Line #12 YMMV/TombRaider


1	* AccidentalNightmareFuel: While Winston Smith was clearly designed to be the comic relief, a lot of players were unintentionally creeped out due to the fact that he wordlessly follows Lara around at a slow but implacable shuffle, and makes weird noises that continue to dog your steps even if you find a way to get rid of him.
2	* AlasPoorScrappy:
3	** [[spoiler: Alister's death in ''Underworld''.]]
4	** In the comics, [[spoiler: Chase Carver.]]
5	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: The debate over Lara's effect on female video game characters will probably never be settled. Some say she was a pioneer in an era when female main characters (especially in action games) were exceedingly rare. Others say she did more harm than good through her perceived over-sexualization.
6	** There's also several interpretations of the character of Lara herself, and whether she's borderline sociopath with no respect for the places she raids, or if she's just a JerkWithAHeartOfGold and AntiHero.
7	** Regardless, her sexuality was often a talking point during the development of many games, typically balancing between making her more real/less archetypical and retaining her iconic nature as well as characteristic sexuality. This tended to show up in the marketing as well where on one hand, models were hired to portray Lara in real life (a precursor to modern cosplay sponsoring and such) and yet despite being little more than well... models to stand next to booths, they were often given actual training in Lara-esque skills. Conversely, her contemporary (Samus Aran) has done the reverse - she started off as a masked mercenary of indeterminate origin and gender and has, over time, become more and more sexualized with emphasis on that fact. Whatever Lara's effect, certainly there was one and if it was not solely her fault, then it was her generation and the next generation of characters that she helped lead the way for.
8	* AudienceAlienatingEra: Definitely had one, but where it was varies a lot from person to person. ''Angel of Darkness'' is usually included.
9	** It's very easy to point the AudienceAlienatingEra for the marketing of the games. Everything done before [[VideoGame/TombRaiderTheLastRevelation The Last Revelation]] was just low-brow campaign based entirely on sex-appeal and extremely distasteful adds. Just check for yourself how the game [[http://i.imgur.com/KEa7OAk.jpg was advertised]] [[http://i.imgur.com/UsxHnez.jpg back in]] [[http://i.imgur.com/LEzrYYV.jpg the day]].
10	** While the older marketing was forced by the publisher, arguably [[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend L]][[VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary A]][[VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld U]] counts toward it, for actually having bikini outfits in-game.
11	** [[VideoGame/TombRaider2013 The]] [[VideoGame/RiseOfTheTombRaider Survivor]] [[VideoGame/ShadowOfTheTombRaider trilogy]] could be considered another major contender. The three games spend a lot of time subverting and re-inventing what Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are and while a lot of players enjoyed the fresh perspective and more down-to-earth and humanized take on Lara, just as many hated the changes made due to how drastically it altered her character and how much agency and control it takes away from Lara as a character. The gameplay focusing more on combat and action setpieces rather than puzzle solving and platforming also split players down the middle.
12	* BaseBreakingCharacter: Lara Croft's influence in the industry has been a point of contention among critics; viewpoints range from a positive agent of change in video games to a negative role model for young girls.
13	* BestKnownForTheFanservice: A lot of people play the game through on all difficulty levels and get all the trophies-just to unlock the bikini costumes, and to angle the camera to get the best view of Lara's ass. Back when Core was still running the series, a FanNickname for positioning Lara in the corner was "boob angle", since the camera spun around for a while, after which it centered on Lara's bosom.
14	* BrokenBase: The fanbase was incredibly divided upon the release of ''Angel of Darkness''. Then ''Legend'' was released. The fanbase has never been the same since. More recently, the fandom has become very divided over the ''second'' reboot.
15	* CharacterRerailment: Lara started off as a cheeky woman with a bit of snark. As the series went on, her snark increased and she became more aggressive and violent. When ''Legend'' was released, Lara's personality was dialed back a bit, making her cheeky and daring as she used to be while only getting aggressive and threatening when it was needed.
16	* CommonKnowledge:
17	** If you ask most gaming fans to name some Platform/PlayStation exclusive games, chances are the first ''Tomb Raider'' might be mentioned. While ''II'' and ''III'' were console-exclusive to Playstation at the time, the first was also on Platform/SegaSaturn; And not only that, was technically released on the Saturn ''before'' the Playstation.
18	** "Uzis got {{nerf}}ed with each following Core game" is a particularly persistent case. Uzis retain the exact same stopping power and fire rate through the first five games, and the only thing that's "nerfed" is the amount of ammo per pickup, which is steadily decreased with each following game (starting at 100 and ending at 30 rounds). What really happens is that enemies have more and more HP, giving the impression that Uzis deal less damage.
