Review
Played on: Xbox Series X
Released: 2025
Original releases: 1999 (TRIV), 2000 (TRV), 2003 (TRVI)
Although I have separate reviews for Tomb Raider titles, read them all here, I thought I'd chime in on the overall impression of the second batch of remasters. If you recall; last year Aspyr remastered Tomb Raider 1-3 in a collection, review here, this time around it's Tomb Raider 4-6 in a similar release.
Being divided in two collections suits the franchise well as, not known to everyone, the first three games are a trilogy, as are the next three in this second collection. We sometimes regard TR4 and 5 are connected to the first trilogy, which is understandable as they run on the same block-based engine Core Design developed and had yearly release. While TR6 is looked upon as a separate entity, much because of its new engine and later release, but this isn't correct as they are indeed a trilogy.
My score for this collection, and the previous one, is about the actual work done around the remastering, not how good the individual titles within are.
Let's take quick look!
Just like the previous collection we have three Tomb Raider titles complete with the option to toggle, on the fly, between the original visuals and remastered ones. This time around we see the original graphics running at a high framerate compared to the disappointing locked 30fps they had in the TR1-3 collection.
It's nice to be able to see them running smoothly and a perfect opportunity for purists that prefer the old graphics style to stick with that. Sadly, there are no screen effects like scanlines that can be added, leaving the original visuals a bit rough on the eye on today's massive screens. Nevertheless, nice to see them running above 30fps.
When it comes to the remastered visuals, there's a little more effort put into TR4 & TR5 than what went into the last collection I feel. Aspyr’s remaster team have become more experienced and put more effort into textures, resulting in them looking less AI upscaled.
Overall, I feel that TR4 & TR5 are more in tune with keeping the atmosphere and lighting correctly than the TR1-3 collection did too. Switching between remastered and original graphics feels like an upgrade most of the time, although some select areas have lost atmosphere over the originals. Once again, light sources have received a logic source as to where they originated come from in the remastered graphics, but it breaks some of the intentional atmosphere of the originals.
In this remaster compilation, TR6 or Angel of Darkness as most people know it, receives the least remastering. There's barely any difference between the original and the remastered one, just sharper textures. In addition, there’s so little effort put into renewing the controls, TR6 ends up archaic and awkward. My overall impression of what I consider the weakest Tomb Raider of the whole franchise is unchanged from when I played it back on my PC during my student years; it just sucks, with the only redeeming factor being some looking great tombs to explore. Remembering the janky gameplay, I quickly opted out of even attempting to replay it.
For the controls, TR4 & TR5 include the same control options as the TR1-3 collection; either tank controls or the renewed 3D one. However, the 3D one just doesn't allow the precision of putting Lara at the edge of ledge then jumping whole blocks backwards for the correct running distance, which is repeatedly needed during playthroughs.
Once again, I beg Aspyr to put the tank controls on the d-pad and the 3D movement on the left analogue stick at the same time, like Resident Evil Remake HD did. It's the best of both worlds at the same time!
If people missed the trick the last time, Photo mode is useful outside of just taking pics of Lara. You can use it to pause the game at any time and explore levels before taking a jump or simply finding your bearings if you're lost. However, since TR4 has loading inside levels, these areas confusingly just show up as black, dead ends in photo mode.
As for the rest of the collection; it works fine with little effort put into it. The graphical updates are neat for TR4 & TR5, but barely noticeable for TR6. Perhaps the remastered visuals will entice fresh players, but they’re still a remaster of how it looked back when they released. The levels have a low polygon aesthetic, and sure, they've beefed up Lara and the enemies with a few more polygons, but it looks like a polished 90s release at the end of the day.
Just like the previous collection I give it bonus points for running 120fps on the Xbox Series X version I played. Giving it that profound sense of responsiveness and butter smooth movement.
Aspyr lack something to truly make them special. On one side I appreciate keeping their original visual styles and bringing them to modern hardware, on the other side there are the same issues that make this release somewhat lukewarm.
There's an overhanging feeling of a lower budget and the hit/miss with visual upgrades continues, although I see that at least TR4 & TR5 have upped the game somewhat. For TR veterans it's a fantastic way to go back and replay on modern hardware, but I'm unsure newcomers will be entirely convinced.
This second trilogy of Tomb Raider games was always going to be a somewhat doomed collection out the door, considering the less than favourable reviews of the originals. With an exception; TR4, which is very much worth a playthrough.
