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[Emperor_Uriel]

I've never seen her have interest in a guy beyond murdering them, so my main concern isn't how attractive or relatable she is.

At least Drake has some interesting relationships with his friends/lovers/cohorts.

 

[semiconscious]

"The first thing we talked about was how do we think about Lara differently?" said Briggs. "We wanted to rebuild her as one of the most believable women in video games." They rebooted the character, making the game an origin story. This version of Lara had her voice involuntarily tremble when she was forced to kill. You felt her agony as she reached inside herself for the courage to save her kidnapped friend...

please... enough...

character-wise, original 'ass-kicking bitch' lara was just sooo much more fun to play as than this whimper'n'moan one. ..

 

[D i Z]

Massive amounts of revisionist history in that article. Lara was truly iconic back in the original games. Not so much now. She's several tiers below her former iconic status.
And the emotionally relatable bit. Who exactly is relating to someone who was absolutely traumatized in the first game, and is now going out looking for more of what did her head in in the first place? As the star of epic adventure games & being a Running Man junkie she's great. Emotionally relatable? Get outta here with that.

 

[thumb]

The responses in this thread are really negative about the way Lara was portrayed as a character in the 2013 reboot, though I'm confused as to why. The game doesn't have a great story or anything, but nothing about her stood out to me as noticeably bad compared to other AAA video game characters and narratives. Honestly I found her and the story in general to be slightly above average.

Agreed. I'm surprised by the same responses as well. I enjoyed Camilla's voice performance a great deal , and had a good time with Tomb Raider 2013.

 

[JNT]

Wasn't she an icon before the new games as well though?

 

[SpaceWolf]

I'd argue Faith Connors is more of an icon than 2013 Lara.

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

Never played the old TR games. Whatever, though, because the new ones are great. I don't really play games for the amazing characterization or anything. For that, I have books.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Typical, a woman has to be saved

 

[SolidSnakex]

Wasn't she an icon before the new games as well though?

She was a much bigger icon before the current games. U2 contacted Core at one point to make a special Lara animation for them to run during their PopMart tour. She was also appearing on the covers of non-gaming related magazines.

 

[Head.spawn]

Wasn't she an icon before the new games as well though?

Yeah, it says that in the article.

I think a lot of people are too focused on the title of the article. I mean, after the introduction paragraphs, the first title of the section of the meat of the article is "Updating an icon".

 

[toastyToast]

Did you guys read the article?

Did I play the same TR2013 that they're trying to paint a picture of. Evidently not.

The new Tomb Raider universe doesn’t just take pains to write women better. The reboot was notable for its cast of remarkably diverse characters. In an industry where black characters are all too often relegated to stereotypes, Reyes was an amazingly nuanced character. "We wanted to reflect the way the world really is," said Suey.

They're really patting themselves on the back for that lame ass stereotypical cast. This article is bonkers

 

[Nishastra]

Yeah, it says that in the article.

I think a lot of people are too focused on the title of the article. I mean, after the introduction paragraphs, the first title of the section of the meat of the article is "Updating an icon".

I don't like giving clicks to clickbait.

 

[grandwizard]

Legend trilogy still the best Lara by far. RIP badass Lara.

Just like the original design was sexed up to match the gaming audience, the new design of weak crying constantly vulnerable Lara was too. It's the new hot trend of male power fantasies in gaming to be the strong man leading the vulnerable female through danger like in Bioshock Infinite or The Last of Us. Crystal Dynamics just chased that trend except put the player not in the role of Lara, but in an outside entity that leads her by the hand and would 'want to protect her'. It's still gross just in a different way.

Personally I always prefer badass, capable and adventurous Lara who didn't need an origin story of almost being raped and traumatized to explain away her badassness. She was just awesome because she was.

Also Rihanna Prachett has a bad track record in games. TR2013's cast was a who's who of racial stereotypes and shouldn't be put on any pedestal for good representation and diversity in games. Lara has three different men die to save her in that game. THREE.

 

[thumb]

They're really patting themselves on the back for that lame ass stereotypical cast. This article is bonkers

I liked TR 2013, but I agree with this criticism. White computer nerd, angry black woman, and spiritual native guy were walking stereotypes.

 

[HK-47]

wat

Have they played TR 2013? Girl goes from scared and confused (and relatable) to butcher of armies in no time at all.

 

[TatteredHat]

The reboot pretty much killed Tomb Raider as a franchise even if the Lara redesign was better, and even that is debatable.

 

[Theorry]

Weird article. Back in the day Lara was a icon all the way. They even made movies. And she was a sex symbol also. Like in the old skool video game sex symbol way. Big boobies etc. Now she is more a character with some personality wich is demanded more nowadays. I guess that "saved" Lara.

 

[Mr. Giggles]

wat

I know right?

Lol, polygon.

 

[Auto-Reply]

Lara Croft was an icon around 15 years ago, the brand will never be as big and popular as it was then!

