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* EvilPlan: [[spoiler: Natla]]'s scheme in ''Underworld''.
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* XanatosGambit /EvilPlan : [[spoiler: Natla]]'s scheme in ''Underworld''.
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Namespace stuff Changing, yo.
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'''''Tomb Raider''''' is a media franchise (mostly video game based) starring an AdventurerArchaeologist named Lara Croft. In most of the games, she travels around the world looking for highly prized treasures while avoiding rival hunters, wildlife, and various death traps.
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animated series.
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover failed, the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animated series.
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover failed, the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
to:
'''''Tomb Raider''''' is a media franchise (mostly video game based) starring an AdventurerArchaeologist named Lara Croft. In most of the games, she travels around the world looking for highly prized treasures while avoiding rival hunters, wildlife, and various death traps.
traps.
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animatedseries.
series.
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover failed, the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' ''LegacyOfKain'' series).
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animated
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover failed, the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the
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* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider]]'' (1996) - Lara Croft is hired by a wealthy businesswoman, Jacqueline Natla, to recover a piece of an artifact called the Scion, from the lost city of Vilcabamba. After Lara is inevitably betrayed by her employer, she races across the world to find the two other pieces of the Scion and prevent it from falling into Natla's hands. Along the way, Lara visits Peru, Greece, Egypt and a remnant of Atlantis.
to:
* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider]]'' ''VideoGame/TombRaider'' (1996) - Lara Croft is hired by a wealthy businesswoman, Jacqueline Natla, to recover a piece of an artifact called the Scion, from the lost city of Vilcabamba. After Lara is inevitably betrayed by her employer, she races across the world to find the two other pieces of the Scion and prevent it from falling into Natla's hands. Along the way, Lara visits Peru, Greece, Egypt and a remnant of Atlantis.
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* ''Tomb Raider II'' (1997) - Lara is after the legendary Dagger of Xian, which is said to give its owner "[[LiteralGenie the power of a dragon]]". She finds herself in conflict with Italian mob boss/cult leader Marco Bartoli, who is after the same item. Locations in the game include Venice, an offshore oil rig, the sunken ocean liner Maria Doria, Tibet and the Great Wall of China.
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* ''Tomb Raider II'' (1997) - Lara is after the legendary Dagger of Xian, which is said to give its owner "[[LiteralGenie the power of a dragon]]". She finds herself in conflict with Italian mob boss/cult leader Marco Bartoli, who is after the same item. Locations in the game include Venice, an offshore oil rig, the sunken ocean liner Maria Doria, Tibet and the Great Wall of China.
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* ''Tomb Raider III'' (1998) is actually five, loosely connected stories. Lara is gathering four crystal artifacts, with mystical (and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insanity-inducing]]) powers. The first is found in India and then the player can then choose in which order to seek out the remaining three, visiting Area 51, London and an unspecified island in the South Pacific. Finally, she travels to the impact site in Antarctica, fighting through an excavation filled with creatures mutated by the meteorite.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the {{PlayStation}} version, but is also very ambitious in other areas; this resulted in it becoming a LoveItOrHateIt game with people generally either considering it one of the (or the) best games in the series or hating it. This was also the start of a general split in the overall reception of the series.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the {{PlayStation}} version, but is also very ambitious in other areas; this resulted in it becoming a LoveItOrHateIt game with people generally either considering it one of the (or the) best games in the series or hating it. This was also the start of a general split in the overall reception of the series.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
to:
* ''Tomb Raider III'' (1998) is actually five, loosely connected stories. Lara is gathering four crystal artifacts, with mystical (and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insanity-inducing]]) powers. The first is found in India and then the player can then choose in which order to seek out the remaining three, visiting Area 51, London and an unspecified island in the South Pacific. Finally, she travels to the impact site in Antarctica, fighting through an excavation filled with creatures mutated by the meteorite.
meteorite.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the{{PlayStation}} PlayStation version, but is also very ambitious in other areas; this resulted in it becoming a LoveItOrHateIt game with people generally either considering it one of the (or the) best games in the series or hating it. This was also the start of a general split in the overall reception of the series.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
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* ''Tomb Raider: Legend'' (2006) - A ContinuityReboot of the franchise, ''Legend'' delves into Lara's BackStory and motivations. She seeks the fragments of an ancient sword that is connected to a traumatic event from her own past. The main antagonist is Lara's college friend, Amanda Evert, who returns after being believed dead for years and wants the sword for her own reasons. The locations in the game include Bolivia, Peru, a Yakuza-infested skyscraper in Tokyo, Ghana, an old paranormal research facility in Kazakhstan, the ruins of cheesy King Arthur museum in Cornwall and Nepal.
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* ''Tomb Raider: Legend'' (2006) - A ContinuityReboot of the franchise, ''Legend'' delves into Lara's BackStory and motivations. She seeks the fragments of an ancient sword that is connected to a traumatic event from her own past. The main antagonist is Lara's college friend, Amanda Evert, who returns after being believed dead for years and wants the sword for her own reasons. The locations in the game include Bolivia, Peru, a Yakuza-infested skyscraper in Tokyo, Ghana, an old paranormal research facility in Kazakhstan, the ruins of cheesy King Arthur museum in Cornwall and Nepal.
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* ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' (2008) - Another attempt to be DarkerAndEdgier, this time succeeding. Lara is searching for Thor's hammer and the Norse underworld, believing it to have a relation to Avalon, where her mother is (apparently) trapped.
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* ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' (2008) - Another attempt to be DarkerAndEdgier, this time succeeding. Lara is searching for Thor's hammer and the Norse underworld, believing it to have a relation to Avalon, where her mother is (apparently) trapped.
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* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2013 reboot seems to be this.
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* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2013 reboot seems to be this.
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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist.
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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist.
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* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2013 reboot.
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* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2013 reboot.
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**** [[spoiler: Shotgun behind the upper waterfall in the cave.]]
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**** [[spoiler: Shotgun behind the upper waterfall in the cave.]] ]]
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* ConvectionSchmonvection: With Atlantis from ''Tomb Raider'' and ''Anniversary'' being the biggest offender, but ''Tomb Raider II'' and ''Tomb Raider III'' have their moments.
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* ConvectionSchmonvection: With Atlantis from ''Tomb Raider'' and ''Anniversary'' being the biggest offender, but ''Tomb Raider II'' and ''Tomb Raider III'' have their moments.
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** The upcoming 2012 game is supposed to be even more DarkerAndEdgier than previous incarnations and an M rating.
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** The upcoming 2012 game is supposed to be even more DarkerAndEdgier than previous incarnations and an M rating.
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* DirtyCommunists: Subverted, if unintentionally. In ''Legend'', Lara comes to the assistance of Russian-speaking Kazakh soldiers at a Soviet-era research facility that is being attacked by, of all things, American mercenaries hired by a West Point graduate attempting to steal a Soviet-owned relic. She saves them from a likely death, and with some reluctance, they supply her with the passcode for their command center.
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* DirtyCommunists: Subverted, if unintentionally. In ''Legend'', Lara comes to the assistance of Russian-speaking Kazakh soldiers at a Soviet-era research facility that is being attacked by, of all things, American mercenaries hired by a West Point graduate attempting to steal a Soviet-owned relic. She saves them from a likely death, and with some reluctance, they supply her with the passcode for their command center.
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* EnemyChatter: In ''Legend''. Very amusing to listen to.
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* EnemyChatter: In ''Legend''. Very amusing to listen to.
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** The 2013 reboot averts this, toning down the boobage and slathering a thick layer of dirt, grime, and blood over everything else.
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** The 2013 reboot averts this, toning down the boobage and slathering a thick layer of dirt, grime, and blood over everything else.
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* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an [[PressXToNotDie interactive cutscene]]. If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
to:
* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an [[PressXToNotDie interactive cutscene]]. If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
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* HotMom: Lady Amelia Croft. Da-yum.
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* HotMom: Lady Amelia Croft. Da-yum.
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* KillerApp: While it was initially developed for the Saturn, ''Tomb Raider'' and its early sequels became a killer app for the {{PlayStation}}, the PC version was also one of the first games to get [[GraphicsProcessingUnit 3D card support]].
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* KillerApp: While it was initially developed for the Saturn, ''Tomb Raider'' and its early sequels became a killer app for the {{PlayStation}}, PlayStation, the PC version was also one of the first games to get [[GraphicsProcessingUnit 3D card support]].
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* MookHorrorShow: Lara can polish off entire armies of trained mercenaries by herself.
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* MookHorrorShow: Lara can polish off entire armies of trained mercenaries by herself.
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* NonActionGuy: Alister and Zip.
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* NonActionGuy: Alister and Zip.
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** [[spoiler: Amanda's]] apparently certain death by drowning and crushing in the ''Legend'' flashback. But when Lara returned, she NeverFoundTheBody, just an untied shoe. Guess what that means?
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** [[spoiler: Amanda's]] Amanda]]'s apparently certain death by drowning and crushing in the ''Legend'' flashback. But when Lara returned, she NeverFoundTheBody, just an untied shoe. Guess what that means?
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** The "Ghana" level in ''Legend'' opens with Lara swan-diving off a cliff into a lake about 100 feet below.
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
to:
** The "Ghana" level in ''Legend'' opens with Lara swan-diving off a cliff into a lake about 100 feet below.
below.
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
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* SuperNotDrowningSkills: In ''Tomb Raider Underworld'' depleting the oxygen meter takes longer than in the previous two games, in the instances where she's not using scuba gear.
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* SuperNotDrowningSkills: In ''Tomb Raider Underworld'' depleting the oxygen meter takes longer than in the previous two games, in the instances where she's not using scuba gear.
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* TrainingDummy: In ''Legend'', there is a dummy in the first Peru level which you can practice your hand-to-hand combat moves on.
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* TrainingDummy: In ''Legend'', there is a dummy in the first Peru level which you can practice your hand-to-hand combat moves on.
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** There are many, many videos on YouTube that show people diving Lara head first off a cliff onto solid ground. Heck, you can brutally be killed by almost anything in the series and people have happily done every single one of these things to Lara just to see what would happen.
to:
** There are many, many videos on YouTube Website/YouTube that show people diving Lara head first off a cliff onto solid ground. Heck, you can brutally be killed by almost anything in the series and people have happily done every single one of these things to Lara just to see what would happen.
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* WhiteMaleLead: Inverted. Maybe one of the reasons the series gained so much popularity is because it portrayed an attractive white female as protagonist, which garnered a substantial female PeripheryDemographic to the franchise.
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* WhiteMaleLead: Inverted. Maybe one of the reasons the series gained so much popularity is because it portrayed an attractive white female as protagonist, which garnered a substantial female PeripheryDemographic to the franchise.
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''The Angel of Darkness'' was supposed to be the first game in a trilogy. [[spoiler:Karel]] was supposed to survive and be in Turkey, trying to bring back his fellow Nephilim. Kurtis's fate apparently depended on how much the fans liked him (i.e. he would come back if he was really liked, or he would not if he was really disliked). Of course, since ''The Angel of Darkness'' [[ExecutiveMeddling failed miserably]], the trilogy idea was scrapped and ideas attached to it along with it.
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''The Angel of Darkness'' was supposed to be the first game in a trilogy. [[spoiler:Karel]] was supposed to survive and be in Turkey, trying to bring back his fellow Nephilim. Kurtis's fate apparently depended on how much the fans liked him (i.e. he would come back if he was really liked, or he would not if he was really disliked). Of course, since ''The Angel of Darkness'' [[ExecutiveMeddling failed miserably]], the trilogy idea was scrapped and ideas attached to it along with it.it - [[OrphanedSeries and the original continuity was never continued]].
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** Core Design were in the process of making their own remake of the original game (which was looking to be far more faithful than ''Anniversary'') before Eidos dropped them.
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* HandCannon: The Desert Eagle in ''III'' and the revolver in ''The Last Revelation'' were one-shot kills for most of the baddies in the game.
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* HandCannon: The Desert Eagle in ''III'' and the revolver in ''The Last Revelation'' were one-shot kills for most of the baddies in the game
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* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Janice in ''Angel of Darkness''.
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* GodOfEvil: Set.
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* GodOfEvil: Set.[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_(mythology) Set]].
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* HeelFaceTurn: Werner von Croy, although it's mainly down to DemonicPossession.
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* HeelFaceTurn: Werner von Croy, although Croy. At first it's due to greed, but later it's mainly down to DemonicPossession.
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* HeroicSacrifice: Sargent Aziz in ''The Last Revelation'' drives his truck filled with explosives into the dragon blocking that is blocking the Citadel, making it explode and killing the beast and himself in the process, which allows Lara to progress. Lara even gives Aziz a farewell salute after the deed is done.
to:
* HeroicSacrifice: Sargent Sergeant Aziz in ''The Last Revelation'' drives his truck filled with explosives into the dragon blocking that is blocking the Citadel, making it explode and killing the beast and himself in the process, which allows Lara to progress. Lara even gives Aziz a farewell salute after the deed is done.
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* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an "interactive cutscene". If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
to:
* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an "interactive cutscene".[[PressXToNotDie interactive cutscene]]. If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
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* [[AwwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther Aww, Look! He Really Does Care About Her]]: After spending most of ''The Last Revelation'' as an antagonist due to a combination of anger at being LeftForDead, greed, and DemonicPossession, Von Croy has a change of heart after the possession wears off, [[spoiler:desperately trying to save Lara from the collapsing Temple of Horus, and is genuinely mournful when he can't save her.]] In addition, during the present day in ''Chronicles'', he spearheads an operation to [[spoiler:try and rescue her.]]
to:
* [[AwwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther Aww, Look! He Really Does Care About Her]]: After spending most of ''The Last Revelation'' as an antagonist due to a combination of anger at being LeftForDead, greed, and DemonicPossession, Von Croy has a change of heart after the possession wears off, [[spoiler:desperately trying to save Lara from the collapsing Temple of Horus, and is genuinely mournful when he can't save her.]] In addition, during the present day in ''Chronicles'', he spearheads an operation to [[spoiler:try and rescue her.]]
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* [[AwwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther Aww, Look! He Really Does Care About Her]]: After spending most of ''The Last Revelation'' as an antagonist due to a combination of anger at being LeftForDead, greed, and DemonicPossession, Von Croy has a change of heart after the possession wears off, [[spoiler:desperately trying to save Lara from the collapsing Temple of Horus, and is genuinely mournful when he can't save her.]] In addition, during the present day in ''Chronicles'', he spearheads an operation to [[spoiler:try and rescue her.]]
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** Also, [[spoiler:after finding out the true fate of Amelia and getting closure]] in ''Underworld'', [[spoiler:Lara and Amanda are sent back to the original gate Amelia disappeared through in the flashback during Legend]].
to:
** ''The Last Revelation'' opens with two flashback levels showing Von Croy trapped in a collapsing temple with Lara unable to save him. In the present day, the game ends with [[spoiler:the roles reversed.]]
** Also, [[spoiler:after finding out the true fate of Amelia and getting closure]] in ''Underworld'', [[spoiler:Lara and Amanda are sent back to the original gate Amelia disappeared through in the flashback duringLegend]].''Legend'']].
** Also, [[spoiler:after finding out the true fate of Amelia and getting closure]] in ''Underworld'', [[spoiler:Lara and Amanda are sent back to the original gate Amelia disappeared through in the flashback during
* LeftForDead: Lara was forced to leave Von Croy in a collapsing temple when she was 16.
