Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics have brought us the latest remastered collection of Tomb Raider IV-VI, following the successful launch of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered last year. This time, the lineup includes Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000), and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003). Let’s dive into our review and see how this new trilogy holds up!
In this remastered package, you’ll find a collection termed the Darkness Trilogy. Dive into Lara Croft’s adventures with either the nostalgic original visuals or switch on-the-fly to remastered graphics. The global journey takes you across iconic cities such as Cairo, Rome, and Paris, among others, shadowing Lara’s most challenging escapades and delving into the enigma of her vanishing.
The collection merges three iconic Tomb Raider titles into a conveniently accessible package: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and Tomb Raider Chronicles, both making their original debut on the PlayStation, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which marked the series’ first appearance on PlayStation 2. A feature I found particularly engaging was how the game’s menu ambience morphs to complement the title selected, setting the mood right from the start.
It’s crucial to highlight that these are remasters rather than complete overhauls. A neat feature allows you to switch between the original and remastered visuals instantly by pressing the Options button – a touch I enjoyed as it offered a fun way to spot the differences in visual texture and fidelity. The original games run at their classic framerate, which adds a lovely nostalgic layer for returning fans.
One early mishap came with the controls; the games default to what can only be described as the old-school tank controls where you need to rotate using the D-Pad before moving. Thankfully, there’s an alternative labeled Modern controls. But this option is tucked away in the settings, a less than obvious find that caused me quite a bit of initial frustration. The modern controls are an upgrade but still not as seamless as those found in newer installments like the 2014 Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Curiously missing is any mention of how to execute specific moves with the Modern controls, like grabbing ledges, which turned out to be assigned to both L2 + R2.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999 – PlayStation 1)
In this first game, Lara embarks on an expedition deep into ancient Egyptian lore, solving puzzles and dodging treacherous traps. Unlike newer titles, the old PS1 game camera angles can be quite challenging, often making straightforward sections a trial and demanding a bit more finesse. The animations might feel somewhat rigid to today’s standards, yet it’s part of the nostalgic aura.
The remaster brings fresh visuals, refining textures and character detail while preserving the game’s original audio to ensure that classic experience. The revamped lighting, however, goes a bit too far, sometimes casting paths into dim obscurity, creating moments where flipping back to the original graphics became necessary to proceed. Guides abound online, so there’s help when the path isn’t obvious. This edition also includes the standalone bonus level, The Time Exclusive.
Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000 – PlayStation 1)
The narrative continues with Tomb Raider Chronicles, assuming Lara is no longer among the living. It kicks off in the quiet yet charged streets of Rome, offering a different vibe as it encourages stealth over direct confrontation. Squarely more maze-like, the new level designs demand a balance of exploration and caution, as you unravel keys and curious paths in order to advance. The stealth elements bring a refreshing strategy component, contrasting the more action-heavy approach found in its predecessor. Lighting mishaps persist, though less distractingly than before.
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003 – PlayStation 2)
This entry signifies Lara’s transition to the PlayStation 2 era, sporting a sharp visual upgrade. Taking advantage of the era’s graphical capabilities, it narrows the visual gulf between the original and remastered variations. Beginning with Lara escaping Parisian law enforcement, this narrative offers a structured journey yet packed full of surprises and hidden threats, requiring trial, error, and judicious saving. The controls see a slight enhancement here, easing interaction and traversal. Integrating stealth adds tactical depth to gameplay—your pathway hinges on cunning movements. Auditory elements shine too, the music aiding deep immersion, and overall, this became the highlight of my trilogy experience.
Fans of the series will likely find joy in revisiting these classics with their improved graphical offerings, especially given the easy switch between the visual styles. For newcomers, this collection may seem less appealing due to its age, control quirks, and other sporadic lighting setbacks. Although an enjoyable venture into nostalgia, the collection feels dated, particularly against more polished branches of the series like Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. For those intrigued by classic gaming, this journey will be an intriguing retrace, but for newcomers, opting for more modern entries might provide a smoother introduction to Lara Croft’s world.
A nice bonus: purchasing this collection allows access to both PS4 and PS5 versions without extra charge, priced at $29.99.
Note: This Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered review is based on a PlayStation 5 version provided by Aspyr Media.
