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TR4 Gold (Fan Project) by Cowboy

billie2001 9 10 10 10
cheng 9 10 10 9
DJ Full 9 10 10 10
Feder 9 9 10 10
Phil 10 10 10 10
Ryan 10 10 10 10
young Lara Croft 7 8 9 9
 
release date: 22-Nov-2025
# of downloads: 850

average rating: 9.54
review count: 7
 
review this level

file size: 287.00 MB
file type: TR4
class: nc
 


author profile(s):
email(s):
usermichael@hotmail.com

Reviewer's comments
"Another thoroughly enjoyable "entry" in this series (although it is more of a re-imagining than stuff we've seen before from the original Fading Light), this was brilliant from start to finish. The construction is again top-notch, the atmosphere wonderfully palpable (with some great music cues and flybys used) and the progression is involving throughout. You get a variety of different looks throughout all nine levels to prevent repetition setting in, and the gameplay is fun and varied. Even the secret system is well executed, with some even having their own entire side area to explore, which I thought was a neat touch. Enough supplies are also provided to deal with the profuse enemy attacks. Maybe the numerous spike traps and flame throwers got rather repetitive after a while (although I didn't find them too annoying) and I also encountered a few savegame issues in level 3, but these seemed to abate in the latter sections of the level and they weren't present anywhere else. Minor gripes, though. Marvellous raiding overall." - Ryan (21-Dec-2025)
"My earthly life and my Tomb Raiding days are both approaching their end, although I hope a goodly number of years remain for the former. As for the latter, TR4 levels are in such short supply these days that there are simply not enough of them to sustain my continued interest. Moreover, I've now been told point blank that the profuse TR1 and TR2 releases of late, using an anachronistic game engine that's nearly 30 years old, will work only on the most recent platforms. Go figure. Moreover, my Windows 10 computer won't even play the more modern TEN levels, even with DirectX 12 and all the intervening DirectX updates having been duly installed. The purpose of this rambling introduction is to explain why, to me, the release of this multi-level TR4 production by Cowboy is such a breath of fresh air. There are nine separate levels, each one of which (except for the last) would do just fine as a stand-alone, and together they provide a level of variety such that the player never gets that feeling of sameness that sometimes pervades marathon releases such as this one. The difficulty factor is on the high side, but I never came across a sequence that made me beg for someone else's savegame. Speaking of which, there are three ways you can end the game, two of which are ho-hum and the third being a timed boat ride that you won't want to miss. All three are documented in the written walk I've prepared. You get plenty of weaponry (sometimes duplicated in later levels) and ammunition to deal with the enemies that are liberally sprinkled throughout the game. You also get many more flares than you need, and come to think of it, there weren't many occasions where I felt the need to use one. There's nothing here that jumps out at me as being truly unique or outstanding, but speaking globally I can see no justification in me awarding this fun-filled romp anything less than 10s across the board." - Phil (18-Dec-2025)
"When I heard about this project I felt both excited and worried. The first, because I would enjoy a faithful recreation of Core’s undeveloped concept as much as any other fan, and the latter because I was afraid it would overshadow my project. But now I see the author and I have enough differences in our visions to make each adventure stand on its own, him using a modern and highly customized approach, and me going for a more classic take. That being said, I really enjoyed this levelset. There are some new moves that are well implemented into the gameplay, tasks are rather linear and on the classic side, and overall it’s more combat-heavy that I would’ve expected (which isn’t a bad thing). The Mardi Gras levels are the best accomplished, with an immersive festive atmosphere and the inclusion of sections present in the original concept such as an “underground jazz club” and a “warehouse full of carnival balloons”. The climbing part through the crypts using the new moves was a really creative and fun task. On the plantation level, the author managed to give us something a little different from what we have seen in Fading Light 1 & 2, with a scary twist near the end, but still I missed a little more gameplay focused on the manor. Moving on to Port Royal, I found the town very similar to New Orleans (same enemies, more warehouses). Things get better as you enter the “old port royal” part, with the pirate element been more present here. Just a few nitpicks: