Tomb Raider fans are patiently waiting for the next entry in the video game franchise, with Crystal Dynamics hard at work on the title. Leaks have indicated that the game could feature a more experienced Lara Croft, potentially with a demeanor more comparable to the one seen in the classic games. Though it is unclear if the leaks about her mentoring a new generation of Tomb Raiders will be legitimate, many fans are hopeful that the next game will be a hit. To help it stand out from the competition, Crystal Dynamics should strive to be different from Uncharted.
Though Uncharted is an incredible video game franchise, its similarities to Tomb Raider already see the two being compared often, with the former stealing a lot of attention from the latter in the PS3 and PS4 generations. As such, avoiding any potential comparisons to Uncharted would be good for the next Tomb Raider, as the game is already in a position to get proper time in the spotlight since it is striking while the iron is hot and releasing when Uncharted is retired. If one thing in particular is to be avoided, though, it’s Nathan Drake’s signature style of clumsy falling.
Lara Croft’s Traversal Should Feel Nothing Like Nathan Drake’s
In the Uncharted franchise, Nathan Drake is constantly shown to be the luckiest man alive, with the game's damage indicator actually being a luck meter and Nate only dying when his luck runs out. Though the frankly absurd amount of gunfights that he manages to win show this luck off quite a bit, it is the series’ iconic platforming sequences and setpiece moments that truly put it on display. Whether he is tumbling off buildings, climbing broken trains with a gunshot wound, or escaping a sinking ship, Nathan Drake always manages to survive.
However, Nathan Drake’s traversal is intentionally messy, as it suits his personality and adds a small element of realism to an otherwise over-the-top video game series. While Nate is an action hero, he is not one that is incapable of mistakes, fully embodying the Indiana Jones parallels that many often reference. Nathan Drake will regularly trip up, break items he is climbing on, miss the jump he was going for, and so on. While this is plenty of fun, it would not suit the experienced Lara that fans are hoping to see in the next game.
The recent Tomb Raider survivor trilogy went all-in on realism, retelling Lara Croft’s origin story and turning her into a much more grounded heroine. Lara needs to heal her wounds, is stuck scavenging for supplies when she is not looking at ancient treasures, and suffers an emotional breakdown after her first kill - all things that make sense for a regular person. Further, whenever there is a platforming sequence or a chase of some kind, something almost always goes wrong. All of these things fit the tone Crystal Dynamics was aiming for and suit an inexperienced version of Lara Croft very well, but they may be worth leaving behind in the next entry.
Players watched Lara Croft get beat up and make mistakes like Nathan Drake for several years, and now it could be time for a change. A Lara Croft that is a professional Tomb Raider could have mastered climbing and movement, no longer making mistakes like the version from the survivor trilogy. She could have cat-like traversal, perfectly jumping from ledge to ledge with borderline superhuman accuracy. Her climbing skills could be similarly pristine, with Lara also making use of fancier tools like a grappling hook instead of the survivor trilogy’s realistic climbing axes.
Making Lara Croft an expert in her field should be reflected in her personality and combat skill, but also her movement. Not only would this help to reflect her time as the titular raider of tombs, but it could help her stand apart from Nathan Drake. While Uncharted’s falls and scripted failures are exhilarating, it could be fun to play as a character who knows exactly what she is doing at all times, completing every task ahead of her in the next game as gracefully as possible.
A new Tomb Raider game is currently in development.