Tomb Raider, the adventure video game franchise featuring Lara Croft, has been a major player in the genre since its launch in 1996. The franchise has included numerous sequels and spinoffs while maintaining its core values of exploration, ancient ruins, and fantastic adventures. Its protagonist, Lara Croft, has become a cultural icon; a symbol of female empowerment and adventure. The franchise has had a tremendous impact on the gaming industry, inspiring competitors, and raising the representation of women in video games. Its legacy will continue to influence games and gamers for years to come.
Tomb Raider: The Legacy of an Iconic Adventure Video Game Franchise
Since its inception in 1996, Tomb Raider has been a major player in the adventure video game genre. The franchise has garnered an enormous fan base, and its protagonist – Lara Croft – has become a cultural icon. The Tomb Raider games have seen numerous iterations and adaptations over the years, but the core values of exploration, ancient ruins, and fantastic adventures remain the same. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of the franchise, its milestones, and its impact on the gaming industry.
The Early Years
The first Tomb Raider game was developed by Core Design and released in 1996 for the PlayStation and PC. The game introduced players to Lara Croft – a skilled archaeologist and adventurer tasked with exploring ancient ruins and finding valuable artifacts. The gameplay was praised for its mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics, and Lara quickly became a fan favorite. The success of the first game led to sequels and spinoffs, including Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, and Tomb Raider: Chronicles.
The Rise of Lara Croft
With each new game, Lara Croft became more than just a character in a video game. She became a cultural icon – a symbol of female empowerment and adventure. The games themselves also continued to push the boundaries of what was possible in the adventure genre. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, released in 1999, featured improved graphics and sound, and the addition of vehicles for exploring the game’s massive levels. The game also introduced a new enemy – the god Seth – who was determined to destroy Lara and the world.
The next game in the series, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, was released in 2000 and focused more on Lara’s history and past adventures. The game featured multiple playable characters and a non-linear structure, allowing players to explore Lara’s origins through a series of flashback missions. Despite mixed reviews, the game was a commercial success and showed that the franchise was still going strong.
The Reboot
In 2006, the Tomb Raider franchise underwent a major reboot with Tomb Raider: Legend. The game was developed by Crystal Dynamics, who were tasked with modernizing the franchise while staying true to its core values. The game featured an updated Lara Croft – younger, more athletic, and with a backstory that explained her motivations as an adventurer. The game also introduced more open-world gameplay and revamped combat mechanics. Tomb Raider: Legend was a critical and commercial success, and it kickstarted a new era of the franchise.
The reboot was followed by two more games – Tomb Raider: Anniversary, a remake of the first game with updated graphics and gameplay, and Tomb Raider: Underworld, which continued Lara’s adventure in the search of her mother, and introduced new mechanics like the ability to use a grappling rope. The games were well-received but didn’t reach the same heights as Legend.
The Definitive Edition and Beyond
In 2013, the Tomb Raider franchise saw another major reboot with Tomb Raider, a game that returned the franchise to its roots while also introducing a more realistic and gritty tone. The game was hailed as a triumph by critics and fans alike and sold millions of copies. A Definitive Edition was released for the Xbox One and PS4 in 2014, which included several improvements and updates to the graphics and gameplay.
The reboot was followed by two sequels – Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Both games continued the more grounded and realistic approach of the first game while expanding on the open-world gameplay and RPG mechanics. The games also explored more mature and complex themes, such as loss, sacrifice, and identity.
The Impact of Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider franchise has had a tremendous impact on the gaming industry over the years. It has inspired countless imitators and competitors, and its influence can be seen in numerous other adventure and action games. The franchise has also played an important role in the representation of women in video games, as Lara Croft was one of the first female protagonists in a major game franchise. The franchise paved the way for more diverse and inclusive games, with female protagonists becoming more common across the industry.
Conclusion
The Tomb Raider franchise has had a long and storied history, filled with memorable moments and iconic characters. From Lara Croft’s first adventure in 1996 to the latest installment in 2018, the franchise has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible in adventure video games. The franchise’s impact on the gaming industry cannot be overstated, and its legacy will continue to influence games and gamers for years to come.