Lara Croft has come a long way from her 1996 debut in the original Tomb Raider. Inspired by pop star Neneh Cherry and comic book character Tank Girl, Lara Croft was designed to counter stereotypical female characters. Her design has been changed and updated with the advent of increasingly better graphics, and her back story has been hugely deepened. Lara is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic English archaeologist and adventurer who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and ruins around the world. In the 20 years of her existence, she’s become a feminine force and an icon in the male dominated world of video games.
Lara has also appeared in print adaptations of Tomb Raider, in a series of animated short film, in feature films, and as merchandise related to the series. There’s a Lara Croft brand of apparel and accessories, action figures, and model portrayals. She’s also been licensed for third-party promotion, including television and print advertisements, music-related appearances, and as a spokesmodel. She holds six Guinness World Records, has an immense fan following, and is one of the earliest and now eldest video game sex symbols.
In 2016, Lara will appear in Rise of the Tomb Raider, the sequel to the 2013 game Tomb Raider. Promotional images for the upcoming game show Lara in an icy environment, bearing a climbing axe and her longbow. In lieu of her signature tank top, she wears a weather-appropriate coat and scarf. The combat in RotTR has been redesigned with more options for stealth and sneak attacks. The environment / weather and night-day cycle will also play important roles in the game dynamics.
The gorgeous Meagan Marie knows a thing or two about Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise, seeing as she’s the senior community manager at Crystal Dynamics. She’s also a super talented cosplayer, and the perfect person to cosplay Lara. Here she takes on Lara’s new costume from the promo images for RotTR. On her Facebook, you can see a fascinating breakdown of the costume elements and get an in depth look at the accessories and details. Meagan has a deep love for Lara, which shows in both the costume creation and the way she carries herself in the stellar photos. Seeing Lara come to life through Meagan only adds to the anticipation of the new Tomb Raider title. 2016 can’t get here fast enough for fans of Lara Croft. In the meantime, we have Meagan Marie’s incredible photos to keep us happy.
Photography by Antony Gomes Photographe and Anna Cosplay Photography
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