19	* CompleteMonster: See [[Monster/TombRaider here]].
20	* ContestedSequel: Go to any bigger internet forum or imageboard dedicated to video games. Ask what people think about "[[VideoGame/TombRaider2013 nu-Lara]]". Then step back and watch the ensuing brawl. Don't forget the popcorn!
21	* DesignatedHero: A criticism of the later games on the [=PS1=] is that Lara turns into this, with the enemies in the games including not just the usual criminals and animals that stand in her way, but also police officers and security guards. This eventually led to RonTheDeathEater, described below.
22	* EscapistCharacter: Lara Croft was probably one of the first female characters that {{Gamer Chick}}s could project themselves onto. While her feminist legacy is debatable given how much the character was twisted into a sex icon in later titles, the fact remains that Lara is an intelligent, capable and badass world-travelling asskicker who is never portrayed as vulnerable or a victim and always stays confident of her control of the situation.
23	-->''"She was Franchise/IndianaJones, but [[UpperClassWit witty, measured, sophisticated]]. [[ActionGirl She shot first and asked questions later.]] [[NervesOfSteel She screamed only when seconds from death.]] [[DefiedTrope She never, ever]] [[DamselInDistress needed saving."]]''
24	* EvenBetterSequel: If [[FirstInstallmentWins any other game than the first]] will be pointed out by fans as the best in the franchise, it will be most likely either [=TR II=] or [=TR IV=].
25	* FairForItsDay: Lara Crofts's design recieves its fair share of criticism years after the series was created, due to her large breasts and the large degree of {{Fanservice}} around her. While today having a sexualized female hero in a male-oriented game is seen as objectifying, when ''Tomb Raider'' came out women were mostly portrayed as either generic damsels or were rather flat and stereotypical, barring [[SamusIsAGirl a few choice exceptions]]. So having Lara be an intelligent, competent, and independent ActionGirl protagonist was quite progressive for when the game was released.
26	* FandomEnragingMisconception:
27	** Referring to Lara as "Laura" is a pretty good way to annoy any dedicated ''Tomb Raider'' fan.
28	** Insisting that every game in the franchise is set within the same continuity ([[AlternateContinuity there are in fact three separate ones]] within the "main" series due to two [[ContinuityReboot reboots]]) is likely to irritate quite a few fans. Even more so if you try to bring the movie and the comics into it. Note that this has not stopped even some ''fans'' from insisting that they're all part of the same continuity.
29	** For Classic era fans specifically, claiming that Classic Lara is a cold blooded killer with no morality, empathy or personality to speak of. This was mostly kick started by various developer interviews for the 2013 game that refer to her as "Teflon Coated" and "IceQueen" when discussing how they changed her personality and character arc[[note]]This unsurprisingly backfired badly when applied to the pre-existing fandom, as the new development team was trying to "fix" things that weren't broken and also taking credit for that, too. Eventually, the marketing had to hastily backpedal from the misguided campaign, but not before creating a sense of alienation and disillusionment for the fandom of older titles[[/note]]. While Lara was often a morally gray character as far as getting her hands on artifacts, she was still very much a [[AntiHero heroine who risks her life to save the world from all sorts of maniacs, cult leaders and evil scientists]] and was capable of showing kindness and compassion when the situation called for it.
30	** It also applies to the LAU trilogy fans as despite it's generally lighter tone it still has several scenes that lean heavily into Lara's emotions such as [[spoiler: Lara being forced to kill her mother]] in ''Underworld'' or Lara getting enraged when [[spoiler: she finds out about the time loop]] in ''Legend''.
31	* FandomRivalry:
32	** Core Design fans versus Crystal Dynamics fans ''versus'' Crystal Dynamics 2nd reboot fans over which era of the franchise is better than the others.
33	** ''Tomb Raider'' fans vs. ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' fans, the latter of whom begrudge the series for receiving Creator/CrystalDynamics' attention while ''Legacy of Kain'' has been languishing for years, though fans of both will agree that ''VideoGame/MarvelsAvengers'' is worse than either.
34	* FanNickname:
35	** The first six games, made by Creator/CoreDesign, are either referred as "Core Raiders" or "Core-era".
36	** The ContinuityReboot is known as "[[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend L]][[VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary A]][[VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld U]]", to make it possible to list all three (and identify their continuity) with a single breath.
37	** The second reboot is known as the "Survivor" series ''or'' just [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the "2nd reboot"]].
