With the critical success that followed the release of the Tomb Raider I – III Remastered collection, it seemed inevitable that this collection would follow. While not as loved as the original trilogy, the fourth, fifth, and sixth instalments of Lara’s back catalogue were never viewed as fondly as the original trilogy, but games that still held a special place in the hearts of lots of Tomb Raider fans.
The results are somewhat of a mixed bag given the original games themselves were very much a mixed bag, but there is still a lot of fun to be had here for fans of classic Lara.
An Uphill Challenge
The biggest struggle that this second round of remasters was always going to face was just how uneven the original games were, however, that hasn’t stopped the developers turning in another masterclass on how to remaster classic titles, as Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered has received the same level of love and care that the first remastered trilogy.
What that means is some lovingly updated visuals that retain complete respect for the source material while upgrading them to something a little more palatable by today’s standards. The ability to swap between the original graphics and the updated versions at the press of a button is correct and present, having carried over from the previous remasters, and it again became something I was hopelessly addicted to, given its ability to show what a cracking remaster this is.
In addition to the visual overhaul, other quality of life improvements have been brought across, such as the ability to save anywhere in any of the three games, and the alternative control schemes that provide options to those that want something with a bit more of a modern flavor. The alternative controls, much like the remasters of I – III, do feel a little alien still considering that these were all games that were originally developed with tank controls in mind and the way in which Lara’s movement worked, so purists will likely want to stick to the traditional control schemes for the most part. However, my old brain simply cannot process tank controls anymore, so I still welcome the alternative options, even if they do feel a little iffy at times.
There’s a charm to that strangeness, however. While more refined than the original trilogy, naturally, these are all titles that are still from a time where developers were still trying to perfect 3D movement within 3D environments, and there is a comfort to playing something that feels so alien yet so familiar at the same time. I liken it to finding that old band tee-shirt you forgot you had, buried in the bottom of a drawer only to resurface as part of a spring clear-out. It feels strange wearing it after so long in storage, but there’s a warm fuzzy feeling of familiarity to be had upon slipping it back on. Tha
The Last Revelation Reigns Supreme
Outside of the visual enhancements and quality of life upgrades, Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered sees all three titles remain incredibly faithful to the originals, given they are the exact same games underneath all the new bells and whistles.
Of all the games in this collection, The Last Revelation typically holds up the best, probably because it sticks the closest to the formula that made the original trilogy such a joy to play through. Taking place entirely within Egypt, the first of the series to really place such a singular focus on one location, it’s a fascinating change in structure that seems basic now but felt revelatory at the time, allowing for a sharper narrative that tells a more focused story.
There’s also the fact that from a pure gameplay perspective, The Last Revelation plays most like the original trilogy than anything that came after it, which, in practice, means it retains the engaging blend of platforming, puzzling, and combat that made its predecessors sing. I also like that it seems a little less focused on gunplay, which is no bad thing in my eyes, given it was the sense of exploration and isolation within ancient tombs that sold me on Tomb Raider.
A Series Losing Steam
Chronicles fares less well, though it is far from the unmitigated disaster that is The Angel of Darkness, which we’ll get to momentarily.
Switching back to a more varied framework that sees Lara jumping between a variety of locations, Chronicles tells its story through a series of flashbacks, which, while novel for the time, resulted in that focused and more cohesive storytelling of The Last Revelation being lost.
In addition, there’s just the sense that the developers at the time felt like they were running out of ideas on how to keep a series of five entries interesting. There’s quite a bit more stealth to try and break things up, and the level design is more labyrinth-like than ever in parts, but outside of that, Chronicles is a title that absolutely struggles under the strain of being so similar to what came before. It still tells a decent, if somewhat disjointed, story that contains some big reveals and is worth a playthrough for the sake of nostalgia, but it never comes close to capturing the highs of anything it followed. All in all, it’s absolutely worth revisiting, even if it’s just to remember how good we had it before the absolute nightmare that was The Angel of Darkness.
A Misguided Reinvention
Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered is undoubtedly a worse package than Tomb Raider I – III Remastered, largely due to the inclusion of The Angel of Darkness. A game that was plagued by cut content, changes to the way in which Lara controls, and a misguided attempt at opening the series up in a way that was ahead of its time, but that had no place in a traditional Tomb Raider game, it’s an incredibly interesting project to revisit.
Looking at the positives first, it benefits from the same alternative control schemes that Tomb Raider Remastered IV – VI receives as a whole, meaning that Lara controls in a somewhat more tolerable fashion than she did when The Angel of Darkness originally released. That’s not to say it controls well, as Lara still feels like she is weighed down by treacle and lacks the relative precision that made previous games so playable, but it is an improvement and one that makes it possible to roll credits without tearing your hair out in frustration.
In addition, it’s also fascinating to see the series bring in elements that would come to dominate action games for years to come, such as hub levels that allow for more freeform exploration and enable Lara to engage in optional conversations with NPCs, adding more depth to the world than ever before. There’s also the addition of a stamina gauge when climbing, which, although frustrating, did serve as an attempt to add a bit more depth and peril to Lara’s escapades.
The problem is that it all just comes together to create an incredibly disjointed end product that isn’t saved in this remastered form by any stretch of the imagination. Swapping tombs for more urban environments at times is still a huge misstep that cost the series its identity. And the stamina gauge, controls, and the open hubs all feel like a failed experiment that was perhaps the product of Chronicles feeling so samey. It’s admirable that something new was attempted, but ultimately, The Angel of Darkness was a baffling game when it was originally released, and little more than an intriguing curio as part of Tomb Raider Remastered IV – VI.
Conclusion
With how uneven the core games are in Tomb Raider Remastered IV – VI, it would be incredibly easy to dismiss this and tell you to avoid purchasing, but it’s a lot more nuanced than that. The Last Revelation is a genuinely great game that is only made better by the improvements this package builds in, and Chronicles is a solid continuation of a formula that suffers from being a little too similar to what went before. Even The Angel of Darkness, though without much merit as a video game, serves as a fascinating insight into the eventual downfall of classic Tomb Raider. How appealing that is will depend on how much attachment you have to the series, or video game preservation as a whole and while I would advise casual Tomb Raider fans to avoid, there’s a lot to love here for anyone who does want to explore classic Lara and video game history in a lovingly put together package.
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Available On: PS5 (reviewed), PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC; Publisher: Aspyr; Developer: Aspyr; Released: 14 February, 2024; Players: 1; MSRP: $29.99
Full Disclosure: A review code was provided by the publisher.
