Tomb Raider: Legend, originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006, is now available to play on the PlayStation 5; however, its performance and visuals remains exactly as they were 18-years ago.
The emulated version of the game is included in the Classics Catalogue that is available to PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers. For those that don’t have Premium, Tomb Raider: Legend costs £15.99 (or equivalent) to buy.
Unlike some emulations, Tomb Raider: Legend does not benefit from improved performance or upgraded visuals. Instead, it is stuck outputting in 480p (standard-definition) at roughly 30 frames-per-second.
While the game is certainly playable, it’s disappointing that the emulation doesn’t benefit from any significant graphical or performance improvements – especially when those without Premium will have to pay for it.
Having tried Tomb Raider: Legend on PS5 myself, it’s cool to revisit the game after all these years and it still provides an enjoyable Lara Croft experience. Unfortunately, the visuals appear blurry and flickery making the game far from easy on the eyes. The same goes for the frame-rate, which also detracts from the overall experience.
Of course, this is how the game was back on the PS2. So, if you’re satisfied with a like-for-like emulation, then you’ll be happy. However, if you were hoping for any benefits from Tomb Raider: Legend running on current-gen hardware, then it’s quite the let down.
There is a silver lining, though. Tomb Raider: Legend comes with trophies on PS5, which can’t be said for every emulation out there. That nice little extra should be enough to entice most Lara Croft fans to give the game a go, so long as they can stomach the unimproved visuals.
The next game in the series, creatively dubbed ‘Tomb Raider Next’, was announced by Crystal Dynamics back in April 2022 and is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. The developer shared an image of Lara Croft’s new look in the upcoming game earlier this year.
How do you feel about the Tomb Raider: Legend emulation? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles.
