“Survivor Lara didn’t become Tomb Raider”. I’ve seen this said so many times and it has always baffled me; “what does that mean?” I’d ask myself. Not a tomb raider? What has Lara been doing these past three games then? I really began to question what I’d been playing compared to others. And then I began to question what a Tomb Raider was in Lara’s world. My understanding is that the origin trilogy had been about addressing that very question.
Because playing the games is enough to see that Survivor-Lara did indeed become [a/the] Tomb Raider. Just perhaps not in the way we thought would happen. I would like to explore why I think that is. Why, though she appears at first glance to be very different from previous iterations of the well-loved character, Survivor Lara very much fits the role, and understands the assignment of Tomb Raider.
We all know Lara Croft. She’s the enigmatic protagonist of the Tomb Raider franchise spanning 26 years and many mediums, such as games, novels, comics and films. She’s the iconic character who is best known for her most recognisable classic iconography, complete with a bold, sassy attitude. When the world was introduced to her, she was on the top of her game, a veteran, if you will, Tomb Raider. Many see Lara and “Tomb Raider” as pretty much synonymous, the one and the same. This makes perfect sense considering she is the one doing all the raiding. We can take Lara out of the tombs, but can we take the tomb raiding out of Lara Croft? We all know Lara’s recognisable attire and personality traits, but what made Lara Croft become (a/the) Tomb Raider? Being the Tomb Raider is more than what outfit Lara wears, her weapons of choice or the snippy one-liners. Anyone who has played the games knows there is more to Lara Croft than the sum of all those things. And there is more to being the Tomb Raider than any of Lara’s surface level qualities. “Tomb Raider”, while not a job title is akin to “Archaeologist Adventurer” or “Treasure Hunter”, which is to say to describe the person who does the raiding of tombs, and all that entails.
As we play the games, it is clear that it takes a lot of skills to do what Lara does. Skills tied with a certain attitude and drive to go exploring these often remote, undiscovered places. If we break it down, we should ask ourselves, what kind of person does it take to do what Lara does? Not all of Lara’s character traits and skills are obvious, but I think we can determine a few. It requires intellect, knowledge, resourcefulness, sheer nerve and determination, cunning strategy skills, bravery, are just a few, as well as others I could list.
Being a Tomb Raider is a physically demanding way of life. Lara travels the world in search of artifacts and myths, often traversing very dangerous environments to do so. Scaling mountains with or without the proper climbing gear; avoiding environmental hazards and traps keeps Lara on her toes. She has to overcome extreme weather conditions, icy waters even lava filled caves just to reach those hidden cities, temples and tombs. Lara is both physically and mentally challenged during her adventures. We need to delve a little deeper to unravel how these qualities developed. What better place to start than the beginning.
Early Beginnings:
Now we have the full origin story, we know that Lara was inspired by her father’s archaeology career from a very young age. When she was just five years old, Lara accompanied her father, Richard Croft, and his friend, Conrad Roth on an archaeological dig, where she was given a few tools that she used to ‘discover’ a jade pendant with, and which she’s been wearing ever since (Tomb Raider 2013 and comics). Through the inclusion of a cut scene in Rise of the Tomb Raider and a playable segment in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, we can see that Lara enjoys climbing – notably the outside of Croft Manor, either to reach her father’s study (Rise) or when Lara attempts to reach the forbidden West Wing, her mother’s personal rooms (Shadow). During her climb, Lara creates a story where she casts herself as an adventurer looking for treasure, who must infiltrate the King’s castle. Whilst she has a small wobble once on the roof, her bravery and determination win through and she continues on. Reaching the ‘tomb’, Lara solves a puzzle to unlock the rest of the tomb, while showing how knowledgeable of the artefacts on display in the personal museum she is. Lara’s notes prove she’s been planning this for some time, perhaps, which shows initiative and resourcefulness.
So, just by this small segment, we learn that Lara enjoys outdoor activities and has an interest in archaeology/history since childhood. The fact that the garden is equipped with targets suggests she has an early interest in archery, which we know will come in handy later in her life. By playing the RotTR Croft Manor DLC, we learn more about Lara’s childhood interest in treasure hunts and history, indulged by Richard and family butler, Winston. Through the comics and the TR2013 game, we learn that Lara and Roth would go on hiking and climbing trips, in particular to mount Snowdon and that Lara and Sam went on camping trips abroad where Lara dragged Sam around the historical sites. Quite the background for an aspiring adventurer and raider to be!
