Lara No Longer ‘A Sex Object’

Crystal Dynamics’ art director Brian Horton has declared that Tomb Raider reboot will feature a notable absence of titillation.

“As far as sex appeal, we are always thinking about making a character that people want to play, and part of that is a level of attractiveness and being drawn to Lara… But we don’t want to play up sexuality for sexuality’s sake. We are constantly talking about context and motivation on this project.”

Yes, massive jiggling norks are out and ‘motivation’ is in. Our gaming heroine is no longer to be objectified for having a very pert bottom squeezed in to those oh-so-very short shorts. Stop looking at her bum, you are meant to be admiring her intelligence.

“Lara is a lover of archaeology and she has these book smarts. Her brains are another huge part of her sex appeal. She is an attractive girl who doesn’t play up her looks, but she is super smart and she is very ambitious.”

Anyone hoping for a hint of sauciness as Lara scampers across the mysterious island she has been shipwrecked on is also out of luck;

“Her skin is still bare on the arms and there are going to be rips and tears on her clothes, but it won’t be about being revealing. It’s a way of saying that through these tough situations, there is a beauty and vulnerability coming through.”

“I think that is sexy in its own way. There is a different tone we are going for across the board, and Lara Croft as a sex object isn’t our goal.”

I’m not sure many gamers will look at her cart wheeling across the landscape and think “Wow, Lara has a BSc in Entomology, I am so attracted to her!”

Source: GameInformer