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In what appears to be an impossible feat, GBAtemp member @XProger has managed to get the the original 1996 PlayStation and PC classic, Tomb Raider running on the Game Boy Advance.

OpenLara is open-source project that can function as a replacement engine for Tomb Raider (1996) and is available for a number of platforms (including but not limited to the 3DO, Raspberry Pi, Xbox and more).

Lead engine developer @XProger has gone a step further and managed to scale the project down to run under the GBA's 16.78MHz arm CPU at a frame rate that appears to hover around the 16fps mark - an outstanding display of technical wizardry.

In what @XProger describes as an alpha version, OpenLara for the GBA currently only offers 3 levels of the game and excludes original FMV sequences, however the developer has expressed their intent to continue work on the GBA port by improving performance, trimming cutscenes down and more. The author goes on to state that they expect the complete package will be able to fit within a 256Mbit ROM.

Hi guys, I'm the lead developer of OpenLara engine.
More than year ago I released a tech demo, back then I was not sure that the GBA is capable for such game. But over time I improved my ARM skills, found new ways to optimize rendering and logic. The result is what I can honestly call an alpha version. There are many further improvements in the plan, as well as optimization of content and video to fit the entire Tomb Rader game in a 32 MB cartridge, but so far only 3 levels are available.

Check out the video of OpenLara in action on the GBA above and follow the links below for further information and to support the dev.

OpenLara Github page
OpenLara discussion thread (GBAtemp)

 

[depaul]

Wow congratulations!

 

[Marc_LFD]

That's amazing even though I can't stand the old Tomb Raider games due to their clunky controls.

But on a more positive note, the GBA was kind of "SNES 2" and I love that.

 

[Minox]

I'd just like to say that this port is amazing and I can't wait to see how it evolves.

 

[The Catboy]

WITCHCRAFT!
This is seriously impressive

 

[ChiefReginod]

The 3DS port with full 3D is amazing, too.

 

[hippy dave]

Played a test version when all you could do was run around, and that was impressive enough - looking forward to playing for real! Mad skills

 

[Keylogger]

I want that openLara physical cart !!

 

[hamohamo]

unbelievable. this proves that you can port anything to any system.

 

[DillyDilly]

-

 

[x65943]

unbelievable. this proves that you can port anything to any system.

Can't wait for crysis on game and watch

 

[Noctosphere]

C&D when?

 

[hamohamo]

Can't wait for crysis on game and watch

i wonder how crysis would look like in 1bit

 

[CMDreamer]

Almost looks as good as on PSX/PS One!

Awesome!

 

[Zarxrax]

Framerate is better than on the PC I had at the time the game released.

 

[Foxi4]

That is way, way up there with the most impressive tech demos on the GBA, including the Raylight Studios ones… except it’s not a tech demo, it’s a playable game. Amazing work, I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of work that went into optimising the engine.

 

[Tarmfot]

The 3DS port with full 3D is amazing, too.

Old 3ds too?

 

[Noctosphere]

i wonder how crysis would look like in 1bit

From what I read, the minimum for a cpu is 8-bit
Apparently, even atari 2600 used 8-bit processor

 

[zfreeman]

From what I read, the minimum for a cpu is 8-bit
Apparently, even atari 2600 used 8-bit processor

https://dfarq.homeip.net/was-atari-2600-8-bit-kind-of/

 

[hamohamo]

From what I read, the minimum for a cpu is 8-bit
Apparently, even atari 2600 used 8-bit processor

well the game and watch has technically 1 bit graphics (1 color) the gameboy uses 2bit graphics (4 colors). as for processing, i think 2 bit cpus exists but idk.