This sparked a crucial turning point. Gard, determined to create a standout character, decided to flip the script entirely. Enter Lara Croft, a whip-smart, athletic archaeologist with a thirst for adventure. Her design evolved through various iterations, with Gard drawing inspiration from action stars like Laura Dern in "Jurassic Park" and Peruvian grave robber "Mujeres de Negro". The now-iconic twin braids were a late addition, inspired by a ponytail Gard saw a friend sporting at the office.

But Lara wasn't just about looks. Gard imbued her with a sharp intellect and a dry wit, setting her apart from the stereotypical damsel-in-distress. He envisioned her as a capable explorer, navigating treacherous tombs and solving ancient puzzles. This focus on exploration and puzzle-solving, along with introducing intricate traps and hostile enemies, became a hallmark of the Tomb Raider experience.

Development wasn't without its challenges. The team, working with the limitations of early 3D technology, had to be creative. They pioneered a technique called "texture splatting" to create detailed environments on limited memory. The now-famous "tank controls," where Lara moved in tank-like pre-set directions, were a product of technical constraints but eventually became a signature gameplay element.

When Tomb Raider finally launched in 1996, it was a phenomenon. Lara Croft, a powerful and independent female lead in a male-dominated genre, resonated with players worldwide. The game's blend of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving offered a thrilling adventure unlike anything seen before.

10 Surprising Facts About the Original Tomb Raider (1996)

1. Six-Person Powerhouse: Believe it or not, the groundbreaking Tomb Raider was created by a mere six-person team at Core Design over a three-year period (Uproxx: 15 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 'Tomb Raider' [Uproxx])

2. Lara Almost Had a Different Name: The iconic Lara Croft was almost Laura Cruz, a South American archaeologist, before the developers pivoted to a quintessentially British character(GamesRadar+: 10 cool facts you never knew about the Tomb Raider games [GamesRadar+])

3. Lara's Accidental Assets: Lara's famously exaggerated proportions were partially due to a technical glitch during development. The developers initially intended for a more realistic physique [Shacknews: 25 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Tomb Raider [Shacknews])

4. Almost a Co-op Experience: Early development explored the possibility of a co-op mode where players could team up with Lara on her adventures. However, the idea was scrapped in favor of a single-player experience (GamesRadar+: 10 cool facts you never knew about the Tomb Raider games [GamesRadar+])

5. T-Rex Trouble Wasn't Planned: The iconic encounter with the Tyrannosaurus Rex in the first game was not originally part of the story. It was added later in development to create a more thrilling climax (TheGamer: Tomb Raider: 4 Things You Never Knew About The Original Game [TheGamer])

6. A Leading Lady Among Leading Ladies: Lara Croft's success paved the way for more prominent female characters in video games, becoming a significant figure in gaming history (Shacknews: 25 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Tomb Raider [Shacknews])

7. Marketing Took Control: The developers originally envisioned Lara as a capable adventurer, not a sex symbol. However, marketing heavily emphasized her physical appearance, shaping the public perception of the character (Shacknews: 25 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Tomb Raider [Shacknews])

8. Voice Acting Fluctuations: Unlike her consistent appearance, Lara's voice acting has changed throughout the series. Shelley Blond, who voiced Lara in the first game, is just one of several actresses to portray the character (Uproxx: 15 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 'Tomb Raider' [Uproxx])

9. Sony's Initial Doubt: Although Tomb Raider became a cornerstone of the Playstation library, Sony was initially hesitant to allow the game on the platform(Uproxx: 15 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 'Tomb Raider' [Uproxx])

10. Humble Beginnings: The funding for Tomb Raider's development came from a mere £16,000, secured through a loan from the lead developer's grandmother (Screen Rant: Tomb Raider: 10 Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About The Games [Screen Rant]

Here is a list of the Tomb Raider videogames released so far, including the release year:

• Tomb Raider (1996) (Developed by Core Design): The first-ever Tomb Raider title centered around Lara Croft being hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to find a mysterious artifact called the Scion of Atlantis.

• Tomb Raider II (1997) (Developed by Core Design): Lara Croft is on a quest to recover the Dagger of Xian, an artifact with the power to unleash an army of terracotta warriors.

• Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998) (Developed by Core Design): Lara races against time to find a lost artifact called the Infadahedron before a ruthless industrialist can unleash its power.

• Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) (Developed by Core Design): Lara investigates the tomb of Osiris in Egypt and uncovers a plot to bring about the apocalypse.

• Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) (Developed by Core Design): This entry features several adventures from Lara Croft's past, with gameplay spanning different points in the timeline.

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) (Developed by Core Design): This is a tie-in game to the 2001 film of the same name, featuring an original story but retaining the core gameplay mechanics.

• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003) (Developed by Core Design): A darker and more ambitious entry in the series, featuring a more complex story and new gameplay elements.

• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): Another tie-in game to the Lara Croft film series, following an original story but with some connections to the movies.

• Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): A reboot of the series with a new origin story for Lara Croft, featuring a more streamlined gameplay experience.

• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): A remake of the original Tomb Raider game, featuring updated graphics and gameplay mechanics while retaining the core story.

• Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): Lara searches for Thor's Hammer, uncovering a mythical underworld threat in the process.

• Tomb Raider (2013) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): A gritty reboot of the series, serving as an origin story for a younger Lara Croft.

• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): A spin-off title featuring a top-down isometric perspective and cooperative gameplay.

• Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): Another spin-off with a similar isometric perspective and cooperative focus, following Lara and her friend Carter exploring Egyptian tombs.

• Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) (Developed by Crystal Dynamics): A sequel to the 2013 reboot, continuing Lara's journey as she searches for a mythical artifact in Siberia.

• Lara Croft Go (2015) (Developed by Square Enix Montréal): A mobile spin-off featuring turn-based puzzle gameplay and a minimalist art style.

• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) (Developed by Eidos Montréal): The final installment in the reboot trilogy, with Lara facing a Mayan apocalypse.

• Tomb Raider: Reloaded (2023) (Developed by Emerald City Games): A mobile roguelike action game featuring a new take on Lara's adventures.

Note: This list excludes various mobile spin-offs beyond those mentioned above and ports of the original games released on different platforms.

 References

• Shacknews. (2016, March 10). 25 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Tomb Raider [Shacknews].

• GamesRadar+. (2020, March 04). 10 cool facts you never knew about the Tomb Raider games [GamesRadar+].

• Uproxx. (2016, March 9). 15 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 'Tomb Raider' [Uproxx].

• TheGamer. (2021, March 15). Tomb Raider: 4 Things You Never Knew About The Original Game [TheGamer].

• Screen Rant. (2020, September 14). Tomb Raider: 10 Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About The Games [Screen Rant].