** Von Croy's is trapped in a collapsing temple in ''The Last Revelation'' flashback, with his leg trapped. He manages to survive, albeit with a disability for the rest of his life.
* RapunzelHair: Almost knee-length in ''IV'', but gets shorter and shorter in every sequel.
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* RapunzelHair: Almost knee-length in ''IV'', but gets shorter and shorter in every sequel.
to:
* RapunzelHair: Almost knee-length in ''IV'', but gets shorter and shorter in every sequel.ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Natla; Eckhardt; [[spoiler:Karel]].
** Also, the planned trilogy was going to reveal that the Nephilim and Atlantean races were connected, and Natla was possibly going to be brought BackFromTheDead, thus connecting it to the very start of the series.
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* WhiteGangBangers: The Kid in TRA
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]] (from the Crystal Dynamics continuity). Lampshaded in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o28cGVLKLFw this fan-made video]].
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]] (from the Crystal Dynamics continuity). Lampshaded in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o28cGVLKLFw this fan-made video]].
to:
* WhiteGangBangers: The Kid in TRA
''TRA''.
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]](from (in the Crystal Dynamics continuity).continuity, anyway). Lampshaded in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o28cGVLKLFw this fan-made video]].
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]]
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* EquipmentBasedProgression: The games follow this trope, giving you more powerful weapons as you progress whilst all other skills remain static from the start.
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Redundant with earlier in the description. Also, moving YMMV trope to its page.
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** ''Anniversary'' pleased many irritated by the changes in ''Legend'', with the level design more complex and the sidekicks gone. Its reviews were about the same as ''Legend'' (namely depending on whether the reviewer preferred the original style or the new ''Legend'' style). Some of the changes as a remake came under heavy scrutiny though, especially Atlantis and the T-Rex encounter, which were both generally regarded as being very lacking even by those with no particular memory of their original incarnation. Also a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many let down by the changes in ''Legend''.
to:
** ''Anniversary'' pleased many irritated by the changes in ''Legend'', with the level design more complex and the sidekicks gone. Its reviews were about the same as ''Legend'' (namely depending on whether the reviewer preferred the original style or the new ''Legend'' style). Some of the changes as a remake came under heavy scrutiny though, especially Atlantis and the T-Rex encounter, which were both generally regarded as being very lacking even by those with no particular memory of their original incarnation. Also a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many let down by the changes in ''Legend''.
incarnation.
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* FoeYay: Lara and Natla, Lara and Amanda.
** And even more so, [[spoiler: [[ScrewYourself Lara with her doppleganger]].]]
** ''Anniversary'' really plays up the FoeYay with Lara and Larson.
** And even more so, [[spoiler: [[ScrewYourself Lara with her doppleganger]].]]
** ''Anniversary'' really plays up the FoeYay with Lara and Larson.
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* StealthInsult: This gem from ''Chronicles'':
--> '''Larson:''' You's one clever cookie, boss!
--> '''Pierre:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Comparatively, yes]].
--> '''Larson:''' You's one clever cookie, boss!
--> '''Pierre:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Comparatively, yes]].
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** Also, it was revealed that British actress Camilla Luddington will replace former voice actress Keeley Hawes as Lara's voice-actress.
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Um...Lara isn\'t seen as strong OR snarky.
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* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2012 reboot seems to be this.
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* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2012 2013 reboot seems to be this.
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** Averted in the latest reboot.
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** Averted in the latest 2013 reboot.
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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist. The 2012 reboot looks to be averting this, at least if some of the promotional images are any indication.
to:
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist.
** The2012 2013 reboot looks to be averting this, at least if some of the promotional images are any indication.
** The
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* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2012 reboot.
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* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2012 2013 reboot.
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* ContinuityReboot: Everything after the series was handed over to Crystal Dynamics. The upcoming title is supposed to be yet ''another'' reboot.
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* ContinuityReboot: Everything after the series was handed over to Crystal Dynamics. The upcoming 2013 title is supposed to be yet ''another'' reboot.
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* FollowTheLeader: The 2013 reboot have been accused of copying ''{{Uncharted}}'', mostly due to both 3d platformer/shooter with a strong snarky central protagonist who is in way over her/his head and gorgeous ScenaryPorn. The accusation is especially ironic as the original ''Uncharted'' was described as a ''Tomb Raider'' ripoff before its release.
to:
* FollowTheLeader: The 2013 reboot have been accused of copying ''{{Uncharted}}'', mostly due to both 3d platformer/shooter with a strong snarky central protagonist who is in way over her/his head and gorgeous ScenaryPorn.SceneryPorn. The accusation is especially ironic as the original ''Uncharted'' was described as a ''Tomb Raider'' ripoff before its release.
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* MadeOfIron: The upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot will often have Lara wounded and she has to force herself to keep on going. However, even suffering from a wound that has her clutching her side doesn't stop her from clambering up on surfaces really quickly.
* MaleGaze
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in the upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot, to the point that they iterated on her model until people in tests were found to naturally focus on her eyes rather than her breasts.
* MaleGaze
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in the upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot, to the point that they iterated on her model until people in tests were found to naturally focus on her eyes rather than her breasts.
to:
* MadeOfIron: The upcoming 2013 ''Tomb Raider'' reboot will often have Lara wounded and she has to force herself to keep on going. However, even suffering from a wound that has her clutching her side doesn't stop her from clambering up on surfaces really quickly.
*MaleGaze
MaleGaze:
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in theupcoming 2013 ''Tomb Raider'' reboot, to the point that they iterated on her model until people in tests were found to naturally focus on her eyes rather than her breasts.
*
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in the
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* {{Metroidvania}}: Apparently, the 2012 reboot will allow free-roaming across the island, but certain areas will only be accessible once you have the right gear or skills.
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* {{Metroidvania}}: Apparently, the 2012 2013 reboot will allow free-roaming across the island, but certain areas will only be accessible once you have the right gear or skills.
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* {{Reconstruction}}: The 2012 reboot is going this way, judging by a ''Game Informer'' interview with its designers and Lara's more realistic redesign.
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* {{Reconstruction}}: The 2012 2013 reboot is going this way, judging by a ''Game Informer'' interview with its designers and Lara's more realistic redesign.
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* GodOfEvil: Set.
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* WeCanRuleTogether: Natla's speech to Lara in ''Anniversary'' and Egyptian god Set's offer to Lara in exchange for the MacGuffin.
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* WeCanRuleTogether: Natla's speech to Lara in ''Anniversary'' and Egyptian god Set's offer to Lara in exchange for the MacGuffin.MacGuffin in ''The Last Revelation''; Natla's speech to Lara in ''Anniversary''.
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* EnemyRisingBehind: Happens to [[ButtMonkey Larson]] in ''Chronicles''.
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* ConvectionSchmonvection: With Atlantis from ''Tomb Raider'' and ''Anniversary'' being the biggest offender, but ''Tomb Raider II'' and ''Tomb Raider III'' have their moments.
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* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Lara has an admirable and frightening go at this where thanks to punctuating each word with a gunshot right by Amanda's face is even more powerful than [[Film/ThreeHundred Leonidas.]]
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
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* ThisIsSPARTA: Lara has an admirable and frightening go at this where thanks to punctuating each word with a gunshot right by Amanda's face is even more powerful than [[ThreeHundred Leonidas.]]
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
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YMMV sinkhole
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The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover [[YourMileageMayVary failed]], the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
to:
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover [[YourMileageMayVary failed]], failed, the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
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** While the first three games are relatively similar, ''The Last Revelation'' made various attempts to change things up, with many new items and puzzle ideas, along with the brave move of setting the whole game in one location. However, this was the point where the series began to lose its luster among reviewers, not helped by the fact the graphics engine was becoming dated at this point (despite minor improvements). While not to the degree of ''Tomb Raider III'', this is also a YourMileageMayVary game, with it either being considered the sequel most faithful to the original format and with many interesting advancements, or a game with a theme that starts to get repetitive and several unnecessary interface changes.
to:
** While the first three games are relatively similar, ''The Last Revelation'' made various attempts to change things up, with many new items and puzzle ideas, along with the brave move of setting the whole game in one location. However, this was the point where the series began to lose its luster among reviewers, not helped by the fact the graphics engine was becoming dated at this point (despite minor improvements). While not to the degree of ''Tomb Raider III'', this is also a YourMileageMayVary game, with it either being considered the sequel most faithful to the original format and with many interesting advancements, or a game with a theme that starts to get repetitive and several unnecessary interface changes.
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** ''Underworld'' attempts a sort of combination of ''Legend'' and ''Anniversary'', with the narrative integration of the former and the level design style, isolation and other aspects from the latter. [[YourMileageMayVary Although its success is arguable]]. The game has received quite mixed reviews, partially due to being obviously rushed out for Christmas and let down by various bugs and issues (along with a [[CameraScrew camera from hell]]) for many people. Some overlooked those issues, or got lucky, and considered it one of the best in the series, others were completely put off by them or ended up with an overall impression more along the lines of SoOkayItsAverage. It seems the series is back in heavy YourMileageMayVary territory (and, as a result, yet another SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for many)...
to:
** ''Underworld'' attempts a sort of combination of ''Legend'' and ''Anniversary'', with the narrative integration of the former and the level design style, isolation and other aspects from the latter. [[YourMileageMayVary Although its success is arguable]]. The game has received quite mixed reviews, partially due to being obviously rushed out for Christmas and let down by various bugs and issues (along with a [[CameraScrew camera from hell]]) for many people. Some overlooked those issues, or got lucky, and considered it one of the best in the series, others were completely put off by them or ended up with an overall impression more along the lines of SoOkayItsAverage. It seems the series is back in heavy YourMileageMayVary territory (and, as a result, yet another SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for many)...
SoOkayItsAverage.
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* DownTheDrain: While YourMileageMayVary, with a couple of exceptions it's notable for somewhat averting this, with several of the water-focused stages being considered among the highlights of the series for many.
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* DownTheDrain: While YourMileageMayVary, with a couple of exceptions it's notable for somewhat averting this, with several of the water-focused stages being considered among the highlights of the series for many.
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* LivingMotionDetector: In the third game, the T-Rex can not see Lara if she doesn't move (a direct ShoutOut to ''JurassicPark'') - but it ''can'' harm her, as it will stomp around very close to her even if she stays completely still.
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* LivingMotionDetector: In the third game, the T-Rex can not see Lara if she doesn't move (a direct ShoutOut to ''JurassicPark'') ''Film/JurassicPark'') - but it ''can'' harm her, as it will stomp around very close to her even if she stays completely still.
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** The 2013 reboot averts this, toning down the boobage and slathering a thick layer of dirt, grime, and blood over everything else.
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* FollowTheLeader: The 2013 reboot have been accused of copying ''{{Uncharted}}'', mostly due to both 3d platformer/shooter with a strong snarky central protagonist who is in way over her/his head and gorgeous ScenaryPorn. The accusation is especially ironic as the original ''Uncharted'' was described as a ''Tomb Raider'' ripoff before its release.
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* ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' (2010) - A downloadable GaidenGame with online co-op. The game is a third person 3D rendered isometric platformer/action title with puzzle elements. It is the only game in the series ''not'' to have ''Tomb Raider'' in the title. It also doesn't seem to have any place in either of the series' continuity (although it does use some of ''Legend'''s music), meaning players can interpret it how they wish.
to:
* ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' (2010) - A downloadable GaidenGame with online co-op. The game is a third person 3D rendered isometric platformer/action title with puzzle elements. It is the only game in the series ''not'' to have ''Tomb Raider'' in the title. It also doesn't seem to have any place in either of the series' continuity (although it does use some of ''Legend'''s music), meaning players can interpret it how they wish.
wish. It's currently available for free to [[SonyPlaystation Playstation Plus]] subscribers.
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misuse as emphasis
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* IncendiaryExponent: ''Guardian of Light'' takes this BeyondTheImpossible with a [[spoiler: a T-Rex that's on fire!]]
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* IncendiaryExponent: ''Guardian of Light'' takes this BeyondTheImpossible with has a [[spoiler: a T-Rex that's on fire!]]
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More survivors are seen in the recent gameplay trailer for E3 2012, so she\'s not completely alone, thou it does seem that she usually is.
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* ''Tomb Raider'' (scheduled for 2012 - delayed til 2013) - Yet another reboot of the series. It follows a young Lara, trapped on a Pacific island [[SurvivalHorror alone and without any supplies]] and appears to be taking a hard turn to DarkerAndEdgier. The E3 [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBrgeSjj-0 trailer]] can be seen here. From screenshots shown, it looks like it's taking survival up a notch.
to:
* ''Tomb Raider'' (scheduled for 2012 - delayed til 2013) - Yet another reboot of the series. It follows a young Lara, trapped on a Pacific island [[SurvivalHorror mostly alone and without any supplies]] and appears to be taking a hard turn to DarkerAndEdgier. The E3 [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBrgeSjj-0 trailer]] can be seen here. From screenshots shown, it looks like it's taking survival up a notch.
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Cleaning up misuse of trope pending rename
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* EvilForeigner: The vast majority of the villains in the series (with the exception of Sophia Leigh and Dr. Willard) are not British. Lara also gets to face off against foreign organised crime elements like the Mafia and the Yakuza.
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* EverythingsCoolerWithLava: Loads and loads of lava to be found in the first and second games.
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* EverythingsCoolerWithLava: LavaAddsAwesome: Loads and loads of lava to be found in the first and second games.
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** The unlockable Golden Shotgun in ''Tomb Raider Anniversary'' can kill nearly every enemy and boss character in one shot.
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* TooAwesomeToUse: The Grenade Launcher (Tomb Raider 2 and 3), the Rocket Launcher, and the Desert Eagle (both in Tomb Raider 3) will hardly get any use by most players simply because ammo for these weapons is not common. Even players that go out of their way to find the game's secrets and find more ammo for these weapons will never use these guns except on the FinalBoss.
** Averted in ''TombRaider Chronicles''. Each story chapter has their own set of levels and items don't carry over between stories, so you're free to waste as much supplies and ammo as you want as long as you can find them in the levels.
** Averted in ''TombRaider Chronicles''. Each story chapter has their own set of levels and items don't carry over between stories, so you're free to waste as much supplies and ammo as you want as long as you can find them in the levels.
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[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TRTrope.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:"[[FoxTrot Check out]] [[BuxomIsBetter those bazookas]]!" "[[ComicallyMissingThePoint You idiot, she's wielding pistols.]]"]]
->''"If there's one thing I've learned, it's that ''nothing'' is lost forever."''
-->-- '''Lara Croft''', ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light''
'''''Tomb Raider''''' is a media franchise (mostly video game based) starring an AdventurerArchaeologist named Lara Croft. In most of the games, she travels around the world looking for highly prized treasures while avoiding rival hunters, wildlife, and various death traps.
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animated series.
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover [[YourMileageMayVary failed]], the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
In 2009, Crystal Dynamics became a subsidiary of SquareEnix (yes, [[DragonQuest that]] [[FinalFantasy Square]] [[KingdomHearts Enix]]).
'''The Core Design era'''
* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider]]'' (1996) - Lara Croft is hired by a wealthy businesswoman, Jacqueline Natla, to recover a piece of an artifact called the Scion, from the lost city of Vilcabamba. After Lara is inevitably betrayed by her employer, she races across the world to find the two other pieces of the Scion and prevent it from falling into Natla's hands. Along the way, Lara visits Peru, Greece, Egypt and a remnant of Atlantis.
