Developer: Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Aspyr
Genre: Action, Adventure, Platformer
Price: $29.99
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Where to buy: Steam, GOG, PSN, Switch, Epic,
The Tomb Raider franchise has long captivated gamers with its blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and action, all set against exotic locales and ancient mysteries. In recent years, the series has seen a resurgence with remasters and reboots, allowing both longtime fans and newcomers to experience Lara Croft’s iconic adventures.
The Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection is a testament to this enduring popularity, bringing together three classic titles – The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness – with updated visuals and gameplay enhancements.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
The Last Revelation sees Lara Croft on a quest to contain the wrath of the ancient Egyptian god Set. The game takes players through tombs, temples, and pyramids, offering a variety of challenges that test Lara’s acrobatic skills and puzzle-solving abilities. The remastered version enhances the visual experience with updated textures, lighting, and character models, breathing new life into the game’s environments.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation stands as a cornerstone of the franchise, a game that solidified Lara Croft’s status as a gaming icon. This remastered version breathes new life into a classic, offering a nostalgic trip for long-time fans while also providing a compelling experience for newcomers. While some of the original’s quirks remain, the visual overhaul and gameplay refinements make this a worthwhile revisit to ancient Egypt.
The Last Revelation’s narrative remains as captivating as ever. Lara’s quest to contain the vengeful god Set takes her through a fascinating array of Egyptian locales, from crumbling tombs to bustling Cairo streets. The story unfolds with a sense of urgency and mystery, keeping players engaged as they unravel the secrets of the past. The remastered visuals truly enhance this journey. The environments, once blocky and dated, now possess a richer level of detail. Textures are sharper, lighting is more dynamic, and the overall presentation is significantly improved. While the character models still show their age, the enhancements are noticeable and contribute to a more immersive experience.
Gameplay is where the remaster truly shines. The modernized control scheme is a godsend, making Lara’s acrobatic maneuvers feel far more intuitive and responsive. Navigating treacherous platforms, solving intricate puzzles, and engaging in combat feels significantly smoother than in the original. The improved camera angles also contribute to a less frustrating experience, minimizing instances of awkward perspectives that plagued the original release.
However, the core gameplay mechanics remain largely unchanged. This means that some of the classic Tomb Raider jank is still present. Combat, while improved, can still feel clunky at times, and some of the puzzle designs might feel a bit obtuse by modern standards. While the remaster smooths out many of the rough edges, it doesn’t fundamentally alter the game’s DNA. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on your expectations.
The remastered version also boasts a number of quality-of-life improvements. The user interface is cleaner and more user-friendly, making inventory management and menu navigation a breeze. Bug fixes and optimizations contribute to a more stable and polished experience, minimizing technical hiccups that plagued the original release.
In Closing: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Remastered is a successful revival of a classic adventure. The visual enhancements are striking, bringing the game’s environments to life with a newfound level of detail. The modernized controls and gameplay refinements make for a significantly smoother and more enjoyable experience. While some of the original’s quirks remain, they don’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. This remaster is a must-play for fans of the series and a great entry point for newcomers looking to experience a piece of gaming history. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of Lara Croft and her timeless adventures.
Tomb Raider: Chronicles
Chronicles serves as a collection of Lara’s past adventures, told through flashbacks as her friends reminisce after her supposed death. Each episode presents a unique setting and storyline, from the rooftops of Rome to a Russian submarine base. The remaster maintains the episodic structure of the original while improving the visuals and adding quality-of-life features.
Tomb Raider: Chronicles, a collection of Lara Croft’s past adventures, always felt a bit like a “greatest hits” compilation. The remastered version does little to change that fundamental structure, but it does polish the presentation and smooth out some of the gameplay, making it a more enjoyable, though not groundbreaking, trip down memory lane.
Chronicles’ strength and weakness lies in its episodic nature. Each level tells a self-contained story, offering a diverse range of settings and challenges. From the rooftops of Rome to a submarine base in Russia, the game offers a whirlwind tour of Lara’s globetrotting escapades. This variety keeps things fresh, but it also means that no single episode truly stands out as a classic in the same way as some of the other Tomb Raider titles. The remaster doesn’t change this structure, so your enjoyment will largely depend on how much you appreciate this anthology approach.
The visual improvements in the remaster are noticeable and appreciated. While not as dramatic as some other remasters, the updated textures, lighting, and character models give the game a more modern feel. Environments, while still blocky in some places, benefit from the added detail, making exploration more immersive. The character models, while improved, still retain some of their original angular charm (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective).
Like other remasters in this collection, Chronicles benefits from modernized controls. Lara’s movements feel more fluid and responsive, making navigating the environments and solving puzzles less of a chore. The improved camera also helps considerably, minimizing the frustration of awkward angles that plagued the original.
