Tomb Raider Evolution has arrived. This website is still under construction, so please bear with us. Our mission is to reveal as much as possible about the upcoming reboot of Tomb Raider .... as well as other "yet to be released" video games and movies. Here you can find all the video game news that's fit to print (and what some people consider 'unfit' to print) along with accompanying renders, wallpapers, game guides, demos, fan fiction and more.
Tomb Raider News
Posted: February 6, 2011
The upcoming Tomb Raider reboot ( read the beginning of the story below ) is a departure from past Tomb Raider titles and ventures into an entirely new realm. It will be unlike any Tomb Raider game you have ever seen. In the new game, Lara Croft is younger (21), just starting out, less entitled, very capable, ...... and definitely vulnerable.
A press release was issued from Square Enix on December 6th (2010) about the upcoming Tomb Raider game. Read the official press release below. You can also visit the Tomb Raider website which will be unveiling the video game that will come out in late 2011 on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
Crystal Dynamics and Eidos (Square Enix) want to place an emphasis on reality with the reboot. Lara is more susceptible to painful injury in the new game. And although she may seem more reliant upon others at times, she still maintains an independent streak. This game is a great deal more intense compared to past entries in the series. It's primarily about pure survival on the mysterious island. And since the game will contain a great deal more violence, realistic violence, it is almost guaranteed to be rated 'M' for Mature. The game is expected to be out (hopefully) around Christmas of this year. Of course, that's subject to the whims/plans of Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics.
Karl Stewart (from Crystal Dynamics) has said that the developer has yet to cast a voice actress for the upcoming 'Tomb Raider' video game. Stewart says that the Crystal Dynamics team is still searching for the perfect voice of Lara Croft.
"Still on the lookout. She’s out there, I know it," he stated on his Twitter page, before confirming that Keeley Hawes will not voice Lara in the new game.
Based upon the official render released by Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics, artist Harm Dreise has overhauled the model of Lara Croft and recreated her surroundings using other concept artwork. You can see and more of his work at
Harm Dreise website.
The Adventure Begins ......
After the shipwreck, Lara comes to in a most traumatic way. The nothingness that engulfed her is first broken by the sound of something heavy dragging across wet sediment, punctuated by soft groaning and the dripping of water. The blackness yields to the heavy imagery of a poorly lit room. Just as Lara begins to regain her senses, the world shifts off-kilter, followed by the sound of rope protesting as it is pulled taut. Lara regains consciousness with a gasp, her chin visibly trembling before panic overtakes her. She finds herself imprisoned inside a canvas sack, suspended upside down from a lofty height above a cavern floor, only her head exposed.
Lara Croft is naked ...... in a figurative sense; she has no tools or weapons at her disposal. Dangling beside her is another captive - one who has already died. Drawing motivation from her fear, Lara begins to struggle with aid from the player; able to do little more than sway back and forth. "I can't die like this," she protests with an edge of hysteria.
As she builds momentum, Lara crashes into the sack next to her, unintentionally lighting it on fire from a sea of candles. The deceased inhabitant drops to the floor below. This small string of actions is Crystal Dynamics way of introducing the player to Tomb Raider's physics-based world and establishing a vocabulary of tools that Lara can exploit to help her survive. Lara knows an obvious truth .... cloth and rope burn. If she can do the unthinkable, there is a way out of her plight. "This is going to hurt," she mutters to herself .... swinging until her own constaraints ignite. Lara screams as the flames engulf her and braces for the freefall to the floor below. Lara Croft is no longer the epitome of grace. The camera slows to a crawl, anticipating her arrival from the perspective of the floor. A metal spike comes to focus in the foreground. As foreshadowed, the object skewering her side, .... another scream erupts from her lips.
The echoing outburst gives way to incoherent muttering, as the player must aid Lara in pulling the spike from her side. The screen flashes as the spike pulls free, and all sound is drowned out by Lara's frantic heartbeat. With the object discarded, she stands up wearily to show us the full extent of her condition. Mud cakes her face, arms, and chest, with only sweat and tears exposing small rivers of bare skin. Her hair is pulled back, but disheveled; her rugged pants are soaked and covered in grime. Blood clearly marks the spikes entrance and exit wound on Lara's gray top. Another noteworthy detail about her apearance is what's missing. A Lara Croft without twin pistols is an unconventional sight.
"What .... ?" Lara stutters, the single word elongated. "What is this place?" Pushed forward by fear and adrenaline, the player navigates Lara through the cave's narrow corridors, searching for a way out of the desparate situation. The serpentine walls give way to a large room lit by candles, but the waning claustrophobia does little to alleviate tension. A human corpse is strung up in front of a sacrificial altar.
