The History of Tomb Raider

Nearly 17 years ago, Lara Croft busted her way into the gaming industry as an action icon. Today the Tomb Raider series has 14 games. Tomb Raider is an action-adventure game that allows players to step into the shoes of Lara Croft, an aristocratic adventurer.

In 1996, Edios and Core Design released 'Tomb Raider' the Sega Saturn. Due to the game's success, Sony sought an exclusivity deal and released the next two installments on the PlayStation. 'Tomb Raider II' hit shelves in 1997 with enhanced game-play mechanics and graphics. However, when 'Tomb Raider III' was released in 1998, reviews and sales saw a significant drop. Because of this, Core Design sent Lara to her death in 'Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation' a year later. At the end of this game, Lara is seen trapped in a collapsing tomb and presumed dead.

In 2000, 'Tomb Raider Chronicles' came out. The game is told through flashbacks of friends and family attending Lara's funeral. However, the fifth installment failed to impress. The series only continued to decline as 'Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness' was released for PlayStation 2 in 2003. The game's messy controls and buggy game play led to negative reviews and heavy criticisms from fans.

This failure to provide caused Tomb Raider to be handed over to a new developer, Crystal Dynamics. In 2006, Crystal Dynamics indulged Tomb Raider fans with 'Tomb Raider: Legend'. A major revamp of game-play mechanics, script and back-story was what the game needed to become a success. Crystal Dynamics even took a step further and fully re-introduced fans to Tomb Raider with a complete resurrection of the first game. This revival came in the form of 'Tomb Raider: Anniversary' in 2007. Then, in 2008, Tomb Raider took a slightly darker and edgier approach with 'Tomb Raider: Underworld'. Development on the series' most recent game 'Tomb Raider' began soon after the release of 'Underworld'.

The complete reboot of Lara Croft's back-story took place earlier this year in 'Tomb Raider'. With its stunning graphics, compelling story and impressive multiplayer, this prequel was met with much anticipation. It sold more than 1 million copies within 48-hours of its release. Following its success, Crystal Dynamics has already hinted at another installment of Tomb Raider set for 2014.

                                     

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