38	* FranchiseOriginalSin: Despite claims that it was the second reboot which made the franchise combat-heavy, ever since ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII'' was released back in 1997, the series had wide range of weapons and numerous human enemies to face. However, back then it was still predominately exploration, puzzles and platforming that were the main focus, rather than one elaborate gunfight after another connected by linear passages between them. It made the amount of combat less obvious, since most of the time was spent on looking for secrets and finding a way through some ruins, without ability to "cheat" puzzles with use of Survival Instincts. The gradual simplification of puzzles and platforming, while in the same time making combat more and more complex and prominent is discussed in detail [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQRr3pXxsGo here]].
39	* FoeYayShipping:
40	** Lara and Natla.
41	** Lara and Amanda.
42	** And even more so, [[spoiler: [[ScrewYourself Lara with her doppleganger]].]]
43	* LesYay:
44	** The closest Lara ever came to having a consistent love interest in her Top Cow comic book was [[Comicbook/{{Witchblade}} Sara Pezzini.]]
45	** The {{Flanderiz\|ation}}ed PluckyComicRelief versions of Larson and Pierre, seen in Chronicles, are inseperable for the first two levels, and Pierre inexplicably offers to buy Larson a milkshake.
46	** The Crystal Dynamics trilogy is rife with LesYay. Lara and Amanda particularly come across as having had a really bitter breakup in Underworld.
47	** Lara and Sam in the 2013 reboot. With Roth as a surrogate father figure and Jonah a surrogate big brother and [[spoiler: Alex a DoggedNiceGuy that Lara didn't even know about]], Lara doesn't have any male as a solid LoveInterest, so her subtext-laden PseudoRomanticFriendship with Sam doesn't require too much glancing through ShippingGoggles. It doesn't help that it's noted in game that Lara is more interested in studying than meeting guys.
48	* NarmCharm: Some of the dialogue throughout the whole series. Especially ''[[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Legend]]'' contain several instances of narm charm by dint of dealing with the story of how Lara deals with the death of her mother. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis '''"WHERE" bang "IS" bang "MY" bang "MOTHER ?!?!" bang''']]
49	** Additionally, the noise Lara makes when she steps on Midas' hand and turns to gold can be considered this. It sounds like a cat, but it can be taken as Lara suffocating.
50	* NotSoCheapImitation: When the original ''VideoGame/TombRaiderI'' was still in production, there was a genuine fear of being tangled by Creator/LucasArts into a copyright hell due to similarities with ''Franchise/IndianaJones''. Not only did the game become one of the hallmarks of its era, but it also spawned a successful multi-media franchise going strong ''for decades'', and despite various hardships, completely eclipsing ''Indiana Jones'' by the mid-00s. Most humiliatingly, when [=LucasArts=] decided to make their own TPP [[VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheInfernalMachine Indiana Jones video game]], they shamelessly ripped off ''Tomb Raider'' formula.
51	* OnceOriginalNowCommon: As with many games from this era, it's easy to take for granted just how revolutionary a game like this was back in 1996, and how it influenced numerous adventure games afterwards. The very [[VideoGame/TombRaiderI first game]] was a TropeCodifier for TPP games that spawned ''endless'' imitations, despite from modern perspective it's "just a game" and even within fandom it's often pointed out as not the best game in the franchise.
52	** The Core-era games are often derided by people used to post-WASD control scheme for their TankControls. However, not only did they help to develop and codify how such control schemes operate, the games themselves were ''built around'' them, rather than simply ''having'' them due to some sort of limitation, while it was the copy-cats that were infamous for their clunky and needlessly convoluted controls.
53	** Lara is frequently seen as little more than a sexist fantasy, not knowing that she was a ''huge'' step forward in strong, female leads in video games. For some idea of just where female characters were in gaming at the time, consider that ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'' was released in the same year.
54	* PanderingToTheBase:
55	** ''Anniversary'' is filled with references to the other games in the series, along with original ''Tomb Raider''. It is worth noting that the game got a cold reception, and part of that came from what was seen as misguided pandering.
56	** ''Underworld'' features a few {{Continuity Nod}}s and some ContinuityCreep to both Crystal Dynamics continuity and the series under Core Design.
57	* RonTheDeathEater: Lara herself gets this a lot, especially in regard for Core games. Fanworks tend to be a lot more liberal with the AlternateCharacterInterpretation mentioned above, many of them choosing the "borderline sociopath" option or [[AdaptationalVillainy even worse interpretations.]] Evil versions of Lara tend to be far more common than good ones in this area.