** The game got much critical acclaim (including a couple of "game of the year" awards), and established many of the tropes of the ActionAdventure genre. As a result of the amount of genre conventions it established, it is frequently cited as one of the most influential games of all time.
* ''Tomb Raider II'' (1997) - Lara is after the legendary Dagger of Xian, which is said to give its owner "[[LiteralGenie the power of a dragon]]". She finds herself in conflict with Italian mob boss/cult leader Marco Bartoli, who is after the same item. Locations in the game include Venice, an offshore oil rig, the sunken ocean liner Maria Doria, Tibet and the Great Wall of China.
** The game was generally considered as an EvenBetterSequel, although many considered it to have too much combat.
*** Creator Toby Gard left Core Design during the development of this game, due to "CreativeDifferences" (he was unhappy with Lara's oversexualisation), and [[StartMyOwn co-founded Confounding Factor]]. Their first game was ''Galleon'', a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Tomb Raider'' that took about ten years to make. It was actually pretty damn good, but bombed on release. Confounding Factor closed down shortly afterward.
* ''Tomb Raider III'' (1998) is actually five, loosely connected stories. Lara is gathering four crystal artifacts, with mystical (and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insanity-inducing]]) powers. The first is found in India and then the player can then choose in which order to seek out the remaining three, visiting Area 51, London and an unspecified island in the South Pacific. Finally, she travels to the impact site in Antarctica, fighting through an excavation filled with creatures mutated by the meteorite.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the {{PlayStation}} version, but is also very ambitious in other areas; this resulted in it becoming a LoveItOrHateIt game with people generally either considering it one of the (or the) best games in the series or hating it. This was also the start of a general split in the overall reception of the series.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
** While the first three games are relatively similar, ''The Last Revelation'' made various attempts to change things up, with many new items and puzzle ideas, along with the brave move of setting the whole game in one location. However, this was the point where the series began to lose its luster among reviewers, not helped by the fact the graphics engine was becoming dated at this point (despite minor improvements). While not to the degree of ''Tomb Raider III'', this is also a YourMileageMayVary game, with it either being considered the sequel most faithful to the original format and with many interesting advancements, or a game with a theme that starts to get repetitive and several unnecessary interface changes.
* ''Tomb Raider Chronicles'' (2000) - After [[spoiler: Lara's apparent death]] at the end of ''The Last Revelation'', some of her friends gather and recall her past exploits, in the form of four mini-stories. The first is an old-school adventure, where Lara seeks the Philosopher's Stone in Rome. The second is a an action-horror themed one, where Lara infiltrates a submarine to recover the Spear of Destiny from a sunken ship, before the Russian {{mafia}} gets to it. The third takes place in Lara's teenage years, where she is trapped with a ghost on an island in Ireland, without any weapons. The fourth story tells how Lara stole an artifact from her former mentor in a New York skyscraper.
** The point of conversion to FranchiseZombie and {{Sequelitis}}; there were no plans for ''Chronicles'' at first, but it was made for a quick buck during the production of ''The Angel of Darkness''. It shows; the level design is far less intricate, shorter and certain sequences clash with the series's own established canon, plus a couple of levels are incredibly easy to break and make {{Unwinnable}} (even compared to some of the buggier levels in the earlier games). While most weren't bad, its reviews were still mediocre compared to the earlier games. The release of the [[GameMod level editor]] with the PC version is quite possibly the most interesting thing about the game.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness'' (2003)- The ill-fated attempt to revive the series by giving it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover. Lara is accused of the murder of her former mentor Werner Von Croy and sets out to [[ClearMyName clear her name]]. However, she ends up caught up in the plot of main villain Pieter van Eckhardt, the leader of the Cabal, who is plotting to revive the Cubiciulum Nephili, a powerful Nephilim, thus placing the word in great danger.
** The final straw for Core's involvement in the series; while the graphics and storyline were excellent, the game was incredibly buggy, the controls were pretty much broken and various features were implemented in an obviously unfinished state ([[ExecutiveMeddling not helped by Eidos' determination to get it released as soon as possible, despite Core not being happy with it]]). It got bad reviews and had one of the highest return rates for a game ever. Despite this, it does have its fans, mostly due to the storyline and atmosphere.
'''The Crystal Dynamics era''' Lara, for these games, is voiced by British actress KeeleyHawes. [[HeyItsThatVoice That]] [[AshesToAshes Keeley Hawes]].
* ''Tomb Raider: Legend'' (2006) - A ContinuityReboot of the franchise, ''Legend'' delves into Lara's BackStory and motivations. She seeks the fragments of an ancient sword that is connected to a traumatic event from her own past. The main antagonist is Lara's college friend, Amanda Evert, who returns after being believed dead for years and wants the sword for her own reasons. The locations in the game include Bolivia, Peru, a Yakuza-infested skyscraper in Tokyo, Ghana, an old paranormal research facility in Kazakhstan, the ruins of cheesy King Arthur museum in Cornwall and Nepal.
** ''Legend'' showed that the series was still very salvagable despite the state ''The Angel of Darkness'' had left it in; it was the fastest selling (note, not highest selling) game in the series so far and got very good reviews. However, many of the changes from earlier games caused controversy, such as the [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom much more straightforward level design]] and StopHelpingMe sidekicks. It was a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks The change in canon also caused ire amongst some fans]].
*** Also marks the point where Toby Gard came back into the picture after Confounding Factor shut down, though as a creative consultant this time.
* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider: Anniversary]]'' (2007) - A remake of the original game, made for the 10th anniversary of the series. It incorporates some of ''Legend'''s gameplay elements and changes the levels around, shortening some parts and extending others.
** ''Anniversary'' pleased many irritated by the changes in ''Legend'', with the level design more complex and the sidekicks gone. Its reviews were about the same as ''Legend'' (namely depending on whether the reviewer preferred the original style or the new ''Legend'' style). Some of the changes as a remake came under heavy scrutiny though, especially Atlantis and the T-Rex encounter, which were both generally regarded as being very lacking even by those with no particular memory of their original incarnation. Also a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many let down by the changes in ''Legend''.
* ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' (2008) - Another attempt to be DarkerAndEdgier, this time succeeding. Lara is searching for Thor's hammer and the Norse underworld, believing it to have a relation to Avalon, where her mother is (apparently) trapped.
** ''Underworld'' attempts a sort of combination of ''Legend'' and ''Anniversary'', with the narrative integration of the former and the level design style, isolation and other aspects from the latter. [[YourMileageMayVary Although its success is arguable]]. The game has received quite mixed reviews, partially due to being obviously rushed out for Christmas and let down by various bugs and issues (along with a [[CameraScrew camera from hell]]) for many people. Some overlooked those issues, or got lucky, and considered it one of the best in the series, others were completely put off by them or ended up with an overall impression more along the lines of SoOkayItsAverage. It seems the series is back in heavy YourMileageMayVary territory (and, as a result, yet another SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for many)...
* ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' (2010) - A downloadable GaidenGame with online co-op. The game is a third person 3D rendered isometric platformer/action title with puzzle elements. It is the only game in the series ''not'' to have ''Tomb Raider'' in the title. It also doesn't seem to have any place in either of the series' continuity (although it does use some of ''Legend'''s music), meaning players can interpret it how they wish.
* ''Tomb Raider'' (scheduled for 2012 - delayed til 2013) - Yet another reboot of the series. It follows a young Lara, trapped on a Pacific island [[SurvivalHorror alone and without any supplies]] and appears to be taking a hard turn to DarkerAndEdgier. The E3 [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBrgeSjj-0 trailer]] can be seen here. From screenshots shown, it looks like it's taking survival up a notch.
'''Films'''
[[Film/LaraCroftTombRaider Two live-action films based on the franchise]] have been made, starring AngelinaJolie as Lara Croft. The films depart from the games in several plot departments, but Lara stays pretty much the same. The first film, ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'', was released in 2001; Lara is off looking for the Triangle of Light, which the Illuminati seek in order to control time. The second film, ''Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'', has Lara in search of Pandora's Box.
'''Animation'''
* ''RevisionedTombRaiderAnimatedSeries''
----
!!This series provides examples of:
* ActionDressRip: Happens in ''Legend''.
* ActionGirl: Lara Croft, an absolute {{Badass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2012 reboot seems to be this.
* AdvancingWallOfDoom: Usually with SpikesOfDoom.
* AdventurerArchaeologist: Which makes her kicking open old vases looking for treasure all the more cringing.
* AdventurerOutfit: Lara.
* AffablyEvil: Dr. Willard.
* AlternateContinuity: The Crystal Dynamics games are set in a completely different continuity to the Core Design games. Same for the movie and the comic book series. The upcoming game is set in yet ''another'' alternate continuity. Into exactly what continuities the assorted [[GaidenGame Gaiden Games]] fall is up for debate.
* AmericanAccents: In the original Tomb Raider, Natla has a Texan accent, Larson has a hillbilly accent, and The Kid's accent makes him sound like he is from New Jersey. In the Anniversary remake, Natla loses her accent and becomes more refined and almost mysterious. Larson's accent changes to Texan. For both of these characters, the changes are either due to a different vision from the developers or hiring new voice actors.
* AncientConspiracy: Several, and the answer is usually found at the bottom of a ruin.
* AncientTradition: Also.
* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Used very often in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'', and ''Underworld''. All three games have at least one outfit that is a ShoutOut to a past game. ''Anniversary'' even has one where Lara is rendered in less polygons to reflect her model from the first game, pointy breasts and all, which made it very jarring and hilarious to see her interact with normal rendered characters in a cutscene.
* {{Area 51}}: Lara ends up here in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* ArtifactOfDoom: Lots and LOTS of them.
* AscendedGlitch: Lara's iconic mammaries came about due to a programmer accidentally slipping a decimal point and the team throwing 'em in.
* BackFromTheDead: Lara in ''The Angel of Darkness'', although it's hardly a surprise seeing as she's the series' protagonist. A much bigger twist was the return of [[spoiler: Natla]] in ''Underworld''.
* BadassNormal: Lara has encountered various supernatural beings, OneWingedAngel Superbeings and outright gods, and beaten (or [[SealedEvilInACan re-sealed]]) them all.
* BadassPreacher: Father Dunstan.
* BareYourMidriff: Lara seems to be quite fond of this.
** Averted in the latest reboot.
* BeardOfEvil: Pierre Dupont, in both of his incarnations. His Crystal Dynamics incarnation has him with a BaldOfEvil, as well.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist. The 2012 reboot looks to be averting this, at least if some of the promotional images are any indication.
** Averted in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld''. Sometimes it's difficult to notice unless the camera's zoomed in, but Lara gets a layer of dirt and grime on her whenever she shimmies around or climbs ledges. Her face even gets smudged.
* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: King Arthur was a real figure and the Excalibur was an ancient superweapon that granted him much power.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Poor, poor Winston.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Lara and Kurtis, most obviously in their first scene together. Never has a disarming been so laced with sexual tension.
* BigBad: Natla in the first game (and ''Anniversary'' and [[spoiler:''Underworld'']]), Bartoli in the second game, [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]] in the third game, Set in the fourth game, Eckhardt in the sixth game [[spoiler:(at least, that's what you're supposed to believe, until TheReveal that he is TheDragon for Karel, the real BigBad)]], Amanda in ''Legend'', Xolotl in ''Guardian of Light''.
* BigBraToFill: AngelinaJolie didn't quite live up to some fans expectations. It wasn't her acting that was the problem though...
* BlockPuzzle: Frequent in the first games, toned down later on.
* BlondesAreEvil: Jacqueline Natla in the first game (and ''Anniversary'' [[spoiler: and ''Underworld'']]), Sophia Leigh in ''Tomb Raider III'', Joachim Karel in ''The Angel of Darkness'', and Amanda Evert in ''Legend'' and ''Underworld''.
* BodyHorror: Used quite a bit, but ''Tomb Raider III'' especially loves this.
** The Damned, a group of hooded, masked men who lurk underground, have, thanks to Sophia's experiments, been left with their flesh constantly rotting - [[AFateWorseThanDeath and immortal, as they discovered when none of their suicide attempts worked]].
** The RX-Tech mine workers have mutated into hideous (and violent) creatures due to the energies from the meteorite. They are among the most unsettling enemies in the game. Then there's [[spoiler: Dr. Willard]]'s boss form...
** ''The Angel of Darkness'' also features this in [[spoiler:Boaz]]'s case.
* BondOneLiner: Started in ''[=TR3=]'', subverted in ''Underworld'' when a {{Mook}} knocks Lara out before she can finish delivering her quip.
* {{Bookends}}: ''Tomb Raider II''. While the last level is set back at Lara's mansion, her quest for the Dagger of Xian begins and ends in China. ''Legend'' begins and ends in Bolivia.
** Also, [[spoiler:after finding out the true fate of Amelia and getting closure]] in ''Underworld'', [[spoiler:Lara and Amanda are sent back to the original gate Amelia disappeared through in the flashback during Legend]].
* BottomlessMagazines: Lara's weapons never have to be reloaded, ever. Her pistols have infinite ammo, too (all the other weapons have a limited amount).
** After Crystal Dynamics took over the series, Lara's pistols have a limited magazine size but she can reload them as much as she wants.
* BraidsOfAction: Lara, in the later installments and the movies. She was planned to have it from the get-go, but technical limitations prevented it from happening.
** She ''does'' sport a braid in the first game's [=FMV=]s, but not during gameplay or non-FMV cutscenes.
* BritishAccents: Lara has one because, well, she is British. Where she hails from exactly in the UK is apparently Surrey, but no WordOfGod has been verified.
* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2012 reboot.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The ending of ''Tomb Raider II''.
* BrokenBird: Lara, by the time of ''The Angel of Darkness''.
* TheCameo: [[LegacyOfKain Kain and Raziel]] and KaneAndLynch appear as [[DownloadableContent downloadable playable characters]] in ''Guardian of Light''.
* CameraScrew While this happens occasionally in the earlier games, ''Underworld'' takes it to another level.
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: Lara's mom]] in ''Underworld''.
* CaveBehindTheFalls: the Lost Valley in the original game was an iconic example of this being one of the first 3D examples of it. ''Legend'' attempts to outdo it by putting a whole open temple behind some falls.
** ''Anniversary'' had a lot of things behind various waterfalls
*** In the "Lost Valley" level:
**** [[spoiler: Shotgun behind the upper waterfall in the cave.]]
**** [[spoiler: Exit from the level behind the lower waterfall in the cave.]]
*** [[spoiler: In the "Natla's Mines" level the exit from the initial room is behind the waterfall.]]
*** In the "Final Conflict" level, for a change of pace,[[spoiler: a relic is hidden behind a '''lava''' fall.]]
* CherryTapping: Try killing the Abomination from the end of the first game with pistols (just be sure to nurse your aching fingers afterward).
* CityOfCanals: The second game has a level in Venice.
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler: Kristina Boaz]] in ''The Angel of Darkness''.
* ContinuityReboot: Everything after the series was handed over to Crystal Dynamics. The upcoming title is supposed to be yet ''another'' reboot.
* {{Cult}} / ReligionOfEvil: The Fiama Nera cult from ''Tomb Raider II''.
* {{Cutscene}}: The first five games on PC and PS1 mixed full motion video cutscenes (see the intro for an example) and in-game cutscenes using the gameplay engine. Originally, the in-game cinemas had no mouth movements, so it was rather awkward to see characters bob their heads (while their lips remained static) to indicate that they were talking. This was rectified starting with the fourth game.