The most unnerving realization is that the body is still fresh, unlike the skeletal companions perched amongst treasure from a variety of cultures and centuries past. "God no! What did he do to you?" Lara questions the lifeless form, barely lucid from pain. Alarmed by the sound of footsteps, Lara lets loose an expletive before picking up a torch from the wall and pressing on. She doesn't give the relics that litter the room a second glance. Lara is focused on survival. Professional curiosity will have to wait.
A weave of cloth and debris obstructs Lara's path, and from prior experience the player knows the torch will burn it away. In a similar case of cause and effect, by passing through a veil of water, Lara loses her flame. After relighting her torch in an adjacent room, Lara drops to her knees to crawl through a narrow tunnel, only to find her legs ripped from under her as a man (one of the scavangers native to the underground dwelling) grabs her from behind. While the player stuggles to regain her footing, the mysterious figure trys to calm her with reassurances. "Stop! Stop it! Shhhhh!" He echoes. "Help! Help! I'm trying to help!"
If you give in and cease the struggle, the deranged man will pin Lara to the ground before plunging a makeshift blade into her chest, his free hand closing her lifeless eyes and continuing to coo softly in her ear. Next to nothing has been revealed about these antagonists or their motivations, but Lara was right to be wary. These foes aren't simple beasts. They are conniving creatures and the embodiment of the island's hostility.
Why the change in the character and the game?
With her iconic braided ponytail (which changed over the years), tight-fitting outfits and dual pistols on her hips, Lara Croft quickly eclipsed the franchise that once spawned her wide popularity. Her success had stemmed, in part, from her projection of both power and sexual fantasy. It was almost impossible to overlook the accentuated curves, or the invincibility and effortless athleticism of the character.
Some people saw Lara Croft as an inspiration, ..... while others shunned her as merely a chauvinistic objectification. Lara was independent, intelligent, capable, deadly, resourceful, athletic and, of course, sexy. She maintained a rabid following, and became an icon that transcended her flaws. Lara Croft was exactly who fans wanted her to be, and for a time, that was enough.
Just about everything eventually loses steam, such was the case with Lara Croft. The Tomb Raider games suffered, her market appeal diminished, and her reign eventually came to an end. Halting the franchise's steady decline was left to the people at Crystal Dynamics. But even with a trilogy of solid releases (Legend, Anniversary, Underworld), the studio recognized that the character of Lara Croft hadn't really evolved with the times. New and substantial leads had taken her place in video games.
With the industry constantly evolving and commanding meaningful experiences for players, Crystal Dynamics and Eidos knew they were at a crossroads with Tomb Raider. Rebooting the franchise, via an origin story, wasn't so much a choice as it was an act of necessity. CD knew that they had to research potential avenues for a redesign of both the character and the game.
"Iconic characters, whether they are heroic or not, are obvious products of their time." said Timothy Longo Jr., franchise director at Crystal Dynamics. "Specifically with franchises, they need to evolve with the times. When they don't, you can tell. They will fall. Crystal was bold in saying 'We have to do something big. Something different.'"
Implementing that change in the character and the game was another issue entirely. Examination of the character yielded a recurring sentiment. Lara's biggest downfall was her aura of invincibility. It may have worked in an age of superficial fun, when no amount of physical exertion, pain, or heartache would affect her. This appearance further condemned her as a character of all style and no substance. Crystal Dynamics knew they needed a new, younger Lara, .... a character that gamers would be able to identify with and care about.
"This is a survival story. This is an origin story." Longo continues. "Our goal is to take a very human and relatable character, and break her down before we rebuild her - to put her through survival challenges and have her come out a changed person, someone the player will relate to."
Crystal Dynamics set out to redesign Lara Croft not as a sex symbol or symbol of female empowerment, but as an entirely new character born out of something we had never seen before in video games.
To mold the character into a culturally relevant hero worthy of the attention that once came so effortlessly, Crystal Dynamics realized that they must break her first. Make no mistake, this Lara Croft is not a shadow of her predecessor, ...... nor is the game a precursor to her other adventures.
The new Lara is a woman all her own. She won't be invincible, or invulnerable. She will still have the intelligence, strength and beauty of the old Lara - but the new Lara bleeds and bruises, trembles in fear at times and even cries. Ultimately though, she fights through it all. Lara is no longer demure and seemingly all-knowing. Her face often displays a grimace of pain and fear, ........ but what doesn't kill Lara will make her stronger. Exactly how this new Lara Croft will be received by long-time Tomb Raider fans remains to be seen!
