It was back when Lara was the s**t
I played TR 2 before the first in the series but I don´t think it would take away any of the enjoyment I had with this. Tried it both on PS and PC too, and think the console beat the PC with margin in this case.
Graphics sure is an issue comparing with todays games, but of course you should not compare. On the other hand it maybe not was an stunner graphicly even back then. I remembered almost getting stuck on the first level when supposed to climb a rock wall, only because I could not find my way in all blurry brownish and greenish colors.
But the feeling and playability of the game was stunning for me. I had never played an platform-oriented game I had enjoyed like this and have not yet to this day. Getting outraged with the times missing a timed jump (and there sure is a lot of them) became just a part of the fun the longer I played. The game is so good I even put up with the sucky save-system (that pesters consoles even today, don´t understand why) when I was shot or beaten to death, or eaten by an dinosaur - and had to play the whole damn level from the last autosave.
I fell in love with the game when playing the Venice-part. A great level with great interaction with water and boats and jumping from awning to awning. And the speed-boat ride was an instant classic. Followin levels was almost as good with enviroments changing from icy mountains to deep underwater. And a cheesy last level in a supernatural world with an insane boss-fight to end it all.
Playing the game for the first time today may not to it the justice it deserves but back then (1997) it rocked.