** Starting with the Crystal Dynamics developed games, the cutscenes were all presented using the gameplay engine, due to the advancements of graphics since 1996.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Lara gets knocked out or otherwise incapacitated in situations that would be no sweat during gameplay.
** Such as when [[spoiler: Lara's {{Doppelganger}}]] blows up Lara's mansion, kicks her ass inside her burning mansion, and [[spoiler: kills Allister.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier vs. LighterAndSofter: The original series generally veered towards DarkerAndEdgier as it went along, but ''The Angel of Darkness'' was the only major leap towards it. After the failure of that, ''Legend'' signaled a LighterAndSofter change arguably even over the earliest games. ''Underworld'' seems to be adding elements of DarkerAndEdgier again, making the series currently be in somewhat of a slalom.
** The upcoming 2012 game is supposed to be even more DarkerAndEdgier than previous incarnations and an M rating.
* DeadpanSnarker: Lara Croft in spades, especially when it's combined with her BondOneLiner. Alister and Zip also have their quips in ''Legend'' and ''Underworld''.
** In ''Tomb Raider III'', after Lara winds up knocking herself out from a failed jump with her ATV, some mooks comment on how crazy she was to pull a stunt, then one of them wonders if Lara is an eco-terrorist. The other mook sarcastically replies "And they wear hot pants, huh?"
* DeathCourse: What the series is all about.
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: Used in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld'', where death just sends you back to the last checkpoint with full health.
* DemonicPossession: Von Croy is influenced and sometimes directly possessed by Set for much of ''The Last Revelation''.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Averted most of the time; while Lara faces gods she can rarely do direct damage and tends to just [[SealedEvilInACan reseal them]] and other powerful beings she beats are just that and not outright gods. Partially played straight in ''Anniversary'' [[spoiler: where while she doesn't kill Natla, she apparently at least incapacitates her for a while (the original game doesn't count as Natla was never said to be a god)]]. ''Underworld'' [[spoiler: she gets an artifact that does allow her to kill Natla)]] and ''Guardian of Light'' [[spoiler: like ''Anniversary'', Xolotl is not killed, but at least stunned enough by weaponry for him to be easily resealed, although Lara does have a god on her side too in this case]]
* DirtyCommunists: Subverted, if unintentionally. In ''Legend'', Lara comes to the assistance of Russian-speaking Kazakh soldiers at a Soviet-era research facility that is being attacked by, of all things, American mercenaries hired by a West Point graduate attempting to steal a Soviet-owned relic. She saves them from a likely death, and with some reluctance, they supply her with the passcode for their command center.
* DismantledMacguffin: Used often enough. In ''Legend'', Lara must find the different pieces of Excalibur and reassamble them. In the first game, the Atlantean Scion is split into three parts. The second example is a variation of the trope, as the fragments were not necessarily all from the same version of Excalibur, as it is mentioned that there was more than one such sword.
* DistantPrologue: Many of the games begin this way:
** The original game begins in an unnamed time period but it's far in the past where an explosion in New Mexico takes place, as the next cutscene flashes forward to the present day, where we meet Lara for the first time. ''Anniversary'' uses the same type of intro, but with minor script changes and improved graphics.
** ''Tomb Raider II'' also begins on an unknown date in the past, when the Chinese army was defeated by the Tibetan monks, who returned the Dagged of Xian to its place in the Great Wall of China. After the title screen, the game flashes forward to present day when Lara lands in the Great Wall of China area.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' begins in prehistoric times when a comet wiped out the dinosaurs. After this, it flashes forward to present day when some Antarctic scientists discover said meteor.
** ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' features two levels at the beginning where you control teenage Lara, guided by her (then) mentor Von Croy. After these tutorial levels, the game switches to present day.
** ''Legend'' begins when Lara was nine.
* DoingInTheWizard: ''Legend'' strongly suggests that the fantastical elements of Arthurian myth were [[spoiler: not supernatural, but the work of ancient astronauts.]]
** The first game does the same for both Ancient Egyptian mythology and Atlantis.
* {{Doppelganger}}: Used as part of a puzzle in one of the final levels of the first game and ''Anniversary'', [[spoiler: and an evil one blows up Lara's mansion in ''Underworld''.]]
* DownloadableContent: A considerable amount of downloadable material for ''Underworld'' was exclusive to the Xbox360, including two new levels and several outfits. [=PlayStation=] loyalists, some of them having supported the franchise from the very beginning, were ''not'' pleased.
* DownTheDrain: While YourMileageMayVary, with a couple of exceptions it's notable for somewhat averting this, with several of the water-focused stages being considered among the highlights of the series for many.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:''The Last Revelation''. Of course, [[UnexplainedRecovery Lara gets better]].]]
* DurableDeathtrap: Used constantly, though [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] a few times in ''Legend''.
* DynamicLoading
* EgyptianMythology: A huge part of the plot of ''The Last Revelation''.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Apparently ''Underworld'' was an EvilPlan by [[spoiler: Natla]] so Lara would lead her to the LostSuperweapon she could use to destroy the world.
* EnemyMine: At the end of ''Underworld'', Lara and [[spoiler: Amanda]] team up to stop [[spoiler: Natla]] from destroying the world.
* EnemyChatter: In ''Legend''. Very amusing to listen to.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Bats, bears, wolves, crocodiles, eels, tigers, monkeys, gorillas, sharks, ravens, random hobos and ''museum security guards''. Lampshaded in ''Legend'', when MissionControl wonders why predators always attack prey larger than themselves.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The first game, ''Tomb Raider II'' (but only in a secret area), ''Tomb Raider III'', ''Anniversary''.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Subverted to hell in the first game and ''Anniversary'', played straight and then subverted in ''Tomb Raider III'' (the first monkeys Lara comes across are harmless, although they will try to steal pickups, but later ones are hostile).
* EverythingsBetterWithMotorCycles
* EverythingsCoolerWithLava: Loads and loads of lava to be found in the first and second games.
* EverythingsEvenWorsewithSharks
* EverythingsWorseWithBears
* EverythingsWorseWithWolves
* EvilAlbino: Amanda Evert. While she's not explicitly albino, her skin and hair become considerably lighter after she is possessed by the wraith.
* EvilCounterpart: Amanda again.
* EvilForeigner: The vast majority of the villains in the series (with the exception of Sophia Leigh and Dr. Willard) are not British. Lara also gets to face off against foreign organised crime elements like the Mafia and the Yakuza.
* EvilOldFolks: Pieter van Eckhardt.
* EvilRedhead: [[spoiler: Lara's evil clone.]]
* EvilTwin: [[spoiler: Lara's evil clone in ''Underworld''.]]
* ExcusePlot: The {{Gaiden Game}}s, and, arguably, 80% of ''Tomb Raider III''.
* ExposedToTheElements: A green tank top and shorts for any weather, even while climbing the Himalayas. Lara's outfit changes to fit the location starting with the second game, but this doesn't always avert the trope, and from ''Legend'' on, the player can choose outfits (even if they're inappropriate) themselves.
* FanGirl: The series has gained plenty thanks to Kurtis, Larson and Karel.
* {{Fanservice}}: Lara, of course, but ''Legend'' gives most of its male cast huge, muscular frames and half-unbuttoned shirts.
** Non-sexual: ''Anniversary'' is filled with references to the other games in the series, ''Underworld'' features a few {{Continuity Nod}}s and some ContinuityCreep.
* FemmeFatalons: ([[spoiler: Natla.]])
* FingerlessGloves: Lara often wears these.
* FiveBadBand: There is one in ''The Angel of Darkness'':
** The BigBad - Karel
** TheDragon - Eckhardt
** The EvilGenius - Muller
** TheBrute - Gunderson
** The DarkChick - Boaz
* FoeYay: Lara and Natla, Lara and Amanda.
** And even more so, [[spoiler: [[ScrewYourself Lara with her doppleganger]].]]
** ''Anniversary'' really plays up the FoeYay with Lara and Larson.
* FranchiseZombie:''Chronicles'' was thrown together on publisher demand for a quick buck.
** And then after that, there was ''The Angel of Darkness'', which was almost a FranchiseKiller.
* GaidenGame: ''Unfinished Business, Golden Mask, Lost Artifact, Times Exclusive, Beneath The Ashes, Lara's Shadow'', Guardian of Light.
* {{Gainaxing}}: Sometimes, Lara's boobs get all jiggly.
** Specifically, it's entirely absent from the first five games (during gameplay, at least). Then she's quite bouncy in ''The Angel of Darkness'', to the point where one wonders if she's even wearing a bra. The Crystal Dynamics games keep it in but dial it back to realistic levels.
* GameMod: The infamous (and self-explanatory) ''Nude Raider'' patches are some of the first examples of modding a non-{{FPS}} game. Also, beyond that, while it is not well-known publicly, the level editor released with ''Chronicles'' has led to very large modding community with thousands of custom levels and other content.
* GiantSpiders: The large spiders encountered in the Temple of Xian in ''Tomb Raider II''. Even bigger ones are encountered in ''Underworld''. [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]]'s OneWingedAngel form also has elements of this.
* GirlishPigtails: Teenage Lara sports them.
* GraveRobbing: Well the games are called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Tomb Raider]]....
* GunsAkimbo: Lara, of course.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits
* HeelFaceTurn: Werner von Croy, although it's mainly down to DemonicPossession.
* HandCannon: The Desert Eagle in ''III'' and the revolver in ''The Last Revelation'' were one-shot kills for most of the baddies in the game
* HeroicSacrifice: Sargent Aziz in ''The Last Revelation'' drives his truck filled with explosives into the dragon blocking that is blocking the Citadel, making it explode and killing the beast and himself in the process, which allows Lara to progress. Lara even gives Aziz a farewell salute after the deed is done.
* HijackedByGanon: In ''Underworld'' [[spoiler: Natla returns from ''Anniversary'' and plays Amanda and Lara like fiddles, and Amanda's whole revenge scheme becomes an afterthought.]]
* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an "interactive cutscene". If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
* HotMom: Lady Amelia Croft. Da-yum.
* ICantUseTheseThingsTogether: Lara's curt "No."
* ImAHumanitarian: The Polynesian tribe in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* InTheHood: The Damned. They wear the hoods and masks to hide their BodyHorror.
* IncendiaryExponent: ''Guardian of Light'' takes this BeyondTheImpossible with a [[spoiler: a T-Rex that's on fire!]]
* IndyEscape
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: Those who have the courage to plunge the Dagger of Xian into their heart are rewarded with being able to transform into a dragon.
* InvisibleGrid: All of the first five games were divided up into grids that made jumps very simple to do and all puzzle blocks always moved by each "square" (for example, Wwlk to the edge, tap back once, and you got enough room to do a running jump).
* KillerApp: While it was initially developed for the Saturn, ''Tomb Raider'' and its early sequels became a killer app for the {{PlayStation}}, the PC version was also one of the first games to get [[GraphicsProcessingUnit 3D card support]].
* LargeHam: Quite a few, but Verdilet, the demon from the Ireland levels of ''Chronicles'', is [[NoIndoorVoice particularly noteworthy]].
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: Heard in ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' when you lose a life.
* LivingMotionDetector: In the third game, the T-Rex can not see Lara if she doesn't move (a direct ShoutOut to ''JurassicPark'') - but it ''can'' harm her, as it will stomp around very close to her even if she stays completely still.
* LockedIntoStrangeness: In the Ireland levels of ''Chronicles'', Father Dunstan's hair turns white and stays that way after an offscreen encounter with a demon.
* MacGuffinDeliveryService: Used in the first and third games; avoided in ''Legend'', where Lara never loses any piece of the ArtifactOfDoom and ends up wielding it as an EleventhHourSuperpower.
* MadeOfIron: The upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot will often have Lara wounded and she has to force herself to keep on going. However, even suffering from a wound that has her clutching her side doesn't stop her from clambering up on surfaces really quickly.
* MaleGaze
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in the upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot, to the point that they iterated on her model until people in tests were found to naturally focus on her eyes rather than her breasts.
* MalevolentArchitecture: Lampshaded and then justified in ''Legend''.
* MarathonLevel: Each game has at least one level that's longer than the others. "Temple of Xian" from the second game, and three of the four England levels in the third game being some notorious examples.
* {{Mayincatec}}: The City of Vilcabamba is based on the real-life last outpost of the Inca. It contains a gold idol modelled on a Tumi, a ceremonial knife used in sacrifices.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Apparently, the 2012 reboot will allow free-roaming across the island, but certain areas will only be accessible once you have the right gear or skills.
* MindOverMatter: Kurtis Trent demonstrates telekinetic powers in ''The Angel of Darkness'' ([[WhatCouldHaveBeen which would have been a lot more apparent]] [[ExecutiveMeddling had Core been allowed to finish the game on time]]). Amanda's BlackMagic ability is functionally similar.
* MisplacedWildlife: Are those baboons in India? And lions in Egypt and China? They're extinct in both those places.
** Well, ''now'' they are...
** How about ''[[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys gorillas]]'' in Greece?
** Let's not forget Crocodiles in Greece as well, or the fact that these animals have lived for centuries with no food in enclosed spaces.
** But the Blue Ribbon goes to the ''Velociraptors'' and ''T-Rex'' that live in, of all places, ''the frozen peruvian mountains.'' And China. And Polynesia.
* MookHorrorShow: Lara can polish off entire armies of trained mercenaries by herself.
* MoreDakka: As Lara's signature weapons are her dual Pistols the dual Uzis essentially function as this for her character (and were used almost as much as the pistols in earlier art for the series). Also, while other weapons had higher overall damage output the mix and agility and damage the Uzi's offered made them the overall best weapon of the first couple of games, although they were overshadowed by other weapons from ''Tomb Raider III'' onwards. Due to being a remake, ''Anniversary'' did give them some extra limelight again.
* MultiPlatform
* MultipleChoicePast: Lara's origin seems to be "whatever the designer of the current game/movie feels like."
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In ''Anniversary'', Lara has this reaction [[spoiler: after killing Larson.]]
* NeverFoundTheBody: The ending of ''Chronicles''; only her backpack is found in the rubble. Surprise: she's NotQuiteDead / BackFromTheDead in ''The Angel of Darkness''.
** Also, [[spoiler: Kurtis Trent]] at the end of ''The Angel of Darkness''.
** And Amanda in ''Legend''; they only found an untied shoe in the ruins of Paraiso. She's still alive, of course.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: ''The Last Revelation'', as Lara accidentally releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus near the beginning of the game.
* NintendoHard: The first two games are fair outside of a few sections, but from ''TombRaider III'' onwards (until ''Legend'') the series took no prisoners. ''Anniversary'' also has its moments, although their nature makes this a partial overlap with {{Game Breaking Bug}}s.
** The trap-filled corridors in the Egyptian levels of ''Anniversary'' are probably the most extreme example in the later games. According to the commentary, the creators' decided that "traps" would be the theme of those levels, and basically stuffed the hallways with instant-death perils just to make them more interesting.
*** Even worse: The ascend in the Great Pyramid section of Atlantis. It's basically a series of incredibly difficult timed jumping puzzles, that get worse the higher you go. One mistake and Lara is toast. And you have to battle the enemies again, because the savegame-function works with checkpoints. There are a lot of players who got so frustrated that they downloaded a savegame from just after the ascend.
