[Archive] 12 Projects You Must Keep an Eye on in 2016 (Outdated)

The 20th anniversary of Tomb Raider is coming this year and many fans are ready to celebrate it with their own Tomb Raider related projects. Here is a selection of several of them that you should keep your eye on this year. Please note that they won't be necessarily released in 2016 as being not professionals in this domain they also have to deal with their real life obligations. However all the projects listed below deserved some highlight, their authors a big encouragement and to get their hard work promoted. ===> Discover the October update of this article here ! <=== #1 - Tomb Raider The Dagger of Xian (by Nicobass) Nicobass has been working secretly on his Tomb Raider II remake using Unreal Engine 4 for one year and a half before releasing the first prototype screenshots and several gameplay demo videos that you can see below. For now he said he has finished with most of the gameplay features (that will be similar to Tomb Raider Legend & Anniversary) and will be concentrating soon on level design and environment creation. His plan is to release a playable version of the great wall level for september/october and for now I recommend you to keep an eye on the website he created for his project (click on the logo below to access it) :

WIP of the first cave from the Great Wall level :

Sometimes words are not enough to express a feeling. I'm speechless... #2 - High Resolution AOD (*) (by Nakamichi680 & Slayer) (*) working title Nakamichi680 released previously 3 mods for Tomb Raider The Angel of Darkness (available on our website in Community, Modding) so he's not exactly new to the game. This time him and Slayer, following TRJTA's AOD HD Graphics Patch (available on our website at the same place), have decided to rework on the textures of the game to give them a high resolution treatment. TexMod won't be required to enjoy those in the game. Here's what the level Louvre Galleries currently looks like (screenshots taken by ajrich17901) :

Reworking on the game textures is a great idea and the result looks already promising. Also TexMod no being a requirement this time is another positive point. #3 - War of the Worlds (by Maati) War of the Worlds is an upcoming adventure including several levels. Maati has been working on it since March 2011 using the Tomb Raider Level Editor and when you look at the medias it's hard to believe it as it's incredibly detailled. Here's what it's about : The game tells the story of humanity affected by a global catastrophe. Lara - one of the survivors - by years hides in the undergrounds of the city. She hopes she’ll survive. Unfortunately, army locates civilians. Those who managed to escape must survive in a post-apocalyptic reality. Lonely but determined, has only one goal - to survive. However, she is condemned to death - the enemy is in the air. The real perpetrator was never showed his face. Hidden enemies are waiting for us, for our death. However the Colonists - because we are talking about them - aren't from this world. Here is the trailer (2012), the latest gameplay video and some screenshots :

War of the Worlds looks outstanding. Good continuation to Maati with his project. We can't wait to see it released. #4 - Tomb Raider: Above the Horizon (by maax87) The game takes place in the old town of Metropolis, during the siege by Nova - an organization founded many years ago in absolute secrecy. Their sole purpose was to proclaim a new faith. They believed in technology and the existence of a higher intelligence which gave birth to our world and the human civilisation. Scientists from the organization finally found something that gave Nova deep conviction about the righteoustness of their theories and goals. The newly discovered element - Lumonium, was supposed to ensure innovation and evolution for the city. Unfortunately, no one expected that the truth behind their fasade is different and that the members of the organisation have their own goals. When Nova reached the maximum of their potential, and gathered enough firearms and equipment, they have started a revolution, that has in effect led to overthrowing of the city's authorities and managed to subordinate all of it's residents. Metropolis was turned into a fortess, surrounded by a huge wall. No one could gain access or leave the city. Nova's fanaticism was revealed in full potential shortly after they achieved their main goals. They believed that the new element was not discovered by an accident but instead it was a gift from their god - The Bright Emissary. Soon Nova began to kidnap a chosen group of residents who have never been seen again. A few important points about the project : 1. The game represents an alternate version of the XX century with a mix of neo-noir mood. 2. The project is being created using NGLE editor and Meta2tr. 3. Lara has new movements, new animations and a lot more interactions with the environment. 4. You can discover interactive objects with an unusual principles (like hack tool or lighter). 5. In the game you will find coins which you can exchange to buy new items in a shop. 6. Lara will run into many various people and characters. 7. During exploration you will find optional quests. 8. In the game you will be able to return to the previously discovered locations. 9. During the game you can use optional system of icons and hints - an instinct mode. 10. Subtitles in the game will be available in English and Polish language.

Another game to keep an eye on, Tomb Raider: Above the Horizon looks already very promising according to the first medias and detail available. And if you played any of maax87's previous projects then you shouldn't worry about the quality of the final product. #5 - (Removed)

#6 - Ghana Reimagined (by Zolee) Ghana Reimagined is a level created using the Tomb Raider Level Editor that is based on old footages of the Ghana level from Tomb Raider Legend by Crystal Dynamics, inspired of them and mixed with new ideas, places etc. Here are some screenshots about it :

Looking at the screenshots it's hard to believe they aren't taken from the Tomb Raider Legend beta footage. Zolee's level feels really polished and even Lara's standing animation is impressive. #7 - Tomb Raider The Last Revelation HD (by -Roli- & co) Tomb Raider The Last Revelation HD is a HD version of the game including HQ textures, HQ/HD objects, HQ sprites, fonts, etc. It's made using the Tomb Raider Level Editor and it will require the original game to work. Only several quick test screenshots are available so far (please note that they don't necessarily represent the final quality of the game) :

