Console Crossover

The next character on my list of favorite female characters is one who rose to popularity in console games.  She's also a character that I used to despise, but who's recent re-invention has caused me to change my mind.  She's smart, agile, and really into looking for treasure.  My next choice is Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series.

Lara Croft

I'm not much of a console gamer, so I didn't fall in love with the early Lara Croft.  To be honest, I kind of hated her as a character.  She exemplified exactly the type of female character in gaming that was designed to appeal to the teenage male masses--lots of T 'n' A (way too much, in my opinion) and very little else.  Sure, she can shoot and use her gymnastic skills to navigate crazy terrain, but she was basically eye candy.

Early Lara--Not a fan.

It wasn't until the Tomb Raider games started moving over to PC that I liked Lara Croft.  She had been redesigned from her early character model that I hated to a more realistic version.  Now, this doesn't mean I necessarily liked the games themselves (the camera angles in one of them are so atrocious that I actually quit playing it out of frustration).  The most recent redesign of Lara Croft is one that I really like.  She's no longer the sex kitten of the early days, but more of a beautiful, but gritty and tough heroine.  In Tomb Raider (2012), Lara seems more human as she struggles to overcome many obstacles to reunite with her crewmates.

New Lara--Awesome!

I like what Square Enix has done with Lara Croft.  Her evolution from sexy video game babe to rough and tumble survivor has made me change my mind about her value as a female character.