** The first level in ''TombRaider II'' is notable for being ''incredibly'' difficult, especially if you're a beginner.
* NoGearLevel: Almost every game does this where Lara gets captured and loses her guns. By ''The Angel of Darkness'', she gained the ability to punch and kick.
** On the other hand, a segment in ''Chronicles'' uses a younger Lara (introduced in the tutorial and prologue for ''The Last Revelation''), who is always unarmed.
* NonActionGuy: Alister and Zip.
* NonindicativeName: Each game features levels that aren't considered "tombs" by the strictest definition. Some games even predominantly feature non tomb-based levels (''Tomb Raider Chronicles'', with half the game taking place aboard a modern submarine and in a high rise skyscraper).
* NoobBridge: Sometimes happens. In the second major area in ''Tomb Raider: The Prophecy'' for GameBoyAdvance, there's one place where you just have to use the run button; if you never learned of it you'd be stuck with a door that just closes too soon. In ''Tomb Raider II'', there's an area where Lara must make a long jump into a pool of water far below. There is only a small square of space in the pool that isn't so shallow that it would lead to a lethal fall. However, even a perfectly executed running jump cannot reach it. This is the only point in the game where she absolutely must perform a dive while jumping in order to reach the small square of deep water.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[GameplayAndStorySegregation One cutscene has Lara diving from a height that kills her if the player attempts it when controlling her]]. Also, [[spoiler: Natla]] falling into a pool of lava. And the ending of ''The Last Revelation'', where [[spoiler: the temple collapses and she is shown falling to apparently certain death.]]
** [[spoiler: Amanda's]] apparently certain death by drowning and crushing in the ''Legend'' flashback. But when Lara returned, she NeverFoundTheBody, just an untied shoe. Guess what that means?
* NothingIsScarier: This trope is invoked quite a lot as Lara is frequently exploring places no-one has entered in thousands of years.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Sophia Leigh, who, in the words of one of her henchmen looks to be in her "late twenties; early thirties", but is actually much, much older, as the same henchman says that his father and grandfather before him also worked for her. It is later revealed that Sophia is testing treatments for everlasting beauty and keeps the best results for herself. Given that the failed experiments of some of the treatments, the Damned, cannot die, it is also quite possible that Sophia herself is immortal. [[spoiler:Indeed, she does come BackFromTheDead in the ''Lost Artifact'' expansion.]]
* OmnicidalManiac: Natla.
* OneHitKill: [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]] can fire homing energy projectiles that will instantly kill Lara if they touch her.
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler: Marco Bartoli]] in ''Tomb Raider II'', [[spoiler: Dr. Willard]] in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* OrphanedSeries: The original Core Design continuity. Many a fanfic has attempted to continue the story.
* OverlyLongScream: Unintentional version; if Lara falls more than a certain distance, her death scream starts playing, on the assumption that she'll die from impact damage when she lands. There are a handful of places in the early games where you can fall so far that the scream loops multiple times before she hits the ground (and at least one place where SoftWater will allow her to survive such a drop).
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The new Lara is noticeably paler than her original incarnation.
* ParentalAbandonment:
** In the Core Design games: [[ParentalIssues Lara's parents disown her when she goes against their wishes]] and decides to become an adventurer.
** In the Crystal Dynamics games: [[spoiler: Lara's mom was accidentally killed by Amanda, and her dad was killed by Natla.]]
* PluckyComicRelief: Larson and Pierre in the Core Design continuity - most obviously in ''Chronicles''. Also, Zip fills this role in both the Core and Crystal Dynamics continuities, although it's more downplayed in the latter.
* PressXToNotDie: The "Quick-time events"/"interactive cutscenes" In the Crystal Dynamics games.
* ProductPlacement: Starting with ''Legend'', some name brand [=SUVs=] (Jeep) and motorcycles (Ducati) were prominently displayed, and even used by Lara. One line of dialogue has Lara talk about the performance capabilities of a Ducati bike just as she jumps on it.
* PublicDomainArtifact: Several, including Excalibur and the Spear of Destiny. The Ark of the Covenant makes a cameo appearance as well.
* PuzzleBoss: Most of them.
* PuzzlePan
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: Natla's henchmen in ''Tomb Raider'' and ''Anniversary''.
* RealAfterAll: In the ''Tomb Raider III'' GaidenGame ''Lost Artifact'', Lara discovers a fake Loch Ness monster in a secret area, however, viewing a certain area at the right time allows Lara to look over the water and apparently see the real Loch Ness monster moving across the water.
* RapunzelHair: Almost knee-length in ''IV'', but gets shorter and shorter in every sequel.
* {{Reconstruction}}: The 2012 reboot is going this way, judging by a ''Game Informer'' interview with its designers and Lara's more realistic redesign.
* RecycledTitle: ''Tomb Raider''
* RivalTurnedEvil: Amanda, complete with [[strike: white]] bleach blonde hair.
* RuleOfCool: As explained in the first games manual, this is literally the reason for Lara's head first dive into a body of water.
* ScaledUp: Marco Bartoli at the end of ''Tomb Raider II''. The intro of the same game also shows the same happening to the then-Emperor of China.
* SceneryPorn: Practically everywhere.
* SealedEvilInACan
* SelectiveCondemnation: ''Angel of Darkness''
* ShapeShifter: [[spoiler:Karel - this is one of his Nephilim aspects.]]
* ShesGotLegs: At the end of ''Tomb Raider II'', Lara is wearing a very short bathrobe.
** Lara's costume fully reveals her legs in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld'' (thanks to incredibly short shorts).
* ShowerScene: Subverted at the end of ''Tomb Raider II''. Doubles as a ThatsAllFolks.
--> '''Lara:''' Don't you think you've seen enough? *shoots the player with a shotgun*
* SinisterSubway: The derelict Aldwych station in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* SmallReferencePools: One of the Lara Croft CG renders is a nude Lara sitting in a chair with the chair back covering her front. How many nowadays know this is a parody of a Christine Keeler photo?
* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom
* SoftWater: in the third game, you are forced to dive off a cliffside. Lara's scream ends and starts again three times. Until you hit the water, just fine after falling roughly 100 ft.
** The "Ghana" level in ''Legend'' opens with Lara swan-diving off a cliff into a lake about 100 feet below.
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's ''Lara'', not ''Laura'', ''Werner'' not ''Verner'', ''Larson'' not ''Larsen'', ''Sophia Leigh'' not ''Sophia Lee'', ''Father Dunstan'' not ''Father Duncan'', ''Alister'' not ''Alistair'', ''Allister'' or ''Alasdair'', and Amanda ''Evert'', not ''Everett''.
* SpyCatsuit: Lara dons a short-sleeved variant in the London levels of ''Tomb Raider III'', and a more traditional one in the VCI Headquarters levels of ''Chronicles''.
* StalactiteSpite: Seen in ''Tomb Raider II'''s "Catacombs of the Talion".
* {{Stripperiffic}}: From the beginning, most of Lara's outfits showed just a little more skin than practical. In ''Legend'', the developers abandoned all pretense and stuck her in a low-cut, ripped-up evening dress for a whole level.
* StoppedNumberingSequels: After the third installment.
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:Von Croy]] returns in ''Angel of Darkness'', only to be brutally killed off in the game's intro.
* SuperDrowningSkills: Lara has an oxygen meter when you are underwater. If it runs out, you rapidly lose health until you die.
* SuperNotDrowningSkills: In ''Tomb Raider Underworld'' depleting the oxygen meter takes longer than in the previous two games, in the instances where she's not using scuba gear.
* SuperStrength: Lara is able to push around blocks measuring 2 metres per side. That's about 20 metric tonnes.
* SuspiciousVideogameGenerosity: Most noticeable with flares; there's rarely a reason to hoard them, since the games will usually give you more right before you enter a dark area.
* TakeThat: See ShoutOut above.
* TempleOfDoom
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: In the first game, it is possible, upon completion of the game, to replay the game with every weapon unlocked - so it is possible to gleefully kill bats with uzis.
** Made even more fun in the second and third games with the grenade launcher and the rocket launcher.
* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Lara does this in Anniversary. ''[[{{Anvilicious}} Repeatedly]]''.
* ThisIsSPARTA: Lara has an admirable and frightening go at this where thanks to punctuating each word with a gunshot right by Amanda's face is even more powerful than [[ThreeHundred Leonidas.]]
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
* ThirdPersonSeductress: Arguably the TropeMaker, and while there have been examples before definitely the TropeCodifier.
* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Larson and Pierre.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Larson and Pierre go from mildly incompetent in the first game to extremely incompetent in ''Chronicles''. This is played with, however, as this particular ''Chronicles'' segment chronologically takes place before the first game.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Lara in ''Angel of Darkness'', [[JustifiedTrope justified]] [[CharacterDevelopment given what she had to go through]] at the end of ''The Last Revelation''.
* TrainingDummy: In ''Legend'', there is a dummy in the first Peru level which you can practice your hand-to-hand combat moves on.
* TrophyRoom
** In ''III'', you can unlock one that has all of the artifacts that Lara got in all the previous games and sidequests, plus a ''T. Rex'' skull.
* TheUnfought: Gunderson in Angel of Darkness.
* UniversalAmmunition: This is how ammo is handled in ''Guardian of Light,'' a blue bar that depletes faster depending on what guns you're using.
* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: In ''Legend'', if you complete a combo of somersaults and flips (which serve little purpose in the gameplay), Zip or Alister will complement you over your headset.
** [[FridgeLogic ...even when they've supposedly lost contact with Lara in the Ghana level.]]
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: ''Nude Raider'' being a hidden function and not a mod.
* VertigoEffect: Seen in the first game's level 1 FMV, right before the wolves attack Lara's guide.
* VideogameCrueltyPotential: Not only are you perfectly able to kill the Tibetan warrior monks in the second game (who are perfectly tolerable towards Lara, unless she decides to shoot them), the friendly monkeys (first level only, after that they get nasty) and the now-helpful (after Lara agrees to help them) members of "the Damned" (London levels) in the third game, you are also able to kill security guards and prison guards in assorted games. Okay, so they are attacking you at the time, but, hey, they're just doing their jobs...
** There are many, many videos on YouTube that show people diving Lara head first off a cliff onto solid ground. Heck, you can brutally be killed by almost anything in the series and people have happily done every single one of these things to Lara just to see what would happen.
** You can also lock Lara's butler Winston in a freezer to keep him from following you. And on the assualt course, Lara actually uses him for target practise.
** The trope is purposely invoked by one of the developers of ''Tomb Raider Anniversary'' in one of the commentaries. Another developer joked that the developer who was invoking the trope always killed Lara by impaling her on spikes and was upset that the ESRB wouldn't allow the game to have Lara be impaled by spikes anymore (this was supposed to let the game remain rated T, which is odd since the Playstation Tomb Raider games were also rated T and showed Lara getting impaled by spikes).
* TheWallsAreClosingIn
** In ''Legend'', it is possible to push a crate ahead of you through such obstacles, so you are safely inbetween the two smashing walls that have been stopped by the crate.
* WeCanRuleTogether: Natla's speech to Lara in ''Anniversary'' and Egyptian god Set's offer to Lara in exchange for the MacGuffin.
* WetSariScene: In ''Tomb Raider: Legend'', Lara has a costume, "Classic, Gray," with a white shirt and plaid shorts. In the remastered version for the PS3, the shirt becomes see-through when wet. (She wears a bra, of course.)
* WhamEpisode: The ending of ''The Last Revelation''. [[spoiler:Lara is apparently killed in a cave-in.]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''The Angel of Darkness'' was supposed to be the first game in a trilogy. [[spoiler:Karel]] was supposed to survive and be in Turkey, trying to bring back his fellow Nephilim. Kurtis's fate apparently depended on how much the fans liked him (i.e. he would come back if he was really liked, or he would not if he was really disliked). Of course, since ''The Angel of Darkness'' [[ExecutiveMeddling failed miserably]], the trilogy idea was scrapped and ideas attached to it along with it.
** Also in the same game, the watch Lara can find in Francine's apartment was supposed to play a bigger role or at least have a sub plot of its own.
* WhatHappenedToMommy: When Lara finally manages to find her mother at the end of ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' [[spoiler: she discovers she's already an undead Underworld zombie, and apparently has been so for the past twenty years or so. Sadly, it's not like a human being could survive in the hellish zombie-filled Underworld for 20 years anyway.]]
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In ''Angel of Darkness'', Gunderson, the big brute, is sent to contain the situation involving the proto-Nephilim. He is never seen or mentioned again. This is quite jarring, because he was one of the members of Eckhardt's Cabal.
** Jean-Yves, a close friend of Lara's, completely disappears between ''The Last Revelation'' and ''Chronicles''. This was due to legal trouble between Eidos and an archaeologist of the same name, who complained that Jean-Yves resembled him in both profession and name. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Because of this, the decision was made to remove Jean-Yves]] from ''Chronicles'' and replace him with a different friend of Lara's, Charles Kane.
* WhiteMaleLead: Inverted. Maybe one of the reasons the series gained so much popularity is because it portrayed an attractive white female as protagonist, which garnered a substantial female PeripheryDemographic to the franchise.
** Nearly played straight; originally, the series' protagonist was going to be a white male, but the development team dropped that for fear of being sued due to too many similarities with Indiana Jones.
* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: You're gonna '''NEED''' it when you play [=TRs=] 2-5. But [[NarmCharm the craziness]] is [[RuleOfFun what makes the series so fun.]]
* WombLevel: The last levels of the first game in Atlantis has walls of pulsating flesh and tissue [[BloodyBowelsOfHell mixed with]] [[LethalLavaLand tons of lava]].
* XanatosGambit /EvilPlan : [[spoiler: Natla]]'s scheme in ''Underworld''.
* YouFailBiologyForever: As mentioned above, MisplacedWildlife and EverythingTryingToKillYou abound in most of the games.
* YouKilledMyFather: In ''Underworld'', just before the final battle [[spoiler: Natla]] reveals she killed Lara's father.
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]] (from the Crystal Dynamics continuity). Lampshaded in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o28cGVLKLFw this fan-made video]].
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[[caption-width-right:200:"[[FoxTrot Check out]] [[BuxomIsBetter those bazookas]]!" "[[ComicallyMissingThePoint You idiot, she's wielding pistols.]]"]]
->''"If there's one thing I've learned, it's that ''nothing'' is lost forever."''
-->-- '''Lara Croft''', ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light''
'''''Tomb Raider''''' is a media franchise (mostly video game based) starring an AdventurerArchaeologist named Lara Croft. In most of the games, she travels around the world looking for highly prized treasures while avoiding rival hunters, wildlife, and various death traps.
Since its debut in 1996, the video games have sold millions of copies around the world, and have spawned a series of comic books, a pair of movies, and an animated series.
The first six games were created by British developer Core Design, but when the series began to decline and an attempt to give it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover [[YourMileageMayVary failed]], the publisher handed it over to an American development studio, Crystal Dynamics (who were largely responsible for the ''[[{{LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain]]'' series).
In 2009, Crystal Dynamics became a subsidiary of SquareEnix (yes, [[DragonQuest that]] [[FinalFantasy Square]] [[KingdomHearts Enix]]).
'''The Core Design era'''
* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider]]'' (1996) - Lara Croft is hired by a wealthy businesswoman, Jacqueline Natla, to recover a piece of an artifact called the Scion, from the lost city of Vilcabamba. After Lara is inevitably betrayed by her employer, she races across the world to find the two other pieces of the Scion and prevent it from falling into Natla's hands. Along the way, Lara visits Peru, Greece, Egypt and a remnant of Atlantis.