Learning her craft:
Throughout the Survivor trilogy and accompanying media Lara is honing her skills. During TR2013, Lara struggles with confidence with her abilities, but she always perseveres, never quitting, never letting anything stop her from reaching her goal. As players make their way through the game, Lara traverses the island of Yamatai, using skills she has acquired through her interest in rock climbing, archery and gymnastics. As time goes on she overcomes any doubts she has of her abilities to complete tasks such as climbing the radio tower to put out a distress call, so that she and the Endurance crew can be rescued. As the game progresses, Lara’s interest in and knowledge of Japanese history and the myth of Yamatai’s ruler, Himiko, are focussed on as she translates murals and documents she finds all over the island. The island is full of hostile inhabitants, many being the cult-like Solarii, headed by Mathias. As such, Lara must learn to fight for survival. We learn that while Roth attempted to train Lara to use weapons, Lara had little interest in it. However, she is a quick learner and what skills she picked up from Roth, soon come into play and she handles herself more than adequately. Puzzles are light in this game, but Lara shows just how resourceful she is as she makes headway into solving the island’s mystery. Her journey across the island is fraught with hazards just waiting to trip her up. She faces danger at every turn. While the Solarii try to stop her with guns and explosives, the environment itself seems to do its best in testing her. Lara faces Crumbling walls, treacherous rivers and waterfalls and aged, rusty buildings. Even Himiko seems hell-bent on stopping the young adventurer in her track; it’s highly implied that it is Himiko’s powers that create nasty storms ready to wreck planes and ships to prevent them reaching the island, whilst trapping those who made it there. For example, as a rescue plane attempts to land, a storm brews and lightning strikes it, where it plummets, which causes Lara to flee from its path. We hear a female voice say, rather ominously, "No-one leaves" in Japanese. By the end of this game, Lara has turned the tables on the Solarii; even using taunts against them "Run you bastards!" The Solarii can be heard responding in a way that that makes it clear that they are more than wary of this young woman who they've been trying so hard d to kill. Lara has even fought against the formidable Stormguard, hell-bent on protecting their Queen. Finally, Lara defeats Solarii leader Mathias. Lara's skills have grown throughout the game, as has her confidence. She has proven herself a survivor and she is well on her way to becoming an adventurer.
As the origin story continues through Rise and Shadow, Lara continues learning and honing her skills even further. Learning new ways to traverse the environment, constantly and consistently improving her climbing and platforming skills, learning languages, using stealth and strategy to overcome her enemies, evolving pretty much all of the skills she learned on Yamatai. Becoming more proficient at puzzle solving and doing whatever is required to solve the mystery. She continues to use her knowledge of history and myth and require more as she goes. Her confidence and determination is more evident in the following games as well. Where she may have hesitated before, in these games, she rarely does, in fact doing her best to persuade others to follow suit.
During Rise and Shadow, Lara has a few personal issues to contend with before she can fully grasp the Tomb Raider 'title' as her own. She is also up against the militant, religious group Trinity. With their sophisticated military style weapons and use of helicopters, Lara must up her game in order to win through. Lara makes use of the environments to use stealth to evade and overcome her enemies, often using deadly takedowns. Going from the hunted to hunter. It's Trinity that has been haunting Lara since her childhood as she learns it was the leader, Dr Dominguez who made the order to have her father killed. In fact Lara was doubly betrayed by Trinity, learning that Richard's lover, Ana, was a top Trinity agent. This all brings up childhood trauma that almost leads Lara down the path of temptation that she must resist. It's a testament to her resilience, strength of character and sense of doing the right thing that Lara is able to let go of her past and learn to enjoy the excitement of adventure.
Motivation:
“I only play for sport.” Back in Tomb Raider (1996) while Jacqueline Natla intended to hire Lara’s services, this simple, yet infamous line, tells us so much of Lara’s motivations for raiding. This is our introduction to a character that is well known within the universe, but who doesn’t do what she does for money or glory.
So, what of Survivor Lara? This is an origin story, so she hasn’t a reputation as an archaeologist/ raider yet. So what is it that sets Lara off on these adventures? In TR2013, we learn that Lara is 21 and fresh out of university, where she studied archaeology and history. Her interest started young, inspired by her father, also an archaeologist. We also learn that she has a particular interest in the myth surrounding the lost kingdom of Yamatai and its ruler, the Sun Queen, Himiko. It would seem that Lara’s motive in going on the expedition on the Endurance to find Yamatai was of an archaeological and historical perspective. Once on the island, her goal quickly becomes a matter of survival, and one of solving the island’s mystery in order for herself and the rest of the Endurance crew to leave the island, which has become overrun by the cultish Solarii led by Mathias. It’s on the island that Lara has her first encounter with an immortal soul. Seeing proof of such an entity is the catalyst that sets Lara on her next adventure, Rise of the Tomb Raider, which takes place mostly in Siberia. Dual motive: Lara wants to go on this adventure, but it’s not yet for the sheer enjoyment of adventuring alone. It’s about finding more evidence of the supernatural, in particular, the immortal soul, out of her own curiosity and to restore her father’s and her own reputations from being labelled ‘Crazy Croft’. In Shadow, Lara and Jonah are continuing their quest to stop Trinity. In following the group, Lara discovers the dagger of Ix Chel and the existence of its counterpart, the Box of Chak Chel; artefacts that, when used together have the power to change the world during the death of the sun. Lara concludes that Trinity should not obtain such powerful artefacts. The game delves into how the artefacts can tempt the user with their deepest desires, which for Lara would be to restore the world with both her parents alive, so she could have the childhood she’s always dreamed of.
