Aspyr continues their remaster streak with a follow-up to the successful Tomb Raider I-III Remaster. This newly enhanced collection rounds out the first six games in the series. What’s especially noteworthy about Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is all the restored content that’s being added; it gives it an element of newness to the package that may just entice those on the fence. Aspyr’s approach to one of the series’ most critically panned games, Tomb Raider VI, is also going to be fascinating to witness. And we don’t have too long to wait, considering Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered releases February 14th for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Join us as we explore these 15 facts about Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.
Enhanced and Classic Graphics Unite
The most obvious upgrade with these kinds of remasters tend to be visual, and just like Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this collection is no different. Aspyr has continued working closely with Crystal Dynamics to use a modified version of the original games’ engine with the benefit of upscaled textures and improved lighting. As seen from trailers and new images, there’s a host of new new environmental assets for IV-VI to boot. The team also carries over the option to freely toggle between original and enhanced graphic modes at any time while playing Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.
Modern and Tank Control Schemes
One of the most notorious things about classic Tomb Raider titles are the tank controls; these too can be toggled on or off in IV-VI Remastered, though only in the menu. The modern control scheme allows full camera control and direction-dependent character movement. Dashing and ducking can also be held down or simply pressed as a toggle option.
Boss Health Bar Toggles
Classic Tomb Raider titles were known for their difficulty, and tough bosses were a big part of that. Tomb Raider IV was especially known for its memorable boss encounters inspired by Egyptian mythology. This remaster allows you to toggle health bars for every boss in Tomb Raider IV-VI, which should make those encounters with Giza’s guardians that much more manageable.
New Photo Mode Settings
Photo Mode gets a bit of an upgrade coming from the I-III Remaster. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remaster finally adds the option to adjust depth of field, zoom in and out, and change the angle of the camera.
Additional Poses and Outfits
These added camera controls will be great for all the newly added poses and outfits that Lara Croft is receiving in IV-VI Remaster. While the additional poses only apply within Photo Mode, the different outfits can most likely be selected from a menu and worn during gameplay. Wearing different outfits was only added with a later patch for I-III, but the devs have confirmed that IV-VI will “include additional poses and outfits for Lara Croft”. We’ll have to wait and see if those outfits are exclusive to Photo Mode or not.
4K Resolution at 60 Frames Per Second
One thing we do know for sure is Aspyr’s commitment to target 4K resolution and 60FPS for PS5 and Xbox Series X. There was a patch for I-III Remastered that added a 120FPS option for PS5 and Series X users, and we assume this will be patched for IV-VI some point down the line as well. Xbox Series S users can expect a bit of a downgrade with a targetted 1440p at 60 FPS, while Switch and PS4 users get 1080P at 60FPS. While we don’t know for sure if Aspyr has improved performance for the classic graphics, so we can only assume IV-VI will run at a capped 30FPS while playing with Classic mode graphics like in I-III.
Inclusion of the “Times Exclusive” Level from The Last Revelation
This collection includes a neat little easter egg of a level for Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation. The bonus “Times Exclusive” level was only available as a PC download back in the day and was created to join The Times newspaper in their 75th anniversary celebration of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. In this stand-alone level, a Times’ employee asks Lara to investigate, you guessed it, King Tut’s tomb.
168 Trophies/Achievements
Despite the eye-watering 269 Trophies included in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, trophy hunters were upset at the omission of any Platinum trophy to top it all off. Well, there’s still no Platinum trophy available for Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, though the leaner 168 trophy/achievements included here ensure less of a headache to keep track of than the previous game.
Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation Story and Setting
Lara investigates Egypt this time around and even gets to raid the most famous of all tombs, the Giza Pyramids. The story really gets going when Lara finds the Amulet of Horus within the Tomb of Set.
Tomb Raider IV Returns to The Series’ Roots
The setting of ancient Egypt and its crypts and tombs called for a particularly nostalgic gameplay approach. As such, The Last Revelation emphasizes more logic puzzles and compact room platforming as opposed to the open zone key-finding design common within Tomb Raider II and III.
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles Story and Setting
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles has perhaps the most unconventional narrative out of all the Tomb Raider games. The story framing is done not from the perspective of Lara herself, but a group of her closest friends and allies. You play as Lara through a set of four-story vignettes. The reason for this somber reminiscence of Lara Croft is due to her being presumed dead following the events of The Last Revelation.
Gameplay Variety in Chronicles
Recalling the past escapades of Lara Croft dovetails naturally into distinctly varied level themes. The first story is set in Rome and focuses on platform-based gameplay, emulating Tomb Raider I’s design. The following stories emphasize stealth, action, and puzzle-solving. Tomb Raider V was the final game in this collection to be developed by the original Core Design team. Interestingly, the team wanted to kill off Lara for good in Tomb Raider IV due to burnout and fatigue, leading to what many would consider the worst game in the series, Tomb Raider VI.
Tomb Raider VI – The Black Sheep of the Series
The Angel of Darkness was the first game in the series to use a new iteration of the Core Design in-house engine for its PS2 debut. Despite the generational leap, Angel of Darkness was critically panned for its buggy gameplay and poorly implemented design. A part of the frustrating controls was the new stamina meter which made climbing a laborious chore. While it’s not yet confirmed whether Aspyr removed the stamina meter, at least the modern controls allow for more fluid movement as well as mid-air shooting and consecutive jumps.
Restored Content for Tomb Raider VI
This remaster restores a lot of cut content for Tomb Raider VI: Angel of Darkness. The other playable character, one Kurtis Trent, receives a new Chirugai disc blade weapon to use. Kurtis also gets a new psychic shield ability to defend against enemies and bosses. Other restored content includes purchasable goods from Rennes’ Pawnshop such as the Silencer and Lasersight, a new Parisian Backstreet training area, unused voice lines, new inventory items such as Von Croy’s cane, and updated notebook entries.
PC Requirements for Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
It doesn’t take the newest Nvidia RTX graphics card to enjoy the latest Tomb Raider collection. Just like the previous remaster, Tomb Raider IV-VI can run on old laptops and still be enjoyed. As per the Steam page, the minimum PC requirements are an Intel i3 / AMD FX-4100 processor and GeForce GT 620 1gb / Radeon HD 8670D graphics card, both 10-year-old hardware. Recommended specs include an Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800 processor and NVIDA RTX 2080 / Radeon RX 6750 graphics card. With a global release for older consoles like the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch and some very attainable minimum PC requirements, just about anybody could enjoy Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.
