The original Tomb Raider, its remake, and the loss of subtlety

[Ash]

The platforming and puzzling is very good...but imagine that alongside more substantial game design.

There is no resource management
There is no level design with scope beyond those platforming/puzzling setups (and bland combat arenas). That's a valid approach mostly, but it could be so much more.
There is no good combat. It's filler that drags the game down, instead of making it greater. It's not the worst combat in the world, but simply another case of not meeting greater expectations.
The art direction and setting remains the same dull palace interior the entire game. It's actually a good setting, but they did not mix it up even a little bit within the confines of that theme and that's not good.
The music is bland.
The story is servicable.

I'm on point as always. I recognize Sands of Time as a good game, but it could have been so, so much more. Would you play it right now, then play it again in 3 years time? There's many top quality games I would eagerly do that for, and even some not quite top quality but still great. I played Sands of Time once 20 years ago to completion, enjoyed it well enough, but never intend to touch it again. Can't even bring myself to give the sequels a chance. 7.25/10

 

[Spike]

The platforming is very good...but imagine that alongside more substantial game design.

There is no resource management
There is no level design with scope beyond those platforming/puzzling setups. That's a valid approach, but it could be so much more.
There is no good combat.
The art direction and setting remains the same dull palace interior the entire game. It's actually a good setting, but they did not mix it up even a little bit within the confines of that theme and that's not good.
The music is bland.
The story is servicable.

I'm on point as always. I recognize Sands of Time as a good game, but it could have been so, so much more. Would you play it right now, then play it again in 3 years time? There's many top quality games I would eagerly do that for. Sands of Time once 20 years ago to completion and never intend to touch it again. Can't even bring myself to give the sequels a chance.

I don't think resource management is necessary for the game. The appeal is just straightforward S-tier fun-rooms. OG TR has really simple resource management and it's still great as well.

 

[Ash]

Resource management is pretty much always good. It would work wonders for the shitty combat, for one. It adds another layer of engagement that connects all elements of gameplay. Resources used for survival in combat, which are rewarded from puzzle solving or exploration, which involved platforming to reach for example. And they are a level of strategy that also strings the entire game together in the other direction; remains relevant across the entire experience e.g good use of resources in the beginning of the game slightly affects your standing toward the end of the game.

Only 90s gamers can understand I guess, as resource management was another universal and standard tenet of gameplay depth continually stripped in the terrible 2000s. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it had to have a full blown inventory, or limited extra lives, but even ONE added resource with long-term influence could have made the combat less of a snoozefest. Like, say, limited throwing knives used in combat, that are found in the environment both in plain sight and in hidden nooks. Would make the combat more interesting mechanically, opening up more options, and more interesting strategically! Plus grant more reason for hidden challenges, branching paths and secrets.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is not a legendary classic, or even a great game...just a decent/good old game. And that's fine.

 

[Machocruz]

I didn't mean to imply SoT was better than or even as good as TR, rather it's one of the few games with a similar theme that's any good. Warrior Within actually has better gameplay and environments, but the presentation is so cringe and charmless I think SoT is a better overall ambassador for that line of PoP games.

But the main point is that OG TR haters are retarded and lack taste, and probably parents.