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Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

The latest installment to the Tomb Raider universe delivers new features, terrific graphics, and an engaging storyline. In a plot that's like an action-thriller movie, Lara Croft runs through the back alleys of Paris and Prague to clear her name of the murder of her former mentor. The ability to upg
Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) Game Cover
59%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, stability
59% User Score Based on 1,282 reviews
Critic Score 62%Based on 3 reviews

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Playstation 2PCGog ComMac OSWindowsPlayStation
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Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) Game Cover

About

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) is a single player platformer game with a horror theme. It was developed by Core Design and was released on November 28, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

A series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a sinister Alchemist from the past, and a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run. Pursued by the police, she follows the Alchemist into a dark world of blood, betrayal and vengeance where it is up to her to defeat this unh…

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59%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,282 reviews
story260 positive mentions
gameplay52 negative mentions
  • The story is engaging and features a darker, more mature narrative compared to previous Tomb Raider games.
  • The graphics and atmosphere are impressive for a game released in 2003, showcasing detailed environments and a haunting soundtrack.
  • The game introduces new mechanics such as character upgrades and dialogue choices, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
  • The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making platforming and combat frustrating and difficult to manage.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, leading to crashes and game-breaking issues that hinder the overall experience.
  • Many features and content were cut from the game due to rushed development, leaving it feeling incomplete and disjointed.
  • story
    630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness" is often praised for its dark, intricate narrative and engaging atmosphere, with many considering it one of the best in the series despite its unfinished state and numerous cut content. While the plot features compelling elements such as gothic mythology and a murder mystery, it suffers from pacing issues and inconsistencies due to rushed development, leaving players with a sense of potential unfulfilled. Overall, the narrative is a highlight for many, but it is marred by gameplay flaws and a lack of polish, leading to mixed feelings among fans.

    • “The lore-rich story based on gothic mythology, the immersive atmosphere, and the amazingly orchestrated soundtrack by Peter Connelly, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra always have me on the edge of my seat.”
    • “Murti Schofield, the writer for this game, is the reason there is a cult following to this day, thanks to the thought and care he put into this detailed and complex story.”
    • “The story is so good and one of my favorite stories in any game.”
    • “The narrative has also garnered a lot of praise from some of the fanbase, but I feel like that's more relying on the untapped ideas and potential this game had, because as a story this thing falls apart rather quickly.”
    • “Ultimately, this game is just a mish-mash of half-finished ideas, crappy levels, and a story that is borderline engaging but mostly just boring and forgettable.”
    • “Defenders of this game will praise the story and the ability to interact with characters, but the story doesn't go much of anywhere; it ends on a cliffhanger that assumed that the Angel of Darkness would be part one of a trilogy (spoiler alert: parts 2 and 3 never got released due to how poorly this game turned out), and the aforementioned characters only exist in the first quarter of the game, they are uninteresting, and they simply repeat themselves whenever you talk to them without getting a new plot device first.”
  • gameplay
    290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness" is widely criticized for its clunky controls, unfinished mechanics, and numerous bugs, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some appreciate the story and atmosphere, the overall execution of gameplay elements, including combat and puzzle-solving, is seen as subpar compared to earlier titles in the series. Despite attempts to introduce new mechanics, many feel they are poorly implemented and detract from the core gameplay, making it difficult for both newcomers and veterans to enjoy.

