Best Iterations Of Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft

Video game history has not been fair to Lara Croft. The titular Tomb Raider is one of the most important characters in the medium, yet her legacy has not been given coverage on par with the Marios and Master Chiefs of gaming. While maintaining a dedicated and passionate fanbase, Lara no longer enjoys the mainstream popularity she once had.

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There are various factors to blame for this, notably the commercial failure of Angel of Darkness and the character’s overexposure in early-2000s media. Yet this heroine has managed to persevere and reinvent herself consistently. Here is every incarnation of Lara, ranked.

6

Netflix Lara

Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft

As with many adaptations of video games, the Tomb Raider series on Netflix has the pitfall of not being faithful enough to the source material. The Lara Croft of the Netflix adaptation is, in essence, a character made to bridge the timeline between the Survivor trilogy and the classic Tomb Raider games.

As any dedicated Tomb Raider fan knows, this iteration of Lara is a living, breathing retcon. There cannot be a bridge between the classic series and the Survivor trilogy because it completely clashes with Lara’s characterization in Tomb Raider 4 and 5. The series tries to make Tomb Raider lore where there is none, and this iteration of Lara lacks the humor and wit of her previous incarnations.

5

Survivor Lara

Tomb Raider, Rise Of The Tomb Raider, Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

After Tomb Raider: Underworld concluded the story for its version of Lara, the only way forward for Crystal Dynamics was to reboot the series. The studio did so with a game named after the original, and it was a commercial triumph. Fans and critics were enamored with the newer, inexperienced Lara, whose survival leaned on her crafting skills and stealth.

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The first title in the trilogy had a superb version of Lara, but as the trilogy wore on, it became readily apparent that her characterization would not be furthered. Rather, the sequels felt like the same story set in different countries. Lara’s character development would be reset completely at the start of each adventure to allow her to undergo the cycle of rebirth again.

4

Young Lara

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles

Though she only makes two appearances in the series, young Lara is a memorable version of the character in the classic series. Mentored by Werner Von Croy, this teenage take on the character is as sharp-witted as her older counterpart.

Young Lara can’t use weapons, but she is adept at parkour and squeezing through narrow gaps. She also has a surprising degree of wisdom for her age, going against her mentor when she feels he is being disrespectful to the sites they explore. Then again, she also slips away from home to explore areas that pique her curiosity, much to her butler’s chagrin.

3

Angelina Jolie Lara

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle Of Life

At the height of her fame in the early 2000s, Lara Croft received two film adaptations starring Angelina Jolie. The first one was a massive success and made the actor a household name. Angelina Jolie was born to play Lara: her physical resemblance to the character was uncanny.

However, her success in the role went past just surface similarities. Angelina Jolie perfectly brought the mannerisms and intelligence of the polygonal heroine to a live-action setting. While the stories of the two movies are fairly incoherent, Angelina Jolie’s interpretation of the character is exemplary.

2

Legend Lara

Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Underworld

Few comebacks in video games have been as strong and successful as Tomb Raider: Legend. After the commercial disappointment of Angel of Darkness, Lara needed to rise from the ashes in a big way. Her new design team at Crystal Dynamics rose to the occasion with a reimagined version of the character that was less brash and more realistic, but still retained all the elements that made her the definitive explorer.

This incarnation of Lara underwent the most character development, from searching for her mother, to redeeming her father, and coming to terms with her hunger for adventure. Her rivalry with Natla and Amanda, and her warmer side towards her friends and staff, makes this version of Lara the most fleshed-out one.

1

Classic Lara

Tomb Raider 1-6

When you say the name Lara Croft, this is the version of the character everyone thinks of. Over two decades have passed since her last mainline game, but Classic Lara is unforgettable. Everything about this character is iconic, from her outfit to her dual pistols. This is the character design jackpot that development studios dream of coming up with.

Classic Lara was everywhere in the late ’90s and early 2000s. She transcended the medium of video games to become a cultural icon. At the height of the Cool Britannia movement, this English explorer was second only to Oasis in appeal. She wasn’t an avatar or a convenient vehicle for gameplay: she was her own woman, with personality and motivations. The mascot with the most explosive popularity wasn’t Mario or Sonic or Pac-Man: it was classic Lara. And though her glory days are long past, she remains in high demand, prompting remasters of the classic adventures from Aspyr.

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