“Fans
of the series still prefer Lara as the ice queen who controls like a
tank” – Andrew Dovichi, Senior Level designer of Tomb Raider
(2013). Tweet from 14 September 2014.I recently
became aware of this contemptuous remark -disrespectful with TR
classics but, above all, disrespectful with its fans- which was
stated by one of the reboot’s developers in answer to a flattery, when
someone asked how fans of the series couldn’t understand the solidity
of their work. I won’t talk here about the “tank controls”, I’m
not an expert in videogame engines nor in gameplay, I’m not even a
good gamer. I just can say those “tank controls” where up to
their time and must be judged in their context.What baffles
me is the consideration of Lara Croft as an “ice queen”, I guess,
as a character without feelings, not relatable, heartless, even
soulless. And presenting the new “Lara” (I’ll call her Laraboot
for obvious reasons) as the opposite and a more desirable option.
Again: the Manichaean duality. Good and Evil. Correct and Wrong. And
I’m here to question that simplicity, again.