In the ’90s, when consoles weren’t connected to the Internet, the only way people could try out some video games was to get free physical demo discs. Many demo discs were included for free in magazines, and some were included with video games that were sold at full price.
The only reason I’m talking about demo discs is because this was my first introduction to a then-little-known 2.5D platform game called Tombi. Tombi! was the name of the game in Europe, but Americans may know it as Tomba!
I remember playing the demo version until I dropped as a kid because the game was rare and hard to get. If you want a copy of the PSOne original, you’ll have to shell out around $500. I wasn’t lucky enough to finally play the full game, Tomba!, until it was re-released as a PSOne classic on the online PS3 store.
Now it’s 2024, and with the release of Tomba! Special Edition for PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, more people will have the opportunity to play the game. Unfortunately, this classic game will not be available for Xbox consoles.
It’s worth noting that Tomba! Special Edition is not a remake, and therefore retains the old-school graphics that fans of the game will still recognize. You can play the game in its original resolution, or stretch the screen to 16:9 to fill your modern TV. The game also includes a CRT filter that will completely transport you back to the 90s.
Other new features in Tomba! Special Edition include the ability to save at any time, as well as a rewind function. The rewind function is really helpful because there is a level in this game where it is very windy, and I remember my brother dying a lot in that level!
In addition to the game itself, Tomba! Special Edition also includes some cool extra features. One of these features includes an art gallery with advertisements, artwork, original manuals, and more. All of the images are available at the start of the game, so you don’t have to unlock them all!
I’ve always enjoyed Tomba!’s music, and you can listen to the jukebox, which contains the entire original soundtrack. The new version also includes a remastered soundtrack by the game’s original composer. The game also includes interviews with Tomba’s creator Tokuro Fujiwara.
As for the game itself, Tomba’s main character is a boy with pink hair named Tomba. Tomba lived in a beautiful world until seven evil pigs came and laid waste to the land. Not only was the land laid waste, but Tomba’s bracelet was stolen, prompting him to go out and set things right again.
One of the things I liked most about Tomba! is its unique and fun play style. At the beginning of the game, Tomba is only armed with a club-like weapon called a Blackjack. This club has some range and can knock down the pigs that stand in Tomba’s way. Tomba can also get rid of the pigs by literally jumping on them and knocking them away. You’ll laugh out loud when you see this for yourself for the first time!
As you progress further in Tomba!, more weapons and special abilities will be made available to you. Two of my other favorite weapons in the game are a boomerang and a grappling hook. The latter item is really helpful as it allows you to save yourself from falling, as that means instant death!
Other things Tomba can use are different colored logs that give him better abilities. The purple logs allow him to jump higher, while the gray ones allow him to run faster. There are other logs to collect, but I don’t want to spoil all the fun here.
Later in the game, Tomba also learns how to swim from a nice, cute monkey. By swimming, he gains access to a new level that was previously inaccessible to him because Tomba hadn’t managed to get there before.
Although this game has plenty of jumping and platforming action, Tomba! also features seven boss battles with the evil pigs. Unlike Elden Ring, these boss battles are pretty easy, as the main goal is to catch the pigs and throw them into special sacks. Using the rewind feature makes the boss battles really easy, but it’s still fun to see the pigs get caught!
Another thing I liked is that there are several side quests that Tomba can complete if you want to 100% the game. If you follow the main story, the game will only take about seven and a half hours to complete. If you want to get the platinum trophy, this should increase the playtime up to 10 hours.
While the game could be considered short by today’s standards, I really can’t find any other flaws with Tomba! Special Edition. Several other players have spotted a few bugs here and there, but I didn’t spot anything game-breaking while playing the PS5 version.
Overall, Tomba! Special Edition is a really great remake of a game that many people may not even know about. If you played as a kid like me, you’ll want to play the game again to feel young again. Even newer kids will love the bright aesthetic and humorous gameplay.
Verdict: 9/10
