Highlights
- Tomb Raider has evolved over 30 years, adapting to survive in the gaming industry by taking risks and trying new things.
- Uncharted drew inspiration from Tomb Raider but with its future uncertain, Tomb Raider has an opportunity to reclaim its crown.
- Lara Croft’s next adventure could set a new standard in action/adventure genre, free from direct competition with Uncharted.
There are few franchises that have earned their place on the shelves of gamers over the last three decades more than Tomb Raider. It may be overlooked somewhat because the first few games have aged poorly, but it was a flag-bearer for 3D gameplay, and has only improved over time. Lara Croft is one of the best female protagonists of all time, and will likely continue her legacy in the future.
Uncharted clearly took a lot of inspiration from Tomb Raider, and some believe its quality has surpassed it. However, since 2017, the former series has been nowhere to be seen, which means that the latter has free air to take some big swings, as it is in a prime position to reassert itself as the queen of the genre.
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Tomb Raider Is No Stranger to Change
Being a series that has a history dating back almost 30 years, Tomb Raider has had to adapt to survive. It may have started as a somewhat linear and restricted affair, but over the years it has experimented with open-world elements that are present in the Survivor Trilogy, as well as complete genre shifts as is apparent in Lara Croft and The Temple of Osiris. It hasn’t been afraid to make mistakes in the pursuit of something new, which has put it in the best position to take yet more risks to help it feel fresh in the future.
Because of this, it can easily find and implement new ways to feel different from Uncharted, a series that has taken so much from Tomb Raider to begin with. That’s not to say that Lara Croft’s next outing has to be a racing game or anything else that’s so contrasting to previous games, but something as simple as changing the tone or using less linear levels could be the difference it needs. Tomb Raider would be free to use all it has learned to take a big swing to hopefully cement itself as a AAA giant.
Uncharted is a Shadow that’s Hard to Escape
Tomb Raider is one of the most influential series of all time, being the blueprint for countless third-person action/adventure titles since it was released on the original PlayStation in 1996. Perhaps the franchise that has taken the most cues from it is Uncharted, which was lovingly referred to as ‘Dude Raider’ by some during the time leading up to the release of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. The Naughty Dog IP would go on to forge its own legacy with later installments, however, cementing itself as one of the finest cinematic epics in PlayStation’s rich history.
Nathan Drake stole Lara Croft’s crown alongside the hearts of players, and in doing so it put Tomb Raider in a strange spot. The 2013 reboot was a return to form and succeeded in spades due to its great characters, consistent tension, and memorable settings. Uncharted hit it big with its fourth game and the Chloe Frazer-centric The Lost Legacy, but now that Naughty Dog seems to be working on something new, the road seems to be clear for Tomb Raider to shape its own future. Comparisons between the two will likely be sparse without direct competition, which can only mean that the developer of Lara Croft’s next adventure is free to explore new ideas.
Uncharted’s Future is Unclear
There’s no telling what the next step for Uncharted is, or even if there will be one. Rumors fueled by a cryptic PlayStation commercial have had fans on their toes about a possible reveal, but nothing has been confirmed, and so the franchise remains dormant. Should those rumors bear fruit, Tomb Raider would be best served taking advantage of Uncharted‘s temporary absence, setting itself as the new gold standard for the action/adventure genre before any competition can answer back.
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