If there’s anything to be learned from the long history of human storytelling, it’s the infallibility of the swashbuckling adventurer. More than a mere hero, this archetype travels to exotic locales, overcomes a slew of overwhelming dangers, and must rely on guts as much as guile to stay alive. Audiences can’t get enough of the clever Odysseus or the dexterous Doc Savage. If you want to get modern, folks of this generation are sure to recognize the whip-wielding Indiana Jones. For decades, Indiana was the epitome of adventure, the hottest thing ever to dash into the sunset for a good cause.
Then came Lara.
Much like her fedora-donning predecessor, Lara Croft had an affinity for all things ancient. She can usually be found spelunking sinister caverns, deciphering historic hieroglyphics, and outmaneuvering seemingly superior enemies around every bend. Instead of a bullwhip, she opts for the more modern grappling hook. In place of a single pistol, she carries two (and often a bit more). And rather than fuss with a confining jacket and silly hat, she wears only the barest of attire. Freedom of movement is crucial when you’re fighting a Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
It may have occurred to us that, given the male-saturated gaming market, someone might be trying to sell us this Lara Croft as a sex object. Lead graphic artist Toby Gard can assure us that isn’t the case; or at least, it wasn’t his intention. I don’t know if anyone noticed, but apparently the first version of Lara back in 1996 carried quite a lot of extra weight on her chest. As it turns out, this was due to a programming error which went unfixed due to the insistence of some other tasteless chap. It has always been Toby’s intention to keep the character fairly modest in her sexuality, because it’s important that someone is “adding details to her personality and not just physically.”
As such, Lara has undergone some superficial changes over the years, bringing her figure more in line with that of an actual human female. Truth be told, graphical advancements have allowed Lara to look more realistic and attractive than ever before, so there’s certainly nothing fans could complain about.
But as Toby said, looks aren’t really everything. Lara was originally conceived as a woman of South American descent, but wound up as a British aristocrat. In developing a true character, these components carry significant weight. This explains why the well-educated Lara is never struggling to fund her exotic expeditions, while adding a bit more punch to the scrapes and bruises she seems so willing to endure. Moreover, her graceful demeanor and aristocratic mannerisms help distinguish her among other heroines. Lara never falls into the polarized imagery of the over-masculinized woman warrior, and stays well clear of the mass of cheap bimbos often seen in video games.
Firmly established as a true character and mass marketed across the globe, it’s not surprising that Lara seems to a true international woman of mystery. She’s paraded through comic books, plodded through novels, and splashed all over the silver screen – twice, in fact. Lady Croft even holds two Guinness World Records – one for most recognized female video game character, and another for most official real life stand-ins – which might be worthless these days, but remain a noteworthy achievement for a fictional human being.
As far as gaming go, Lara has certainly seen her fair share of ups and downs. Despite a number of disappointing adventures, Lara seems to have made such an impression on us, we dare not think of straying. Whenever she is blasted by the media for being over-sexualized, there is always a legion of loyal followers ready to rally at her defense. Love her or hate her, there is no getting around her importance in modern culture. She is arguably the first true female “icon” in video game history, and despite how many times she appears to die on screen, well… she never really dies, does she?
