Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Kicks Off a New Era for Lara Croft

Crystal Dynamics and Amazon see the upcoming remake as the first major step into a new era for Tomb Raider, with more adventures in the pipeline after Lara returns to Atlantis.

Lara Croft is about to step back into one of her most memorable adventures, but her homecoming might be more than just a fresh coat of paint. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is being touted as the first phase of a much broader future for the series, with Crystal Dynamics and Amazon seeking to bring old-school fans and newcomers alike under one roof.

Rumor has it that Crystal Dynamics and Amazon are working hard to relaunch the Tomb Raider series. The first major release in this new direction will be a remake of the first game, an attempt to bring gamers back to the franchise's roots while also introducing Lara Croft to a new generation.

Jeff Adams, Director of User Experience for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, recently shared the game's ambitions in an interview. "The development team wants the game to appeal to a broad range of gamers, from lifelong fans who have followed Lara since her early adventures, to those who found the character through the Netflix series, to gamers who have never before played the franchise," he said.

That's a really big audience to bring together, but the team feels Lara's first encounter will be a great jumping-off point.

Legacy of Atlantis will bring back the surroundings that you remember from Tomb Raider, but with improved graphics quality for today's PC and consoles. Players can now visit these areas in some of Lara's classic outfits, giving longtime fans another reason to jump back in.

However, Crystal Dynamics isn't just looking to the past. The devs also want to thank the fans who came in through the Survivor trilogy, beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider remake. The remake will include the customization options fans of the earlier games know and love, along with the more humanized Lara who defined the current trilogy, the sources said.

But can a remake ever please individuals with such different expectations? I suppose that's one of the hardest hurdles for the project. Tomb Raider classic enthusiasts may want the original adventure's atmosphere and identity kept, while younger fans may want the character development and presentation found in the Survivor series.

It seems the dev team doesn't want to play favorites with one generation of followers or the other, but instead is aiming for a middle ground. Adams also emphasized that Legacy of Atlantis should not be described as a remaster or simply a graphical update. But instead, the project is being billed as a big part of Lara Croft’s story, allowing players another chance to view the beginning of her iconic quest.

More than that, this revamp is just the first step in the franchise’s much-anticipated rebirth.

The next significant project to continue this new phase is Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which implies that Crystal Dynamics and Amazon have broader intentions for Lara than just her return to Atlantis. Of course, there is one big issue to answer: does Legacy of Atlantis have what it takes to deliver the kind of success needed to keep this ambitious comeback on track? 

A solid start could give the series some momentum heading into future adventures. But if the remake doesn’t click with players, the studio’s long-term objectives might be in significant peril. This time around, Lara Croft's comeback looks to be more than a nostalgia tour of ancient ruins. It might mark the start of a new era for Tomb Raider. But will Legacy of Atlantis be the return Lara deserves?