Since first bursting onto the scene all the way back in 1996, Lara Croft has become firmly established as one of gaming’s most recognizable protagonists. Stillgoing strong in the gaming medium today, theTomb Raiderfranchise has also made its way into film and television over the years.
Needless to say, some of the classic earlier installments are rather dated by modern standards. While the remastering treatment has been given to some of them, the action and adventure on offer would benefit from a full update for modern consoles. On top of that, certain less appreciated games, due to everything from bugs to lack of public interest at the time, could benefit greatly from a shot at redemption with a new generation of gamers.
DespiteThe Last Revelationseeminglykilling off Lara Croft, her story continued inChronicles. In order to step around her purported death, the game offers players a few flashback missions to showcase the character in all of her glory.
At the time of its release,Chronicleswas considered by some to be proof that the series had run its course and grown stale. Despite its short story structure and the waning interest in the franchise at the time,Chroniclesis a slick, well-developed adventure game that served as a greatest hits of sorts for the series up to that point. A remake now could bring the three flashback missions to more vivid life and do the imaginative scenarios on offer more justice. With renewed interest in the series of late, a remake could see this game enjoy some well-deserved reappraisal.
The classic sequel to the beloved original has a lot to offer as a remake. For starters, the seminal surprise T-Rex could get an update to become an even more effective jump scare for players.
While the update did some justice to the game, a full remake would bring the action to life in a far more compelling way for modern gamers. Along with significantly improving the character expressions and puzzles, it would also provide room for superior mechanics for the game’s vehicular chases. Excitingly, a remake could finally provide the spacefor the infamously canceledFurther Adventures of Lara Croftexpansion pack to come to life as an additional story here, making it a must-play for longtime fans of the series.
This globe-trotting threequel sees the titular artifact hunter seeking out the remnants of a mysterious meteorite. The hunt begins when Croft is approached by RX-Tech, a powerful group examining remnants of the meteorite found in Antarctica.
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Needless to say, all is not what it seems, as the space rocks actually house an immensely powerful substance that was harnessed in ancient times. With rich lore and mystery, Tomb Raider 3 is one of the franchise’s most imaginative and intriguing efforts. While the remastering treatment did some justice to the game’s action and scope, a full remake would allow the wild mutant-filled closing stretch of the game to be brought to better life in all of its body horror glory. Big and epic, this classic installment is the perfect showcase of everything that made Lara Croft so popular in the ’90s, something that could be thrilling for modern gaming with enough of an update.
This infamous chapter of the classic seriesinfuriated players with its numerous bugs and flaws. Dealing with delays and developmental issues,The Angel of Darknesswas a rushed affair that failed to reach its full potential.
While the gameplay was poor, the game’s storyline stands out.The game takes Lara Croftto Paris, where a serial killer is causing chaos. As if that wasn’t enough, Croft gets caught up in her mentor’s involvement with a selection of mysterious paintings. With plenty of twists, turns, and Macguffins, the plot charges along unpredictably, ending on an ambiguous, thrilling note. With fully updated gameplay and graphics, this infamous game could finally do justice to its well-written script.
The fourth installment in the classic PlayStation series seesLara Croft tangle with the dangerous Egyptian god Set. The game marked a notable uptick in the quality of graphics for the series at the time.
In a bid to restore some of the franchise’s initial hype,The Last Revelationsaw a notable return to tomb-focused gameplay. The result was a slick, action-packed experience that provided a plus update on the original game’s acclaimed formula. While a remaster is currently in the works, a full remake would do this classic far more justice. From giant snakes to betrayal and world-building,the Egypt-set game provides players with plenty of wild storytelling and actionthat can translate brilliantly and more completely to modern consoles.
