TR3 is most difficult TR game?

[4080RTXsuper]

TR3 is most difficult TR game?

[Lanzagranadas]

Not necessarily.

A huge, and probably the main factor, that made people consider it the hardest back in the day was the limited saves, combined with some levels being considerably long. But having infinite saves in all games (at least in NG) makes a big difference.

So, hard to say which one is the hardest since these games didn't all play under the same rules/conditions. It also depends on what kind of run you're doing: NG vs NG+, collecting all secrets or not, etc. TR3 in particular has a good number of legit shortcuts and things you can skip if you're not going for 100%.

[chakkman]

Surely the most difficult in this trilogy.

Especially, quite complex level design in some levels,

[shadowgravy]

For two decades I would have argued that Tomb Raider III was the hardest of all the Tomb Raider games. It was the only game in the series, including the Gold bonus levels and The Lost Artifact, that for many years I could not complete. I started it many times on both PC CD-ROM and PlayStation, but getting to the end was always my elusive 'white whale.' Finally, about five years ago, I made a concentrated effort to successfully complete the Steam version.

Now I agree with Lanzagranadas.

I recently finished the Remastered version of Tomb Raider III (technically the second time in my life that I've completed TR3) and it really isn't especially difficult compared to other Tomb Raider games--just very tedious. I think the clarity of the Remastered graphics along with the added controller support for PC makes playing the game feel more intuitive overall. I'd even argue that TR4 and TR5 are at times more difficult than TR3 because of their complex puzzle solutions. TR3 mostly relies on obscure routes, new environmental hazards, timed runs, and leveraging friendly vs. unfriendly AI.

[4080RTXsuper]

i've finished 3 times TR1, 4 times TR2, 2 times TR3 TR4 TR5. for me most hard was TR4, many times i didn't knew where to go, and many times you should go back to previus level to find there where to put a new key. Levels are so big that when i play in a new level i dont even remember what was in previus level. i've just finished TR2 with 18 hours, i didn't knew where to go only in - Ice Palace level, didn't figures out how to hit 3rd yellow bell on the top. now playing TR3, Indiai and Nevada no problems, in Aldwich level had problem to find second key which was in the Drill room where i should return after Drill goes up and find a key on the bottom area. second problem i had in - Crash site level - near the plane and after huge three where Lara should hang on the rock and move to left side on the hands.

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by 4080RTXsuper:

TR3 is most difficult TR game?

I think TR 4 would be the hardest if it had the TR 1 or TR 3 save system

It is mostlly the save system but on NG (not NG+) you can save anywhere so in terms of difficulty of stuff you have to do I wwould say I dont know if TR 2 or TR 3 to be the hardest but for different reasons.

[Teratus]

Yeah it's the save system mostly, this will become very obvious when you do TR1 and TR3 in NG+
Not being able to save anywhere in TR1 does make the game more annoying, and TR3 does allow you to save anywhere but limits it depending on how many crystals you collect.. this can get very irritating on some levels.

As for achievement hunting I'd say 3 is the hardest of them, there's a good few achievements that are irritating to get, like collecting all the save crystals and only using pistols etc.
Madubu Gorge really got on my nerves trying to get all the secrets and crystals.. it sucked lol
Especially the part where I had to glitch up a waterfall.. so annoying.

[4080RTXsuper]

NG+ can be only in Remastered version?

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by 4080RTXsuper:

NG+ can be only in Remastered version?

I think so, if you want the NG+ experience play on emulator the PS1 versions.

[4080RTXsuper]

i didn't understood, you just said that NG+ is available only in Remastered version and at same time you are saying that it is on PS1

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by 4080RTXsuper:

i didnt understood, you just said that NG+ is possible only in Remastered version and at same time you are saying that it is on PS1

The PS1 version is the NG+ at the remaster.

[OneDeadLombax]

It's the most difficult in this trilogy, but IV is still tougher by a lot

[Blood Eagle97]

I always felt like they made the 3rd one with the idea of "if you play this you already know what these games are all about and you are good playing them so here's a real challenge" and so they made it harder and more complex than the others. Compare the first level of each game and you can easily see it.

From the start of the very first level you have a bunch of easily missable collectibles and secrets, different routes and deadlier environment, and it only gets harder and harder, especially if you're trying to 100% the game.

[4080RTXsuper]

Blood Eagle97. TR3 is not easy from 1st level;D

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by Blood Eagle97:

I always felt like they made the 3rd one with the idea of "if you play this you already know what these games are all about and you are good playing them so here's a real challenge" and so they made it harder and more complex than the others. Compare the first level of each game and you can easily see it.

From the start of the very first level you have a bunch of easily missable collectibles and secrets, different routes and deadlier environment, and it only gets harder and harder, especially if you're trying to 100% the game.

TR3 may have more missable content but TR 2 1st level may throw a lot of people out of the game by the sequence of traps that have to be dealt with on the fly ... sure, that on PS1, on PC you can easily save after each trap you get through making it less hard by a lot.
TR 2 also have several of these moments where you are required more precision or to deal with a sudden different danger or enemy that is not so obvious or easy to understand at first glance and on the first few tries (like how to kill certain enemies without wasting a hell of health pack, the water section with the turbine blades creating suction, timed doors and lots of secrets that despite not being so easily missable can easily be misssed due to "how tf to get there?", also the jumping platforms and other unexpected stuff that may takke the player by surprise at least once or twice, maybe even a few times unttil the player understand how such new mechanic work.

TR 2 difficulty seem to start from where TR 1 expansion ended, TR 3 is more a "different take" while still holding to the same kind of stuff TR 2 did, but on expanded, bigger and more complex maps.

TR4 is like "lets make maps more convoluted and with new dangers or new ways to use things to create unexpected dangers and puzzles".

TR 5 is.... TR 4.5, like an expansion for it that sets the classics lore in stone (literally).

[OneDeadLombax]

Originally posted by EF_Neo1st:

Originally posted by Blood Eagle97:

I always felt like they made the 3rd one with the idea of "if you play this you already know what these games are all about and you are good playing them so here's a real challenge" and so they made it harder and more complex than the others. Compare the first level of each game and you can easily see it.

From the start of the very first level you have a bunch of easily missable collectibles and secrets, different routes and deadlier environment, and it only gets harder and harder, especially if you're trying to 100% the game.

TR3 may have more missable content but TR 2 1st level may throw a lot of people out of the game by the sequence of traps that have to be dealt with on the fly ... sure, that on PS1, on PC you can easily save after each trap you get through making it less hard by a lot.
TR 2 also have several of these moments where you are required more precision or to deal with a sudden different danger or enemy that is not so obvious or easy to understand at first glance and on the first few tries (like how to kill certain enemies without wasting a hell of health pack, the water section with the turbine blades creating suction, timed doors and lots of secrets that despite not being so easily missable can easily be misssed due to "how tf to get there?", also the jumping platforms and other unexpected stuff that may takke the player by surprise at least once or twice, maybe even a few times unttil the player understand how such new mechanic work.

TR 2 difficulty seem to start from where TR 1 expansion ended, TR 3 is more a "different take" while still holding to the same kind of stuff TR 2 did, but on expanded, bigger and more complex maps.

TR4 is like "lets make maps more convoluted and with new dangers or new ways to use things to create unexpected dangers and puzzles".

TR 5 is.... TR 4.5, like an expansion for it that sets the classics lore in stone (literally).

TR4 also has more ways to soft lock yourself.