Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered belongs in a museum

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Lara Croft from Tomb Raider is one of the most memorable characters in video games. Although some of her adventures and depictions haven’t held up as well as those of her platformer peers over time, they remain significant milestones in gaming history. With the remastered versions of Tomb Raider IV-VI, Aspyr brings to a close the era of Lara Croft’s groundbreaking adventures as an archaeologist created by Core Design.

Hit’em with the classics

Growing up in the era post-Tomb Raider’s debut, I haven’t experienced the nostalgia trip many gamers did for those days of 3D gaming pioneering. Instead, my recollections are tinted with memories of my now bald father, then balding, struggling and cursing his way through pixelated caves, ambushed by raptors. Fast forward to today, I too find myself joining the bald club and revisiting Lara Croft’s initial adventures. With modern gaming advances leaving behind tank controls and static cameras, stepping back into these classics often felt like a daunting challenge. However, with remasters in play, navigating these games is now smoother thanks to advanced movement, camera systems, and customizable buttons. Adding to the joy are the upgraded graphics and additional comfort options that make these trips down memory lane even more enjoyable.

2024 sees Aspyr continuing their exceptional work with Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (4) and Tomb Raider: Chronicles (5), following the impressive remakes of the first three installments. Although these games are often considered lesser works by Core Design before Crystal Dynamics took over, the remastered versions shine brightly, offering a fresh perspective. A simple click transforms your screen between the original and revamped graphics, allowing you to marvel at our advancement and reflect on the past.

Lost in High-rez

I’m not particularly fond of the updated graphics. Whether the new textures in the revamped visuals are AI-generated upscales or high-resolution references that were available back then is unclear to me, but they seem a bit incongruous. To put it simply, the new lighting and high contrast textures often disrupt the atmosphere in certain locations. Some areas are too dark, some feel overly colorful, and others make climbable surfaces less noticeable or obscure otherwise obvious ones. The new models look good, and the overall art direction remains faithful to the original, but it detracts from the clear, simple visual aesthetic of these classic levels.

In this collection, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (6) received the least enhancement in terms of visuals compared to the others, as it didn’t require much beyond improved texture resolutions and updated models. Despite its less-than-stellar reputation, the game’s visuals still hold up well today, even without a full makeover. The updated controls greatly improve the playability of the game, which is often viewed as the series’ low point, but they don’t address the clunky movement and, for this series, somewhat awkward platforming.

A togglable filter-enabled look at the past

In simpler terms, I find it surprising that checkpoints aren’t included regularly or as an optional feature in this updated version of the game. Although I appreciate the preservation of original titles and the various modern comforts offered, I believe adding checkpoints would have made the experience even better.

I was also hoping for a choice to switch between classic/tank and modern control schemes. The precise platforming required in some jumps is easier with the old controls, while moving around is less of a hassle with the new ones. Other improvements like ammo counts, boss health bars, and skippable cutscenes are great additions, as is the new flyby camera tool that complements the existing photo mode.

In summary, Aspyr has skillfully updated and enhanced the Lara Croft adventures, keeping the original essence intact but incorporating some modern conveniences for both long-time and new fans. Although I feel these games may not live up to their legendary reputation, I understand that times were different, and my father had a fuller head of hair in those days. As I grapple with the onset of baldness, it’s comforting to reflect on our past experiences, take a quick step back, gather speed, and dive into challenges wearing a stylish wig.

Prior to its release on February 14, 2025, the publisher has made available a pre-release code for Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. This remastered version will be accessible on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms.

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2025-02-27 23:57