 

[Elginer]

wat

They must be joking. THEY MUST BE.

 

[Scientist Supreme!]

wat

Opinions and all but nope.
lol

Edit: old Lara was a way better character.

 

[The Artisan]

Wait till aloy gets on the scene

 

[Curufinwe]

Brianna Wu's views on the quality of the story and the characters in the new Tomb Raider are completely ridiculous. This is just the latest example; it's not new, or a Polygon thing.

https://medium.com/the-magazine/goty-2013-badass-girls-need-not-apply-1b56d8c8a1fb

 

[kadotsu]

This is the currently most well known model of Lara Croft. While I think that the outfit is ridiculous, the colors make it more easily recognisable than the RoTR model.

 

[Dawg]

It's an opinion piece by Brianna Wu, so "lol polygon" is not *really* justified here.

 

[Stumpokapow]

1) She was pretty iconic to begin with--I think people who think about the dark days of the PS2-early 360 era forget just what a phenomenon the series and the character was in the 90s, and not just because of boob. Hence stuff like this

2) I really think just about everyone who talks about the pathos and deep emotional core of TR2013 is overplaying bigtime. I think as we look back on the "moral dilemma" of how Lara "had to kill for the first time", it'll be considered as flimsy as BioShock 1's harvest/spare dilemma or inFamous 1's morality system. Even TLOU covers the same material better and I don't think they did a particularly good job of it either. If you want people to feel a moral impact from choosing to kill, you can't design a game that requires you to kill hundreds (thousands?) of people subsequently and then put in a throwaway line about how "wow killing became easy".

 

[Finale Fireworker]

New Lara Croft is basically a miracle. She's one of my favorite characters in the medium and serves as a go-to example of how to write better women.

Her story itself could have been stronger. But having room to improve doesn't mean it was a failure.

New Lara Croft also got several women I know who never played video games to start playing video games, which is pretty incredible if you ask me.

 

[CHC]

Honesty I miss sexy Lara, she was a unique character.

The new one is very... annoying. Not because she seems like a real woman but because I really have an unusual disdain for gameplay that involves getting egregiously injured and then hobbling / limping / grunting / crawling around in pain. It's not fun and it doesn't make me empathize with the character. She also lacks any personality aside from "reluctantly heroic." Bland.

The only character that fills the void of old Lara is Bayonetta. Sexy, confident, always knows what to do and what to say - yet not insultingly objectified. It's hard to pull off.

They could have made her look however they wanted, but doing away with any kind quips and sharp witted personality is just throwing the baby out with the bath water.

 

[inky]

wat

.

Have they played TR 2013? Girl goes from scared and confused (and relatable) to butcher of armies in no time at all.

The most important thing to note is how the dialogue reflects this as well, so it's not your typical characterization--gameplay disconnect.

She actually has a hilarious line in the game, which is almost exactly this line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXpCA_2TxKE

It's kinda fitting how in both instances the writers were more interested in blurting out an action revenge movie cliche line, ignoring that it completely butchers the character in the process. I must say I laughed my ass off when I heard her shout it.

 

[J_Viper]

Really enjoyed Tomb Raider, but that was in spite of any characterisation. Lara could have been anyone.

I hope that's improved for Rise of, but I doubt it while Camilla Luddington is involved. She's a terrible actor.

From what I've played of Rise, she's been giving the only decent performance in the game, which says A LOT. Still a great game though.

 

[Zabuza]

wat

Jfc

 

[watership]

wat

Almost all the reviews of the new game praise the way Lara is portrayed. A marked improvement over the last game.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

Haven't played the newest one, but she was boring and incredibly dull in the remastered PS4 game. Absolute shit story and characters including Lara, everything else was fantastic in the TR game though. Curious to see what they do with her in this game.

 

[thumb]

Just like the original design was sexed up to match the gaming audience, the new design of weak crying constantly vulnerable Lara was too. It's the new hot trend of male power fantasies in gaming to be the strong man leading the vulnerable female through danger like in Bioshock Infinite or The Last of Us. Crystal Dynamics just chased that trend except put the player not in the role of Lara, but in an outside entity that leads her by the hand a

Personally I always prefer badass, capable and adventurous Lara who didn't need an origin story of almost being raped and traumatized to explain away her badassness. She was just awesome because she was.

Also Rihanna Prachett has a bad track record in games. TR2013's cast was a who's who of racial stereotypes and shouldn't be put on any pedestal for good representation and diversity in games. Lara has three different men die to save her in that game. THREE.

I disagree with some of your points. Lara discovers her strength early in the game. In an overlooked moment, after she first kills someone, she says (paraphrasing) "it's surprising how easy it was". She makes it sound like she has discovered new found strength. She is believably troubled by the insanity surrounding her, but constantly summons the will to save (or try to save) multiple people, all on her own. I just can't see that as "weak crying vulnerable". More like "human but heroic".

