Few franchises have as much staying power as Tomb Raider. Lara Croft and her tomb-raiding adventures not only revolutionized gaming but also created a niche that has been explored by other franchises such as Naughty Dog's Uncharted. With a new game on the way, fans can rest assured knowing that Tomb Raider isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Fans can also look forward to a new television adaptation. This will provide a chance for the franchise to grow further, and it can do so if it borrows a few key elements from the earlier games.
The upcoming adaptation should feature varied environments, as older video games in the series do. Furthermore, Lara should wear her classic outfit to ensure that she is easily recognizable regardless of who is cast as her. As recent video game adaptations have shown, when the right choices are made, it is possible to produce something that expands an IP's fan base and gains critical acclaim. Tomb Raider is in an especially good position, as it has a host of movies to look back on to learn what works and what doesn't.
Tomb Raider Receives a Television Adaptation
Plenty of video games have been receiving television adaptations, and the great quality of recent releases has changed public perception of video game adaptations. Series like The Last of Us and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have gained a strong following, and fans can look forward to even more adaptations coming from God of War, Horizon, and A Plague Tale. Tomb Raider is no stranger to adaptations, and it has spawned several films, recently it was revealed that it receive a television adaptation for Amazon.
The new series is being written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also has writing credits on the BBC sitcom Fleabag. Details are still scarce, and the project is reportedly in its development stages, so it is unlikely to see the light of day anytime soon. The adaptation represents another effort to keep the Tomb Raider IP alive, which is a good move as Lara Croft still has hordes of loyal fans. It has been confirmed that a new game is being developed by Crystal Dynamics in partnership with Amazon Game Studios. There is also a Tomb Raider anime series for Netflix on the way.
The television adaptation could be a great way to expand on Lara's character, especially after the Tomb Raider Survivor Trilogy gave gamers a deeper look into the experiences that turn her from a distressed damsel into a ruthless treasure hunter. Although the adaptation can take a lot from the recent trilogy, there are also many elements from the older games that would enhance it a lot. Including these elements would also be a nice treat for fans who have followed Lara's journey since the beginning.
The Tomb Raider Series Should Have Varied Environments
The Survivor Trilogy can be lauded for its stunning visuals that only get better with every entry. However, players will find that in each game, there isn't much variety in the environments that are explored. Rise of the Tomb Raider, for example, takes place in Siberia, and most of the game features the same snowy landscape that's beautiful at first but gets monotonous after a while. Similarly, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara journeys through Mexico and Peru, and most of the environments feature similar dark jungles.
This can be contrasted with earlier games such as Tomb Raider 2. Players venture through varying levels featuring different environments such as Venice, The Great Wall of China, Tibet, and an oil rig. The Tomb Raider series would do well to not keep Lara limited to a single location but instead have her travel the world as she did in the earlier games. The variety will keep things from getting stale, and it will give Lara the chance to show off her skills in different settings, whether it be a white tundra or a shipwreck. This may make the series a high-budget project, but Tomb Raider IP has never struggled to attract large investments toward it, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider having one of the highest development costs of any game ever.
The Tomb Raider Series Should Feature Lara's Iconic Outfit
In the newer Tomb Raider games, players have a wide array of outfits to choose from to ensure that Lara always looks dressed for the part. When Lara is trudging through snow in Rise of the Tomb Raider, having her in a puffy jacket makes things a little more realistic. Her journey through the Peruvian jungle has her embracing stealth, which makes an all-black outfit the best choice. The vast array of clothing is welcome, but when most people think of Lara Croft, they have a very specific outfit in mind.
It consists of a brown pair of shorts, a turquoise top, and a pair of gun holsters around her thighs. Though it may not be the most convenient outfit for some of the situations she finds herself in, it struck a chord with gamers, and it is the go-to outfit for anyone hoping to cosplay as the British treasure hunter. If the upcoming Tomb Raider series wants to make Lara Croft instantly recognizable, regardless of who the performer is, it would be wise to use the outfit featured in the older games. Depending on when the series chooses to begin in Lara's story, the use of the outfit could mark Lara's transition from a regular civilian to a survivor.
Lara has proven that she can still be a superstar in non-interactive media, as there have been several successful Tomb Raider movies. If treated correctly, the upcoming adaptation could be yet another feather in Tomb Raider's cap. Though the series is likely geared toward drawing new fans, embracing elements from some of the older games will ensure hardcore fans are also satisfied.