** The game got much critical acclaim (including a couple of "game of the year" awards), and established many of the tropes of the ActionAdventure genre. As a result of the amount of genre conventions it established, it is frequently cited as one of the most influential games of all time.
* ''Tomb Raider II'' (1997) - Lara is after the legendary Dagger of Xian, which is said to give its owner "[[LiteralGenie the power of a dragon]]". She finds herself in conflict with Italian mob boss/cult leader Marco Bartoli, who is after the same item. Locations in the game include Venice, an offshore oil rig, the sunken ocean liner Maria Doria, Tibet and the Great Wall of China.
** The game was generally considered as an EvenBetterSequel, although many considered it to have too much combat.
*** Creator Toby Gard left Core Design during the development of this game, due to "CreativeDifferences" (he was unhappy with Lara's oversexualisation), and [[StartMyOwn co-founded Confounding Factor]]. Their first game was ''Galleon'', a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Tomb Raider'' that took about ten years to make. It was actually pretty damn good, but bombed on release. Confounding Factor closed down shortly afterward.
* ''Tomb Raider III'' (1998) is actually five, loosely connected stories. Lara is gathering four crystal artifacts, with mystical (and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insanity-inducing]]) powers. The first is found in India and then the player can then choose in which order to seek out the remaining three, visiting Area 51, London and an unspecified island in the South Pacific. Finally, she travels to the impact site in Antarctica, fighting through an excavation filled with creatures mutated by the meteorite.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' was mostly well received, but is [[NintendoHard extremely merciless in difficulty]] and has a punishing save system on the {{PlayStation}} version, but is also very ambitious in other areas; this resulted in it becoming a LoveItOrHateIt game with people generally either considering it one of the (or the) best games in the series or hating it. This was also the start of a general split in the overall reception of the series.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) - Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus and must travel across Egypt to gather the pieces of [[PlotCoupon Horus's armor]] and re-seal him before he brings about the apocalypse. Lara's former mentor, Werner Von Croy resurfaces and becomes the host for the evil god.
** While the first three games are relatively similar, ''The Last Revelation'' made various attempts to change things up, with many new items and puzzle ideas, along with the brave move of setting the whole game in one location. However, this was the point where the series began to lose its luster among reviewers, not helped by the fact the graphics engine was becoming dated at this point (despite minor improvements). While not to the degree of ''Tomb Raider III'', this is also a YourMileageMayVary game, with it either being considered the sequel most faithful to the original format and with many interesting advancements, or a game with a theme that starts to get repetitive and several unnecessary interface changes.
* ''Tomb Raider Chronicles'' (2000) - After [[spoiler: Lara's apparent death]] at the end of ''The Last Revelation'', some of her friends gather and recall her past exploits, in the form of four mini-stories. The first is an old-school adventure, where Lara seeks the Philosopher's Stone in Rome. The second is a an action-horror themed one, where Lara infiltrates a submarine to recover the Spear of Destiny from a sunken ship, before the Russian {{mafia}} gets to it. The third takes place in Lara's teenage years, where she is trapped with a ghost on an island in Ireland, without any weapons. The fourth story tells how Lara stole an artifact from her former mentor in a New York skyscraper.
** The point of conversion to FranchiseZombie and {{Sequelitis}}; there were no plans for ''Chronicles'' at first, but it was made for a quick buck during the production of ''The Angel of Darkness''. It shows; the level design is far less intricate, shorter and certain sequences clash with the series's own established canon, plus a couple of levels are incredibly easy to break and make {{Unwinnable}} (even compared to some of the buggier levels in the earlier games). While most weren't bad, its reviews were still mediocre compared to the earlier games. The release of the [[GameMod level editor]] with the PC version is quite possibly the most interesting thing about the game.
* ''Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness'' (2003)- The ill-fated attempt to revive the series by giving it a DarkerAndEdgier makeover. Lara is accused of the murder of her former mentor Werner Von Croy and sets out to [[ClearMyName clear her name]]. However, she ends up caught up in the plot of main villain Pieter van Eckhardt, the leader of the Cabal, who is plotting to revive the Cubiciulum Nephili, a powerful Nephilim, thus placing the word in great danger.
** The final straw for Core's involvement in the series; while the graphics and storyline were excellent, the game was incredibly buggy, the controls were pretty much broken and various features were implemented in an obviously unfinished state ([[ExecutiveMeddling not helped by Eidos' determination to get it released as soon as possible, despite Core not being happy with it]]). It got bad reviews and had one of the highest return rates for a game ever. Despite this, it does have its fans, mostly due to the storyline and atmosphere.
'''The Crystal Dynamics era''' Lara, for these games, is voiced by British actress KeeleyHawes. [[HeyItsThatVoice That]] [[AshesToAshes Keeley Hawes]].
* ''Tomb Raider: Legend'' (2006) - A ContinuityReboot of the franchise, ''Legend'' delves into Lara's BackStory and motivations. She seeks the fragments of an ancient sword that is connected to a traumatic event from her own past. The main antagonist is Lara's college friend, Amanda Evert, who returns after being believed dead for years and wants the sword for her own reasons. The locations in the game include Bolivia, Peru, a Yakuza-infested skyscraper in Tokyo, Ghana, an old paranormal research facility in Kazakhstan, the ruins of cheesy King Arthur museum in Cornwall and Nepal.
** ''Legend'' showed that the series was still very salvagable despite the state ''The Angel of Darkness'' had left it in; it was the fastest selling (note, not highest selling) game in the series so far and got very good reviews. However, many of the changes from earlier games caused controversy, such as the [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom much more straightforward level design]] and StopHelpingMe sidekicks. It was a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks The change in canon also caused ire amongst some fans]].
*** Also marks the point where Toby Gard came back into the picture after Confounding Factor shut down, though as a creative consultant this time.
* ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Tomb Raider: Anniversary]]'' (2007) - A remake of the original game, made for the 10th anniversary of the series. It incorporates some of ''Legend'''s gameplay elements and changes the levels around, shortening some parts and extending others.
** ''Anniversary'' pleased many irritated by the changes in ''Legend'', with the level design more complex and the sidekicks gone. Its reviews were about the same as ''Legend'' (namely depending on whether the reviewer preferred the original style or the new ''Legend'' style). Some of the changes as a remake came under heavy scrutiny though, especially Atlantis and the T-Rex encounter, which were both generally regarded as being very lacking even by those with no particular memory of their original incarnation. Also a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to many let down by the changes in ''Legend''.
* ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' (2008) - Another attempt to be DarkerAndEdgier, this time succeeding. Lara is searching for Thor's hammer and the Norse underworld, believing it to have a relation to Avalon, where her mother is (apparently) trapped.
** ''Underworld'' attempts a sort of combination of ''Legend'' and ''Anniversary'', with the narrative integration of the former and the level design style, isolation and other aspects from the latter. [[YourMileageMayVary Although its success is arguable]]. The game has received quite mixed reviews, partially due to being obviously rushed out for Christmas and let down by various bugs and issues (along with a [[CameraScrew camera from hell]]) for many people. Some overlooked those issues, or got lucky, and considered it one of the best in the series, others were completely put off by them or ended up with an overall impression more along the lines of SoOkayItsAverage. It seems the series is back in heavy YourMileageMayVary territory (and, as a result, yet another SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for many)...
* ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' (2010) - A downloadable GaidenGame with online co-op. The game is a third person 3D rendered isometric platformer/action title with puzzle elements. It is the only game in the series ''not'' to have ''Tomb Raider'' in the title. It also doesn't seem to have any place in either of the series' continuity (although it does use some of ''Legend'''s music), meaning players can interpret it how they wish.
* ''Tomb Raider'' (scheduled for 2012 - delayed til 2013) - Yet another reboot of the series. It follows a young Lara, trapped on a Pacific island [[SurvivalHorror alone and without any supplies]] and appears to be taking a hard turn to DarkerAndEdgier. The E3 [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBrgeSjj-0 trailer]] can be seen here. From screenshots shown, it looks like it's taking survival up a notch.
'''Films'''
[[Film/LaraCroftTombRaider Two live-action films based on the franchise]] have been made, starring AngelinaJolie as Lara Croft. The films depart from the games in several plot departments, but Lara stays pretty much the same. The first film, ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'', was released in 2001; Lara is off looking for the Triangle of Light, which the Illuminati seek in order to control time. The second film, ''Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'', has Lara in search of Pandora's Box.
'''Animation'''
* ''RevisionedTombRaiderAnimatedSeries''
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!!This series provides examples of:
* ActionDressRip: Happens in ''Legend''.
* ActionGirl: Lara Croft, an absolute {{Badass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: The younger Lara seen in the 2012 reboot seems to be this.
* AdvancingWallOfDoom: Usually with SpikesOfDoom.
* AdventurerArchaeologist: Which makes her kicking open old vases looking for treasure all the more cringing.
* AdventurerOutfit: Lara.
* AffablyEvil: Dr. Willard.
* AlternateContinuity: The Crystal Dynamics games are set in a completely different continuity to the Core Design games. Same for the movie and the comic book series. The upcoming game is set in yet ''another'' alternate continuity. Into exactly what continuities the assorted [[GaidenGame Gaiden Games]] fall is up for debate.
* AmericanAccents: In the original Tomb Raider, Natla has a Texan accent, Larson has a hillbilly accent, and The Kid's accent makes him sound like he is from New Jersey. In the Anniversary remake, Natla loses her accent and becomes more refined and almost mysterious. Larson's accent changes to Texan. For both of these characters, the changes are either due to a different vision from the developers or hiring new voice actors.
* AncientConspiracy: Several, and the answer is usually found at the bottom of a ruin.
* AncientTradition: Also.
* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Used very often in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'', and ''Underworld''. All three games have at least one outfit that is a ShoutOut to a past game. ''Anniversary'' even has one where Lara is rendered in less polygons to reflect her model from the first game, pointy breasts and all, which made it very jarring and hilarious to see her interact with normal rendered characters in a cutscene.
* {{Area 51}}: Lara ends up here in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* ArtifactOfDoom: Lots and LOTS of them.
* AscendedGlitch: Lara's iconic mammaries came about due to a programmer accidentally slipping a decimal point and the team throwing 'em in.
* BackFromTheDead: Lara in ''The Angel of Darkness'', although it's hardly a surprise seeing as she's the series' protagonist. A much bigger twist was the return of [[spoiler: Natla]] in ''Underworld''.
* BadassNormal: Lara has encountered various supernatural beings, OneWingedAngel Superbeings and outright gods, and beaten (or [[SealedEvilInACan re-sealed]]) them all.
* BadassPreacher: Father Dunstan.
* BareYourMidriff: Lara seems to be quite fond of this.
** Averted in the latest reboot.
* BeardOfEvil: Pierre Dupont, in both of his incarnations. His Crystal Dynamics incarnation has him with a BaldOfEvil, as well.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: No matter how much damage she endures or what kind of dusty/slimy tombs she crawls through, Lara always comes out looking like she just got back from the stylist. The 2012 reboot looks to be averting this, at least if some of the promotional images are any indication.
** Averted in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld''. Sometimes it's difficult to notice unless the camera's zoomed in, but Lara gets a layer of dirt and grime on her whenever she shimmies around or climbs ledges. Her face even gets smudged.
* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: King Arthur was a real figure and the Excalibur was an ancient superweapon that granted him much power.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Poor, poor Winston.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Lara and Kurtis, most obviously in their first scene together. Never has a disarming been so laced with sexual tension.
* BigBad: Natla in the first game (and ''Anniversary'' and [[spoiler:''Underworld'']]), Bartoli in the second game, [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]] in the third game, Set in the fourth game, Eckhardt in the sixth game [[spoiler:(at least, that's what you're supposed to believe, until TheReveal that he is TheDragon for Karel, the real BigBad)]], Amanda in ''Legend'', Xolotl in ''Guardian of Light''.
* BigBraToFill: AngelinaJolie didn't quite live up to some fans expectations. It wasn't her acting that was the problem though...
* BlockPuzzle: Frequent in the first games, toned down later on.
* BlondesAreEvil: Jacqueline Natla in the first game (and ''Anniversary'' [[spoiler: and ''Underworld'']]), Sophia Leigh in ''Tomb Raider III'', Joachim Karel in ''The Angel of Darkness'', and Amanda Evert in ''Legend'' and ''Underworld''.
* BodyHorror: Used quite a bit, but ''Tomb Raider III'' especially loves this.
** The Damned, a group of hooded, masked men who lurk underground, have, thanks to Sophia's experiments, been left with their flesh constantly rotting - [[AFateWorseThanDeath and immortal, as they discovered when none of their suicide attempts worked]].
** The RX-Tech mine workers have mutated into hideous (and violent) creatures due to the energies from the meteorite. They are among the most unsettling enemies in the game. Then there's [[spoiler: Dr. Willard]]'s boss form...
** ''The Angel of Darkness'' also features this in [[spoiler:Boaz]]'s case.
* BondOneLiner: Started in ''[=TR3=]'', subverted in ''Underworld'' when a {{Mook}} knocks Lara out before she can finish delivering her quip.
* {{Bookends}}: ''Tomb Raider II''. While the last level is set back at Lara's mansion, her quest for the Dagger of Xian begins and ends in China. ''Legend'' begins and ends in Bolivia.
** Also, [[spoiler:after finding out the true fate of Amelia and getting closure]] in ''Underworld'', [[spoiler:Lara and Amanda are sent back to the original gate Amelia disappeared through in the flashback during Legend]].
* BottomlessMagazines: Lara's weapons never have to be reloaded, ever. Her pistols have infinite ammo, too (all the other weapons have a limited amount).
** After Crystal Dynamics took over the series, Lara's pistols have a limited magazine size but she can reload them as much as she wants.
* BraidsOfAction: Lara, in the later installments and the movies. She was planned to have it from the get-go, but technical limitations prevented it from happening.
** She ''does'' sport a braid in the first game's [=FMV=]s, but not during gameplay or non-FMV cutscenes.
* BritishAccents: Lara has one because, well, she is British. Where she hails from exactly in the UK is apparently Surrey, but no WordOfGod has been verified.
* BreakTheCutie: Crystal Dynamics have stated their aim to do this to Lara in the 2012 reboot.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The ending of ''Tomb Raider II''.
* BrokenBird: Lara, by the time of ''The Angel of Darkness''.
* TheCameo: [[LegacyOfKain Kain and Raziel]] and KaneAndLynch appear as [[DownloadableContent downloadable playable characters]] in ''Guardian of Light''.
* CameraScrew While this happens occasionally in the earlier games, ''Underworld'' takes it to another level.
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: Lara's mom]] in ''Underworld''.
* CaveBehindTheFalls: the Lost Valley in the original game was an iconic example of this being one of the first 3D examples of it. ''Legend'' attempts to outdo it by putting a whole open temple behind some falls.
** ''Anniversary'' had a lot of things behind various waterfalls
*** In the "Lost Valley" level:
**** [[spoiler: Shotgun behind the upper waterfall in the cave.]]
**** [[spoiler: Exit from the level behind the lower waterfall in the cave.]]
*** [[spoiler: In the "Natla's Mines" level the exit from the initial room is behind the waterfall.]]
*** In the "Final Conflict" level, for a change of pace,[[spoiler: a relic is hidden behind a '''lava''' fall.]]
* CherryTapping: Try killing the Abomination from the end of the first game with pistols (just be sure to nurse your aching fingers afterward).
