Tomb Raider has gone through quite a few changes over the years, and even though not all of them have been received that well, it’s safe to say that the franchise is not afraid to experiment. Of course, trying out new things is always risky, especially when it seems like players have a pretty clear idea of what they expect. However, at least most of us could agree that even the most controversial games have something good to offer, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is no exception.
Fortunately, PlayStation 2 is giving players a chance to take a walk down memory lane and experience this chapter of Lara Croft’s history one more time. Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered is joining the service on November 3, 2026, and will remain available until November 30. The collection includes The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness, which originally launched in 1999, 2000, and 2003, respectively. The latter is especially interesting because, even though it has a questionable reputation, it introduced some ambitious ideas that deserve some credit.
Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered Gives The Angel of Darkness a Much-Needed Second Chance
The Angel of Darkness is pretty different from what people are used to seeing in the Tomb Raider franchise, and instead of sending Lara on a journey focused mainly on exploring ancient tombs, the game puts her in the middle of a murder investigation. She is accused of killing her former mentor, Werner Von Croy, and now has to reveal the truth to save herself and her reputation. Of course, she is being chased by the authorities, which is always exciting. In any case, this is a pretty significant departure from the formula that made the franchise so recognizable in the first place. However, the murder investigation is not the only thing that makes the title different because the story eventually introduces secret societies, alchemical experiments, and ancient artifacts as well. In other words, The Angel of Darkness is different from the rest of the franchise, but it still has the familiar archaeological elements of Tomb Raider; they are just placed in a much darker narrative.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Perhaps this change did not appeal to everyone, but it’s difficult to deny that experimenting with the franchise’s identity is always better than simply repeating what had worked before and delivering the same experience over and over again. Many would agree that Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered deserves a revisit mainly because the collection restores some of the content that never made it to the original version of The Angel of Darkness. For instance, Aspyr and Saber brought back unused dialogue involving Lara and Kurtis, which provides additional context to the entire story. Moreover, Werner Von Croy’s Notebook gets a few brand-new entries that players get access to as they progress through the adventure. However, perhaps the most important improvement is that the game’s money system finally serves a more meaningful purpose.
This is a chance for an entirely new audience to discover a version of Lara Croft that might turn out to be very surprising, in a good way.
In the original version, Lara could collect valuable objects and sell them at Daniel Rennes’ pawnshop, but there were almost no items for Lara to spend her money on apart from the occasional bribes. However, the remastered version allows players to purchase different weapons and accessories, including silencers and laser sights. Additionally, those who visit the Willowtree Herbalist will be able to buy healing supplies such as poison antidotes and first aid kits. Obviously, this makes exploring the Parisian Ghetto considerably more rewarding because you can actually spend the money you earn on valuable items. So, in other words, the remastered version provides a great opportunity to understand what the developers originally wanted to achieve with The Angel of Darkness. It’s worth noting that the game originally launched in 2003, so it makes sense why some gameplay mechanics would feel outdated today.
For example, one of the biggest issues was the original control scheme because it made even the simplest of movements quite complicated. Instead of moving Lara directly to the left or right, players had to rotate her in the desired direction before moving forward, which was definitely not very convenient. Fortunately, Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered introduces modern controls that make movement a lot more intuitive. Moreover, longtime fans have not been forgotten, so those who want to switch back to the classic control scheme can do so if they prefer the original experience. Switching between the old and the new version is also possible when it comes to graphics. Last but not least, the collection includes camera improvements, faster loading times, and fixes addressing a lot of the old issues with movement and combat. Sure, this doesn’t mean that The Angel of Darkness is now flawless, but the game is arguably a lot more approachable.
PlayStation Plus Introduces a New Generation to Lara Croft’s Most Controversial Adventure
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Image via Aspyr -
Image via Aspyr -
Image via Aspyr
It goes without saying that The Angel of Darkness has developed quite the following despite its controversial reputation. There have been plenty of discussions over the years as players have continued exploring the game’s cut content and discussing the ideas that could have made this action-adventure game a much better experience.
And now that the entire remastered collection is coming to PlayStation Plus, people will have the opportunity to experience this period of the franchise one more time without having to face all of the previous frustrations. This is a chance for an entirely new audience to discover a version of Lara Croft that might turn out to be very surprising, in a good way.
- Released
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February 14, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Blood, Violence