crocodiles in sea water are a bit unfitting and there is an overabundance of spikes. There is a nice secret surprise that holds a really impressive bonus area, which also includes many ideas from the original concept. I loved the Cibola level though, it was very fun and interesting. The transition between the depths of the ocean and the lost city in the desert was smooth, hinted with a slight change of scenery as you approach the pedestal. The last location is the home of the dreaded Dr. Ya Ya, who despite his ancient Arawak inheritance has a very modern beach house, heavily guarded by countless goons, providing some engaging shooter sequences. The last levels become shorter and more focused, so you won’t spend much time in the same place like before. It was a nice surprise to enter Nirvana and see atlantean textures, hinting a connection to Atlantis (or maybe the author just wanted to use them because they were fitting). From this point, the game starts closing up so quickly that you won’t even realize it’s over. I’m not the best at endings myself, but that was more abrupt than walking into the horizon. There is a special ending if you find a secret key and use it right before the finish trigger, but you should also have a regular ending that properly closes the adventure in case you didn’t find the secret. In summary: a good recreation of the lost TR4 Gold by a very talented author, while not as polished as Fading Light 2, it’s fun and engaging, and the looks are impressive. I like how it carries on the tradition of Gold games of having the secrets be whole new areas to explore. Will definitely play it again, like its previous iterations. Highly recommended." - Feder (11-Dec-2025)
"We have masterpiece stuff here. The best of the series, IMO, although the first one has an atmosphere hard to surpass. Beautiful and well crafted environments and a pleasant and involving gameplay. Those fences to prevent us from doing something unintended is the only thing that didn't look so good. The very last level was a bit of a let-down, both as environment and gameplay but it is rather short, so no big deal. The reward for finding all secrets is a short timed boat run, not a big reward if you ask me. lol All in all, a really great game which I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone." - billie2001 (10-Dec-2025)
"The author's previous works have been quite famous, and this one is no exception. The graphics and music are perfectly executed, while the puzzles are relatively simple yet full of fun. I once got stuck at the door of the wall ladder for a long time—having searched the entire map, I finally discovered that an inconspicuous lampstand just outside the door could actually be moved. At the end, you can choose to take the yacht or bypass it directly, which is very user-friendly. Although controlling the yacht is a lot of fun, it’s also quite challenging, especially since the flames along the way are extremely dangerous." - cheng (06-Dec-2025)
"I remember playing Coyote Creek and loving it so I decided to try this new build by Cowboy. It's one hell of a ride! From New Orleans all the way to Nirvana(almost, because the ending is so sudden)! The start was so good and I liked the concept of New Orleans, jazz, the bayou and voodoo, but later down the road it became tedious and tiresome. Repetition of mechanics, more enemies and an absurdly increasing number of traps let me beg for this to end. I would've preferred if the adventure was centered more around the city and bayou and maybe the old temple(when I was using the jeep). As a pro I would add that I enjoyed the atmosphere and sounds, even thou the camera was a bit unstable at times, but the puzzle progression was pretty smooth. A shame to see that I couldn't get the secrets, aside from 2 or 3, the areas were given attention to detail and deserved to be found easier." - young Lara Croft (28-Nov-2025)
"It could be called "The Best Of", ticking boxes of old Cowboy levels, but ofc I'd try all of them. Most of the time it's better than Fading Light 2 as it doesn't do one-color palette but in the forest which should get some contrast. Some secrets are too good to be hard, as only a few people seeing them is a waste (like the Golden City secret in Coyote Creek 2). Of abundant lattice fences: an industrial map would get away with them but not organic towns like here, so absolutely do remove them. Those critical for progress can stay or be swapped to some roadblock or what. I'd trim the repetition of mechanics, as sometimes it's too much of the same one even interrupted by another and also too notorious. The ending doesn't cut it, because it's cut. You should get it without a secret, and something extra if the secret is found - otherwise it's like skipping the last 20 min of Live and Let Die unless you buy an extended version. Just include it where it should be." - DJ Full (25-Nov-2025)