GAME REVIEW – Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (PlayStation 5)

By Marty Mulrooney

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a new three-game collection developed and published by Aspyr that brings Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003) to current-gen consoles and PC with improved visuals, modern control options, Photo Mode, classic cheat codes, trophies and achievements, and much more.

Following on from last year’s Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, which AMO described as ‘an undeniable bargain’ and a game that ‘manages to feel special’, this latest collection continues Lara’s adventures in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

However, while The Last Revelation and Chronicles will undoubtedly feel familiar to those who played the previous release, Angel of Darkness is a tonal departure that debuted the series on PlayStation 2 and later saw Tomb Raider being taken away from Core Design and given to Crystal Dynamics across the pond.

As the first five games in the series essentially used the same engine (with new features added for each subsequent release), those who have played Tomb Raider I-III will sail through the opening level of The Last Revelation, which acts as a tutorial in the absence of Lara’s Home. As always, switching between the original and enhanced graphics is a revelation (pun intended), and this time the developers have outdone themselves.

While the previous trilogy received a thoughtful glow-up that honoured the original presentation of each game, the levels still looked somewhat blocky even in the enhanced graphics mode. This made sense, as all geometry for the first five games in the series was made from blocks. Yet from the outset, the enhanced graphics of The Last Revelation do an excellent job rounding off the original game’s sharp edges – and this also applies to the opening levels of Chronicles set in Rome.

It’s a subtle change that nonetheless makes a wonderful first impression, breathing new life into two games that proved far more divisive with fans and the gaming press upon release than their smash-hit predecessors. With the improved framerate, controls and graphics of these remastered versions – along with some much-needed breathing room, which was sadly missing when Core Design were forced to release a new game in time for the Christmas holidays each year – it soon becomes apparent that The Last Revelation and Chronicles got a bad rap that was arguably undeserved.

The Last Revelation – which, after the opening Cambodia tutorial levels, swaps globetrotting for an adventure set solely in Egypt – certainly takes the ‘tomb’ in its name seriously, offering some of the best level design since Tomb Raider debuted in 1996. Then there’s Chronicles, which likely felt like a bite-sized DLC when it came out in 2000 but now feels cosy and inviting as former friends of Lara recount her past adventures. Spanning four mini-adventures set in Rome, Russia, Ireland and New York, it was probably considered a step back at the time – but today, it’s a welcome break from the complexity of what came before.

Then there’s the sixth game in the series (and the third game in this remastered collection), The Angel of Darkness. Notorious for being released in an unfinished state, it was a marked departure from the previous games. Gone were the grid-based levels, with the environments looking much more natural as a result. Lara’s moveset was also expanded, and there were even light RPG elements incorporated: Lara would grow stronger after performing certain actions and speaking with NPCs would offer a variety of responses for the player to choose from. Alas, it was also a buggy mess that controlled like a bus.

The remastered version of Angel of Darkness included here doesn’t fix all of the issues people complained about in 2003 – that would be impossible without a full remake – but it does make the experience easier to digest, allowing the positive aspects to shine through. It’s certainly a more accessible and enjoyable experience. The graphical upgrade is negligible compared with The Last Revelation and Chronicles, but playing Angel of Darkness in 2025 – with tighter controls and a variety of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements – is surprisingly charming. You can see what the developers were aiming for… and what they might have achieved if only they’d had more time.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a carefully curated collection of Lara Croft’s lesser-loved adventures that proves surprisingly enjoyable. I still believe that the modern controls pale in comparison with the traditional tank controls – that’s right, even when playing Angel of Darkness – but perhaps that’s just me showing my age. My main complaint about this collection is that it’s obviously going to be polished further still with multiple patches, just like its predecessor.

Releasing a new Tomb Raider game every year put tremendous pressure on the developers at Core Design back in the day, and eventually, it all became too much. Now it appears history is repeating itself, as this collection was released exactly a year after the last one. It’s a package that has obviously been given plenty of love, care and attention, but I hate the idea that significant post-release patches are becoming the norm. Angel of Darkness in particular clearly needs more work, with missing reflections and odd water effects in general.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered comes highly recommended for both fans of the original games and those whose introduction to Lara Croft came much later on. Its age-related annoyances are easy enough to forgive, and being able to quicksave at any time is a real lifesaver. It’s amazing what was done here in a year, and I’m sure further improvements are still to come. These are important games that deserve to be remembered and preserved, and these remasters are the best way to play them in the modern age.

8 OUT OF 10