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Tomb Raider, released nearly ten years ago, marks one of the most pivotal points in gaming history and stands as one of the top ten games of all time.
When Tomb Raider was released, the team at Core Design, the developers, were visionaries. They introduced the follow-me camera, allowing players to see their main character in action from a third-person perspective. They created a story and a world that were both engrossing and awe-inspiring. Lush jungles, dark caverns, and of course, vast tombs that all needed, even begged to be explored.
Core Design brought not only new ideas and new technologies, they single-handedly shattered the traditional macho-male-hero paradigm that had dominated the industry since its inception. Tomb Raider stars Lara Croft, a brash, witty female equivalent of Indiana Jones. As Lara Croft, you set off on grand adventures to obtain valuable artifacts and explore wonderous archaeological sites. Along the way, you got involved in a great story that carried you around the world to many new and exciting locations.
In every location you found a new challenge, another puzzle, or new enemies to overcome. Nearly every aspect of the gameplay in Tomb Raider was revolutionary. Lara was not only adventurous, she was incredibly athletic and acrobatic. She could jump, climb, swim, swing, flip, dive, dodge, do handstands, and handle a pair of pistols with ease. During her adventures, Lara had to move boxes, find switches, dispatch enemies, cut through underbrush, jump over pools of lava, and generally have an action-packed adventure that left players wondering where video games could have been without her.
The music and graphics in Tomb Raider were perfect compliments to this adventure. While the game looks very old today, ten years ago it looked fantastic. The world was rich with color and detail. Massive statues and ancient buildings tucked away in long-forgotten caves. Waterfalls splashing onto rocks and into deep blue pools surrounded by lush green jungles. The music brought ambience to the visual feast, but served another purpose as well. Prior to danger appearing, typically another group of enemies, the telltale music would strike up, serving as a warning, but also heightening the tension in the game.
Every aspect of the game, the ideas, the graphics, the controls, the music, came together in one phenomenal package that changed the landscape of gaming from that point forward. By now it is probably too late to play the game and experience Core's brilliance, as the inevitable march of time has not been kind to the graphics. Rest assured, though, that Tomb Raider shall forever have a place in the Valhala of video games; a tribute to creativity, innovation, and the adventuring spirit in all of us.
Happy 10th anniversary, Lara!
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