25 years of Tomb Raider and a British gaming icon

When the first Tomb Raider game was released in 1996, it was one of the most critically acclaimed video games of the time. It was revolutionary. It was a game that changed the industry. It was a game that changed the world. It was a game that changed the way we think of Lara Croft. That may sound like a lot of pressure for one game to bear, but Tomb Raider has proven to be one of the most iconic characters in gaming history. You’d be hard pressed to find a gamer that doesn’t recognize Lara Croft, but the series has evolved into so much more than a single woman.

Lara Croft is back. The original action-adventure hero is being rebooted by publisher Square Enix after nearly 20 years. Lara Croft first appeared on the PlayStation in 1996. The game sold more than six million copies and kick-started the action adventure genre. Key to the game’s success was its hero, Lara Croft. Developer Toby Gard wanted someone different to the usual male heroes found in games at the time. It’s a decision that’s been crucial to Lara’s longevity.

Lara’s character was designed to be as powerful as her male counterparts. She was agile, athletic and strong – a combination of opposites. In the game she was often seen as an object of desire, not just to the player but to the bad guys too. As Lara has evolved her character’s been developed too, with her looks and personality changing as technology has improved. Her latest reboot takes her back to the moment the first game began and Lara discovers the island on which she will become the star of future games.

It’s been 25 years since the release of a game that would change the face of British gaming. It was the game that would become a gaming icon and the inspiration for an industry. She was a British lead character and a British developed game. The creation of the character went through many different designs and artists until the perfect one was found.

The game was developed by a British team with a British character and in a British setting. It had a British feel to it and was loved by gamers all around the world. It was a game that was going to change the face of British gaming and Lara Croft would become a British gaming icon.

It feels like only yesterday that the game that started it all was released. Even though the games have changed over time and the graphics have evolved with each iteration, it hasn’t lost that classic game play that made it so popular to begin with. We are here today to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Tomb Raider with three fun facts that helped shape the game we know and love today.