Time doesn't do many classic games any favors in the graphics department, but occasionally fans step in with impressive visual upgrades—or even entirely new adventures. That's the case with Tomb Raider - Dagger of Xian, a game based on Tomb Raider II made in Unreal Engine 4.
Released in 1997 for Windows and PlayStation, and later adapted for Mac, iOS and Android, Tomb Raider II tells the legend of the Dagger of Xian, an ancient relic that grants the power of the Dragon to whoever brings it to its heart. Both the Venetian mafia and the cult of Xian are interested in locating and acquiring the Dagger, but they didn't count on Lara Croft also being after it. This sequel introduced new weapons, movements, and vehicles, and became one of the best-selling games of its time. And while you can still play the classic Tomb Raider games today, they aren't exactly shining examples of titles that aged well visually. That's why a group of fans got to work and presents Tomb Raider - Dagger of Xian, a game based on Tomb Raider II made in Unreal Engine 4.
First, it's worth clarifying that Tomb Raider - Dagger of Xian is not a remake of Tomb Raider II, but rather it's based on that game. It can best be described as a standalone expansion for Tomb Raider II that uses Unreal Engine 4 for its visual effects. You'll immediately notice that the development team, led by Nicobass, has done a great job implementing the graphics engine. The intro looks impressive, and the in-game visuals have improved significantly as well.
While the visuals have improved, there are still bits and pieces of the classic game that jump out in the animations—for example, when Lara starts to run. Tomb Raider - Dagger of Xian is currently available as a downloadable demo for Windows, and it seems they even have the blessing of the current rights holders, Crystal Dynamics. The demo is 1.8 gigabytes in size and you can download it by clicking here. Official site: Tomb Raider - Dagger of Xian.
