Unearthing the treasures of Lara Croft's classic escapades
By Paul Hunter
The latest Tomb Raider remastered collection has arrived, and it's easily essential gaming for longtime fans and anyone into retro adventure games. Following the success of last year's Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this compilation once again transports us back to the classic era of the series, this time showcasing The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness—the final trio of games developed by the legendary Core Design studio before the franchise's transition to Crystal Dynamics.
Aspyr has clearly worked hard to breathe new life into these beloved titles, delivering a visual overhaul that seamlessly blends the nostalgic charm of the originals with high-res textures and dramatically improved lighting. The gameplay have been updated with new modern controls (in addition to classic tank controls) to provide a smooth, contemporary experience, while a host of quality-of-life improvements ensure that you'll play the best version of these classic Lara Croft titles.
From the ancient Egyptian tombs of The Last Revelation to the introspective flashbacks of Chronicles and the darker, more narrative-driven journey of The Angel of Darkness, this remastered collection offers some of gaming's best experiences that showcase the evolution of the Tomb Raider franchise. Each title presents its own unique challenges, puzzles, and storytelling beats to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout their expeditions.
Let's strap on our climbing gear, sharpen our wits, and dive into this Remastered collection to re-explore Lara Croft's storied past and see what improvements it makes.
The Tomb Raider franchise has long been a beloved staple in the gaming world, and this Remastered collection lets us journey through some of Lara Croft's most memorable stories.
The Last Revelation kicks things off with a captivating flashback, as you join Lara and her mentor, Werner Von Croy, on an expedition in the ancient Egyptian tombs. However, the expedition takes a dark turn, and years later, Lara finds herself back in the same treacherous location, determined to prevent a catastrophic outcome. Unlike the globe-trotting adventures of previous Tomb Raider games, this entry keeps the action firmly rooted in Egypt, creating a sense of cohesion throughout this epic adventure.
Chronicles, on the other hand, takes a more introspective approach. With Lara presumed dead after the events of The Last Revelation, her closest friends gather to share stories from her past. Each chapter offers a unique mission, from hunting artifacts in the streets of Rome to sneaking through a high-tech skyscraper in New York. While the variety is certainly appreciated, the experience feels more like a collection of captivating side stories rather than a direct sequel.
Finally, there's The Angel of Darkness, a bold attempt to reinvent the Tomb Raider formula with a darker, more mature tone. Lara finds herself framed for Von Croy's murder and must navigate the shadowy streets of Paris and Prague, unravelling a deeper mystery. The introduction of dialogue choices and RPG-like upgrades was an ambitious move, directly affecting progress through the story.
Revisiting these classic titles through the lens of the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection is a big delight. While The Last Revelation still stands tall as a timeless masterpiece, Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness offer a glimpse into the series' experimental phase, showcasing the franchise's willingness to evolve and push the boundaries of what players can expect. Though not every experiment landed perfectly, the opportunity to relive these iconic adventures with modern enhancements is something that no Tomb Raider fan should miss.
Tomb Raider games have always been defined by their edge-of-your-seat gameplay, whether you're navigating deadly traps, solving mind-bending puzzles, or pulling off death-defying jumps. That familiar thrill of exploration and discovery remains at the heart of this updated trilogy.
The Last Revelation shines with its tightly designed, interconnected tombs, challenging you to meticulously plan every move as you uncover the secrets of ancient Egypt. Chronicles, on the flip side, offers a more diverse range of gameplay, including stealthy forays and high-stakes heists, keeping the experience fresh and varied. Then there's the daring reinvention of The Angel of Darkness, which shifts the focus towards intense hand-to-hand combat and RPG-style upgrades, adding a new layer of strategic depth to Lara's repertoire.
Aspyr has graciously provided a modern control option, allowing you to guide Lara smoothly with dual sticks, although the platforming still retains a wee bit of stiffness, especially in the more confined spaces. For those wanting a faithful gameplay experience, the original "tank" control scheme is also available.
One of the most welcome additions to the remastered collection is the save-anywhere feature, which serves as a lifesaver when facing those infamously unforgiving platforming moments. Whether it's a misjudged leap over a pit of spikes or an unexpected encounter with a swinging blade, the ability to quickly reload and try again without the fear of losing significant progress is a godsend.
