She was the feisty 64-bit action figure that changed the gaming world forever: Lara Croft. Appearing for the first time on computer screens back in 1996, she has since gone on to become one of the most visible figures in the entire action world.
In fact, some say that she’s the most successful human video game heroine of all time, having graced more than 800 magazine covers and sold over 58 million video game units worldwide. The recent release of the extended franchise Lara Croft, featuring Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, has brought this beloved title back to life again.
Perhaps early on it was those short cargo pants and a tight crop top that sold all of those copies back in the 90s. When it first appeared, it caused a massive sensation. You have to remember that up until that point there was no leading female to take on the role of a kick-ass hero. Could you have imagined any other multilingual archaeologist with extraordinary athletic abilities out there? The game was essentially about a female action hero who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around the world—all while fending off evil villains at the same time.
In 2001 Lara Croft first appeared on the silver screen when Angelina Jolie reinterpreted her for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, bringing a fervent enthusiasm that only she could. She also appeared in the follow-up in 2003, playing a shipwrecked student in the title Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Both movies reaped in a combined $400+ million at the global box office.
It is true that Lara Croft’s 22-year journey has mirrored the slopes of the gaming industry. Females fronting video games have gone from none to many. Just look at the industry now, with everyone from Tifa Lockhart (from Final Fantasy VII) to Sherry Birkin (from the Resident Evil series) having starring roles in video game representation.
Being a female hero in a male-dominated video game market, Lara Croft certainly broke the mold. When the creator of Lara Croft, Toby Gard of Core Design, developed the character in 1993, he said he wanted to create “a female character who was a heroine—cool, collected, in control”.
It’s seen 18 different versions and releases of the game throughout the decades. In the first year, it obviously connected with people, selling over 7 million copies. Ever since Toby brought her to life, computer gaming's most iconic heroine has even been reinvented for several different spinoff purposes. She’s become a popular cultural icon, appearing on t-shirts, handbags, and action figure toys. Perhaps it's her unique, uncompromising attitude that people find so appealing.
Fast-forward to 2018, and now Lara Croft takes a new, modern twist where Alicia Vikander becomes the second major Hollywood star to step into the archeologist’s dusty boots. She gained12 lbs of muscle and trained with top Hollywood stuntwomen; now she’s set to take female superheroes into the new era. Here’s hoping that the world's most rugged, revered archeologist of our time is still breaking ceilings for decades to come.