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In 1996, Lara Croft first climbed her way onto our screens. Dual pistols didn’t know what was coming for them! Flash forward to 2021, we are now celebrating the Tomb Raider 25 Year Celebration.
Publisher Square Enix and developer Crystal Dynamics are taking the entirety of 2021 to celebrate the franchise. Each month, a different game in the Tomb Raider series is going to be put under the spotlight.
From February of 2021 to December, we’ll be breaking down each month’s Tomb Raider entry as well as any big announcements. Grab your bottomless backpacks and handy first aid kits and let's get started!
“I Only Play for Sport”
February marked the start of the Tomb Raider 25 celebrations. Tomb Raider has been an iconic presence since it was first released on 25th October 1996.
Adventurer Lara Croft was hired by a mysterious client to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. She’s fearless and feisty with her acrobatic flair; Lara was set on uncovering the truth.
This self-titled game was the first of the series and undoubtedly started the Croft legacy. Debuting on the first model of the PlayStation, Tomb Raider was known for its impressive 3D graphics, player interaction and hybrid of action and exploration.
With 15 levels spanning Peru, Greece, Egypt and Atlantis, Lara Croft quickly became a globetrotting adventurer in her first outing.
“New Temptations Torment Me”
For me and many others, this game is responsible for getting so many people into video games. I remember being absolutely blown away by this detailed 3D world. Everything seemed so real to me as this marked the first 3D game that I remember playing.
Injecting a sense of nostalgia and quippy one-liners, Tomb Raider 25 encapsulates all of this. The year-long celebration will include lots of big announcements as well as showcases, interviews, and reimaginings.
“Well, You Have My Total Attention Now”
In addition to the festivities surrounding the first game, Square Enix has also made a series of announcements. We might only be in the first month but this is one jam-packed showcase!
Square Enix is blasting onto mobile with a brand new adventure. Tomb Raider Reloaded will be a mobile game that will have you dodging deadly traps and solving puzzles.
Tomb Raider will also be making a return to your screens. Alicia Vikander is returning for a sequel of the films based on the rebooted franchise. This time the film will be helmed by Misha Green. The director has mentioned her fondness for both Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Perhaps this gives us an idea of what to expect?
Similarly, Netflix announced that an anime series will be coming to the platform. After forging her path from a survivor to hero and ultimately the Tomb Raider, the series will pick up from Lara’s latest adventures in the reboot trilogy. Not much more is known about the show yet, but what a way to kick off celebrations!
“Kind of Evolution on Steroids, Then?”
Throughout February, we also saw coverage of the first game. There was an amazing interview between Shelley Blond, the voice of Lara, and Natalie Cook, the model of Lara. Every trophy in the first game has also been broken down and explained. Even the box art has been reimagined by Brenoch Adams.
Tomb Raider 25 is set to be an exciting year for any fan of the franchise. February marked the game that started it all, that introduced the world to Lara Croft.
We’ll be recapping each month and every announcement here. In the meantime, why not check out our Tomb Raider collection?