The Tomb Raider 2013 reboot trilogy by Crystal Dynamics was a statement of intent – a shot aimed directly at Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series. Whilst Lara Croft was hibernating, Naughty Dog may have had free reign to set a new standard for creating cinematic action-adventure narratives, but maybe true legends like Lara will always endure?
Crystal Dynamics reboot made the smart decision to present us with a pre-iconic Lara Croft. This was a Lara without her signature dual pistols and rock-solid confidence. Lara began her journey in Tomb Raider 2013 as a young archaeology student on an expedition to find the ancient kingdom of Yamatai and uncover evidence of its supposedly immortal queen, Himiko.
Lara’s narrative arc was tough and put her through the ringer but travelling along with her, we experienced her growth, and came to understand the origins of her grit and her determination to survive. We also see her selflessness to save other people. In the earlier Tomb Raiders Lara has no qualms dispatching henchmen, T.rexes and even dragons. In the reboot, we see her first kill and witness the trauma it inflicts. There are multiple layers to this trauma: she first had to watch her mentor Roth die and then had to protect her friend Sam from becoming a sacrifice. Awful as they are, these events were the catalyst that unlocked the potential for Lara to flourish and grow into the Tomb Raider we all know and love.
Tomb Raider 2013 ends with Lara reflecting on the number of unsolved mysteries in the world and thinking back to her father Lord Richard Croft, who had believed so adamantly that many of these mysteries had a basis in truth and could be brought to the light. Emboldened by this first adventure, gruelling as it has been, Lara decides to try and find the truth about her own life and the mysteries that consumed her father.
Rise of the Tomb Raider & Shadow of the Tomb Raider complete the reboot trilogy. They also dive deep into this personal mystery that has overshadowed Lara. In this series, Lara’s really searching for an understanding of herself. The narrative continues to explore the power – the power to shape and influence – of family, and of legacy.