Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered follows last year’s Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, once again bringing classic Tomb Raider titles to modern platforms. This collection includes The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness, the last games developed by Core Design before the series moved to Crystal Dynamics.
Aspyr has improved the visuals, added modern controls, and introduced quality-of-life features while keeping the core experience intact. These games take Lara Croft through Egyptian tombs, flashback adventures, and a darker, more story-driven chapter.
Does this remaster do justice to these later Tomb Raider entries? Let’s break it down.
Unearthing the Past and Redefining the Future
Each game in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered takes a different approach to storytelling. The Last Revelation starts with a flashback to Lara’s early years, tagging along with her mentor, Werner Von Croy, on an expedition in Egypt. Things go sideways fast, and years later, she finds herself back in the same tomb, trying to prevent a catastrophe. Unlike the globe-trotting adventures of past games, this one stays in Egypt, making everything feel more connected.
Chronicles takes a different route. With Lara presumed dead after The Last Revelation, her closest allies gather to share stories from her past. Each chapter is a different mission, from hunting artifacts in Rome to sneaking through a high-tech skyscraper. The variety is nice, but it plays more like a collection of side stories than a proper sequel.
Then there’s Angel of Darkness, which tries to reinvent Tomb Raider with a darker tone. Lara is framed for Von Croy’s murder and has to sneak through Paris and Prague while unraveling a bigger mystery. The idea of dialogue choices and RPG-like upgrades was ahead of its time, but the execution was messy.
Revisiting these stories now, The Last Revelation still holds up as a classic, while Chronicles and Angel of Darkness feel like experiments that didn’t fully land. I enjoyed going back through them, but it’s easy to see why the series needed a fresh start after this.
Classic Challenge Meets Modern Tweaks
The core gameplay in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered hasn’t changed much. You’ll still be platforming over deadly traps, solving puzzles, and pulling off tricky jumps. The Last Revelation keeps things tight with complex, interconnected tombs, while Chronicles jumps between different locations with some stealth sections. Then there’s Angel of Darkness, which shifts toward action with hand-to-hand combat and RPG-style upgrades.
Aspyr added a modern control option, letting you move Lara more smoothly instead of relying on the old-school tank controls. It’s an improvement in some ways, but the platforming still feels stiff, especially in tight spaces. Thankfully, you can switch back to the original controls, though they’re just as clunky as ever. The new save-anywhere feature is a lifesaver, making frustrating jumps a little less painful.
I ran into one of those frustrating jumps early in The Last Revelation. I lined up Lara for what should’ve been a perfect leap over a pit of spikes—only for her to clip the edge and fall to her death. After a few more failed attempts, I gave up on the modern controls and switched back to tank controls, hoping for better accuracy. It worked… until I got blindsided by a swinging blade right after landing. Then there’s Angel of Darkness, where I climbed a ledge only to have Lara’s stamina run out mid-hang, sending her right back down. Moments like these reminded me why these games had a reputation for being unforgiving.
The remaster makes these games easier to revisit, but don’t expect a full modernization. The core experience is still rough in places, but if you’re up for the challenge, it’s still worth diving in.
Visual Upgrades and Rough Edges
Aspyr put in real effort to update the visuals in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, but the results are mixed. The Last Revelation and Chronicles benefit the most from the remaster, with sharper textures, improved lighting, and cleaner environments that still keep the original look. The ability to swap between modern and classic graphics at the press of a button is a great addition, especially if you want to compare the changes.
Unfortunately, Angel of Darkness doesn’t get the same level of improvement. The updates are there, but they’re subtle to the point where switching between the two modes barely makes a difference. Some areas look slightly cleaner, but the character models and animations still feel stiff. The remaster also keeps some of the original’s visual quirks, like awkward facial expressions and stiff movement, which makes the game feel even more dated.
The improved frame rate is a bigger deal. All three games now run at 60 FPS, even with classic graphics, making movement and camera control feel smoother. However, I ran into a few weird graphical issues, like textures flickering when rotating the camera too fast. The brightness issue from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is also back, making some dark areas harder to see with the modern visuals.
The remaster does a solid job cleaning up the older games, but Angel of Darkness still looks rough. If you’re here for the PSX-era games, the visual upgrades are noticeable. If you’re hoping for a big glow-up for Angel of Darkness, you might be disappointed.
A Mixed But Worthwhile Collection For Fans
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered brings three more classic Tomb Raider games to modern platforms, but this collection doesn’t hit quite as strong as the first remaster. The Last Revelation holds up well, offering a solid adventure with some of the best puzzle design in the series. Chronicles feels more like an extra set of missions than a full game, and Angel of Darkness remains an ambitious but flawed attempt at taking Lara in a new direction.
Aspyr did a great job improving the frame rate, adding quality-of-life features, and giving The Last Revelation and Chronicles a solid visual upgrade. The modern controls are a welcome addition, but they don’t fully fix the stiffness of the original gameplay. The save-anywhere feature is a big help, especially in the more frustrating platforming sections. Angel of Darkness, however, still struggles. The graphical updates are minor, the controls feel sluggish, and its original issues remain mostly untouched.
Despite its flaws, this collection is still the easiest and best way to experience these games today. If you enjoyed Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this is worth picking up, but go in knowing these games have their share of rough edges.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
Summary
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered brings three more classic Tomb Raider games to modern platforms with better visuals, smoother performance, and a few welcome upgrades. The Last Revelation still holds up with solid puzzles and exploration, while Chronicles feels more like a collection of side stories. Angel of Darkness remains a rough experience, with only minor improvements. The modern controls help but don’t fully fix the stiff movement, and some old frustrations stick around. If you want the easiest way to play these games today, this collection does the job, but don’t expect a complete overhaul.
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