Why I Love the “Tomb Raider” Franchise

The first Tomb Raider game came out in 1996. I was only four years old and definitely not into video games yet. But by the time I was ten, I was definitely starting to get into them and got my first PlayStation. And there were a lot of Tomb Raider games to catch up on at that point. And I have loved all of the PlayStation games since. Keep reading for why I love the Tomb Raider franchise!

Fierce Female

Being ten and having the ability to play a game where the lead is a seriously kick ass female was a big deal. Most of the games I was playing were definitely dominated by males. And sure, Lara’s figure was clearly crafted a little more toward the fantasy idea back then. But when I was younger all I was focused on was this fierce warrior taking on the world. Lara Croft is smart, capable, fearless, and a bit too curious for her own good. But aren’t we all at times?

Image via Eidos Interactive

As each game went on and I got to learn more about who she was as a character and how she came to be, she became more and more of an idol for me. Did I ever plan on going to faraway places in search of artifacts? Well, no, because that shit is a bit too scary for my taste. I watched Indiana Jones growing up. Some things are just not meant to be touched. But I am always more than willing to escape into Lara’s world and join her for the next adventure she’s on. What I mean by Lara being an idol for me is that she made me want to do my best to learn a little bit about as many topics as possible. To take more chances and be a little more adventurous. Plus Lara’s snarky responses are A+ and I’m a sucker for sarcasm.

So Much Evolution

Lara Croft has come such a long way since her character was first introduced. We’ve seen plenty of adaptations like the Angelina Jolie led movies and, more recently, the Alicia Vikander led adaptation. And while they have all received both positive and negative reviews over the years, I freaking love them all. I’ve watched them all numerous times to the point where I can definitely recite the lines along with Angelina and Alicia. But the movies aren’t the only Lara Croft projects that have received some flack.

Some of the games seem to be very disliked by a lot of people. While there are some things I would change within just about every game, overall, I love them! At least on PlayStation or PC. There were a few games thrown in there like the mobile game and such that I wasn’t as much of a fan of. But if it was on PlayStation or my computer, I was hooked. Though I certainly do have a few favorites.

My Favorites

The one I’ve played the most and probably always will is definitely Tomb Raider Underworld. That one just gets me every time. The scenery, the outfits, the story. Just writing about it is making me want to go play it again. It had me hooked from the moment it began to the very end. I’ve never finished a game in one sitting the way I did with this one. I’m certainly not what you would call a professional gamer by any standard. My title would absolutely be casual. I work a lot and definitely don’t have the time to be more than a casual gamer. My skills are also probably lacking in comparison to many. I truly simply play to have a good time. And Tomb Raider Underworld gives that to me EVERY TIME.

Image via Eidos Interactive

Another one of my favorites is Tomb Raider The Angel of Darkness. I know, I know. This one had a ton of bugs and the way the camera worked was, well, the camera really didn’t work. But I absolutely loved the story and the music was just incredible. The word haunting definitely comes to mind. This is also one of the Tomb Raider games I actually prefer to play on PC. Anyone know if we’ve gotten a remaster version of this one? Because I’m definitely going to go look into that.

Lara Lives On

The new games are impressive beyond words, of course. Graphics have come a long way over the years and Tomb Raider has shown that time and time again. I honestly can’t wait to see what they come up with for her next. In my opinion, I don’t see why the story of Lara Croft would ever have to end. I’m sure there are many out there who think Lara’s story should have ended a long time ago but I will never be one of them. I’ll never get sick of seeing versions of her on my screen. Whether it’s in a game, a movie, or even a show. Because a Lara Croft television show would be pretty bad ass.

There is another Tomb Raider movie in the works with Alicia once again taking on the role and I’m sure there are more video games on the way. But a rumor was also released not too long ago that states we may have a bundle coming our way so we can enjoy all of the classic Tomb Raider games. But we’ll have to wait and see if it’s actually true. Do you love Lara Croft? Which game has been your favorite? Do you enjoy the Tomb Raider movies? Who do you think plays the best Lara? Find and follow us on Twitter @capeandcastle to let us know your thoughts! And be sure to check out our site for more articles on all things Disney and beyond!