If there is one title that redefined platform games, it is undoubtedly Tomb Raider. A franchise with more than twenty years of history, including multiple titles adapted to different platforms that offer entertaining and challenging story and gameplay. So we take this opportunity to review the evolution of Tomb Raider, highlighting Lara Croft's best adventures through time.
It all began in 1996 with the release of Tomb Raider for Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and MS-DOS. This 3D action-adventure platform game developed by Core Design follows the adventures of Lara Croft, a British archaeologist searching for treasures and relics of the ancient world in the purest Indiana Jones style.
The Evolution of Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider
The story begins when she accepts a job proposed by Natla Technologies, a multinational company interested in discovering the Scion, a mysterious artifact created in Atlantis and divided into three parts. Armed with a pair of pistols, Lara must traverse unsettling levels around the world, overcoming hundreds of dangers that form the core of the action: enemies that want to kill her (both human and animal), puzzles to solve, and environmental traps.
Tomb Raider II
The game was a success and PC users could enjoy an expansion. The following year, the sequel, Tomb Raider II (1997), was released for PC and PlayStation again. Now Lara embarks on a quest for the Dagger of Xian, a ritual artifact from ancient China that gives the strength of a dragon to whoever plunges it into their heart. This time, the protagonist has new weapons, additional moves, costume changes, a set of vehicles (a snowmobile and a boat), and more expansive levels. Again, this sequel received approval from the public and the press in general. And again, PC users could extend the adventure with another expansion.
Tomb Raider III
In November 1998, Tomb Raider III arrived, which Eidos Interactive released for PlayStation and Windows. A meteorite has fallen into the depths of the ocean in the distant past, distilling a substance capable of altering genes. In the present, Lara Croft embarks on a mission to recover four pieces of the meteorite scattered around the world. This third installment adds more complex levels and puzzles, new weapons, moves, vehicles, and the ability to travel in any order, along with graphical effects that included more dynamic lighting, better textures, and water ripples. And thanks to sales success and good reviews, the game received an expansion for PC users. Of all the Tomb Raider games, this third part was for many the best.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
In November 1999, exactly one year after Tomb Raider III, and as had become customary, a new game was released for PlayStation, Windows, and Dreamcast. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation begins in the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where a young Lara of just 16 learns to move with the help of a friend of her father, Werner Von Croy, replacing the usual training level in the Croft mansion. The story is one of the most unsettling for fans due to the abrupt ending, involving the archaeologist and the spirit of the Egyptian god Seth. In terms of gameplay, besides the new set of weapons, moves, and enemies, you can now combine items in the inventory and shoot some weapons in first person. This installment was focused on adventure and exploration, leaving action in the background, returning to the roots of the original game.
Tomb Raider (GBC)
Putting aside PC and consoles, in June 2000 Tomb Raider was released for Game Boy Color. This installment became one of the best action adventures for Nintendo's small handheld console. Fourteen excellent, colorful levels with many secrets and mystery, where Lara must stop a group of treasure hunters who possess the Nightmare Stone, a key capable of releasing the evil Aztec god Quaxet. Despite the limitations of the handheld, this game achieved notable fluidity in character movement, preserving the adventurous spirit characteristic of the franchise.
Tomb Raider Chronicles
In November of the same year, Tomb Raider Chronicles was released for PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Windows. This game continues where The Last Revelation ended, where Lara is presumably dead or missing. In fact, this adventure is played through the recollections that Lara's mourners have, gathered around a fire in the Croft Mansion. The novelty included a couple of new abilities, such as walking on a rope or sneaking up on enemies and knocking them unconscious with a blow; there is even a level where you play as the protagonist as a child on an island where strange paranormal events occur. In terms of story, the fate of the archaeologist remains up in the air. In contrast, PC users were able to enjoy a level editor for the first time.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3dWPaAAuZc8Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword
Between 2001 and 2002, two games of the franchise were released for Nintendo's handhelds. The first was Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (2001) for Game Boy Color, a sequel to the Tomb Raider released in 2000 for the same platform. This time Lara is cut by a cursed sword that turns her into the ideal vessel to bring back Madame Paveau, a diabolical sorceress who bound her spirit to the steel blade before dying. This installment made the most of the Game Boy Color.
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy
The following year, Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002) was released for Game Boy Advance, where the archaeologist must find three magical stones before a cult known as the Teg-du-Bhorez can gather them and use them to revive a mystical being known as the Great Grey One, thus achieving the end of the world. Unlike the previous two handheld titles, which are played in 2D side-scrolling, The Prophecy uses an isometric view. Unfortunately, the gameplay becomes repetitive after a while, like activating a switch to open a door at the other end of the stage.
