before quitting, fortunately. Tomb Raider Chronicles: Somewhere in between 3 & 4, difficulty wise, but easily the least challenging. No matter how skilled you are, it can't distract from how boring and unpolished the game is. A load of old shit, to put it lightly.
Yup, I agree with this. This is a perfect summary of each game's difficulty. I'd say Chronicles generally is the easiest, but the VCI levels perhaps make it a bit harder than the first game overall. The first game is challenging, but fair and relatively down-to-earth, if you know what I mean?
I CLICKED WITH THE SPEED OF LIGHT
Hahaha, thank you! 🥰
Underneath the Sphinx is a textbook (and fortunately rare) example of a level that is difficult due to poor design choices, rather than the intrinsic skills needed to get through it. Like you say, how are players expected to know the right symbol combinations without a clue? And who benefits from getting the right answer purely by chance? And let's not even mention the underwater maze section. It's always a level I'm glad to put behind me!
Yeah, I agree. The button puzzle and all that gets easier in future playthroughs, because then you know how to find the correct combinations and avoid the blade maze, but the underwater maze will still be there - and that's the worst part!
Watching this yesterday missing my Lara and wishing i could play this again. Woke up this morning, turned on my ps5 and I see in the store tomb raider 1 2 and 3 remastered 🥳🥳 February 2024.. So f*cking enthusiastic 😂😂
I absolutely cannot wait for this release! These next 5 months are gonna be the longest ever! 😫
Still extremely hyped 😝.. I hope they get some trophies 😏. I still have the ps1 games but no ps1 to play them on. Looking forward for new content from you about this remaster..next year ☺️
The hardest map is in TB4, swing from one rope to the other took half of my child hood
Oh, of course! 😫 I'm annoyed I didn't feature the double rope swing in the intro now. It's the only difficult part of that level, so it probably shouldn't have been top 10, but the double rope swing definitely should've been featured!
aldwych is the hardest level of all time for me 😅
Haha, Aldwych might be in my 11th place! 😅 It's mostly hard because it's easy to get lost though, I think, because I don't think it's too bad besides that. Well, the trains are unfair, but... 😂
Brilliant video! And it brings lots of memories: joy... and desperate anger when you stuck in a hard level... and then awesome feeling of victory! All my favorite levels are mentioned: Temple Ruins, Crash Site, Madubu Gorge, RX Tech Mines. Also, for me St.Francisc Folly, Cistern and Sanctuary of the Scion from TR1 were hard, because I was 12 and it was my first adventure game. Same with Venice area and Maria Doria area from TR2. Later I really get confused with London area from TR3. In TR4 I found joy of exploring Temple of Karnak area and Alexandria area, but I was totally devasted by City of the Dead area. And in TR5 I've really got stuck with water witch puzzle from the Old mill level. And didn't really like The 13th floor area and of course messed up with the cyborgs and the last glitch. Thank you for video 💜 PS Oh! About Underneath the Sphynx! I've shot fire arrows in that dark niches and tried to figure out the combination!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Exactly! There's nothing better than finally conquering a tough Tomb Raider level you have been stuck on. That's a huge part of why these games are so great. You really feel like you accomplish something when you complete a level. Yeah, several of the levels you mention here are hard. Especially the Cistern. I always get lost in it. And... yes... the Sea Hag puzzle in Old Mill. I was probably stuck on that for weeks as a kid! It's such an unintuitive puzzle to solve. That's an awesome way to solve the Underneath the Sphinx puzzle, haha! It just shows how well-designed these levels were. Us players could invent our own ways t solve them, within their framework. Thank you for watching 🥰
Played Tr1 in 96 and Tr3 in 98. The upgrade felt unreal back then.
Yes, I cannot believe there's only 2 years between the two. The graphics are so much more advanced in Tomb Raider III.
So basically: Tomb Raider 3
Basically: yes.
