Tomb Raider Writer Wants Lara To Have Less 'Daddy Issues'
One Tomb Raider writer has spoken out, saying they want future chapters in the franchise to feature Lara Croft with less "daddy issues" that weigh her character down.
11th Apr 2022 14:50
Images via Eidos Interactive
Tomb Raider Writer Wants Lara To Have Less 'Daddy Issues'
One Tomb Raider writer has spoken out, saying they want future chapters in the franchise to feature Lara Croft with less "daddy issues" that weigh her character down.
11th Apr 2022 14:50
Images via Eidos Interactive
It could be time to cut the umbilical cord, as one Tomb Raider writer has said they want to see Lara Croft freed from the ghosts of her past as the franchise moves forward. Following the surprise announcement that Crystal Dynamics is working on another Tomb Raider title, the internet is hyped about Ms. Croft's long-awaited return.
We've said it time and again - the Tomb Raider games are pretty cookie cutter. We usually pick up with the athletic Lara Croft trotting around the globe to retrieve a lost artefact. There's some sort of loss along the way, she battles some shadowy organisation, and someone close to her is usually revealed as the big bad. Blah, blah, blah. So, how should Tomb Raider innovate this time around?
Should Tomb Raider Ditch Lara's Father?
A solid basis for any good hero is the loss of a parent or parents. Bruce lost Thomas and Martha Wayne, and what would Spider-Man be if Uncle Ben hadn't died? Unfortunately for Tomb Raider, there tends to be an overreliance on Richard Croft. In both the original Legend timeline and Crystal Dynamics' Survivor timeline, the legacy of Lara's father has loomed large (even after his death in both stories).
According to writer Rhianna Pratchett, Tomb Raider needs to evolve past Richard Croft. Speaking to Eurogamer at the BAFTAs, Pratchett explained, "We had a really fun time evolving her character, so I would like to see probably less father issues. And that's coming from me!" For those who don't know, Pratchett is the daughter of the late Terry Pratchett - who is remembered for his Discworld novels.
Pratchett continued: "I like seeing her striking out on her own and really taking some joy in what she does. Because when we wrote the reboot game, she was really on her way to becoming a tomb raider. So she was like proto-Tomb Raider. And all the traits that you associate with Tomb Raider like tenaciousness, bravery, resourcefulness, were kind of bubbling to the surface with her."
What's Next For Tomb Raider?
By the sounds of it, we're moving toward a Shadow of the Tomb Raider sequel. As for the potential of where Lara could go next, Pratchett added: "I want to see that full fruition, I want to see the sassy one-liners and things that I would have loved to have written. But, you know, she wasn't at that stage yet, she didn't have the confidence yet." Reminding us that the Survivor trilogy was a huge hit with fans, Pratchett concluded, "So it's gonna be exciting to see what they do next."
This isn't the first time she's spoken about Lara's father. When someone previously slammed Rise of the Tomb Raider's dive into her past, Pratchett said: "Speaking as someone that often gets defined by her dad, I've spoken in interviews about not being a fan of the dad plotline in Rise, but it was dictated from above & I had to make peace with it to do my job. It's a big reason why the comics I worked on were very non-dad focused." Here's hoping Lara steps out of the shadow of her father in whatever is next for Tomb Raider.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