Revisiting these classic Tomb Raider adventures through the lens of the IV-VI Remastered collection is a blast. While the core experience may still feel a tad rough around the edges at times, the opportunity to re-experience Lara's iconic challenges with modern enhancements is an absolute treasure.
Aspyr has gone to great lengths to elevate the visuals across all three games in the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection. The Last Revelation and Chronicles benefit the most from the remastering process, with sharper textures, improved lighting, and cleaner environments that still manage to preserve the original charm. The ability to seamlessly swap between modern and classic graphics at the press of a button is a brilliant addition, allowing you to appreciate the subtle yet impactful changes made to these beloved games.
While Last Revelation and Chronicles originated on the original PlayStation, Angel of Darkness was a PS2 release with improved graphics the took advantage of the more powerful hardware. As such, in the Remastered collection, Angel of Darkness is given more subtle visual improvements to the point where the differences between the two graphical modes are less noticeable. Some areas do appear slightly cleaner, and the character models and animations have been polished up, but don't expect a huge jump compared to the original like in the other two Tomb Raider games.
One technical area where the remastered collection truly shines is the improved frame rate. All three games now run at a silky-smooth 60 FPS, and there's even a toggle for the higher frame rate when using the classic graphics. The overall movement and camera control feel significantly more responsive and fluid, which is a godsend considering how focused these games are on platforming and avoiding traps.
Regrettably, the brightness issue that plagued the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection has also crept back into this latest offering, making some of the darker areas more difficult to navigate, especially when using the modern visual settings. Thankfully, toggling on the classic visuals often mitigates the low visibility at times. All in all, the Remastered collection offers a significant glow-up for these older titles with improvements that are certainly noticeable and appreciated.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Aspyr
Publisher: Aspyr
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The latest Tomb Raider remastered collection has arrived, and it's easily essential gaming for longtime fans and anyone into retro adventure games. Following the success of last year's Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this compilation once again transports us back to the classic era of the series, this time showcasing The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness—the final trio of games developed by the legendary Core Design studio before the franchise's transition to Crystal Dynamics.
Aspyr has clearly worked hard to breathe new life into these beloved titles, delivering a visual overhaul that seamlessly blends the nostalgic charm of the originals with high-res textures and dramatically improved lighting. The gameplay have been updated with new modern controls (in addition to classic tank controls) to provide a smooth, contemporary experience, while a host of quality-of-life improvements ensure that you'll play the best version of these classic Lara Croft titles.
From the ancient Egyptian tombs of The Last Revelation to the introspective flashbacks of Chronicles and the darker, more narrative-driven journey of The Angel of Darkness, this remastered collection offers some of gaming's best experiences that showcase the evolution of the Tomb Raider franchise. Each title presents its own unique challenges, puzzles, and storytelling beats to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout their expeditions.
Let's strap on our climbing gear, sharpen our wits, and dive into this Remastered collection to re-explore Lara Croft's storied past and see what improvements it makes.
The Tomb Raider franchise has long been a beloved staple in the gaming world, and this Remastered collection lets us journey through some of Lara Croft's most memorable stories.
The Last Revelation kicks things off with a captivating flashback, as you join Lara and her mentor, Werner Von Croy, on an expedition in the ancient Egyptian tombs. However, the expedition takes a dark turn, and years later, Lara finds herself back in the same treacherous location, determined to prevent a catastrophic outcome. Unlike the globe-trotting adventures of previous Tomb Raider games, this entry keeps the action firmly rooted in Egypt, creating a sense of cohesion throughout this epic adventure.
Chronicles, on the other hand, takes a more introspective approach. With Lara presumed dead after the events of The Last Revelation, her closest friends gather to share stories from her past. Each chapter offers a unique mission, from hunting artifacts in the streets of Rome to sneaking through a high-tech skyscraper in New York. While the variety is certainly appreciated, the experience feels more like a collection of captivating side stories rather than a direct sequel.
