The original PlayStation birthed lot of iconic enfranchisement . From Crash Bandicoot toGran Turismoto Tomb Raider toResident Evil , many series that receive their start in this era are some of gaming ’s big dealership today . Other games released around this sentence were just as good as those classics but not as lucky when it came to commercial-grade and long - term achiever . One prime example of this isTomba , a furore classic that first released in North America in 1998 but just got a new lease on life .
Tombais an challenging 2.5D platformer from Whoopee Camp that ’s still a joyousness to play today because of its release social structure and gratify platforming . When I stumble upon the PSP classics re - release game year ago , I was stunned thatTombawasn’t more democratic . Is it because it wreak from a 2D perspective and not in 3D likeCrash Bandicoot ? Or was its main eccentric just not as immediately attract as Lara Croft of Spyro the Dragon ? Whatever the reasonTombadidn’t go mainstream is , I ’m still disappoint that this serial was relegated to cult authoritative condition after just one sequel .
That ’s why I ’m also thankful that Limited Run Games just releasedTomba ! Special Editionon PC , PS4 , PS5 , and Nintendo Switch . While I do n’t expect Tomba to confound Mario to the roadside anytime shortly , I ’m beaming there ’s now an soft elbow room to play this fantastic experience .
An open-ended platformer
Like most mascot platformers from its era , Tombaputs player in the shoes — or bare feet , in this case — of its titular character as they set off on an entertaining adventure full of obstacles for them to jump over , around , and through . In this case , a golden bracelet that belonged to Tomba ’s grandfather was slip by some evil pigs , so Tomba sets out to defeat the seven evil fuzz in charge and get it back .
The overarching story is n’t that original , but the written material inTombais screaming and still holds up today . One of my favorite early game bits is Tomba acquire the spoken language of gnome by jumping on and grab them , tying gameplay back into a comedic tale bite . Tomba’sworld is so witching that I constantly stay engaged while play , looking forward to whatever weird scenario it ’ll project at me next .
Thankfully , the gameplay ofTombarewards this kind of curiosity . Its world is scatter with “ effect ” for player to complete , some of which are required to progress the chronicle and others of which can just be done for play or for extra items . This is n’t a 2D platformer where histrion just have to get from the left side of the horizontal surface to the right side ; it feel like an adventure that weaves back in on itself , has depth , and always has some kind of interesting issue up its arm in whatever focal point players decide to go in .
That freedom deeds becauseTombastill feels fantastic today . participant jump in fairly hearty spark and can grab and give enemies they jump on . It ’s potential to go up on walls , sway from certain physical object , and even scramble up share of its 2D background . Essentially , Tombais a 3D plot that presents itself from a side - scrolling view . That ’s what makesTombaa 2.5D platformer , and it adds to the feeling of exploration as every concealment of the plot has deepness . Limited Run Games did a solid problem of expand what ’s otherwise an emulated re - release too .
Tomba ! Special Editionis about on equivalence with June’sRocket Knight Adventures : Re - Sparked . It lets players rewind their gameplay , expend a CRT filter , and bring some coloured borders around their cover . It features a Museum with artistic creation and other assets fromTomba‘s ontogenesis , but my favored part of the package is its interviews with Tokuro Fujiwara and composer Harumi Fujita . Learning more about how Whoopee Camp made such an ambitious game during such an data-based catamenia for the diligence is fascinating .
Those interviews demonstrate that there are interesting stories to tell from the maturation of any video game , not just the most democratic ones . My only real disappointment is thatTomba ! 2’sre - releaseis take place singly and not part of this parcel . If you enjoy open - stop platformers but have n’t givenTombaa shoot before , it ’s still a joy in 2024 . After playing it , you ’ll probably also care Tomba became one of play ’s platforming greats , as I do .
Tomba ! Special Editionis available now for PC , PS5 , and Nintendo Switch .