Is the difficult onr
I am in a constant loop of watching your videos. I only ever played Tomb Raider 4 and never even beat it :D Your Videos and top lists about these games are fantastic. Can't wait to see if and what you will do once the remastered trilogy gets released :)
Thank you so much for your kind words, I really, really appreciate it! 🥰 I already have a couple of ideas 😃 I can't wait to play those remasters.
Great top list, thanks for the video! I still play these classic tomb raider games.
Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it! So do I (obviously). They still hold up.
Cool video! Loved the last run for the secret in full length with the music! I have a hard time ranking the levels in difficulty because there can be a huge difference if you approach them in "survival mode" (just get through them) or "perfectionist mode" (find and pick up everything - which I always try to do), especially in Tomb Raider 3. Lost City of Tinnos or Madubu Gorge in survival? Yeah, you can make it by eating lots of medi packs, but trying to get every pick-up, every secret? Well … especially the fire trial as you pointed out. I died so many times … I would put all 3 levels of New York in a list like this, and many TR3 levels (similar/same as your choice). I would also add the Cairo section of LR (Citadel Gate and Street Bazar mostly), and some level of the TR1 Add-On. Somehow, it also adds difficulty for me if the level is very scary/tense in atmosphere/has many jump scares. For the food chain puzzle: I was watching a friend of mine playing for the first time and his gf (who also didn't know the game) figured out almost immediately, it was absolutely amazing and it left me speechless … Needless to say, I wasn't able to figure it out by myself back then. Basically, you go from bottom to the sides und then to the top and if it makes sense foodchain-wise, it's a button you need to push. Plants eaten by elk, elk eaten by humans? Check. Birds eaten by fish, fish eaten by human? Well, while the human eating fish makes sense, fish usually don't eat birds (there might be very few exceptions, but that's not what you would expect or consider as common). I also saw you worked on your intros 😉.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Those are some really good points, and I actually thought about somehow having the Cairo levels represented on this list, but it's just so difficult because of their different level structure. Because the thing about those levels are that they are unforgiving in their layout, and it's so easy to get lost. Yes, I can't believe it! Someone else taught me the meaning of the food chain puzzle, and I can't believe it actually makes sense. For years I had gotten the impression that nobody really understood the meaning behind it, but shame on us, haha! Hahaha, thank you MadameBernstein 😅
Love your channel and love your content ❤
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 🥰
Your videos and commentary are great dude 👌🏻
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
I love how most of these levels come from Tomb Raider 3. Hands down my favorate of the classics.
Mine as well 😉 It's a cruel, but amazing game.
Fine compilation, thank you! And additional I learned the meaning of S.O.L. 🙂
Thank you so much for watching! Hahaha, I'm glad to hear 😉
Can't wait to explore again with the remasters
Me neither! I cannot wait! 😅
Absolutely love your videos!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Great video! A lot of wonderful mentions here. Tr3 is fiendishly hard and even moreso on the playstation, I remember reading something about how core was rushed to get this out for the holiday season or something so that's why it came out with such bad lighting and other mobility issues. Another honorable mention id say is the great wall, if you consider it's a first level too... If you had no experience with TR you were in for a rough time 😂😂😂
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! I agree completely. The bad lighting in the PlayStation version makes certain sections of that game borderline unplayable *cough*Lud's Gate*cough* Absolutely, relative to it's chronological placement, The Great Wall might be the hardest Tomb Raider level ever 😂
KULA WORLD DUDE! I love your videos Ax, please keep them coming!
Kula World is one of my all-time favorite PlayStation games! 😃 Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
TRII was my first game on PS1 as a kid. I still remember one of my older brother who caught a glimpse of me playing and voiced his surprise at how tough the great wall is. [It's the first level and they already throw all these traps at you: funny.] Lil girl me just couldn't get enough of this game, and it was easy for me. TR games are real adventures, they're not easy for sure. I F'g hate underwater mazes, that endless one in TR4 was the worst. Along with the one in Lud's Gate of course..... That Tinos secret is insane.... Nice video as always, appreciated.
Yes! If we talk level difficulty relative to their chronological placement in their respective game, then The Great Wall might very well be the hardest! It's absurdly difficult for an opening level. Underwater mazes are always a bad time, are they not? 😉 Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it!
