Ah, the mother of all 3-d adventure games. Tomb Raider started it all. Story, gameplay, all is unforgettable!
Most of the tomb raider's have a problem that this, the penultimate title, avoids. Since it was the first, no one can whine about it's lack of innovation or evolution. Sure, the rest of the series got stagnant, but that's a problem TR -1- will never have to face. It's existence was the innovation at the time.
The gameplay was the pillar of design here. it wasn't exactly extraordinary but for the time it was amazing, solid movement, great control (although limited). Collision detection was a novel idea at the time but was implemented well here. The story was epic, and endearing. You really cared for what was going on. The puzzles were nothing to write home about, but for the time, no one was innovating there.
Bottom line; Tomb Raider is a required gem to have in any library, and it's everywhere. go pick up a copy. you won't be sorry.