Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, PC

Publisher

Limited Run Games

Developer

Limited Run Games

Series

Tomba!

Genre

Action, Platform

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

3.5 GB

Release Date (NA)

Aug 1, 2024

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Steam

Official Store

Tomba! Special Edition brings back the original 1997 PlayStation 2.5D adventure game for veterans and newcomers to experience. It’s also the cheapest way to experience the game as the original copies sell for over $100. Players should be advised that this is not a remaster of the classic gem but a re-release for consoles and PC.

Preserving the Classic

For the uninitiated, the titular Tomba is a feral child who has his grandfather’s golden bracelet taken away after being knocked out by a gang of Koma Pigs that were attacking a villager. After regaining consciousness, Tomba ventures off to find the Komba Pigs and retrieve his stolen bracelet. Along the way, he learns about the Komba Pigs and how they are causing havoc across the land. It’s another good versus evil adventure, but the characters and levels make the quest interesting.

The Special Edition doesn’t touch the original experience. Instead, it keeps the original ‘90s graphics, cutscenes, and gameplay. That includes the learning curve when it comes to figuring out the game’s mechanics, such as swinging and the direction to fly when letting go. You can defeat enemies in a couple ways: jump on them and throw them across the screen, or throw a weapon at them. However, Tomba can gain experience every time he throws an enemy. For every ten enemies of the same type that are defeated, Tomba gains an experience level for that type of enemy. Once you reach level ten, Tomba can gain an elemental jewel that gives the hero special abilities. These jewels can be gained later in the game. Players will want to spend some time casually at the beginning to build experience. The leveling system adds a layer of depth to the gameplay.

You’ll venture through levels in a side scrolling view, but what makes Tomba! special is the ability to leap into the background to uncover secrets. Once players figure that out and become familiar with the depth-of-field style gameplay, you’ll see why Tomba! is a treasure for many gamers.

This re-release also offers extra content outside the game for fans of the classic: artwork, sketches, advertisement scans, and a music library. It’s a neat library of content to navigate through.

While the Special Edition doesn’t modify the original gameplay, there is an extra option that’ll benefit everyone, including veterans of the game. Players can now save anywhere rather than at specific save points. This results in fewer headaches when having to re-run to areas you had trouble with. Additionally, players can “rewind” to retry specific areas if you don’t want to go through the whole quit-and-reload routine.

A Lot of Hiking

Backtracking is still a problem for many in Tomba! Yes, it’s necessary to backtrack to finish quests and pick up any items and secrets you couldn’t get yet. There isn’t an easy way to navigate between stages unless you find a specific feather item called the “Charity Wings” to let you teleport to areas you’ve already visited. Unfortunately, there is a limited number you can find, and really, it shouldn’t be a limited item.

You can also find another item called the “100 Year Old Bell” that lets Tomba teleport to the 100 Year Old Man’s hut where the old man can heal you. Thankfully, this can be used an unlimited amount. Good luck getting back to where you were if you run out of feathers.

Ideally, the Special Edition could have added some cheats to give an unlimited amount of the feathers and infinite lives, but it seems the team behind this version wanted to leave the game untouched.

The ‘90s Making a Comeback

Tomba!’s style screams ‘90s with its graphics and animated cutscenes. These hand drawn cutscenes give the classic look as they aren’t redrawn and instead stay with the original 4:3 format. Players will also encounter loading screens between stages, giving players a similar experience to playing on the original PlayStation but with less waiting.

Players also have the ability to change between the original and remastered soundtrack. It’s a great option that many re-released games like Tomba! Special Edition and Super Mario RPG should have.

If that wasn’t enough, players can also change the display to have or forgo the CRT filter, change the display from 4:3 to widescreen, and change the colored bars that are displayed on the left and right of the screen. These options give the game a more authentic ‘90s look. For those playing on the PlayStation 5, notice that the color on your DualSense is pink. It’s a neat little extra.

The Final Toss

Tomba! Special Edition is a must-buy for fans of classic PlayStation titles. Even with the minor gameplay inconveniences, the extra content and the ability to save anywhere make this version a clear improvement over the original. So jump in there and throw some pigs!

A PlayStation 5 code provided for this review.