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
The dark point of the franchise is Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, released in 2003 for Windows and PlayStation 2. The story is a continuation of the events of The Last Revelation and Chronicles, where Lara Croft was supposed to be dead. However, the archaeologist will have to clear her name as she is the main suspect in the murder of her former mentor, Werner Von Croy, while investigating the activities of a black magic cult. The gameplay incorporates RPG elements where Lara's attributes can be increased, as well as talking to different characters and choosing from several responses that can directly affect progress throughout the story. There is also a second playable character, Kurtis Trent, who has action-oriented sections. The game would have been worthwhile if it hadn't been rushed, containing several bugs and a deficient control system. This was the last title in the franchise developed by Core Design.
Tomb Raider: Legend
Fortunately, things improved in 2006 with the release of Tomb Raider: Legend for Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and mobile devices. Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Legend is the first reboot of the franchise where Lara Croft has a new, much more realistic design, leaving behind the square figure of Core Design. The story follows the archaeologist's adventures around the world as she searches for the mythical sword Excalibur. The gameplay was also polished while maintaining the essence of the original titles; among the novelties are quick time events, where you have to press the buttons you see on screen, and the use of a magnetic grapple to reach new places or drag objects.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
And on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the release of the first Lara game, Eidos released a remake of it in 2007 for Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and mobile devices. Tomb Raider: Anniversary uses the same graphics engine as Legend and some of its mechanics such as quick time events. The story is still the same, with Lara searching for the Scion across several levels. Undoubtedly, this is an excellent remake for fans of the franchise.
Tomb Raider: Underworld
The end of the trilogy came in 2008 with Tomb Raider: Underworld. Released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows, this sequel continues the story from where Legend ended, and delves into themes that were left unexplained in Tomb Raider: Anniversary, with Lara traveling to the underworld to recover the artifacts of the Norse god Thor. There is not much to highlight in terms of gameplay, which remains the same as in Legend; only a combat system and the ability to shoot at two different targets at the same time were added.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
As a spin-off, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was released in 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and iOS. This game has a strong emphasis on cooperative mode where you can play as Lara Croft or a 2,000-year-old Maya warrior named Totec. Both must work together to stop the evil spirit of Xolotl and recover the Mirror of Smoke. The gameplay marks a substantial change from previous games, being more action-oriented. It features an isometric view, where each character has unique weapons and abilities to overcome different obstacles.
Tomb Raider (2013)
In 2013 came the second reboot of the franchise, simply titled Tomb Raider. Released for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, this time you control a younger, more inexperienced Lara who finds herself on Yamatai Island where she must save her friends and escape while being pursued by a malevolent cult. The gameplay focuses more on survival, incorporating RPG elements as the character gains experience to improve her skills. There are also side quests and the ability to upgrade weapons. This installment features an online multiplayer mode to compete against multiple players on different maps.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
Returning to spin-offs, in 2014 Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. This sequel to Guardian of Light follows the story of Lara and Carter Bell, a treasure hunter, who must join forces with the gods Isis and Horus to defeat the evil deity Set. The focus is on its cooperative component, where up to four players can take control of one of four characters (Lara, Carter, Isis, or Horus). As expected, each character has unique weapons and abilities that will help them face enemies and solve the puzzles of each scenario.
Lara Croft: Relic Run
Mobile devices also had the presence of the beautiful archaeologist. In 2015, two games were released: the first was Lara Croft: Relic Run, developed by Simutronics, an endless runner with gameplay very similar to Temple Run.
Lara Croft Go
The second title is Lara Croft Go, developed by Square Enix Montreal, which follows in the footsteps of Hitman Go. It is a turn-based adventure and puzzle game where you move Lara as if she were a piece on a game board. Your mission is to recover a series of precious relics while avoiding the obstacles of each level, finally facing the Queen of Venom.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Due to the success of the Tomb Raider (2013) reboot, the release of a sequel was inevitable. Rise of the Tomb Raider was released in 2015 first for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, and the following year on Windows and PlayStation 4. After the events on Yamatai Island, Lara has more experience and self-confidence and ventures to Siberia to find the legendary city of Kitezh while fighting the paramilitary organization Trinity. The gameplay is similar to its predecessor, with new enemies (human and animal) and the ability to craft different types of ammunition.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
And the last game is the long-awaited Shadow of the Tomb Raider, sequel to Rise of the Tomb Raider, which begins with Lara on an expedition to Latin America in search of a Mayan relic that has a connection to her deceased father. Again, the archaeologist will have to face the Trinity organization, which seeks the relic to reshape the world in its own way. The action takes place in the hidden city of Paititi, where a new bartering system will debut that allows players to exchange resources, recover parts, and weapons. As for the rest of the gameplay, it will continue to maintain the same mechanics applied in the previous two games. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is being developed by Eidos Montréal and will be available on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One starting September 14, 2018.