 

[Zojirushi]

Holy shit the hate for both Polygon and CD's Lara Croft is real on GAF...

 

[FranXico]

Lara became one of the best-written, emotionally relatable women in gaming history.

wat

That comment toastyToast quoted reveals complete ignorance about both Tomb Raider and story driven games in general. I don't know what else to say.

 

[NullPointer]

She's sexier than she's ever been, and some of the biggest changes in the reboot are in how many people she kills, and how gruesome some of those kills can be, and how beaten up and bloody they can show her, so I'm not ready to throw laurels their way for making her emotionally resonant.

But the new game has a much better balance of exploration and combat, riskier platforming, and a better portrayal of her drive and mental state, at least from what I've played, and enjoyed, of it.

 

[Guymelef]

Polygon...

 

[FranXico]

1) She was pretty iconic to begin with--I think people who think about the dark days of the PS2-early 360 era forget just what a phenomenon the series and the character was in the 90s, and not just because of boob. Hence stuff like this

2) I really think just about everyone who talks about the pathos and deep emotional core of TR2013 is overplaying bigtime. I think as we look back on the "moral dilemma" of how Lara "had to kill for the first time", it'll be considered as flimsy as BioShock 1's harvest/spare dilemma or inFamous 1's morality system. Even TLOU covers the same material better and I don't think they did a particularly good job of it either. If you want people to feel a moral impact from choosing to kill, you can't design a game that requires you to kill hundreds (thousands?) of people subsequently and then put in a throwaway line about how "wow killing became easy".

1000% agreed.

 

[Mr. Giggles]

Holy shit the hate for both Polygon and CD's Lara Croft is real on GAF...

Polygon yes.

CD lara croft no

 

[Garlador]

There's some revisionist history going on here.

I can pull out my "Guinness Book of World Records" 98 edition and Lara Croft was listed as the most recognizable female game icon in the world. She was getting those awards for years.

She was an icon then. She's just a different sort of icon now.

 

[Chinner]

from one dimensional to two dimensional character.

 

[Scientist Supreme!]

I disagree with some of your points. Lara discovers her strength early in the game. In an overlooked moment, after she first kills someone, she says (paraphrasing) "it's surprising how easy it was". She makes it sound like she has discovered new found strength. She is believably troubled by the insanity surrounding her, but constantly summons the will save (or try to save) multiple people, all on her own. I just can't see that as "weak crying vulnerable". More like "human but heroic".

I'm not Doctor or anything but that's something a psychotic person would say. Like a serial killer.

 

[tuxfool]

I don't mind Luddington's portrayal of Lara Croft, it works for what they are going for, but CD is giving themselves waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much credit here. Original Lara was cool and pragmatic, and a lot of people liked her too.

Alas, they have stated goals. Alas it is Brianna Wu that is jumping the gun with gun with that description.

This has echoes of that article Danielle Riendau wrote about Amanda Ripley. But I'd definitely credit Danielle with a far more down to earth outlook.

 

[Nazo]

"Saved" is a strong word...

 

[UnemployedVillain]

If you want people to feel a moral impact from choosing to kill, you can't design a game that requires you to kill hundreds (thousands?) of people subsequently and then put in a throwaway line about how "wow killing became easy".

The irony is that in the old games you didn't really have to kill many people to get through it. It very much was possible for CD to make a game with challenge and danger, yet minimize the amount of game-y killing (and make each one a challenge and significant) but they fell into the same ludonarrative dissonance trap of making violence meaningful narrative-wise, but trivializing it gameplay-wise

 

[lazygecko]

The sex appeal marketing really did such a disservice to the franchise in the long run. It's all people seem to remember about the old games, to the point where there seems to be this notion that they were just shallow action games with no substance to them. Which couldn't be further from the truth.

There is no real modern equivalent for the classic Tomb Raider format and that makes me sad.

 

[thumb]

I'm not Doctor or anything but that's something a psychotic person would say. Like a serial killer.

Or a soldier? Someone who might be faced with killing lots of people to save their skin? People respond to it differently. There are those who are less troubled by it, and they are not all psychotic.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

She was an icon then. She's just a different sort of icon now.

I definitely wish more people realized this. Because as popular as Lara was, her characterization aged poorly, and so did some of her seminal games.

New Lara caters to a new era of characterization and is much more popular as a result. People are/weary of smirking badasses. It's not strong characterization, male or female.

New Lara appeals to people because of how it humanizes her. Just like new Master Chief appeals to people because of how Halo 4 humanizes him.

GAF has a lot of old gamers who have experienced the "original" versions of a lot of things, and we tend to talk directly to each other and reinforce our own ideas.

But TR2013 was not a runaway success because it was a bad game that ruined an icon. Certainly people must realize that.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

She use to be a superhero, now she's an action movie character.