Tomb Raider won't depict Lara as 'sex object'
- Posted December 10th, 2010 at 16:55 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 22 Comments
Developer Crystal Dynamics has revealed that it’s setting its sights on cementing a new tone for Lara Croft in her next outing – and portraying the nimble adventurer as a sex object isn’t one of them.
Chatting to U.S. publication Game Informer, art director Brian Horton revealed that Croft’s appearance in the new Tomb Raider will instead accentuate the vulnerability and youth of the iconic heroine -- in other words, don't expect Miss Croft to be modelling the latest line in skimpy swim wear for you to gawp at.
"We wanted to make a girl that was somewhat familiar, yet had a special quality about her – something in the way her eyes look and her expression in her face that makes you want to care for her," Horton told the magazine.
"Her skin is still bare on the arms and there are going to be rips and tears on her clothes, but it won't be about being revealing. It's a way of saying that through these tough situations, there is a beauty and vulnerability coming through. I think that is sexy in its own way.”
"There is a different tone we are going for across the board," said Horton, "and Lara Croft as a sex object isn't our goal. No unlockable bikinis."
For those out of the loop, the eponymous reboot sees a 21-year-old Croft shipwrecked on a perilous Island, pitting her against all sorts of indigenous nasties and environmental hazards. And despite her inexperience, Horton said the pint-sized heroine will demonstrate she’s still more than capable of fending for herself.
“She isn't going to be as tall as the men around her – about a head shorter. This reinforces the feeling that she's against all odds," he explained.
"The relative proportion is more important than the actual number [5' 7"] – making her feel like a scrapper of sorts, even though she will always find a way through her self-determination. She will find a way to survive even if she doesn't have Amazonian proportions in the game."
"The emphasis on acrobatics isn't nearly as important as the fact that she is capable.”
Stay tuned for more on Tomb Raider as it breaks.
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Ghost-Rhayne |
Ghost-Rhayne- 12:18pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 2
Good. The way Lara was portrayed and whored in the media broke the heart of her creator who eneded up stepping out for many of her later adventures. It was a shame because lara had the potential to be a really cool character, instead they made her a globe trotting porn star. I like this new direction theyre taking.
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Young_Charter
- 12:48pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 3
Basically they want to catch up and land their mark up against uncharted.. I look forward to this Tomb Raider being something serious because I want Uncharted 3 to accept this as a challenge and both of them will go head to head...
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TwinSnakes89
- 2:20pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OA0iirq4vI&feature=related
This came to mind, for no apparent reason lol XD
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FoolsFolly
- 2:33pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 8
That sucks. Lara's games have really gone downhill since they stopped showing off her goods, and now we have the official word that they won't even try to make her attractive anymore. Well that sucked all the hype right out of me =/
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1solidsnake |
solid1snake67- 5:45pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 11
sweet, this game is looking good,. i think she'll still be hot lol i've been a tomb raider fan since the first game came out. i liked her alot in tomb raider legend :) <3 lets stop judging before this game even comes out, hopefully its awesome.
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honomaru
- 6:14pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 12
This news is pretty old. but we'll see how the game turns out.
@2 what? ever since her inception, Lara Croft was portrayed as the gaming sex symbol. it's nothing new. if her creator had a more serious tone in mind for her this whole time then he sure did wait awhile to step out on her.
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I_ONLY_DO_EVERYTHING
- 7:35pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 13
Hmmm.......it wasn't her looks that made the ip turn south. so they should focus on fixing gameplay. and they might want to remember the old adage, sex sells!
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hemelskonijn
- 7:37pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 14
Am i the only one that actually thinks the "new" lara is way hotter then the old one?
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bigCman123
- 7:40pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 15
This is good news for the series... The whole Tomb Raider franchise has become one big joke up until now... Especially when Uncharted came out (and mopped the floor with it). A more serious approach is needed.
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Alpha2
- 8:47pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 17
The franchise needs more than a new tone it needs to dump the Tomb Raider name entirely. Aside from a few decent games the series is a mess, The character has no solidity anymore and continuing to pidgeonhole the action with the name Tomb Raider paints the developers into a corner. How is a shipwrecked girl fighting for her survival with cobbled together weapons Tomb Raiding? It just doesnt make any sense anymore unless they force her back into the role of some thrill seeking adventurer.
We've been saying it since Uncharted came out and soundly kicked it's butt; "Just let it die already."
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bigCman123
- 11:55pm EST - December 10th, 2010
- 18
I like how most of the people posting on here have no idea what they mean. Instead of Lara Croft just being a piece of meat only to stare at, they are attempting to make Lara Croft a character you will care about. She'll still be hot, but that won't be the main reason that you care about her. It's good news to me... This is the first time I ever cared about a Tomb Raider game. This one sounds promising... Some you act like they're going to make her look like a man lol.
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