At first, I am a bit skeptical to how good TR would be.  After all, it
was hyped by virtually every magazine and everyone who has seen the
game.  I was sure that it won't live up to my expectation (I was
expecting a game that plays like a cross b/w Mario and Resident Evil,
and that it would be "pretty good" at best).  Well, let's just say it
literally blew me away with its incredible visual, awesome sound/music,
addictive gameplay, amazing level design and overall, a quality that
permeates the ENTIRE package.  Bottom line, buy this and you won't
regret it.  It is the best game for the PSX and my vote for the best
game of 1996!
On to the detail review:
Graphics:  9.5/10
I would give it a 10 but there are some very very very minor graphical
glitches for the polygons.  It is extremely minor and very nitpicky but
it is noticeable.  Other than that, the game is supremely beautiful.  
You wanna know what it looks like?  Imagine what Resident Evil would
look like except that everything is in realtime 3D, which means
constant zoom/scale and controllable camera angles (for you to check
out dangerous situation/terrain).  And the setting, for the first few
levels anyway (15+ levels total), reminds me of a Mayan ruin (like
Pitfall/Indiana Jones) and the water level is simply stunning.
Sound:  10/10
Why perfect?  Because it fits the game like a glove.  There is no music
for the most part of the game, but, very very very cool and fitting
music will suddenly pop up when you are in a dangerous/unexpected place
or situation.  IT is awesome.  Other sound effects are realistic and
very very ambient.  What more can I say?  PERFECT.
Control:  9/10
You can do so much, it puts Resident Evil to shame.  YOu can't do as
much as Mario, but it is damn close.  I didn't even check the manual
and I pulled off almost all the moves Lara can do.  She jump, flip
backwards/sideway, run, walk, sidestep, roll (very cool for attacks),
climb up, run & jump, pull, push, etc.  I only wish that she can run a
little faster but the thing is, in the later levels, you really need to
go slow and easy b/c the terrain gets much tougher.
Gameplay:  9.5/10
I want to see what more CORE can do in the sequel (it got to come, this
game rocks).  The level design in this game puts Doom/Quake/Mario 64 to
shame (although I have not played Quake that much).  Really, I felt
like the caverns are so well designed, that they might actually exist. 
Not only are they ingenious (hence, test your gaming skills to the
fullest), but they are beautiful.  You have to use your brain as much
as your thumbs to get thru many of the mini puzzles that populate the
game.  And each level is HUGE.  I spend over 30 minutes on level 1
alone and I only recovered 1 out of 3 items.  Level 2, I am still
working on it.  Oh, there are tons of secret areas to explore, so I
think this game will last me thru Christmas.
Overall:  9.5/10
I refuse to give out perfect scores, but IMHO, this game really did
live up to all of its hype and surpasses them.  TR is better than Mario
IMHO.  It is better looking, the level design is noticeably darker
(Mario is too cute for me), and the lead character is awesome.  You get
cool extra too, like Lara's House, which serves as a training ground
for beginners to learn all the moves of Lara.  Lara actually talks you
thru the entire session and her house is just as beautiful as the
actual game.  I think everyone who remotes enjoy videogames should try
this and all Saturn/PSX owners owe it to themselves to buy it.  I
predict that this will be the best selling game for this Holiday
season.  What are you waiting for?  Go find one and buy it, now! :)
- Steven K. Yau