DaRmaZat On February 14, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered will be released, developed by Aspyr in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, also known as the reworked collection of the Darkness Trilogy. Of course, this trilogy revolves around the British archaeologist and superheroine Lara Croft. The bundle includes the remastered versions of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000), and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003). Additionally, you get some extras, such as a photo mode, an ammo counter, the ability to skip cutscenes, new animations, and the return of classic cheat codes. The collection will be available for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Just like in the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection, you can switch between classic and modern graphics at the press of a button, and in the settings, you can choose between the original tank controls and a more modern variant. Personally, I found the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection somewhat clumsy to play, partly because the remasters didn’t fully take advantage of the modern controls. Has this been improved in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered? You’ll find out in this review of the PC version, tested with both a classic keyboard and an Xbox Series controller.
Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation
In this installment, Lara Croft travels to Egypt, where she accidentally frees the god Set in a tomb. This forces her to find a way to imprison him again while being pursued from an unexpected direction. As you might guess, the plot takes place largely in pyramids, ancient temples, and ruins, filled with traps and challenging puzzles. From the very first minute, this game unmistakably shows its age, amplified by the eerie silences that often occur.
You’ll have to put up with some graphical glitches, but even more distracting is the voice acting. And no, not just because of Lara’s childish voice, which comes dangerously close to flirting with professor-mentor Werner Von Croy. The tutorial instructions were also not adjusted for the modern variant, nor were the button prompts customized, making the instructions highly misleading. This led to a lot of trial and error for me, along with repeatedly adjusting the optimal button layout and experimenting with different control settings.
The controls will keep irritating you.
It must be said: the default tank controls are simply unplayable, and unfortunately, the default settings for the modern controls are oddly configured. Rotating the camera causes Lara to stop moving, and sometimes the in-game camera rotates spontaneously, making movement even more difficult. Picking up and manipulating objects also feels very clunky because it has to be done with extreme precision. You can’t stand too far over an item, and the interaction icon must be clearly visible. When swimming, you also have to be at the exact right height to pick up an object. Swinging on ropes is another frustrating experience due to the lack of depth perception and unclear controls, especially if you try adjusting buttons for convenience. Ultimately, much of this game feels like an extended playtest session, where the controls will continue to annoy you.
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles
After the events of The Last Revelation, Lara is considered missing… in fact, she is even declared dead. The news spreads quickly across national broadcasts, and her loved ones gather to reminisce about her. But then, in true James Bond style, Lara is suddenly portrayed as a superheroine: alive and immediately outsmarting a group of villains. In this installment, you’ll play through multiple short stories set in highly varied locations, such as Rome, a submarine in the Arctic Ocean, and a futuristic complex in New York.
Visually, the game still looks extremely dated.
The remaster of the fifth Tomb Raider starts off strong and immediately feels more cinematic. However, none of the cutscenes were reworked, and the lighting naturally looks very dark, which isn’t pleasant on a modern monitor. And unfortunately, once again, this game suffers from the exact same control issues as its predecessor. The settings are shared between both games, meaning the camera and controls remain just as problematic. Only in this game did I realize how important the Walk option actually is—not only because it prevents you from falling off slopes or ledges but also because it temporarily disables the automatic camera. Without this function, making long jumps would have been even harder. Fortunately, the game runs at a stable 144 FPS in 4K with max settings, though that’s not particularly impressive, as it still looks very dated.
Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness
This game introduces a darker plot in an even grimmer format. Not only literally, once again during the cutscenes, but this time Lara is also accused of murder and must go into hiding. During her escape, she discovers a sinister conspiracy involving a secret organization searching for mysterious paintings, as these supposedly possess supernatural powers.
This adventure ultimately takes Lara to the streets of Paris and Prague, where she must fight and dismantle the criminal organization to clear her name. Unfortunately, even here, control and camera issues persist. Besides feeling outdated, the gameplay also feels fragmented. Progress depends largely on your ability to overcome the clunky controls. This will inevitably lead to frustration, especially in the many scenarios that require precision.
Conclusion
Lara Croft will always stand the test of time, as even in these remasters, she clearly retains her charm. However, this collection feels more like a reskin than a true remaster. Yes, the lighting, shadows, and textures have been slightly improved, and Lara looks less angular, but that’s about it. None of the original cutscenes were reworked, and the modern controls don’t deliver the desired improvements—in fact, they make things worse. Additionally, the camera often works against you, making these remasters just as clunky to play as the original games.
Additional Information
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Aspyr
Website: https://www.tombraider.com
Relevant links: Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered on STEAM
