Aspyr, known for its remastering and porting work, has teamed up with Crystal Dynamics, the original creators of Tomb Raider, to bring forth another remastered trilogy. This release will focus on the second set of games in the franchise, which notoriously includes the series’ least acclaimed title, The Angel of Darkness.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, as announced on Friday, will feature The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and the previously mentioned The Angel of Darkness. Players can look forward to enhanced graphics, the option to toggle between classic and modern control layouts, and over 150 new trophies for those who love to collect achievements. Additionally, a photo mode that was a hit in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will also be included, along with health bars for bosses.
This trilogy represents an intriguing chapter in the Tomb Raider saga. Following the massive success of the original title, publisher Eidos Interactive required Core Design, the original developers, to produce a new game annually. This relentless pace led to creative burnout, prompting the team to attempt to eliminate Lara Croft from the storyline—an effort that ultimately failed. Although the end of The Last Revelation suggests Lara’s demise, the game became highly successful, ensuring her continued presence. The subsequent release, Chronicles, did not meet sales expectations and was considered a major disappointment—until the launch of The Angel of Darkness, which took that spot.
The final game in this trilogy struggled with various issues. Not only was Core Design exhausted from the annual release cycle imposed by Eidos, but they also faced challenges with the transition to the PlayStation 2. Despite mixed reviews regarding game quality, The Angel of Darkness sold well and highlighted the need for the Tomb Raider franchise to undergo a significant reboot.
Mark your calendars for February 14, 2025, when you can immerse yourself in these classic games, potentially with improvements to The Angel of Darkness. Players can enjoy the remastered trilogy on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, for a price of $30.