Lara Croft’s New Look: The Online Debate Heats Up!
The recent State of Play showcase gave us an exciting peek at the upcoming game, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, which is being touted as a fresh take on the classic 1996 Tomb Raider title. As Lara Croft swung through the trailer, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, she looks fantastic!” However, it seems I might be in the minority with that opinion.
This isn’t the first time fans have seen the new Lara—her debut trailer dropped back in December during The Game Awards, and the reactions to her appearance were immediate. Some fans criticized her new look, labeling it as “anti-woke” and “yassified.” One Reddit user even remarked that her outfit seemed reminiscent of a “sex doll.” Initially, I expected everyone would warm up to her new design, which, while certainly more polished than her original 1996 appearance, also nods to the style from the 2013 reboot. But after the latest trailer, I can see I may have underestimated the reaction.
Fans continue to describe Lara’s look as “yassified,” and many are voicing their opinions about her supposed lack of muscle tone. The main complaints are centered around her eyeliner and curvy figure, while others argue that she isn’t curvy enough. It seems that no matter where you stand, Lara can’t catch a break in public opinion. This leads me to ponder whether we’re all even looking at the same character model.
At the heart of this discussion appears to be the notion that Lara is simply too feminine. Seriously, she wears eyeliner in the jungle and has a curvy shape—what’s the fuss all about? Breaking news: Femme fatales can be attractive and tough at the same time!
As a long-time Tomb Raider fan, I can confidently say that Lara is, and always has been, canonically female and embodies the traits of a femme fatale. Her charm is a crucial aspect of her character. In fact, the artists behind her new design in Legacy of Atlantis could have pushed the envelope further in terms of her sexiness, but I’m glad they didn’t. Lara’s appeal has consistently been a part of her identity, and trying to strip that away in a remake just feels odd and frankly, rather offensive.
I fondly recall stepping into Lara’s shoes back in the ’90s, where she rocked eyeliner and dark lipstick—a remnant of that era’s fashion. Her proportions were undeniably exaggerated, designed to catch the eye of a male audience first and foremost. Yet, I loved her character just the same. Back then, having a female protagonist felt revolutionary, and while I’ve raised my standards over the years, the new Lara in Legacy of Atlantis is still a refreshing take on a character I adore.
Interestingly, this iteration of Lara is actually less made-up compared to her appearance in 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I didn’t hear nearly as much outrage back then about her being overly attractive. Crazy how opinions can shift! At that time, the main critique seemed to be that she was too muscular. Now, it’s all about her eyelashes and curvy frame, which are on-trend right now—much like the dark lipstick from the ’90s was back in the day.
Beyond the games, we’ve seen different interpretations of Lara, including in the Netflix series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, where she sported a more rugged look. Personally, I wasn’t a fan as it felt like they erased key aspects of her personality. I appreciate that Crystal Dynamics has stayed true to Lara’s essence in Legacy of Atlantis without compromising her femininity or over-sexualizing her.
Of course, there’s a place for gender-non-conforming characters in gaming, and the positive reception of characters like Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3 shows there’s plenty of room for diverse representations. However, it shouldn’t come at the cost of changing beloved characters beyond recognition—something I fear is at play with some fans’ expectations for Lara.
In short, girly girls absolutely exist, and that’s perfectly fine. Lara has always been a mix of femininity and fierce badassery, and embracing her womanhood is part of what makes her so compelling. If I were swinging from ropes and exploring ancient ruins, you’d better believe I’d be rocking eyeliner too! Sometimes it’s just makeup, but in Lara’s case, it’s a symbol of strength.
As I wrap this up, I see the usual suspects online grumbling about Lara not being feminine enough. Her bust is too small! She looks too human! Seriously?!
“Leave Legacy-Lara alone!”
At the end of the day, Lara’s design in Legacy of Atlantis isn’t harming anyone. While she’s undeniably pretty, there’s nothing about her look that feels unrealistic or overly sexualized to me. The only real controversy surrounding her appearance might be the possibility that it was generated by AI—now that’s a conversation we could have!