(Ed note: This article was written a while ago but we feel it is still relevant.)
In October 2024, I wrote Tomb Raider Remastered IV- VI Announced and true to form, these new remasters will be released on the 14th February. Yesterday I pre-ordered on Steam to take advantage of the 10% discount and since I live in Argentina, managed to get the game(s) for $13.50 which is half the base price.
These new remasters include:
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
Back in June last year, I wrote Tomb Raider Remastered – First Impressions which was my take on the first three remastered games and I’m still playing them today. That has to be a testament to how well these games have been remastered without changing any of the storyline or base game mechanics – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, that maxim cannot be applied to Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which was a commercial flop for all the reasons I mentioned in the above article. What most of us want to see is how controlling Lara will be improved. Core Design introduced mouse movement in the original game (2003), but she remained almost impossible to control, even reverting to basic tank controls – arrow keys for direction – didn’t help.
Many modders have even tried to improve Angel of Darkness with limited success, so we wait with bated breath how Aspyr has managed to give the game the improvements it deserves.
You Can Please Some Of The People…
Well, you can’t beat the Internet for opinions and ever since Tomb Raider I- III Remastered was announced, diehard Lara Croft fans never seem to be satisfied and continue to ask for more. Can we have more outfits for Lara, more water reflections?
And her tits aren’t big enough, or they’re too big. I’ve even seen requests to bring all six games into the realm of 21st century diversity, inclusivity, and all the rest of that nonsense.
…some players feel that a more realistic approach—especially regarding her breast size—would better align with modern character design sensibilities.
Yawn, and…
Additionally, are there any other updates planned to reflect a more feminist approach to storytelling and character development? For example, changes to dialogue, interactions, or animations that could make Lara’s portrayal feel more empowering and grounded for today’s audience?
Why don’t we just rename the games to Trans Raider and be done with it? That way, everyone would be satisfied. Or would they?
But I digress, because a remaster is just that and not a remake. The most important aspect of all six remasters, including the bonus add-ons, is that the developers, Aspyr, have been faithful to the core storylines and game mechanics.
True, Lara’s appearance has been updated in line with modern gaming technology and also to give her a more realistic presence than how she was portrayed back in 1996 when pixels ruled.
These early Tomb Raider games can be very challenging with some mind bending puzzles which, for me anyway, is why I still play them at my age. It’s easy to get lost in some of the labyrinthine levels, not to mention how to avoid hidden traps, so I find that the game helps me improve my spatial awareness and reaction times. That’s my excuse anyway, which is why I’m looking forward to February 14th, which also happens to be Lara Croft’s birthday!
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