* CityOfCanals: The second game has a level in Venice.
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler: Kristina Boaz]] in ''The Angel of Darkness''.
* ContinuityReboot: Everything after the series was handed over to Crystal Dynamics. The upcoming title is supposed to be yet ''another'' reboot.
* {{Cult}} / ReligionOfEvil: The Fiama Nera cult from ''Tomb Raider II''.
* {{Cutscene}}: The first five games on PC and PS1 mixed full motion video cutscenes (see the intro for an example) and in-game cutscenes using the gameplay engine. Originally, the in-game cinemas had no mouth movements, so it was rather awkward to see characters bob their heads (while their lips remained static) to indicate that they were talking. This was rectified starting with the fourth game.
** Starting with the Crystal Dynamics developed games, the cutscenes were all presented using the gameplay engine, due to the advancements of graphics since 1996.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Lara gets knocked out or otherwise incapacitated in situations that would be no sweat during gameplay.
** Such as when [[spoiler: Lara's {{Doppelganger}}]] blows up Lara's mansion, kicks her ass inside her burning mansion, and [[spoiler: kills Allister.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier vs. LighterAndSofter: The original series generally veered towards DarkerAndEdgier as it went along, but ''The Angel of Darkness'' was the only major leap towards it. After the failure of that, ''Legend'' signaled a LighterAndSofter change arguably even over the earliest games. ''Underworld'' seems to be adding elements of DarkerAndEdgier again, making the series currently be in somewhat of a slalom.
** The upcoming 2012 game is supposed to be even more DarkerAndEdgier than previous incarnations and an M rating.
* DeadpanSnarker: Lara Croft in spades, especially when it's combined with her BondOneLiner. Alister and Zip also have their quips in ''Legend'' and ''Underworld''.
** In ''Tomb Raider III'', after Lara winds up knocking herself out from a failed jump with her ATV, some mooks comment on how crazy she was to pull a stunt, then one of them wonders if Lara is an eco-terrorist. The other mook sarcastically replies "And they wear hot pants, huh?"
* DeathCourse: What the series is all about.
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: Used in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld'', where death just sends you back to the last checkpoint with full health.
* DemonicPossession: Von Croy is influenced and sometimes directly possessed by Set for much of ''The Last Revelation''.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Averted most of the time; while Lara faces gods she can rarely do direct damage and tends to just [[SealedEvilInACan reseal them]] and other powerful beings she beats are just that and not outright gods. Partially played straight in ''Anniversary'' [[spoiler: where while she doesn't kill Natla, she apparently at least incapacitates her for a while (the original game doesn't count as Natla was never said to be a god)]]. ''Underworld'' [[spoiler: she gets an artifact that does allow her to kill Natla)]] and ''Guardian of Light'' [[spoiler: like ''Anniversary'', Xolotl is not killed, but at least stunned enough by weaponry for him to be easily resealed, although Lara does have a god on her side too in this case]]
* DirtyCommunists: Subverted, if unintentionally. In ''Legend'', Lara comes to the assistance of Russian-speaking Kazakh soldiers at a Soviet-era research facility that is being attacked by, of all things, American mercenaries hired by a West Point graduate attempting to steal a Soviet-owned relic. She saves them from a likely death, and with some reluctance, they supply her with the passcode for their command center.
* DismantledMacguffin: Used often enough. In ''Legend'', Lara must find the different pieces of Excalibur and reassamble them. In the first game, the Atlantean Scion is split into three parts. The second example is a variation of the trope, as the fragments were not necessarily all from the same version of Excalibur, as it is mentioned that there was more than one such sword.
* DistantPrologue: Many of the games begin this way:
** The original game begins in an unnamed time period but it's far in the past where an explosion in New Mexico takes place, as the next cutscene flashes forward to the present day, where we meet Lara for the first time. ''Anniversary'' uses the same type of intro, but with minor script changes and improved graphics.
** ''Tomb Raider II'' also begins on an unknown date in the past, when the Chinese army was defeated by the Tibetan monks, who returned the Dagged of Xian to its place in the Great Wall of China. After the title screen, the game flashes forward to present day when Lara lands in the Great Wall of China area.
** ''Tomb Raider III'' begins in prehistoric times when a comet wiped out the dinosaurs. After this, it flashes forward to present day when some Antarctic scientists discover said meteor.
** ''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' features two levels at the beginning where you control teenage Lara, guided by her (then) mentor Von Croy. After these tutorial levels, the game switches to present day.
** ''Legend'' begins when Lara was nine.
* DoingInTheWizard: ''Legend'' strongly suggests that the fantastical elements of Arthurian myth were [[spoiler: not supernatural, but the work of ancient astronauts.]]
** The first game does the same for both Ancient Egyptian mythology and Atlantis.
* {{Doppelganger}}: Used as part of a puzzle in one of the final levels of the first game and ''Anniversary'', [[spoiler: and an evil one blows up Lara's mansion in ''Underworld''.]]
* DownloadableContent: A considerable amount of downloadable material for ''Underworld'' was exclusive to the Xbox360, including two new levels and several outfits. [=PlayStation=] loyalists, some of them having supported the franchise from the very beginning, were ''not'' pleased.
* DownTheDrain: While YourMileageMayVary, with a couple of exceptions it's notable for somewhat averting this, with several of the water-focused stages being considered among the highlights of the series for many.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:''The Last Revelation''. Of course, [[UnexplainedRecovery Lara gets better]].]]
* DurableDeathtrap: Used constantly, though [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] a few times in ''Legend''.
* DynamicLoading
* EgyptianMythology: A huge part of the plot of ''The Last Revelation''.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Apparently ''Underworld'' was an EvilPlan by [[spoiler: Natla]] so Lara would lead her to the LostSuperweapon she could use to destroy the world.
* EnemyMine: At the end of ''Underworld'', Lara and [[spoiler: Amanda]] team up to stop [[spoiler: Natla]] from destroying the world.
* EnemyChatter: In ''Legend''. Very amusing to listen to.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Bats, bears, wolves, crocodiles, eels, tigers, monkeys, gorillas, sharks, ravens, random hobos and ''museum security guards''. Lampshaded in ''Legend'', when MissionControl wonders why predators always attack prey larger than themselves.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The first game, ''Tomb Raider II'' (but only in a secret area), ''Tomb Raider III'', ''Anniversary''.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Subverted to hell in the first game and ''Anniversary'', played straight and then subverted in ''Tomb Raider III'' (the first monkeys Lara comes across are harmless, although they will try to steal pickups, but later ones are hostile).
* EverythingsBetterWithMotorCycles
* EverythingsCoolerWithLava: Loads and loads of lava to be found in the first and second games.
* EverythingsEvenWorsewithSharks
* EverythingsWorseWithBears
* EverythingsWorseWithWolves
* EvilAlbino: Amanda Evert. While she's not explicitly albino, her skin and hair become considerably lighter after she is possessed by the wraith.
* EvilCounterpart: Amanda again.
* EvilForeigner: The vast majority of the villains in the series (with the exception of Sophia Leigh and Dr. Willard) are not British. Lara also gets to face off against foreign organised crime elements like the Mafia and the Yakuza.
* EvilOldFolks: Pieter van Eckhardt.
* EvilRedhead: [[spoiler: Lara's evil clone.]]
* EvilTwin: [[spoiler: Lara's evil clone in ''Underworld''.]]
* ExcusePlot: The {{Gaiden Game}}s, and, arguably, 80% of ''Tomb Raider III''.
* ExposedToTheElements: A green tank top and shorts for any weather, even while climbing the Himalayas. Lara's outfit changes to fit the location starting with the second game, but this doesn't always avert the trope, and from ''Legend'' on, the player can choose outfits (even if they're inappropriate) themselves.
* FanGirl: The series has gained plenty thanks to Kurtis, Larson and Karel.
* {{Fanservice}}: Lara, of course, but ''Legend'' gives most of its male cast huge, muscular frames and half-unbuttoned shirts.
** Non-sexual: ''Anniversary'' is filled with references to the other games in the series, ''Underworld'' features a few {{Continuity Nod}}s and some ContinuityCreep.
* FemmeFatalons: ([[spoiler: Natla.]])
* FingerlessGloves: Lara often wears these.
* FiveBadBand: There is one in ''The Angel of Darkness'':
** The BigBad - Karel
** TheDragon - Eckhardt
** The EvilGenius - Muller
** TheBrute - Gunderson
** The DarkChick - Boaz
* FoeYay: Lara and Natla, Lara and Amanda.
** And even more so, [[spoiler: [[ScrewYourself Lara with her doppleganger]].]]
** ''Anniversary'' really plays up the FoeYay with Lara and Larson.
* FranchiseZombie:''Chronicles'' was thrown together on publisher demand for a quick buck.
** And then after that, there was ''The Angel of Darkness'', which was almost a FranchiseKiller.
* GaidenGame: ''Unfinished Business, Golden Mask, Lost Artifact, Times Exclusive, Beneath The Ashes, Lara's Shadow'', Guardian of Light.
* {{Gainaxing}}: Sometimes, Lara's boobs get all jiggly.
** Specifically, it's entirely absent from the first five games (during gameplay, at least). Then she's quite bouncy in ''The Angel of Darkness'', to the point where one wonders if she's even wearing a bra. The Crystal Dynamics games keep it in but dial it back to realistic levels.
* GameMod: The infamous (and self-explanatory) ''Nude Raider'' patches are some of the first examples of modding a non-{{FPS}} game. Also, beyond that, while it is not well-known publicly, the level editor released with ''Chronicles'' has led to very large modding community with thousands of custom levels and other content.
* GiantSpiders: The large spiders encountered in the Temple of Xian in ''Tomb Raider II''. Even bigger ones are encountered in ''Underworld''. [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]]'s OneWingedAngel form also has elements of this.
* GirlishPigtails: Teenage Lara sports them.
* GraveRobbing: Well the games are called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Tomb Raider]]....
* GunsAkimbo: Lara, of course.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits
* HeelFaceTurn: Werner von Croy, although it's mainly down to DemonicPossession.
* HandCannon: The Desert Eagle in ''III'' and the revolver in ''The Last Revelation'' were one-shot kills for most of the baddies in the game
* HeroicSacrifice: Sargent Aziz in ''The Last Revelation'' drives his truck filled with explosives into the dragon blocking that is blocking the Citadel, making it explode and killing the beast and himself in the process, which allows Lara to progress. Lara even gives Aziz a farewell salute after the deed is done.
* HijackedByGanon: In ''Underworld'' [[spoiler: Natla returns from ''Anniversary'' and plays Amanda and Lara like fiddles, and Amanda's whole revenge scheme becomes an afterthought.]]
* HollywoodSkydiving: Lara's base jump that opens the Kazhakstan level in ''Legend'', which is an "interactive cutscene". If the player doesn't press the right button as it appears on the screen, Lara won't deploy her chute and will fall to her death.
* HotMom: Lady Amelia Croft. Da-yum.
* ICantUseTheseThingsTogether: Lara's curt "No."
* ImAHumanitarian: The Polynesian tribe in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* InTheHood: The Damned. They wear the hoods and masks to hide their BodyHorror.
* IncendiaryExponent: ''Guardian of Light'' takes this BeyondTheImpossible with a [[spoiler: a T-Rex that's on fire!]]
* IndyEscape
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: Those who have the courage to plunge the Dagger of Xian into their heart are rewarded with being able to transform into a dragon.
* InvisibleGrid: All of the first five games were divided up into grids that made jumps very simple to do and all puzzle blocks always moved by each "square" (for example, Wwlk to the edge, tap back once, and you got enough room to do a running jump).
* KillerApp: While it was initially developed for the Saturn, ''Tomb Raider'' and its early sequels became a killer app for the {{PlayStation}}, the PC version was also one of the first games to get [[GraphicsProcessingUnit 3D card support]].
* LargeHam: Quite a few, but Verdilet, the demon from the Ireland levels of ''Chronicles'', is [[NoIndoorVoice particularly noteworthy]].
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: Heard in ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' when you lose a life.
* LivingMotionDetector: In the third game, the T-Rex can not see Lara if she doesn't move (a direct ShoutOut to ''JurassicPark'') - but it ''can'' harm her, as it will stomp around very close to her even if she stays completely still.
* LockedIntoStrangeness: In the Ireland levels of ''Chronicles'', Father Dunstan's hair turns white and stays that way after an offscreen encounter with a demon.
* MacGuffinDeliveryService: Used in the first and third games; avoided in ''Legend'', where Lara never loses any piece of the ArtifactOfDoom and ends up wielding it as an EleventhHourSuperpower.
* MadeOfIron: The upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot will often have Lara wounded and she has to force herself to keep on going. However, even suffering from a wound that has her clutching her side doesn't stop her from clambering up on surfaces really quickly.
* MaleGaze
** Crystal Dynamics have stated they are specially trying to avert this in the upcoming ''Tomb Raider'' reboot, to the point that they iterated on her model until people in tests were found to naturally focus on her eyes rather than her breasts.
* MalevolentArchitecture: Lampshaded and then justified in ''Legend''.
* MarathonLevel: Each game has at least one level that's longer than the others. "Temple of Xian" from the second game, and three of the four England levels in the third game being some notorious examples.
* {{Mayincatec}}: The City of Vilcabamba is based on the real-life last outpost of the Inca. It contains a gold idol modelled on a Tumi, a ceremonial knife used in sacrifices.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Apparently, the 2012 reboot will allow free-roaming across the island, but certain areas will only be accessible once you have the right gear or skills.
* MindOverMatter: Kurtis Trent demonstrates telekinetic powers in ''The Angel of Darkness'' ([[WhatCouldHaveBeen which would have been a lot more apparent]] [[ExecutiveMeddling had Core been allowed to finish the game on time]]). Amanda's BlackMagic ability is functionally similar.
* MisplacedWildlife: Are those baboons in India? And lions in Egypt and China? They're extinct in both those places.
** Well, ''now'' they are...
** How about ''[[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys gorillas]]'' in Greece?
** Let's not forget Crocodiles in Greece as well, or the fact that these animals have lived for centuries with no food in enclosed spaces.
** But the Blue Ribbon goes to the ''Velociraptors'' and ''T-Rex'' that live in, of all places, ''the frozen peruvian mountains.'' And China. And Polynesia.
* MookHorrorShow: Lara can polish off entire armies of trained mercenaries by herself.
* MoreDakka: As Lara's signature weapons are her dual Pistols the dual Uzis essentially function as this for her character (and were used almost as much as the pistols in earlier art for the series). Also, while other weapons had higher overall damage output the mix and agility and damage the Uzi's offered made them the overall best weapon of the first couple of games, although they were overshadowed by other weapons from ''Tomb Raider III'' onwards. Due to being a remake, ''Anniversary'' did give them some extra limelight again.
* MultiPlatform
* MultipleChoicePast: Lara's origin seems to be "whatever the designer of the current game/movie feels like."
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In ''Anniversary'', Lara has this reaction [[spoiler: after killing Larson.]]
* NeverFoundTheBody: The ending of ''Chronicles''; only her backpack is found in the rubble. Surprise: she's NotQuiteDead / BackFromTheDead in ''The Angel of Darkness''.
** Also, [[spoiler: Kurtis Trent]] at the end of ''The Angel of Darkness''.
** And Amanda in ''Legend''; they only found an untied shoe in the ruins of Paraiso. She's still alive, of course.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: ''The Last Revelation'', as Lara accidentally releases the Egyptian god Set from his sarcophagus near the beginning of the game.
