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The anime series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will be released on October 10 on the Netflix streaming service. In the eyes of most players, Lara is seen as a heroine from the distant past. The last game in the series came out 6 years ago and went virtually unnoticed. But in the 1990s, Miss Croft was the gaming industry’s main sex symbol. In this article we will talk about the peculiar path of the tomb raider – from the most desirable virtual beauty to the “ordinary girl next door.”
Anime is not the only project within the Tomb Raider series that awaits us in the near future. A new one will be released in 2025 games about Lara. We’ve been promised a cinematic action movie powered by Unreal Engine 5 that will be made to the highest standards of the genre. However, many players were confused by the following changes in the image of Miss Croft herself. Now she will be a grown woman in her forties. And this is not at all what fans expect from their favorite heroine.
Wasp waist and big breasts. Lara Croft in classic Tomb Raider parts (1996-2000)
Yes, in the mid-1990s, Core Design Studio didn’t release a single truly excellent game. It is not surprising that in the development phase the first Tomb Raider (1996) was not seen as an important project for Eidos. Therefore, programmers had a certain creative freedom. One day, while experimenting with a model of the main character, character designer Toby Gard jokingly enlarges the girl’s breasts to an absurdly large size. His colleagues liked this option, and it was this option that ended up in the release version of the game. Let’s note that they dressed Lara modestly – in shorts and a top. Plunging necklines and revealing swimsuits appear much later.
Tomb Raider turned out to be a serious statement in the third-person shooter genre and quickly gained worldwide fame. Moreover, the players’ attention was attracted not only by the gameplay of the game, but also by Lara’s image. A fan base quickly formed around her. Soon, the Nude Raider mod was released, removing all of Miss Croft’s clothing. Today such changes are common, but in the 1990s such a possibility was astonishing.
Publisher Eidos decided to take advantage of Lara’s popularity. PR campaigns for the subsequent Tomb Raider episodes were based solely on Miss Croft’s image. For example, busty girls were chosen as official models. They were the ones who presented the games from the series at various gaming exhibitions.
It is also worth noting that in official art the heroine was sometimes depicted in a very spicy form or the emphasis was placed on her breasts.
The first five installments in the series used the gameplay mechanics of the original Tomb Raider (1996). They came out every year and were almost indistinguishable from each other. The lack of innovation had a direct impact on sales. If the second part proved more successful than the first (7.54 million copies sold versus 5.65 million), after which each subsequent game about Lara made less money than the previous one. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) was purchased by only 1.5 million people. It became clear that the series needed changes.
What’s your favorite Tomb Raider entry?
Lara Croft looks like a young Angelina Jolie. The first films based on the Tomb Raider series
The popularity of Miss Croft flared up with renewed vigor in 2001, immediately after the release of the first official film adaptation. The film itself turned out to be a mediocre action film, which is in no way related to the events of the series, except for the name and profession of the main character. But Lara, played by 25-year-old Angelina Jolie, was a real beauty. Moreover, she was not shy about undressing in front of men. The public liked this Miss Croft. Moreover, Angelina herself was associated with this role for a long time. But if the first film with her participation was relatively successful, the sequel was a failure.
Busty Lara, which no one liked. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003)
Three years after the failed Chronicles, the Tomb Raider series returned in an updated form. IN Angel of Darkness Miss Croft has become even more spectacular: size six breasts, wide hips and a thin waist. And the graphics in the game have become much better.
The game had problems with everything else. Instead of a simple adventure, we were offered a mystical thriller with stealth elements. Unusual mechanics were combined with tricky controls and bugs, including critical ones. As a result, the game sold poorly and the planned sequel was canceled.
Lara gets wet and dirty in the mud. Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider trilogy (2006-2008)
Three years after the release of Angel of Darkness, the second reboot of the series took place. Development Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) was developed by Crystal Dynamics, known for the series Legacy of Kain, and Toby Gard personally, who came up with the image of Lara. “Legend” turned out to be a hybrid of classic games from the series with acrobatics of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Quick Time Events, fashionable in the mid-2000s (fast keystrokes). It was easy and enjoyable, but we cannot call it a masterpiece – what we have before us is, as they say, a strong average.
Released a year later a remake of the very first part, and in 2008 – Tomb Raider: Underworld. The series again froze in place and practically did not change. In the meantime, the first one appeared on the PlayStation 3 Uncharted, which took the adventure game genre to a new level.
Lara’s appearance has changed noticeably in this trilogy. The girl had her breasts reduced to about a size 3, but relied on her beautiful face and chiseled figure. In addition, interesting visual effects appeared. In Legend, Miss Croft got wet in ponds and then slowly dried out in the sun. In Underworld, the developers went further: Lara got dirty in the mud and after an intense sprint she became covered in beads of sweat.
It is also worth noting that among the secret costumes there were bikini sets of different colors. To open them, it was necessary to conduct a series of tests. If you want, you can play the entire game in just a swimsuit.
Lara Croft looks like a girl next door. The latest installments of the Tomb Raider series (2013-2018)
In 2009, the rights to Miss Croft’s adventures were transferred to Square Enix. The Japanese publisher arranged the third relaunch of the series. The new game came out in 2013 and was simply called Tomb Raider. It felt like a dark version of Uncharted. The sequels developed their mechanics, but couldn’t top Nathan Drake’s adventures
While Tomb Raider was under publisher Eidos, the developers always paid attention to Lara’s sexuality. Square Enix made Miss Croft an ordinary-looking girl who only wore bulky clothes without the slightest hint of femininity. “No unlockable bikinis!” – said the PR managers of the 2013 game before its release and unfortunately they kept their promise.
In 2018, a new film about Lara was released, in which Alicia Vikander played her role. She plays Miss Croft as she shoots her enemies with a bow and tries to unravel her father’s dark secrets. At the same time, unlike Angelina Jolie, she does not have a pronounced sexuality.
Lara Croft as an adult woman. The future of the Tomb Raider series
A new part of the Tomb Raider series is planned for next year. The publisher will be Amazon Games. The company plans to turn Miss Croft’s adventures into a full-fledged media franchise, with games, TV series and cartoons set in the same universe. Lara herself will be much older than before. We don’t know any specific details yet, but it’s unlikely we’re talking about hot ladies in the spirit of Stifler’s mother from American Pie. Most likely, there will be no trace of Miss Croft’s former sexuality.
It’s interesting that fan culture still loves the classic Lara of the 90s and 00s. Candid art of her regularly appears online, and female cosplayers often turn to the classic image of the Tomb Raider. The image of the beautiful and sexy Miss Croft is still in high demand in the entertainment industry. We hope that one day the wishes of the fans will be heard, and we will see the return of the same Lara who was loved by millions of players around the world.
Do you like Miss Croft’s new look? Or do you prefer classic Lara? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Source: VG Times
Christina Moncayo is a contributing writer for “Social Bites”. Her focus is on the gaming industry and she provides in-depth coverage of the latest news and trends in the world of gaming.