    • “Some of the mechanics will take some getting used to, especially for Tomb Raider veterans, but all in all this is a solid, entertaining time.”
    • “Thanks probably to an angel we finally can return to see the light and exit from the darkness of the previous chapters and for the first time in the series there are some improvements on both graphics, game mechanics and other little things, we are still far from the beauty of the actual modern Tomb Raider we all know but you'll have a great experience with this one, really a nice game.”
    • “A fantastic, dark and mysterious story, beautiful designs, awesome movesets and new gameplay elements.”
    • “The gameplay of this game is probably the worst among Tomb Raider games.”
    • “Very little works as it should - the equilibrium of platforming, puzzles, and action perfected over the previous five installments has been replaced by a Frankenstein of gameplay mechanics that, in spite of whatever intentions the developers might have had, do nothing in their existing form to enhance the overall experience.”
    • “What you are up against is not the challenge the developers intended, but a set-up of severely flawed and sometimes incomplete game mechanics.”
  • graphics
    238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their quality, especially considering its 2003 release, with many noting significant improvements over previous titles in the series. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and smooth animations, which contribute to an immersive experience. However, some reviews highlight issues with graphical glitches and the need for complex settings adjustments, indicating that while the graphics are impressive, they are not without their flaws.

    • “The game offers stunning graphics and great animations, along with a stellar soundtrack that helps create a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The graphics, sound, controls, gameplay, and storytelling have all received major overhauls, along with an astounding amount of bug fixes, and all the textures were recreated by hand in a way that retains the aesthetic of the original game.”
    • “The visuals are stunning and the story is a good mystery.”
    • “However, these improvements come at the cost of frequent graphical glitches, with patches doing little to fix the problem.”
    • “The boaz boss fight was like playing Dark Souls with bad controls and slow movement, and there are so many graphical glitches that the game feels like it's being held together by paper mache.”
    • “The controls are absolute crap, the graphics are blocky and there is clipping all over the place.”
  • music
    162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised as its standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting the orchestral soundtrack composed by Peter Connelly and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra as breathtaking and atmospheric. Players appreciate how the music enhances the game's gothic and immersive environments, often describing it as one of the best soundtracks in the Tomb Raider series. Despite criticisms of the gameplay and level design, the soundtrack consistently receives accolades for its ability to evoke emotion and complement the narrative.

    • “The lore-rich story based on gothic mythology, the immersive atmosphere, and the amazingly orchestrated soundtrack by Peter Connelly, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, always have me on the edge of my seat.”
    • “The soundtrack is breathtakingly beautiful and adds to the atmosphere in ways to bring the game to life.”
    • “Composed by Peter Connelly and Martin Iveson, the music is passionate and really lets you feel like there's a lot at stake in Lara's predicament.”
    • “There's a lot of music at the start of the game and a lot less at the end.”
    • “The music of the game is its only positive feature.”
    • “It's not all bad, the music and level designs were nice, and the story was okay, but overall, just bad.”
  • stability
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which many players find frustrating and indicative of a rushed development process. While some users appreciate the game's charm and story despite these issues, others deem it nearly unplayable due to frequent crashes and control problems. Overall, the stability of the game is a significant concern, with many recommending it only for dedicated fans willing to overlook its flaws.

    • “The PC port is not that bad; it's not buggy like I expected it to be.”
    • “This game is rushed, buggy, and unfinished, a disappointment that ended up destroying its developer.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “To save a lot of time, avoid this title due to game-breaking glitches, horrible control schemes, and an outright unimpressive copycat storyline.”
  • atmosphere
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gothic qualities, enhanced by a beautifully orchestrated soundtrack that complements the dark and gritty environments. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create suspense and intrigue, making it a standout entry in the series despite some gameplay flaws. Overall, the combination of rich lore, atmospheric design, and compelling storytelling contributes to a memorable experience that resonates with players.

    • “The lore-rich story based on gothic mythology, the immersive atmosphere, and the amazingly orchestrated soundtrack by Peter Connelly, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, always have me on the edge of my seat.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is fantastic and the story is still one of the best from the entire series.”
    • “It’s a game world in which everything you see and hear oozes with the atmosphere of a film noir.”
    • “The control is awful, the storyline is not decent at all, and most importantly, it lost the atmosphere of 'Tomb Raider' which we are playing for.”
    • “It sticks out so much in the otherwise pretty good animation, that it really takes you out of the game's atmosphere.”
    • “Even though the atmosphere doesn't feel like a proper Tomb Raider, it's really well done and manages to translate into an urban setting successfully.”
  • humor
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity stemming from glitches and absurd gameplay mechanics, such as Lara's slow stair climbing and nonsensical puzzle solutions. While some players found the comedic elements to be entertaining, others viewed them as indicative of the game's overall lack of polish and coherence. Despite its flaws, the humor, particularly in Lara's interactions and voice lines, offers a nostalgic charm that resonates with fans of the classic Tomb Raider series.