* NintendoHard: The first two games are fair outside of a few sections, but from ''TombRaider III'' onwards (until ''Legend'') the series took no prisoners. ''Anniversary'' also has its moments, although their nature makes this a partial overlap with {{Game Breaking Bug}}s.
** The trap-filled corridors in the Egyptian levels of ''Anniversary'' are probably the most extreme example in the later games. According to the commentary, the creators' decided that "traps" would be the theme of those levels, and basically stuffed the hallways with instant-death perils just to make them more interesting.
*** Even worse: The ascend in the Great Pyramid section of Atlantis. It's basically a series of incredibly difficult timed jumping puzzles, that get worse the higher you go. One mistake and Lara is toast. And you have to battle the enemies again, because the savegame-function works with checkpoints. There are a lot of players who got so frustrated that they downloaded a savegame from just after the ascend.
** The first level in ''TombRaider II'' is notable for being ''incredibly'' difficult, especially if you're a beginner.
* NoGearLevel: Almost every game does this where Lara gets captured and loses her guns. By ''The Angel of Darkness'', she gained the ability to punch and kick.
** On the other hand, a segment in ''Chronicles'' uses a younger Lara (introduced in the tutorial and prologue for ''The Last Revelation''), who is always unarmed.
* NonActionGuy: Alister and Zip.
* NonindicativeName: Each game features levels that aren't considered "tombs" by the strictest definition. Some games even predominantly feature non tomb-based levels (''Tomb Raider Chronicles'', with half the game taking place aboard a modern submarine and in a high rise skyscraper).
* NoobBridge: Sometimes happens. In the second major area in ''Tomb Raider: The Prophecy'' for GameBoyAdvance, there's one place where you just have to use the run button; if you never learned of it you'd be stuck with a door that just closes too soon. In ''Tomb Raider II'', there's an area where Lara must make a long jump into a pool of water far below. There is only a small square of space in the pool that isn't so shallow that it would lead to a lethal fall. However, even a perfectly executed running jump cannot reach it. This is the only point in the game where she absolutely must perform a dive while jumping in order to reach the small square of deep water.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[GameplayAndStorySegregation One cutscene has Lara diving from a height that kills her if the player attempts it when controlling her]]. Also, [[spoiler: Natla]] falling into a pool of lava. And the ending of ''The Last Revelation'', where [[spoiler: the temple collapses and she is shown falling to apparently certain death.]]
** [[spoiler: Amanda's]] apparently certain death by drowning and crushing in the ''Legend'' flashback. But when Lara returned, she NeverFoundTheBody, just an untied shoe. Guess what that means?
* NothingIsScarier: This trope is invoked quite a lot as Lara is frequently exploring places no-one has entered in thousands of years.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Sophia Leigh, who, in the words of one of her henchmen looks to be in her "late twenties; early thirties", but is actually much, much older, as the same henchman says that his father and grandfather before him also worked for her. It is later revealed that Sophia is testing treatments for everlasting beauty and keeps the best results for herself. Given that the failed experiments of some of the treatments, the Damned, cannot die, it is also quite possible that Sophia herself is immortal. [[spoiler:Indeed, she does come BackFromTheDead in the ''Lost Artifact'' expansion.]]
* OmnicidalManiac: Natla.
* OneHitKill: [[spoiler:Dr. Willard]] can fire homing energy projectiles that will instantly kill Lara if they touch her.
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler: Marco Bartoli]] in ''Tomb Raider II'', [[spoiler: Dr. Willard]] in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* OrphanedSeries: The original Core Design continuity. Many a fanfic has attempted to continue the story.
* OverlyLongScream: Unintentional version; if Lara falls more than a certain distance, her death scream starts playing, on the assumption that she'll die from impact damage when she lands. There are a handful of places in the early games where you can fall so far that the scream loops multiple times before she hits the ground (and at least one place where SoftWater will allow her to survive such a drop).
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The new Lara is noticeably paler than her original incarnation.
* ParentalAbandonment:
** In the Core Design games: [[ParentalIssues Lara's parents disown her when she goes against their wishes]] and decides to become an adventurer.
** In the Crystal Dynamics games: [[spoiler: Lara's mom was accidentally killed by Amanda, and her dad was killed by Natla.]]
* PluckyComicRelief: Larson and Pierre in the Core Design continuity - most obviously in ''Chronicles''. Also, Zip fills this role in both the Core and Crystal Dynamics continuities, although it's more downplayed in the latter.
* PressXToNotDie: The "Quick-time events"/"interactive cutscenes" In the Crystal Dynamics games.
* ProductPlacement: Starting with ''Legend'', some name brand [=SUVs=] (Jeep) and motorcycles (Ducati) were prominently displayed, and even used by Lara. One line of dialogue has Lara talk about the performance capabilities of a Ducati bike just as she jumps on it.
* PublicDomainArtifact: Several, including Excalibur and the Spear of Destiny. The Ark of the Covenant makes a cameo appearance as well.
* PuzzleBoss: Most of them.
* PuzzlePan
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: Natla's henchmen in ''Tomb Raider'' and ''Anniversary''.
* RealAfterAll: In the ''Tomb Raider III'' GaidenGame ''Lost Artifact'', Lara discovers a fake Loch Ness monster in a secret area, however, viewing a certain area at the right time allows Lara to look over the water and apparently see the real Loch Ness monster moving across the water.
* RapunzelHair: Almost knee-length in ''IV'', but gets shorter and shorter in every sequel.
* {{Reconstruction}}: The 2012 reboot is going this way, judging by a ''Game Informer'' interview with its designers and Lara's more realistic redesign.
* RecycledTitle: ''Tomb Raider''
* RivalTurnedEvil: Amanda, complete with [[strike: white]] bleach blonde hair.
* RuleOfCool: As explained in the first games manual, this is literally the reason for Lara's head first dive into a body of water.
* ScaledUp: Marco Bartoli at the end of ''Tomb Raider II''. The intro of the same game also shows the same happening to the then-Emperor of China.
* SceneryPorn: Practically everywhere.
* SealedEvilInACan
* SelectiveCondemnation: ''Angel of Darkness''
* ShapeShifter: [[spoiler:Karel - this is one of his Nephilim aspects.]]
* ShesGotLegs: At the end of ''Tomb Raider II'', Lara is wearing a very short bathrobe.
** Lara's costume fully reveals her legs in ''Legend'', ''Anniversary'' and ''Underworld'' (thanks to incredibly short shorts).
* ShowerScene: Subverted at the end of ''Tomb Raider II''. Doubles as a ThatsAllFolks.
--> '''Lara:''' Don't you think you've seen enough? *shoots the player with a shotgun*
* SinisterSubway: The derelict Aldwych station in ''Tomb Raider III''.
* SmallReferencePools: One of the Lara Croft CG renders is a nude Lara sitting in a chair with the chair back covering her front. How many nowadays know this is a parody of a Christine Keeler photo?
* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom
* SoftWater: in the third game, you are forced to dive off a cliffside. Lara's scream ends and starts again three times. Until you hit the water, just fine after falling roughly 100 ft.
** The "Ghana" level in ''Legend'' opens with Lara swan-diving off a cliff into a lake about 100 feet below.
** Basically, most of the time you jump from an incredible height but land in a body of water, you'll be alright (if it isn't too shallow, that is).
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's ''Lara'', not ''Laura'', ''Werner'' not ''Verner'', ''Larson'' not ''Larsen'', ''Sophia Leigh'' not ''Sophia Lee'', ''Father Dunstan'' not ''Father Duncan'', ''Alister'' not ''Alistair'', ''Allister'' or ''Alasdair'', and Amanda ''Evert'', not ''Everett''.
* SpyCatsuit: Lara dons a short-sleeved variant in the London levels of ''Tomb Raider III'', and a more traditional one in the VCI Headquarters levels of ''Chronicles''.
* StalactiteSpite: Seen in ''Tomb Raider II'''s "Catacombs of the Talion".
* {{Stripperiffic}}: From the beginning, most of Lara's outfits showed just a little more skin than practical. In ''Legend'', the developers abandoned all pretense and stuck her in a low-cut, ripped-up evening dress for a whole level.
* StoppedNumberingSequels: After the third installment.
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:Von Croy]] returns in ''Angel of Darkness'', only to be brutally killed off in the game's intro.
* SuperDrowningSkills: Lara has an oxygen meter when you are underwater. If it runs out, you rapidly lose health until you die.
* SuperNotDrowningSkills: In ''Tomb Raider Underworld'' depleting the oxygen meter takes longer than in the previous two games, in the instances where she's not using scuba gear.
* SuperStrength: Lara is able to push around blocks measuring 2 metres per side. That's about 20 metric tonnes.
* SuspiciousVideogameGenerosity: Most noticeable with flares; there's rarely a reason to hoard them, since the games will usually give you more right before you enter a dark area.
* TakeThat: See ShoutOut above.
* TempleOfDoom
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: In the first game, it is possible, upon completion of the game, to replay the game with every weapon unlocked - so it is possible to gleefully kill bats with uzis.
** Made even more fun in the second and third games with the grenade launcher and the rocket launcher.
* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Lara does this in Anniversary. ''[[{{Anvilicious}} Repeatedly]]''.
* ThisIsSPARTA: Lara has an admirable and frightening go at this where thanks to punctuating each word with a gunshot right by Amanda's face is even more powerful than [[ThreeHundred Leonidas.]]
--> '''''"WHERE"''''' '''bang''' '''''"IS"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MY"''''' '''bang''' '''''"MOTHER"''''' '''bang'''
* ThirdPersonSeductress: Arguably the TropeMaker, and while there have been examples before definitely the TropeCodifier.
* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Larson and Pierre.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Larson and Pierre go from mildly incompetent in the first game to extremely incompetent in ''Chronicles''. This is played with, however, as this particular ''Chronicles'' segment chronologically takes place before the first game.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Lara in ''Angel of Darkness'', [[JustifiedTrope justified]] [[CharacterDevelopment given what she had to go through]] at the end of ''The Last Revelation''.
* TrainingDummy: In ''Legend'', there is a dummy in the first Peru level which you can practice your hand-to-hand combat moves on.
* TrophyRoom
** In ''III'', you can unlock one that has all of the artifacts that Lara got in all the previous games and sidequests, plus a ''T. Rex'' skull.
* TheUnfought: Gunderson in Angel of Darkness.
* UniversalAmmunition: This is how ammo is handled in ''Guardian of Light,'' a blue bar that depletes faster depending on what guns you're using.
* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: In ''Legend'', if you complete a combo of somersaults and flips (which serve little purpose in the gameplay), Zip or Alister will complement you over your headset.
** [[FridgeLogic ...even when they've supposedly lost contact with Lara in the Ghana level.]]
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: ''Nude Raider'' being a hidden function and not a mod.
* VertigoEffect: Seen in the first game's level 1 FMV, right before the wolves attack Lara's guide.
* VideogameCrueltyPotential: Not only are you perfectly able to kill the Tibetan warrior monks in the second game (who are perfectly tolerable towards Lara, unless she decides to shoot them), the friendly monkeys (first level only, after that they get nasty) and the now-helpful (after Lara agrees to help them) members of "the Damned" (London levels) in the third game, you are also able to kill security guards and prison guards in assorted games. Okay, so they are attacking you at the time, but, hey, they're just doing their jobs...
** There are many, many videos on YouTube that show people diving Lara head first off a cliff onto solid ground. Heck, you can brutally be killed by almost anything in the series and people have happily done every single one of these things to Lara just to see what would happen.
** You can also lock Lara's butler Winston in a freezer to keep him from following you. And on the assualt course, Lara actually uses him for target practise.
** The trope is purposely invoked by one of the developers of ''Tomb Raider Anniversary'' in one of the commentaries. Another developer joked that the developer who was invoking the trope always killed Lara by impaling her on spikes and was upset that the ESRB wouldn't allow the game to have Lara be impaled by spikes anymore (this was supposed to let the game remain rated T, which is odd since the Playstation Tomb Raider games were also rated T and showed Lara getting impaled by spikes).
* TheWallsAreClosingIn
** In ''Legend'', it is possible to push a crate ahead of you through such obstacles, so you are safely inbetween the two smashing walls that have been stopped by the crate.
* WeCanRuleTogether: Natla's speech to Lara in ''Anniversary'' and Egyptian god Set's offer to Lara in exchange for the MacGuffin.
* WetSariScene: In ''Tomb Raider: Legend'', Lara has a costume, "Classic, Gray," with a white shirt and plaid shorts. In the remastered version for the PS3, the shirt becomes see-through when wet. (She wears a bra, of course.)
* WhamEpisode: The ending of ''The Last Revelation''. [[spoiler:Lara is apparently killed in a cave-in.]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''The Angel of Darkness'' was supposed to be the first game in a trilogy. [[spoiler:Karel]] was supposed to survive and be in Turkey, trying to bring back his fellow Nephilim. Kurtis's fate apparently depended on how much the fans liked him (i.e. he would come back if he was really liked, or he would not if he was really disliked). Of course, since ''The Angel of Darkness'' [[ExecutiveMeddling failed miserably]], the trilogy idea was scrapped and ideas attached to it along with it.
** Also in the same game, the watch Lara can find in Francine's apartment was supposed to play a bigger role or at least have a sub plot of its own.
* WhatHappenedToMommy: When Lara finally manages to find her mother at the end of ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' [[spoiler: she discovers she's already an undead Underworld zombie, and apparently has been so for the past twenty years or so. Sadly, it's not like a human being could survive in the hellish zombie-filled Underworld for 20 years anyway.]]
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In ''Angel of Darkness'', Gunderson, the big brute, is sent to contain the situation involving the proto-Nephilim. He is never seen or mentioned again. This is quite jarring, because he was one of the members of Eckhardt's Cabal.
** Jean-Yves, a close friend of Lara's, completely disappears between ''The Last Revelation'' and ''Chronicles''. This was due to legal trouble between Eidos and an archaeologist of the same name, who complained that Jean-Yves resembled him in both profession and name. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Because of this, the decision was made to remove Jean-Yves]] from ''Chronicles'' and replace him with a different friend of Lara's, Charles Kane.
* WhiteMaleLead: Inverted. Maybe one of the reasons the series gained so much popularity is because it portrayed an attractive white female as protagonist, which garnered a substantial female PeripheryDemographic to the franchise.
** Nearly played straight; originally, the series' protagonist was going to be a white male, but the development team dropped that for fear of being sued due to too many similarities with Indiana Jones.
* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: You're gonna '''NEED''' it when you play [=TRs=] 2-5. But [[NarmCharm the craziness]] is [[RuleOfFun what makes the series so fun.]]
* WombLevel: The last levels of the first game in Atlantis has walls of pulsating flesh and tissue [[BloodyBowelsOfHell mixed with]] [[LethalLavaLand tons of lava]].
* XanatosGambit /EvilPlan : [[spoiler: Natla]]'s scheme in ''Underworld''.
* YouFailBiologyForever: As mentioned above, MisplacedWildlife and EverythingTryingToKillYou abound in most of the games.
* YouKilledMyFather: In ''Underworld'', just before the final battle [[spoiler: Natla]] reveals she killed Lara's father.
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Natla]]. Oh my God, [[spoiler:Natla]] (from the Crystal Dynamics continuity). Lampshaded in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o28cGVLKLFw this fan-made video]].
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