58	* ScrappyMechanic: The modern controls in ''I-II-III Remastered'' has been lambasted by both critics and players alike, as this was one of the things that was advertised since the game was announced. Someone at Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics decided to transplant the same control style from ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'' into the remaster and call it a day, and while they do work, it's pretty clear there was no playtesting involved. Both platforming and combat are awkward to execute, with half of Lara's moves impossible to pull off and the combat being a pain in the ass because Lara doesn't automatically target any enemies nearby. The worst part is the camera, as the damn thing doesn't like corners and will always freak out whenever you try to adjust it, especially during platforming. It doesn't help that there's no in-game tutorial at Lara's house, a manual for the modern controls or any proper explanation of how they work. Instead, all the instructions are explained on Aspyr's own website, the last place anyone would search for instructions. All of this ironically makes the otherwise infamous (at least among the younger players) TankControls truly shine by comparison, since the games were obviously designed and build around those.
59	** While the controls were eventually fixed in a patch, the player is still required to look online in order to be told what changes were made to the controls in each game.
60	* SequelDifficultySpike: ''Tomb Raider II'' is significantly harder compared to the first game by adding more death traps and more gunmen. ''Tomb Raider III'' cranks up the difficulty further by introducing enemies that can poison you, throwing even more death traps at you, [[CameraScrew awkward camera angles for the sake of an "interesting" view]], darker environments so it is difficult to see, and having the game's NoGearLevel take away ''all'' of your items (except for save crystals and a small health kit) whereas the previous two games lets you keep all your med kits and bullets.
61	* {{Sequelitis}}: Depending on who you ask, you can get [[BrokenBase few conflicting answers]]:
62	** There is still quite a sizable part of fandom that considers any game after the original from '96 a blasphemy and pointless money-squeezing.
63	** Around the [[VideoGame/TombRaiderIII 3rd game]], game critics started to point out how the plot and game mechanics are repetitive. [[EvenBetterSequel The 4th game took that to heart]].
64	** ''[[VideoGame/TombRaiderChronicles Chronicles]]'' was made for a quick buck, and Core openly admitted to doing so.
65	** ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'' was very divisive in this matter. While a critical smash, some fans were still off put by the changes to the series.
66	** The GaidenGame, which managed to unite [[BrokenBase the whole fandom]] against it. Some consider it even a case of NiceJobFixingItVillain.
67	** [[ContinuityReboot The second reboot]] [[Videogame/TombRaider2013 of the series]]. Which itself has sequelitis depending on who you ask, as ''Videogame/RiseOfTheTombRaider'' and ''Videogame/ShadowOfTheTombRaider'' proved polarizing for many fans of the 2013 game despite getting generally positive critical reviews.
68	* TaintedByThePreview: Days before the 2024 remaster was released, several content creators obtained review copies of the game to review. One of the first things shown upon booting the game is a disclaimer warning players about how the games have sensitive and racist content [[note]] This likely stems from ''Tomb Raider III'' where one set of levels has Lara gunning down a black cannibalistic tribe that attack her with spears and blow darts and the sole tribesman that Lara speaks to has a very exaggerated accent. Other possible sources are Dr. Willard's use of "retard" when describing Tony and the monks in ''Tomb Raider II'' being a near caricature of a WarriorMonk complete with battle cries.[[/note]] and that such content goes against Crystal Dynamics's values, but are keeping the content as is. People were quick to decry Crystal Dynamics, claiming that the company hates the franchise, were calling Core Design racists and how such a message should have never been made to begin with. Others pointed out that despite the message being a bit strongly worded, it was no different from Disney or Warner Bros. putting up similar disclaimers when they released old cartoons that had racist content.
69	** There is also a small subset of fans who think the hate around the disclaimer is overblown (especially since it only plays the first time you boot up the remasters) but do think it coming from Crystal Dynamics, who had nothing to do with the remasters as well as rumors that they completely opposed the remasters happening at all, makes it come off as disingenuous. (Also accusations of being hypocritical as some consider ''Shadow of the Tomb Raider'' to heavily use the WhiteSavior trope as well as indirectly imply the indigenous people as being very dim-witted considering Lara's PaperThinDisguise in that game.)
70	* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Several fans of the Core Design games were ''not'' happy with Crystal Dynamics' ContinuityReboot with [[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Legend]] and the subsequent drastic changes to Lara's personality and backstory. In addition, some feel this way about the ''second'' ContinuityReboot.
71	** The classic series went through some shades of the trope; The first game was all about the tombs, but the second game introduced a few levels that were set in modern areas, like the opera house and the oil rig, and the fans didn't like Lara exploring anything that wasn't a tomb. The third game had even more levels set in cities and other areas where people inhabited, causing some fans to dub the game as "City Raider".
72	** The health bar during boss fights in the 2024 remaster. It effectively makes any such fight a breeze, simply because the players know exactly how much HP the boss still has and if their attacks even connected at all (a pretty big deal in ''[[Videogame/TombRaiderIII III]]''). It's a very minor change that instantly garnered scorn. It can be disabled... but not in the options menu but rather by simply changing to the classic graphics.

Context YMMV / TombRaider