Loved the video!! Man this was such a great list of levels. TR3 is definitely the hardest game. I think an honorable mention is the monastery from TR2 IF you kill the monks too. It’s already pretty difficult from some of the traps, but when you kill the monks too, the enemies coming at you can be overwhelming.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Oh, for sure! If you attack the monks - even by accident - you are screwed 😅
Tomb Raider III had some of the hardest levels to endure - Temple Ruins, Thames Wharf, Aldwych, Lud’s Gate, Coastal Village, Madubu Gorge, Antarctica, RX-Tech Mines, and Lost City of Tinnos. Still, there’s no denying the rewarding feeling you have when you figure out the level and its puzzles that are handed to you, and I commend the original Tomb Raider games for that.
I agree completely, that's what makes these levels so great to play again and again. Also, that's a great list. I would of course add Crash Site as well, which just goes to show how hard Tomb Raider III is!
@@AxMania I completely forgot about Crash Site. Thanks, AxMania!
@@AxMania I’m glad you added a level from Tomb Raider Chronicles, especially considering that “Red alert!” was the final classic Tomb Raider level before Angel of Darkness.
Great video man. As always. OMG Cooler World! I've been trying to remember what that game was called for years. Thank you : )
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! I LOVE Kula World. It's seriously one of my favorite PlayStation games ever! 😎
Thanks for these level comparisons. Im huge fan of all the legacy games. The level design was amazing on so many of the games. They made the gameplay hard. Which is what I like.
Thank you for watching! I agree completely, the level design of the classic Tomb Raider games is incredible.
Tomb Raider 2 was always my favorite psx game. Still is to this day. But I gotta say the classic titles had the MOST overwhelming levels that really require patience and wits. Great vid buddy!!!
Agreed! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
good memories. I loved to play tomb raider the whole night at weekends. the feeling of figuring out how to pass every single puzzle is just priceless.
Oh yes, I miss that era so much.
Another brilliant video. I agree with this ranking to the t.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
I love your tomb raider videos sm. I never got the experience to play it on ps but I got all the old games on my pc😭
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! 🥰
I remember these games fondly, they were the beginning of 3D gaming. I got Tomb Raider 1 the week it came out. What I remember was the enthusiasm of the original players and the early days of game forums. I went under the name Nohjekim back then. I believe I was the first person to find a way to easily get across the flaming towers. After we had beaten the first three games the challenge became to play all the way through without using any aid kits, next was to do it without saving at any level. And last was to play them all the way through without using any aid kits, or saving in any level. You recover your health and save at the end of every level. Some guy in Australia claims to have completed TR 1 without saving the game at all. But he did use aid kits. The hardest was TR II because there are drops in the game that damage Lara and with no way to avoid them, so you lose at least half your health just from these. So if you do die in a level, the only option is to start the game level over again. I did that with all the first three games, but then the save and health restore changed, and it became impossible to do. I even used to make Tomb Raider Crossword puzzles. I've played all the games multiple times and don't know if I'm going to make it to the next one. I'm 85 now, and still gaming, but I'd really like one more TR game before I go.
That's awesome, thank you so much for this message, and for sharing your memories. I love reading tales from when the games first came out. I remember that period so well myself. Everything felt so much more exciting, because the internet was still in its infancy, and we had to figure all these things out ourselves. Also, games didn't exactly hold your hand back then. It's great to hear that you are still a gamer after all these years. Do you ever return to the classic Tomb Raider games? And do you plan on getting the remasters next month?
@8:48 LOL this sequence was hilarious with the paused black and white screen and the ding sound 😂 i didn’t see anyone comment about it yet and i had to give you cred for this funny bit
Haha, thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 😃
Kula World was such a great game but it was extremely difficult at some point too.😋
Agreed! I love that game so much.