We know pratically nothing about the project as they'll unveil it when it will be ready to be shown but considering the talented people working on it there's nothing to worry about. #8 - Croft Manor Level Project (*) (by Heckler) (*) working title Heckler plans to release a Croft Manor Level made using Unity for the 20th anniversary of the franchise. It includes the mansion and a forest-like "countryside". The manor used here as a base is TRJTA's manor (you can find it on our website in Community, Digital Art). Here are the latest screenshots of it :

This level based on a new version of the Croft Manor looks promising and we can't wait to explore it ! Let's hope Heckler will finish it in time for the 20th anniversary of Tomb Raider. #9 - Tomb Raider: Realm of Fallen Angels (by Laras Dream) Another interesting and great looking Unreal Engine 4 project. A description of it by its author : This is a continuation of a beloved Tomb Raider game, The Angel of Darkness. It is fan's passionate endeavour to take what was lost and sow it into a new game. The story is based off all the information we have on AOD2, along with a sprinkle of creativity! Here are the 2 first screenshots available, in Castle Kriegler (a deleted AOD location) with a WIP Lara. Also click on the logo below to visit their website :

Laras Dream has been working on his project for a couple of years now and released his first screenshots recently. A sequel to AOD is a fantastic idea and even if its hard to judge on two screens only we can say he's already on the right track here. Also it was a great idea to use VictorXD's Lara as she reflects perfectly a great HD and realistic version of the original. #10 - Tomb Raider: Time Paradox II (by Tirivol) Tomb Raider: Time Paradox II is a level made using the Tomb Raider Level Editor. The story begins in the deeps of an underground cave, after Lara found a clue that links the Time Paradox with an ancient civilisation that disappeared in the middle of the Eastern Desert for unknown reasons. Some screenshots of the level + a picture of the final Lara model that will replace the one you see here :

Very atmospheric location according to these screenshots. And no doubt this modernized classic Lara model (that looks incredibly detailled) made by the 2 talented Mrshina and Axelia for Tirivol will fit the level perfectly. Also tombs, what's not to like ? #11 - Tomb Raider: Fragments of Aion (by dcw123) In Tomb Raider: Fragments of Aion Lara will revisit some emblematic levels of Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III that will be remade for this adventure created with the Tomb Raider Level Editor. The levels will be respectively : Level 1 - City of Vilcabamba, Ecuador Level 2 - Temple Ruins, India Level 3 - Bartoli's Hideout, Venice Level 4 - RX Tech compound, Antarctica Level 5 - Saint Francis's Folly, Greece Level 6 - Nevada Desert, United States Level 7 - Mountain Foothills, Tibet Level 8 - Sanctuary of the Scion, Egypt Level 9 - Floating Islands I invite you to discover the first medias (a render, the story and the early screenshots of the first level) :

Here's an interesting project to follow and the first screenshots are very convincing. Good continuation ! #12 - The Kurtis Trent Chronicles (by AngelOfDrkness) The story : Set during Kurtis' stint as a freelancer in the late '90s, a small job investigating the paranormal goings-on at a mine evolves into something far more sinister. Soon Kurtis is knee-deep in a mystery pre-dating the Bible, doggedly pursued by an evil cult, in a race against time to prevent the coming of the end of the world - Armageddon. Made using the Tomb Raider Level Editor this project will be split into 3 levels. Here are the medias available so far :

For a first project The Kurtis Trent Chronicles seems really good. We can't wait to discover more about it in the future. ~ Honorable Mentions ~ Here are other projects with some potential. They are at a very early stage but it may be worth keeping an eye on them in the future. # Classic Tomb Raider (*) by TR-Freak (*) working title Another Unreal Engine 4 project. TR-Freak plan is to recreate with it the original Tomb Raider feel : classic gameplay with new graphics. He already implemented basic movement and shared a couple of medias including these 2 screenshots (please note that they won't necessarily represent the final quality of his project) :

The idea is nice and TR-Freak seems at his ease with this engine. Who wouldn't want of a classic Tomb Raider with modern graphics ? Good continuation to him with his project. # UE4 Project (*) by ersel (*) working title And yet another Unreal Engine 4 project (the more, the better !). After seeing all other projects using this engine ersel decided to start using the tool to create his own project. He wants to do a game like TR4 but not a remake. He shared the first screenshots of his project (please note that they won't necessarily represent the final quality of his project) with his custom Lara : First screenshots of a level that begins in Karnak and the 2 latest screens representing his new Lara model : Good continuation with your project ersel. We'll be following your progress on it. ~ Other Games and Projects ~ I picked up some projects that really convinced me but it was impossible for me to conclude here without mentioning the future numerous other Tomb Raider games / mods that will come in 2016 and in the future. While I'm pretty sure that we'll see more of them appearing soon I wanted to thank all the Tomb Raider community for all the hard work you have done on custom levels and adventures in the past until today. Some of them are little jewels and their quality is incredible. I'd like to invite you to discover them on TRLE.net :

~ The Games You Won't Play (aka the Cancelled Projects) ~ This can happen sadly. Here are the games that were cancelled during their development. # Tomb Raider Memories by AndrewMZCroft & co According to its authors Tomb Raider Memories is a fan made game, remake of the gold editions fo the previous games (TR1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and Chronicles). It's made using Unreal Engine and uses Nvidia PhysX. Everything is build from scratch. They released a playable prototype of it in the past. Here's a video of the prototype and some screenshots of it :

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