Tomba! Special Edition Review – A 2.5D Gem Returns

The PlayStation 1‘s era was a peculiar one for gaming. As the medium began shifting further away from 2D and began embracing 3D technology, some studios dove head first and started focusing on polygons over pixels. Others chose to stick with their tried and true pixelated style, albeit with a higher fidelity. Some studios dared to do both, combining the best of each.

One such game is “Tomba!“, a 2.5D platformer that uses 2D characters in side-scrolling, multi-layer 3D environments. It was developed by Whoopee Camp and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. With Sony themselves on board you’d think that the series would have seen some form of major success. It did garner positive critical reception and a sequel, but it still didn’t see a place amongst the more frequently mentioned platformers. It’s always felt like a title Sony just forgot about.

That may change though, with Limited Run Games’ re-release of this classic game. For those like myself, it’s a chance to relive a part of their younger years. And for others, it’s a great chance to try an extremely innovative platformer from the PSOne era. Either way, the time has come to jump back into this stylistic title from the original PlayStation.

Story

In “Tomba!” you play as the protagonist of the same name. Tomba, a Tarzan-esque boy, awakens after being knocked out by a group of Koma Pigs to find his golden bracelet, a gift from his grandfather, was stolen. After journeying to a nearby town and meeting a wiseman, who informs him that their leaders, the Evil Pigs, have been cursing and stealing from all the villages in the land. Upon learning this, Tomba sets out to find and capture the Evil Pigs and bring peace to the land.

The story is presented through text conversations and wonderfully animated cutscenes, and it’s clear a lot of passion went into the game. It is full of character, and those who grew up watching Dragonball on Toonami in the 90s will feel extreme nostalgia watching the cutscenes. It’s a simple premise that’s well-portrayed, unique, and fun.

Gameplay

As I mentioned before, Tomba is a platformer. But it’s not exactly a typical platformer for its era. The 2.5D design allows for depth to the levels, with the ability to move between the foreground and background as you explore. It’s almost like an open-world game, as you will find yourself going back and exploring areas again to find secrets and go to new areas you’ve unlocked.

Progression: Quests and Exploration

In a similar open-world fashion, you will need to complete different quests to move on to different locations. You’ll find yourself helping people and villages by finding lost animals and people or gathering collectibles to return for bonuses. One of such bonuses are the different chests you can acquire keys for. There are many different types, and they will require you to return to areas a lot down the line. As you do this, more of the map opens up, bringing you one step closer to capturing the Evil Pigs.

Combat

Combat is relatively simple, as you usually jump on an enemy and then throw them. You can throw the pigs at each other, making groups easy to handle. Different enemy types will require different approaches, though. In some cases, you have to stun an enemy to be able to throw them, and sometimes you won’t be able to conventionally defeat them at all. In cases where you can or need to stun enemies, it’s accomplished with your melee weapon, which starts as a flail but can be swapped out with weapons like a boomerang.

Gear and Collectibles

Similarly, you will acquire different pants along your journey. These pants will increase things such as movement speed, dash speed, and jump height. Since they progressively get better, you won’t find yourself going back to old pairs. However, weapons all have different strengths and effects, so you will be swapping between them quite frequently. The aforementioned chests contain all sorts of goods as well, and many of the items they contain are beneficial.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics of “Tomba!” are like the greatest hits of the PSOne’s capabilities. Between the bright and fantastical 2.5D environments, there are pixelated characters and creatures. The way the two blends is phenomenal, and there aren’t many games from this era that pulled it off as uniquely. It’s a fantastic-looking game that looks even better with the upscaled resolution.

The sound is noticeably better, too. The soundtrack for this re-release was even remastered. However, you can use the original soundtrack if you wish. For me it’s a necessary option for one early stage, where a strange, consistent tone rings in the background. I’m not sure if it was purposeful or an accident, but it felt out of place. Limited Run made sure to fine-tune the experience for returning and new players, regardless.

Ultimate Emulation: The Carbon Engine

One of the biggest factors in this re-release is Limited Run Games’ Carbon Engine. It’s this proprietary engine that allows these classic titles to run so well. There are quality-of-life additions like save states and a decent selection of screen settings. You can change the size and resolution to match your preferences. And if you really want that nostalgic feeling, you can even add a CRT filter. 

Aside from the quality of life improvements, the game looks better than ever, from the frames to the fidelity. In my experience, the Carbon Engine will allow for a lot of gorgeous re-releases. If “Tomba!” is any indication, Limited Run Games will have a lot of success in the niche market they’re focusing on.

Replayability

“Tomba!” is one of the classic platformers from its era with all of the essential elements. From collectibles to side quests, there’s loads to do and plenty to see. In addition, there are the new trophies. There’s a lot of them to earn, all ranging from simple collectibles and bosses to the in-game story events. And after you’re done playing the game, there’s a huge library of bonus features. You can access everything from original art and promotional material to interviews with the creators.

These events range from using a special mushroom to show a dwarf your laugh to riding a phoenix. With 32 trophies to collect, there’s a decent amount to satiate any trophy hunter. Couple that with the awesome experience the game provided, and you have at least 10 hours of playtime if you’re fast.

Conclusion

After over 25 years, “Tomba!” is still an amazing game. The well-crafted world is fantastic, and it’s only improved with age. With the use of the Carbon Engine, this classic gem lives on through modern consoles. For fans who grew up playing this game or those new to it, it’s sure to be a fun experience. This is by far one of my favorite re-releases of this decade, and I implore you to give it a try.