Throughout the trilogy Lara’s motivation switches, from wanting to ‘find adventure’, to confronting her past in order to finally accept her future as a Tomb Raider, going on adventures because she has learned to love it. While Lara wasn’t yet ‘playing for sport’, she goes on a personal journey that opens her eyes to the possibility of the discovery of things she had once been closed to, rather than the more mundane scientific and historic; it enables her to transition from a historian archaeologist to a seeker of myths and legends. Through Shadow, though she is often challenged almost to breaking point, we see signs of a more relaxed character, one who even has to pep talk an experienced warrior into taking on a dangerous quest. The tables have turned: instead of the encouragement she received from others, it is now Lara who is leading the way and encouraging others.
The Flip Side:
I can hear the objections from here. I’d like to address them now, though I can only speculate. As mentioned earlier, Lara Croft and Tomb Raider are seen as being synonymous. While I think there is plenty of evidence that S-Lara has indeed become [a/the] Tomb Raider, there is still the undeniable lack of certain qualities that allows the audience to recognize this Lara as being, well, Lara; that which differentiates her from other raiders/ adventurers.
Classic Lara is bold, confident, decisive, very determined and she uses sarcasm against her enemies. She was often on completely equal terms with the likes of Jacqueline Natla and Werner von Croy. She was very sure of herself and her goal and rarely let anything deter her, even when things didn’t always go to plan – which was, if anything, usually down to overestimating her abilities and miscalculating the situation.
Whilst S-Lara is definitely softer around the edges than C-Lara, and more willing to dig in and help others, she is just as determined, almost single-minded in her goals at times. Her wit is heard sparingly and is more subtle. S-Lara seems far more serious and hasn’t yet learned to meet her enemies on equal terms, with that cold, yet professional approach Lara Croft is known for. In contrast she seems more like a petulant teen squaring up to those with more authority. Although, she is still able to use her smarts to outdo her enemies when the opportunity shows itself.
Conclusion:
These things, while important to Lara’s characterisation, aren’t essential to Lara’s road to becoming a Tomb Raider, during the origins, or, if you like, her training years. Tomb Raiding isn’t a job; rather it’s a lifestyle choice, one that takes a lot of skill and certain qualities in order to participate, especially to the expert levels that Lara exhibits on her adventures. But, even Classic Lara wasn’t always a Tomb Raider. Had it not been for certain events, some of which were unforeseen, Lara may not have become a raider. She had to learn her craft with a mentor, whilst not always being as confident and sure of herself. Just like S-Lara is in her origins, younger C-Lara relied on her resourcefulness and had to overcome her fears as she progressed. To be fair, this is more evident in the Ireland section of TR Chronicles rather than in the Cambodia levels of TR4, where the only real difference in her characterisation was a higher pitched voice. The personality that we witness in the earlier games is that of an established, fully formed raider, with many years experience.
I think it can argued that what S-Lara supposedly lacks is something she can develop later on. She contains these qualities; they just require some nurturing to be coaxed out before Lara can become the fully-formed adventurer. She is done with the ‘training’ era of her career and going forward her confidence and expertise will grow further. S-Lara had to overcome childhood trauma, come to terms with her past and rediscover the love for danger and adventure she clearly had as a child/ teenager. With confidence, the bolder, sassier attitude will come/return. In fact, by Shadow, there are clear signs she’s showing almost arrogance as she decides to take an artefact that led to the Tsunami in Cozumel and the later dangerous event that unfold. As for the all important iconography, removing them for the origin trilogy meant concentrating on the skills, knowledge and qualities required for being a Tomb Raider, rather than putting emphasis on being more like the classic iteration. It was never the intention of making S-Lara more [Classic] Lara Croft. The classic outfit and dual pistols are like the icing on the cake. But the cake needed to be baked first. I think it is evident that by the end of Shadow, Lara as a Tomb Raider is set. The signs are there through a few, select scenes. Now we can look to the future and hopefully see these aspects of Lara Croft reintroduced something that seems promised now we have learned of the unification of all eras.
Lara Croft and Tomb Raider are the property of Embracer Group AB and Crystal Dynamics (formally Core Design, Eidos Interactive, and Square Enix). No copyright infringement is intended with these works, as they are all non-sanctioned, unofficial, and entirely non-profit works of the author's own.
Images were found on Google and all credit goes to the the original posters.