Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered [PC] | REVIEW

Following last year’s revival of the original Tomb Raider trilogy, Aspyr has returned with Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, bringing Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness to PC and modern consoles. While this collection boasts improved visuals, modern controls, and a few thoughtful quality-of-life updates, I’d probably argue that it includes the weaker games from Lara Croft’s early adventures, so it doesn’t quite pack the punch of last year’s release. But hey, there’s still plenty of nostalgia to be found here, whilst those who enjoyed her older escapades will certainly appreciate the adventures on offer here.

Check out some screenshots down below:

As noted, this remastered collection includes Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and Tomb Raider: Chronicles, which were the final releases from the series on the original PlayStation, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which marked the series’ debut on the PlayStation 2.

Of the three, The Last Revelation shines the brightest. It delivers a more traditional Tomb Raider experience with a strong focus on puzzle-solving and exploration set amidst enticing Egyptian ruins. It always felt a bit more forgivable following the tough difficulty of Tomb Raider III, but will still put your skills to the test with some clever enigmas that’ll really leave you scratching your head and some challenging platforming sequences that’ll have you scouring each level to find the right route to take. Just be warned: the back end of the game can be brutal with the backtracking and open exploration, so it might feel a little frustrating at times for those new to the series.

Chronicles uses a flashback narrative to revisit Lara’s earlier adventures following her ‘death’, which brings with it more variety in locations and scenarios to face. This does come at the expense of the storytelling, especially since everything is broken down into individual segments, but it allows you to explore Lara’s previous escapades in a fun and manageable manner that’s perfect for those new to the series. It’s arguably the easiest game in the entire franchise too, making it an ideal entry point for those who just want to see if classic Tomb Raider adventures are for them.

And of course, there’s The Angel of Darkness. Whilst it’s hard to argue against it being the most ambitious Tomb Raider title in the earlier years of the series, it was also a buggy mess that didn’t live up to the hype back in the day. I remember how cumbersome controls, awkward camera angles, inconsistent mechanics, and an array of technical issues could make it a chore to play, so yeah, I wasn’t TOO excited to come back to it. Thankfully, I’m pleased to say that some effort has been made by Aspyr to rectify some of these problems, though it’s still a long way from being a ‘good’ game by any stretch of the imagination. It’s alright, and it’s more than playable, but, to the surprise of no one, it’s the weakest entry in this collection.

“Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a lovingly crafted package that helps revive some of Lara Croft’s more unique and intriguing adventures.“

So… are the games any good? I think they’ve held up really well, and whilst it’s clear you are playing titles that are over twenty-years old, Tomb Raider has always felt timeless to me. Sure, The Angel of Darkness can be frustrating with its poor execution of over-ambitious ideas, whilst The Last Revelation’s more expansive levels can be fiendish to navigate, but there’s still a really good time to be had playing through the games – even IF the first three titles in the series are better.

Aspyr have done a great job of updating the visuals whilst respecting each title’s classic art style too. The improved textures, enhanced lighting, and significantly more detailed character models help modernise each classic title without sacrificing the nostalgic charm and aesthetic of the original titles, with the toggle that allows players to switch between modern and classic visuals on the fly really showcasing how much of an improvement has been made. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not getting full-blown remakes here so you shouldn’t expect miracles, but simply switching between the new and classic visuals will really help players appreciate the effort that has been made to revamp each title. They look really, really nice.

Interestingly, players can also use the classic visuals at 60FPS instead of the 30FPS limitation seen in last year’s collection now, which is a brilliant addition. I enjoyed being able to flick between the two visual styles across levels in the previous collection, but found the frame rate changes a little jarring – this smoother performance across the transition significantly enhances the experience and makes it much more enjoyable to get that old-school fix.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The modern control scheme from the previous collection also makes a return, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend using it. Whilst it’s easy to see what Aspyr were aiming for with it, the demand for precise platforming and the sometimes-clunky camera means it’s not always ideal to use across the entirety of each game… heck, I’d even argue that at times, it makes some sections of levels close to impossible to complete. Whilst the old-school tank-like controls do feel dated, they still offer the best way to experience these adventures. And hey, if you had any experience with them in the past, it won’t take too long before it feels like second nature to use them.

Aspyr has also included other quality-of-life improvements, such as skippable cutscenes, boss health bars, and even an enhanced photo mode that allows players to create cinematic shots. They make the classic games more accessible and enjoyable than before, especially for players who aren’t so acclimatised to some of the antiquated design choices. Perhaps the most impressive addition found across the collection is the cut content from The Angel of Darkness, which brings with it new areas of levels to explore, new items, and even new weapons to use. It shows the effort that Aspyr have made in reviving these games, and, much like last year, it’s clear that a lot of love and care went into putting a collection together that Tomb Raider fans are sure to cherish.

Developer: Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Aspyr
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2525380/Tomb_Raider_IVVI_Remastered/