2013’s reboot of Tomb Raider wasn’t just thrilling and lengthy experience that gave Lara Croft a true origin story. It was also a game where the legendary explorer was stripped back down to basics, in a journey that was sometimes painful to watch and take control of.
A more human Lara Croft made for a more relatable character and some well-deserved critical acclaim, and an instant deal for a sequel of course. And that’s the kind of character that fans can expect more of, as Lara matures into her role as the titular Tomb Raider, a position that includes carrying around the damage of her first foray into unknown territory.
“They [Crystal Dynamics] just treat her like a person, she’s just capable, she’s just a person,” Nerdist News host Jessica Chobot said at the San Diego Comic Con via GR, describing how Lara would advance not only her skills, but her personality as well. If she survived that is.
A great example of that is the death scenes.If Lara got hurt, that’s how she’d get hurt … they let her experience that kind of demise, because that’s how a person would experience that demise.
According to game writer Rhianna Pratchett, developing Lara meant having to take a firm approach. “You kind of have to take a stand, really, about your creative vision and make sure that it’s honest and true and does what you set out to do,” Pratchett said, explaining how one scene had to be rewritten 47 times before the writing team was happy.
According to Pratchett, Lara will be “rewound”, and have to confront the trauma of her past before she becomes the Tomb Raider of legend. “She’s capable and we’re showing that,” Pratchett said.
Lara Croft’s actress, Camilla Luddington also chimed in, revealing how a early table read of the script helped the crew collaborate on building a better Lara Croft and a more emotional connection. “We did a table read and that was something we didn’t do in the first game,” Luddington said.
I think it helped us a lot and it ended up being very collaborative. I feel like there’s a darkness to [Lara], a heaviness to her at the beginning of this game.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is out on Xbox One on November 10. And I’ll probably feel even more terrible than usual when I accidentally have her offed in horrible ways.
Last Updated: July 13, 2015
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 12:01
Yeah, I fell in love with the 2013 character, much more believable
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 12:22
All those open wounds while wadding in stagnant muck. I still cringe.
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 13:58
And yet, she did not die from some horrible infection…
HairyEwok
July 13, 2015 at 12:28
She also doesn’t have triangular boobs anymore…. BONUS!
DragonSpirit009
July 13, 2015 at 12:10
Totally loved the reboot in 2013. I felt more connected with the character and whenever she accidentally died I felt horrible. In the old games when she died I was more like a ‘Oh well, lets do that again’ where in the reboot I actually tried my best not to get her hurt in anyway… Failed a couple times of course. Can’t wait for the release of this game!
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 13:38
Always sounded like she was well on her way to climax before she died. #90skidproblems.
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 13:38
Always sounded like she was well on her way to climax before she died. #90skidproblems.
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 12:11
And no PS4????
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 12:21
Depends on the XBone sales figures and reviews.
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 13:41
I doubt that. MS basically funded this whole project like Ninty did for Bayonetta 2. PS4 owners wont see this game FOR A LONG TIME.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 12:19
Don’t care. I invested in a PS4. I sold the PS4 re-boot the day after they announced the SEQUEL as an exclusive.
Uncharted Trilogy for the win.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 13, 2015 at 12:27
Remember that it was a “failure” because it only sold 3.4 mil copies in a month, on all its platforms combined. Now they’re releasing on one – MS must’ve ponied up a lot of cash.
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 13:47
I think thats BS… 3.4 mil copies for a new rebooted IP IS AMAZING! I think they knew they didnt have any other games that year to please shareholders and placed all their hopes on TR, hoping it will close the void where their other games in 2013 didnt.
Calling TR a failure is LAUGHABLE!
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 14:07
LoL. With the way the Xbone is selling? This one might just be…
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 14:36
No doubt there. Guess I’ll be one of the few people on this site bragging I played Tomb Raider on Xbox One LOL
Nikola
July 13, 2015 at 12:38
Agree with you 100% will never get this even if they do released it for PS4 later:(
Michelle
July 13, 2015 at 12:21
Well the realism in her demise in the game was quite graphic but I still enjoyed the game very much.
Really looking forward to the next installment 🙂
Nikola
July 13, 2015 at 12:37
Absolutely amazing game the original definitely made me fall in love with Lara Croft again, however this whole exclusive thing for Xbox really left a bad taste in my mouth and I shall not be picking this up ever just out of principle!
Pariah
July 13, 2015 at 12:48
She came. She Saw I. And Saw II. And Saw III.
TerrenceACaraballo
July 13, 2015 at 12:54
bvbv
WitWolfy
July 13, 2015 at 13:35
10th November.. My Xbox One is ready!
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 13:49
Enjoyed the first game very much.
Jonah Cash
July 13, 2015 at 17:25
I am not reading anything related to this game until I know when I can play it.
Anthony Smith updates@smrdh.co
July 14, 2015 at 10:05
Maybe all Lara has to do is to just need to loosen up and change her previous outfit for a more ‘cooling’ style for her, she could then relax her mind and her heart and continue her next archaeology expedition.