This was very informative. I like it.❤
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that 🥰
i totaly agree with you , you listed them perfectly, i never have been able to grab the last secret
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Shout out to Temple Ruins. It is amazing that a level that hard was the second level in TR3. No hand-holding, just "here's a long level with dozen of deathly traps, have fun!".
Hahaha, this made me laugh out loud, thank you! 😂 What were Core Design thinking when they made that the second level!?
@@AxMania Literally. TR3 was such a jump up in difficulty from TR2. Anyone who was new to the series would have been so frustrated on TR3 if they didnt play the previous two games
ughhh thank youuuu beautiful beautiful nostalgia
You are very welcome, thank you!
I loved your video!!! It does put me off attempting tomb raider III though!! I recently played and finished tomb raider 1. Back in the day I played the first 3 but I think I only completed the first two. Playing tomb raider 1 again in my 50s I found very difficult
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Don't! Go for it. It's really hard in some areas, but it's doable and very satisfactory to complete. Yeah, the most difficult thing about going back to the game after a long time, is that the controls can be very tricky to get used to.
Kula World… Memories 🥹🥹🥹
I LOVE Kula World! 😍
I’m not surprised that most of the levels you showed were from TR3. It’s truly the most unforgiving TR game but also the most beautiful one
I agree with both statements here. To me, Tomb Raider III was the graphical peak of the classic Tomb Raider games, even if The Last Revelation and Chronicles technically were more advanced.
Ahhh!!Finally A new channel for Tomb Raider with voice-over♥♥♥♥♥
Haha, I bid you welcome! 😃
Madubu Gorge is my favorite one of the Top 10😃 Then Temple of Xian, Floating Islands. Thanks for the video!
You are very welcome, and thank you so much for watching!
Great Video, I really enjoy your content :)
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 🥰
Oh boy, cant wait to see this TR3 level compilation and possibly temple of xian! xD (I am writing this before watching)
Hahaha! You better play the lottery this week!
@@AxMania tr3 was notoriously hsrd, finally a list that my favorite TR dominates!
The remaster has been announced. I'll be getting it, for sure. I'm confident it'll be released at a discount and it'll be like $40, which I feel like the first game alone will justify. I replayed the first one like a decade ago, haven't played two since it was new, and couldn't beat the first level in 3 and gave up. This is going to be painful.
I agree completely! I encourage you to give Tomb Raider III another try, as it's an amazing game once you learn to roll with the punches 😅
now i can guarantee that you will upload a video every special day lol, i'm your fan, i always watch your videos in lunch time
Hahaha! Can you guess when the next one will be then? 😉 That's awesome, thank you so much for watching!
RX Tech minecarts - I loved them. I remember riding this roller coaster over and over for fun for quite a while.
Haha, that's awesome!
Bro how do you have so many views but so few subscribers? I love your vids so much. They hit a special place for me.
Thank you so much man, that makes me really happy to read! I think my voice and accent might be off-putting? 😅 That's the impression I get from the... "less kind" comments that I get on occasion. But seriously, thank you!
I love your channel!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! 🥰 You can do it! It's tough, but so rewarding.
Oof... I totally forgot about the last secret in Lost City of Tinnos. Whoever came up with this, was a pure sadist lol. Speaking of which, I'm currently replaying TR3 and I curse A LOT. Still fun though :D Great video as always, very fun to watch and entertaining, I LOVE your Top 10 videos!!
Haha, that's great! Continue enjoying your playthrough! Thank you so much for your kind words, I really appreciate it!
So many childhood memories. Thank you 🙏
Thank you so much for watching! 🙏
Temple of Xian has always been my nightmare level in all PS1 Tomb Raider games, it's the pinnacle of the worst and hardest difficulties of Tomb Raider 2. >
I totally agree with you here about Temple Of Xian, it is the longest and hardest level in Tomb Raider 2 and because of that it’s not one of my favourites but still very well made though 🙂
It's brutal! It really is. It feels like the game is having a bit of "fun" with you there, haha.
Those levels are so hard that I've had to use Cheat Codes to finish or skip them, because it's absolutely insane
Yeah, I don't blame you 😅