The latest incarnation of the famous Tomb Raider starlet Lara Croft has been revealed - err, or lack thereof!
Toymaker Sideshow has released a bundled up Lara Croft complete with an array of accessories - minus the most popular ones.
According to the description on Sideshow’s page, she’s dressed in her signature shorts and tank underneath the winter gear. The face is highly detailed, but her jointed body and the pose they put her in makes her look a bit awkward.
The 12″ figure is slated for release in late 2008, and you can pre-order your exclusive collectible on Sideshow’s site for $79.99.
But fear not, Sideshow is releasing another Lara figurine in June of 2008 that should replace modest Lara in the eye candy department.
This premium format figure is retailed at $249.99 and is already showing sold-out with an option to get on a waitlist on Sideshow.
So why the sudden breast reduction? I’m curious to see everyone’s reactions to Lara’s latest look. Lara Croft has been known as a video game sex symbol since Tomb Raider was first released in 1996 on the Sega Saturn. Eidos claimed they made the protagonist of Tomb Raider female because they thought gamers would much rather prefer staring at a woman’s butt than a man’s. Boy, were they right.
But now, more and more gamers are female, family-oriented, or children. Is it possible that they are trying to cater to a wider audience? Perhaps women gamers were offended by Lara’s previous figurines? Maybe they were just trying to change it up… and go with something that would put Lara in a different light. Perhaps I’m just thinking way too into this.. but I’m curious to hear what the readers think!
Here are a few of Lara’s previous figurines for comparison…
And of course, we can’t forget Angelie Jolie bringing our beloved Lara to life.. and then immortalized into a figurine…
April 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Hm, I still like classic Lara in the blue tank and then the one underneath it (green shirt); I definitely don’t like the British tee one.
But I don’t know, Jinxie. I don’t think Lara’s winter outfit (though awesome) necessarily means anything. Lara wore an outfit similar to that, I believe, in the second game (/loves Tomb Raider). Plus, Lara’s blatant sexuality has only worsened and become more prominent over the years (bouncing boobs, anyone?).
Well, I guess we’ll find out if developers are taking what you said into consideration with the next Tomb Raider game.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I need Virtual Girl to weigh in on this
I liked the legend outift personally
April 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Yeah, I am on the waiting list for the premium figure. I love statue and collectibles like this, especially when it involves Lara Croft.
As for the breast reduction … I am happy with it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love looking at a woman’s figure, but I think with Lara … somewhere it just went to far and they really disproportioned how she looked and it just came off as looking clumsy. I am glad that they are scaling it back a bit because, honestly, to me, it looks more attractive this way.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I do think it’s a nice change. The game audience is changing and with it the industry does, too.