    • “Some glitches or interactions we had were so funny that we almost died of laughter...”
    • “Speaking of so bad it's hilarious, the way Lara runs up and down stairs is simultaneously the worst and the best thing in the game.”
    • “But hey, at least it has some hilarious ragdoll physics.”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, especially on modern PCs, and clunky controls that were not adequately addressed even after patches. While some users have managed to run the game smoothly, the overall consensus is that it suffers from serious optimization issues, particularly in its Steam version, leading to a lack of recommendation from reviewers.

    • “And this game can still run smoothly on my computer, no bugs at all.”
    • “After fixing the movement issues with patches, the controls are far better optimized for both keyboard and mouse.”
    • “Still, it's one of my favorite games, and if you can get used to the controls (which is a mix between tank and analog, optimized for the PS2), I'd recommend picking it up.”
    • “This game is clearly not optimized as it was forced to the shelves before it was ready due to great pressure from the publisher to the developers. Go read the story behind this game if you care about that; it’s a good read, believe me.”
    • “At the same time, the bad controls, bugs, and poor optimization (especially with the Steam version) don't make up for that.”
    • “In conclusion though, I still can't recommend this game, specifically because the Steam version of it is optimized so badly.”
  • replayability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with some players suggesting that it lacks rewarding elements and variety in gameplay. While a few users find it more playable than previous versions, the consensus leans towards a low replay value, often requiring mods to enhance the experience. Suggestions for improvement include incorporating RPG elements and multiple pathways to increase engagement.

    • “ Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Good idea: introduce RPG elements to an adventure game to increase the replay value, create various pathways/solutions to obstacles that can be utilized via whatever skills/stats you have (see: Deus Ex series).”
    • “Far more playable than the PS2 version.”
    • “Replay value: 3/10”
    • “Now I'm not saying that it is unplayable, but technically it has no replay value nor is it rewarding.”
    • “Good idea: introduce RPG elements to an adventure game to increase the replay value, create various pathways/solutions to obstacles that can be utilized via whatever skills/stats you have (see: Deus Ex series)”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features exceptional character development, complemented by a captivating story and impressive character designs. While it diverges from previous titles in terms of gameplay mechanics, the integration of player choice and diverse combat methods enhances the uniqueness of the characters and their narratives. Overall, the character development is a standout aspect that enriches the gaming experience.

    • “The character designs are amazing and definitely a step-up.”
    • “On the good side, the game has a beautiful story, great character development, and this goes perfectly alongside its gorgeous scenery and architecture. Although it may not be like any of the previous titles where you would be physically thrown into tombs and battles, it does have a perfect range of combat methods, characters, and player choice interactions, allowing for the game to be more unique and different from the rest of them.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect manageable, especially with features like quick saves in the Steam version, which alleviate the frustration of dying. While some may require additional lives for grinding, the overall experience is not considered overly tedious.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, leveraging nostalgia to drive strong initial sales through an aggressive advertising campaign. Many users feel it capitalizes on abandonware rather than offering genuine value.

    • “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the emotional depth in the game is lacking, with characters described as emotionally flat and unengaging, resembling "dead blow up dolls" rather than relatable individuals. This results in a disconnect that diminishes the overall emotional impact of the narrative.

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62%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) is a platformer game with horror theme.

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 2 and others.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003).

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) was released on November 28, 2012.

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) was developed by Core Design.

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) has received neutral reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (2003) is a single player game.

Similar games include Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and others.