Lara Croft Go CSP Blog Tasks

 Language

1) When did Lara Croft first appear in a videogame?

Lara Croft made her first appearance in the video game Tomb Raider, which was released in 1996.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?

The creation of Lara Croft and the original Tomb Raider games was heavily influenced by classic action-adventure films, most notably Indiana Jones, Tank Girl, Hard Boiled, Rambo: First Blood Part II and The Edge.

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?

Lara Croft has featured in films (the first starring Angelina Jolie; 2018 version rebooted the character). She has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel.

There have been advertising tie-ins, merchandise, comic books and  spin-offs featuring the character. The franchise has had numerous incarnations before Lara Croft Go in 2015. 

Lara Croft has been credited with bringing success on the Play Station for the games’ creators (selling 7 million copies world wide) and launching the female protagonist in games. She has also been widely thought of as a sex symbol. 

4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?

Android and iOS phones/tablets, PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows Phone, macOS, Linux, and Apple TV. 

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Go is a turn-based puzzle-adventure game

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) to make the game enjoyable for the audience?



7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game? Think about mise-en-scene and setting here.



8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?

Snakes, Lizards that mimic movements, spiders, and deadly salamanders. The main antagonist is the giant snake known as the Queen of Venom. Other hazards include moving walls, traps, and saw blades.

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?

Lara Croft Go explores the ruins of an ancient civilization in the Amazon Jungle while fighting menacing enemies, overcome dangerous obstacles and traps, and ultimately, uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom.  There is no specific timescale – but is modern-day in Lara’s weaponry. However, this game is a ‘turn-based puzzle’ which involves by-passing enemies and unlocking paths in a sequential manner which suits the ‘short timespan’ that people can sometimes commit to mobile gaming. It faithfully preserves element of original Tomb Raider game and brings the original adventure up to date. 

10) Read this BBC article on the history of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. How has the character of Lara Croft evolved over the last 25 years?

Representations

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

Women in video games are frequently represented through gender stereotypes, often featuring as hypersexualized, scantily clad, or as subordinate "damsels in distress" needing rescue by male characters.

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?

Object of sexual desire. Her body features were particularly exaggerated in early versions of games.

Scantily-clad designed for male audience. Lara Croft is designed to be attractive to the male audience as she basically acquires all the features that some men would describe as perfect.

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?

She is an action hero – traditionally a male stereotype in gaming.

She is empowered female heroine – rare in gaming industry at the time.  “The heroine, Lara Croft, is an intelligent, butt-kicking, gun-wielding, sexpot, ready to take on whatever comes her way.” Katherine Walker, Portrayal of Women in Media (Video Games)

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information

2) What is PEGI's job?

 Is a European video game rating system established to help consumers make informed decisions when buying video games or apps through the use of age recommendations and content descriptors.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Go was developed by Square Enix Montréal who also made Hitman Go.

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Go is the combination of two successful franchises – Lara Croft Tomb Raider and the Hitman Go mobile game.

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?

Beyond the main console/PC games, the Tomb Raider franchise includes numerous spin-off titles (e.g., Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light), mobile games (Relic Run, GO), and upcoming 2026/2027 releases like Catalyst. The franchise extends to films, novels, comic books, and a Netflix animated series, with a live-action series by Phoebe Waller-Bridge in development. 

-Spin-off Games: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010), Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014), Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015), Lara Croft GO (2015), and Tomb Raider Reloaded (2023).

-Film & Television: Feature films starring Angelina Jolie (2001, 2003) and Alicia Vikander (2018), along with the Netflix animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.

-Literature: Several novels and comic book series (by Top Cow and Dark Horse) have expanded the lore.

-Future Content: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (reimagining, 2026) and Tomb Raider: Catalyst (Unreal Engine 5, 2027), along with an Amazon live-action series.

-Remasters: Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (2024). 

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?



2) Where and when might an audience play a game like Lara Croft Go? Think about the device it is played on and the times of the day someone might want to play the game.

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?



4) Which of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory might apply to Lara Croft Go?



5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?