For those who are not aware of it, many custom levels built now don't even require that you have the Tomb Raider Level Editor already installed on your computer. You can download these levels/games (free) from the TRLE link above and play them on your PC. Happy raiding!
The "Tomb Raider" series .....
- Tomb Raider 1
- Tomb Raider 2
- Tomb Raider 3
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
- Tomb Raider: Legend
- Tomb Raider: Underworld
- The Golden Mask (TR 2 bonus levels)
- The Lost Artifact (TR 3 continuation with bonus levels)
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary (remake of the original)
- Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light
Official Press Release from Square Enix (Dec. 6, 2010):
LOS ANGELES, USA - Square Enix Ltd. is excited today to announce TOMB RAIDER®, the new game from Redwood City based studio Crystal Dynamics.
"After a brutal storm destroys the boat she was travelling on, a frightened young woman is left washed ashore on an unknown beach. On her own but not alone she has only one goal, to survive."
Here begins the first adventure for a young and inexperienced Lara Croft in a story which charts the journey of an ordinary woman who finds out just how far she must go in order to stay alive.
"Forget everything you know about TOMB RAIDER, we are exploring things that have never been done before in this game," said Darrell Gallagher, Head of Studio, Crystal Dynamics. "This is an origins story that creates Lara Croft and takes her on a character defining journey like no other."
There will be no real-life Lara Croft model for this latest Tomb Raider game. It is a reboot of the brand, and the series. The game isn't rated "M" for nothing. There are some brutal deaths in this new game. One possible scene has a boulder falling on Lara's leg, trapping her before another one falls and crushes her head.
Lara's weapons are said to include a shotgun, bow and pistols. The lock on targeting system is gone and the game will have a free aim system. You will be able to combine items to create something new and access a skill system to upgrade Lara's abilities. You'll also be able to use base camps to fast travel to different locations to minimize backtracking. There will be a need to gather food and water in order to survive.
Downloads
| size | download | type |
|---|---|---|
| 26.3 MB | Tomb Raider: Legend | Windows PC demo |
| 27 MB | Tomb Raider: Anniversary | Windows PC demo |
| 32 MB | Tomb Raider: Underworld | Windows PC demo |
| 23 MB | Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light | Windows PC demo |
| 23 MB | Tomb Raider: Legend | Saved games - PC |
| 23 MB | Tomb Raider: Anniversary | Saved games - PC |
| 23 MB | Tomb Raider: Underworld | Saved games - PC |
| 23 MB | Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light | Saved games - PC |
The "new" Lara Croft ...
Lara Croft was groomed from a young age to look at the past before the present, forgoing traditional holiday gatherings in favor of family excursions to archaeological digs. This methodical upbringing had its intended effect on the young Croft, instilling a love of the unknown that drives her to uncover rational explanations for the most heavily esconced mysteries. Her passion for antiquity was inescapable. While Lara's affinity for the ancient is effortless, she often finds herself struggling to carve an identity of her own from under her parents' influential shadow. She comes from money, but refuses to flaunt it. Her name garners respect, but she craves to earn it. She dreams of proving herself, but wants to pursue her passion on her own terms. To that end, she unexpectedly turned down an open invitation to Cambridge and enrolled at a lesser-known university to immerse herself in real-life experiences. This time was crucial in molding Lara into a practical and levelheaded young woman, grounded in a way that her parents' itinerary would have never allowed.
Now 21 and fresh from academy, Lara is eager to prove herself to the world - and perhaps to her parents. This drive places Lara aboard the salvage vessel 'Endurance' with Captain Conrad Roth, an ex-Royal Marine commando known for his willingnes to bend (or even break) the law to secure a prize. Together, the crew sets off on a voyage to search for lost relics off the coast of Japan. This first adventure was intended to be a definitive moment in a young and inexperienced Lara's career, a chance to change history with the discovery of significance.
Before they reach the island, the expedition is derailed by a massive storm that cleaves the Endurance in two, leaving an unprepared Croft lost in a sea of blackness. Instead of finding respect and renown, Lara will be pushed to the limits of human fortitude.
Brian Horton talking about the new Lara Croft ....
Ultimately, what I think is going to be compelling about this – and what our version of sexy is – is the toughness through adverse conditions. Seeing her survive through these moments. Her skin is still bare on the arms and there are going to be rips and tears on her clothes, but it won’t be about being revealing. It’s a way of saying that through these tough situations, there is a beauty and vulnerability coming through. I think that is sexy in its own way.
