Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, developed by Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics, follows Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, which launched last year. This collection brings us the second trilogy in the series, featuring Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000), and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003). Check out our Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered review!
Play the next series of Tomb Raider adventures in this remastered collection of the Darkness Trilogy.
See the Classic & Remastered Visuals: Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.
Travel the Globe: Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more
Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures: Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered bundles three classic games into one package: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) and Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000), both originally released on the PlayStation, as well as Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003), the series’ first entry on PlayStation 2. I really liked how the game menu allows you to select which title to play, with background scenes dynamically changing to match your selection.
One important thing to mention upfront is that these are remasters and not full-blown remakes. In the three games, you can instantly switch between the original and remastered versions at any time by pressing the Options button, seamlessly switching to the original models and textures. I loved this feature and frequently switched back and forth to compare the visuals. By default, the original version preserves its original framerate, which is a nice touch.
One aspect I struggled with during my first few hours was the controls. By default, all three games use the (allow me to quote) obsolete tank controls, where you must turn using the left and right D-Pad buttons before moving forward by pressing up on the D-Pad. It took me over an hour of absolute frustration before I discovered an option to switch to Modern controls.
While this alternative offers a more familiar experience, it’s still far from the fluid gameplay found in more recent titles like Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (2014). I understand why the original control scheme is the default, but Modern controls should have been more prominently featured rather than buried in the settings menu, where many players might miss them. When switching to Modern controls, keep in mind that the grab action is assigned to pressing the L2 + R2 buttons simultaneously — which the game never mentions anywhere.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999 – PlayStation 1)
The first game in this collection, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, follows Lara Croft as she ventures through ancient Egyptian tombs, uncovering secrets, solving puzzles, and facing traps along the way. As expected of a PlayStation 1 game, the camera angles can be quite rough, making certain platforming sections more challenging than they need to be. The point of view also takes some time to get used to, and the animations haven’t aged well, feeling stiff by modern standards.
The remaster significantly improves environmental textures and character models, giving the game a much-needed visual upgrade while retaining its classic charm. Additionally, the original voice acting is preserved, ensuring an authentic experience for fans of the original game.
The lighting has been completely redone but is much darker than the original. The paths often felt too dark for my taste, and unfortunately, adjusting the gamma was impossible. As a result, I frequently had to switch back to the old graphics style to see the path ahead, which was a technical issue I didn’t think I’d meet.
Another issue I encountered was the lack of clear direction and a sense of my next objective. While I sometimes felt lost, it’s a 25-year-old game, so there are plenty of guides available online if you find yourself lost. This game includes The Time Exclusive – a standalone bonus level from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.
Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000 – PlayStation 1)
The second game in this collection, Tomb Raider Chronicles, picks up the story where the previous game left off, with Lara Croft presumed dead at the end of the adventure. It begins in the (empty) streets of Rome, which was a change of pace from the previous entry in the series. This time, you’ll need to navigate without being detected, relying on stealth to progress through the levels.
Speaking of the level design, unlike its predecessor, which followed a more straightforward path, this game features a more complex layout that feels like a maze. To progress, you’ll need to explore the areas, searching for keys and hidden paths. This creates an additional layer of challenge as you navigate the environment, uncovering new areas and overcoming obstacles. This game felt more action-driven than its predecessor. The lack of lighting is also present in this game, though it’s less pronounced than in the previous game.
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003 – PlayStation 2)
The third entry in this collection marks Lara Croft’s first adventure on the PlayStation 2. The visual fidelity received a noticeable bump, bringing the original and remastered versions closer in appearance. The game begins on the streets of Paris, where Lara is on the run from the police following the discovery of Werner’s body in his apartment.
While the previous game felt like navigating a maze, this one is more linear but is still filled with pitfalls and obstacles that often require a bit of trial and error to figure out the next course of action. Fortunately, you can save anywhere, so don’t hesitate to use the save feature frequently to avoid losing progress.
On the controls side, this one feels slightly better than the other two entries, making it easier to handle. It also introduces stealth sequences, adding a new layer of challenge and strategy to the gameplay as you must carefully navigate through dangerous situations without being detected. The soundtrack in this game is surprisingly good, which added to the immersion. Exploration in this one was a lot of fun. Out of the three games in this collection, it was definitely the one I enjoyed the most by a wide margin.
If you’re a fan of the original games, you’ll enjoy revisiting these classics in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. One feature I particularly loved was the ability to instantly switch between the remastered and original presentations with just the press of a button.
However, if this is your first time diving into these games, I’d find it harder to recommend this collection due to how dated it feels and the occasionally frustrating controls, even with the Modern control scheme. The earlier games are also plagued by lighting issues, making some areas far too dark.
If you’re looking for a classic experience, then go ahead and enjoy it. But if you’ve never played these early titles and are looking for a great Tomb Raider game, I’d recommend Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (2014) instead, as it offers a more polished and enjoyable experience across the board. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is available as a Cross-Buy title, so your $29.99 purchase will allow you to download the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game at no extra cost.
Disclaimer
This Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aspyr Media.
