PowerWash emulation is no stranger to exotic websites, but this latest addition takes the cake. In an upcoming free DLC pack, PowerWash fans will now be able to clean up Croft Manor – a fondly remembered location from the classic Tomb Raider series.
Square Enix Collective and FuturLab have teamed up in an unexpected move to bring a special Tomb Raider bundle to PowerWash Simulator. Released on January 31st, the DLC is free and will allow you to return to the version of Croft Manor reminiscent of the PS1 days. The DLC lands on the same day that PowerWash Simulator is set to release on PS5 and PS4 and is a celebration of the game’s debut on Sony consoles.
As you might imagine, the old man has received a pretty good face-lift since the early Tomb Raider games. FuturLab has brought the property to life with modern graphics, so say goodbye to those old blocky polygons from Tomb Raider’s past. However, Croft Manor has gotten quite sloppy over the past few years. This is where you come in, armed with your blue suit and power washer at the ready.
House cleaning
Croft Manor is not just a building; It has a special place in the history of Tomb Raider. Early in Tomb Raider 2, the mansion became a fully explorable location filled with Easter eggs and environmental storytelling.
Whether you’re playing Tomb Raider 2 on PS1 or the school’s computer, you can explore the treasure trove in the basement, ballroom, training grounds, kitchen, and Lara’s bedroom. It was early days, but the immersive 3D environment did a lot to flesh out Lara’s story and place it in the context of the broader narrative.
Croft Manor is also known for its Easter eggs, many of which involve Winston, Lara’s long-suffering butler. In Tomb Raider 2, players can trick him into venturing into the freezer in the basement, before trapping him in it. In Tomb Raider 3, the poor soul volunteered to be target practice at Lara’s weapons range. While we don’t know if Winston will appear in the DLC, FuturLab has promised on file blog post (Opens in a new tab) that there will be plenty of “secrets hidden in the dirt” for fans to discover in the cleaning adventures.
It’s fun to go back to this classic, albeit in a completely different way. This unexpected but unwelcome DLC got me thinking about all the other ways fresh perspectives might be able to breathe life into classic video game locations.
What if Peach’s Castle from Mario 64 appeared in a skateboarding game? Imagine all the sick tricks you could pull off with the help of the ingenious vertical of the pivot world. What if XCOM’s underground base was transformed from an anti-alien base into a rave room for a dance game? Think of all the cool, futuristic lighting.
The DLC where you clean Croft Manor with a power washer is totally cool, but it reminds me how great it can be to enjoy a beloved collection in a completely different way. Allows for an experience that, in addition to offering nostalgia, also offers something really new and exciting for gamers.