However, the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. This means that some of the classic Tomb Raider jank is still present. Combat can feel clunky, and some of the puzzles, while clever, can be obtuse. The remaster smooths out some of the rough edges, but it doesn’t fundamentally alter the gameplay experience. If you weren’t a fan of the original gameplay, this remaster likely won’t change your mind.
Beyond the visuals and controls, the remaster also includes quality-of-life improvements. The user interface is cleaner and more intuitive, making inventory management and menu navigation easier. Bug fixes and optimizations contribute to a more stable and polished experience.
In Closing: Tomb Raider: Chronicles Remastered is a decent remaster of a somewhat uneven game. The visual enhancements and gameplay improvements make it a more enjoyable experience than the original, but the episodic structure and some of the inherent gameplay quirks remain. This remaster is best suited for fans of the original or those looking for a nostalgic trip through Lara’s past adventures. It’s a solid addition to the remastered collection, but it’s not quite a standout title on its own.
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
The Angel of Darkness marked a departure for the series, introducing a darker tone and a more narrative-driven experience. Lara finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery in Paris, teaming up with journalist Kurtis Trent to uncover a sinister conspiracy. The remaster addresses some of the technical issues that plagued the original release, offering a smoother and more polished gameplay experience.
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. For many fans, this title represents a fascinating, yet flawed, chapter in Lara Croft’s history. Ambitious in its scope and narrative, it was hampered by technical issues and gameplay quirks. This remastered version offers a chance to revisit Lara’s darker adventure, addressing some of those issues while preserving the core experience. The result is a more polished and enjoyable experience, though some of the original’s blemishes still linger.
The Angel of Darkness attempted to inject a darker, more mature tone into the Tomb Raider universe. Lara finds herself framed for murder in Paris, entangled in a conspiracy involving ancient artifacts and a shadowy organization. The narrative, while intriguing, can be convoluted and at times, suffers from pacing issues. The remaster doesn’t rewrite the story, so your opinion of it will likely align with your original impressions.
Visually, the remaster offers a noticeable improvement. While the character models still show their age, the environments have been given a significant facelift. Parisian streets and shadowy alleyways now possess a richer level of detail, creating a more atmospheric experience. The lighting and textures are also enhanced, making the world feel more vibrant and immersive.
The control scheme has been modernized, making Lara’s movements feel more fluid and responsive. This is a significant improvement over the original, making exploration and puzzle-solving less frustrating. The camera, while still occasionally problematic, is generally more cooperative than before. However, the combat remains a weak point. It still feels clunky and awkward, even with the improved controls. The melee system, in particular, can be frustrating to use. The remaster doesn’t fundamentally overhaul the combat mechanics, so it’s still a far cry from the more refined systems found in modern action-adventure games.
The introduction of Kurtis Trent as a playable character was a bold move, though his gameplay segments often felt less polished than Lara’s. This remains true in the remaster. While Kurtis’ abilities add a layer of variety, his missions can feel somewhat clunky and underdeveloped. The puzzles in The Angel of Darkness are a mixed bag. Some are clever and engaging, while others are obtuse and frustrating. The remaster doesn’t change the puzzle designs, so be prepared for some head-scratching moments. Beyond the visuals and controls, the remaster includes quality-of-life improvements. The user interface is cleaner and more intuitive, and bug fixes and optimizations contribute to a more stable experience.
In Conclusion: Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Remastered is a definite improvement over the original. The visual enhancements and modernized controls make it a more enjoyable experience, and the technical issues that plagued the original have been largely addressed. However, the core gameplay flaws, particularly the combat, remain. This remaster is best suited for fans of the original who are willing to overlook its shortcomings. It’s a chance to experience the game as it was intended, but it’s not a complete reinvention. It’s a polished relic, still showing its age, but ultimately a more enjoyable journey into Lara’s darker past.
Beyond the visual upgrades, the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection also introduces gameplay improvements that enhance the overall experience. These include: The control scheme has been updated to provide a more intuitive and responsive experience, making it easier for players to navigate Lara’s acrobatic maneuvers. The camera system has been refined to offer a better perspective on the action, reducing instances of awkward angles or disorientation. The user interface has been redesigned to provide clearer information and easier navigation of menus and inventory. The remaster addresses various bugs and technical issues that were present in the original releases, ensuring a smoother and more stable gameplay experience.
In Final: The Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection is a welcome addition to the library of any fan of the series or anyone looking to experience classic action-adventure gameplay. With its updated visuals, gameplay enhancements, and faithful preservation of the original content, this collection offers a compelling way to revisit Lara Croft’s iconic adventures or discover them for the first time.