Tomb Raider Fan Fiction
| date | story title | status |
|---|---|---|
| 03.11.2009 | Lara Croft: Genesis | complete |
| 01.17.2008 | Angel of Darkness: Resurrection | complete |
| 04.04.2006 | A Legend Is Born | complete |
| 08.23.2007 | The Jewel Of Egypt | complete |
| 06.15.2007 | The Curse of Queen Maub | complete |
| 07.11.2006 | Revenge of the Aztec Gods | complete |
| 05.09.2006 | Search For The King Of Bevera | complete |
| 02.12.2006 | Boaz Returns | complete |
| 01.22.2006 | Overcast | complete |
| 11.08.2005 | Lara Croft: Sweet Revenge | complete |
| 09.13.2005 | Lara's Nightmare | complete |
| 05.03.2005 | Revelations | complete |
| 11.18.2004 | Two Sides Of The Same Coin | complete |
| 10.18.2009 | The Angel Returns | complete |
| 05.11.2009 | A New World - A New Life | complete |
| 09.19.2007 | The Evil House | complete |
| 03.22.2011 | The Tomb of Sekhemkhet | to be continued |
| your story here |
Video Game News
BioWare has continued to slowly give us new information on "Star Wars: The Old Republic" as it marches toward release. The heavily-anticipated game, we're now told, will include the poisonous mining planet of Quesh, a new environment that players will visit.
Loaded with lethal chemical gas and dangerous wildlife, Quesh is an important point of conflict between the Republic and the Sith Empire because of the valuable minerals it holds. Players will need to brave the harsh environment if they hope to help to gain a foothold in the area for their faction.
Check out more info and some great screenshots of Quesh on the Star Wars: The Old Republic site. Read more about the game below.
Video Games in Development
| release date | game title | platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 04.18.2010 | Mass Effect 3 | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 04.18.2007 | Uncharted 3 | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 10.18.2011 | Star Wars; The Old Republic | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 04.18.2007 | Assassins Creed 3 | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
Star Wars: The Old Republic ...
Star Wars: The Old Republic is an upcoming massive multiplayer online role-playing game based in the Star Wars universe. Currently in development by BioWare Austin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at a special press event. "Star Wars: The Old Republic" is one of the biggest games on the video game horizon. The sci-fi MMORPG will represent BioWare's first attempt at creating a massive multiplayer online game, but it will also build upon its classic single-player RPG "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic". In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. The Old Republic will be released as a Windows title. The game is scheduled to come out in late 2011.
Top Selling Video Games
| release date | game title | platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 11.09.2010 | Black Ops | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 04.18.2007 | Read Dead Redemption | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 04.18.2007 | Mass Effect 2 | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
| 11.16.2010 | Assassins Creed 3 | X-box 360, PS3, Windows PC |
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops is set largely during the 1960s and takes you to Cold War hot spots such as Cuba, Russia, and Vietnam. You are an elite covert operative, and your globe-trotting adventures form pieces of a puzzle that your mysterious captors are trying to put together by interrogating you.
Each trip into the field is a memory, and the missions slowly come together to build momentum as each interrogation cut-scene puts another piece of the puzzle in place. It's not very original, but it gives a coherent context to the action. A few strong characters and dramatic moments give the story some genuine intrigue. The blurry edges of your consciousness conceal information that must come to light, and the erratic visual effects and eerie audio echoes that accompany your interrogations sometimes bleed into your mission memories. This creates a great tone of uncertainty that plays out in often surprising and satisfying ways.
Your interrogation-fueled flashbacks are not limited to the linear flow of time, thereby allowing your missions to cover a wide variety of geography and gameplay. A dramatic breakout from a brutal Soviet prison is one early highlight, and later missions feature frontline conflicts, urban firefights, and mountainous incursions. Call of Duty: Black Ops lives up to the pedigree that the series has earned, giving players a great new shooter to enjoy just in time for the holidays.
Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. is the third entry in the franchise, and it once again places you in the shoes Desmond Miles, who is going through his genetic memories to relive the lives of his assassin ancestors. While the game will include parts where you'll directly control Desmond, the bulk of the game has you playing AC2's hero (and Desmond's long-deceased ancestor), Ezio Auditore. And while AC2 ended with Ezio in a position of power, Brotherhood turns this around quickly, forcing him to fight for his very life and build up a new society of assassins in the city of Rome.
The bulk of the gameplay is very similar to AC2. Players still use Ezio to lithely jump around the environment, scaling any and every surface around them in order to get the drop on enemies. All the stealth mechanics also return, with players using crowds, benches, and the bustling nature of the city to disguise themselves.
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