Finally, there's The Angel of Darkness, a bold attempt to reinvent the Tomb Raider formula with a darker, more mature tone. Lara finds herself framed for Von Croy's murder and must navigate the shadowy streets of Paris and Prague, unravelling a deeper mystery. The introduction of dialogue choices and RPG-like upgrades was an ambitious move, directly affecting progress through the story.
Revisiting these classic titles through the lens of the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection is a big delight. While The Last Revelation still stands tall as a timeless masterpiece, Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness offer a glimpse into the series' experimental phase, showcasing the franchise's willingness to evolve and push the boundaries of what players can expect. Though not every experiment landed perfectly, the opportunity to relive these iconic adventures with modern enhancements is something that no Tomb Raider fan should miss.
Tomb Raider games have always been defined by their edge-of-your-seat gameplay, whether you're navigating deadly traps, solving mind-bending puzzles, or pulling off death-defying jumps. That familiar thrill of exploration and discovery remains at the heart of this updated trilogy.
The Last Revelation shines with its tightly designed, interconnected tombs, challenging you to meticulously plan every move as you uncover the secrets of ancient Egypt. Chronicles, on the flip side, offers a more diverse range of gameplay, including stealthy forays and high-stakes heists, keeping the experience fresh and varied. Then there's the daring reinvention of The Angel of Darkness, which shifts the focus towards intense hand-to-hand combat and RPG-style upgrades, adding a new layer of strategic depth to Lara's repertoire.
Aspyr has graciously provided a modern control option, allowing you to guide Lara smoothly with dual sticks, although the platforming still retains a wee bit of stiffness, especially in the more confined spaces. For those wanting a faithful gameplay experience, the original "tank" control scheme is also available.
One of the most welcome additions to the remastered collection is the save-anywhere feature, which serves as a lifesaver when facing those infamously unforgiving platforming moments. Whether it's a misjudged leap over a pit of spikes or an unexpected encounter with a swinging blade, the ability to quickly reload and try again without the fear of losing significant progress is a godsend.
Revisiting these classic Tomb Raider adventures through the lens of the IV-VI Remastered collection is a blast. While the core experience may still feel a tad rough around the edges at times, the opportunity to re-experience Lara's iconic challenges with modern enhancements is an absolute treasure.
Aspyr has gone to great lengths to elevate the visuals across all three games in the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection. The Last Revelation and Chronicles benefit the most from the remastering process, with sharper textures, improved lighting, and cleaner environments that still manage to preserve the original charm. The ability to seamlessly swap between modern and classic graphics at the press of a button is a brilliant addition, allowing you to appreciate the subtle yet impactful changes made to these beloved games.
While Last Revelation and Chronicles originated on the original PlayStation, Angel of Darkness was a PS2 release with improved graphics the took advantage of the more powerful hardware. As such, in the Remastered collection, Angel of Darkness is given more subtle visual improvements to the point where the differences between the two graphical modes are less noticeable. Some areas do appear slightly cleaner, and the character models and animations have been polished up, but don't expect a huge jump compared to the original like in the other two Tomb Raider games.
One technical area where the remastered collection truly shines is the improved frame rate. All three games now run at a silky-smooth 60 FPS, and there's even a toggle for the higher frame rate when using the classic graphics. The overall movement and camera control feel significantly more responsive and fluid, which is a godsend considering how focused these games are on platforming and avoiding traps.
Regrettably, the brightness issue that plagued the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection has also crept back into this latest offering, making some of the darker areas more difficult to navigate, especially when using the modern visual settings. Thankfully, toggling on the classic visuals often mitigates the low visibility at times. All in all, the Remastered collection offers a significant glow-up for these older titles with improvements that are certainly noticeable and appreciated.
The Verdict
The Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection is easily the best way to experience these classic adventures today. The Last Revelation stands out as the shining gem of the trio, offering a solid adventure with some of the best puzzle design the series has ever seen. Chronicles, on the other hand, feels more like an extra set of missions than a fully-fledged game, but the variety of locations and challenges ensures that the experience remains interesting. Angel of Darkness may have only minor graphical updates, but it benefits greatly from the smooth 60 FPS gameplay and modern controls. If you're a fan who enjoyed the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered or simply enjoy classic adventure games, this latest offering is absolutely worth picking up.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: Aspyr
Publisher: Aspyr
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.