Lara Croft is preparing to revisit the adventure that made her one of gaming’s most recognisable characters. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, co-developed by Crystal Dynamics and Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, reimagines the landmark 1996 Tomb Raider with dramatically redesigned environments, modern combat and a range of contemporary gameplay systems.
St Francis’ Folly Returns With a Cinematic Overhaul
One of the remake’s familiar locations is St Francis’ Folly, inspired by the Unesco-listed monasteries of Meteora in Greece. Light pours through a damaged ceiling while bats circle above the enormous ruins, immediately demonstrating how much more detailed Lara’s original journey has become.
The bats are no longer merely atmospheric decoration. They attack Lara unpredictably, forcing her to respond with gunfire and close-range strikes as she enters the monastery’s deteriorating courtyard.
Crystal Dynamics game director Raul Siqueira said the developers repeatedly considered how the original creators might have approached the game with modern technology.
“If the devs from 1996 had the technology that we have today, what choices would they make?” Siqueira said.
Developers Aim to Preserve Tomb Raider’s Isolation
Despite its visual transformation, the studios are attempting to retain the sense of isolation that helped define the original.
“The sense of isolation in the original game was largely due to the technological limitations of that time,” said Flying Wild Hog art director Arek Tomaszewski.
He compared the approach with the fog in Silent Hill, which served both as an artistic choice and a practical method of disguising sparse environments on the original PlayStation.
“The darkness and the feeling of being alone created an emotion that you remember. When I replayed Tomb Raider, my initial memory was the exact same. What we are trying to do now is build environments – like the spaces in Greece – where you feel as if you are the first person discovering them in centuries, entering places that have been left untouched.”
Modern Mechanics Bring Significant Changes
The remake introduces an environmental scanner that can reveal additional information about Lara’s surroundings and assist with puzzle solutions. While intended to improve accessibility, the feature could alter the challenging exploration that was central to the 1996 game.
Other additions push Legacy of Atlantis further towards modern action-adventure conventions. Lara can craft balms through a menu and prepare stat-enhancing stews, while grappling hooks, character statistics, skill trees and quick-time events also feature.
These systems represent a significant departure from the comparatively straightforward structure of the original, where exploration, platforming and puzzle-solving were largely left to the player without extensive assistance.
Combat Receives a Major Upgrade
Combat appears to be one of the areas receiving the most substantial improvement.
Inside the Damocles chamber, Lara encounters a leopard familiar to players of the original. This time, however, the animal behaves more dynamically. It can swipe at Lara, retreat through openings in the walls and return to launch another attack.
Lara’s own combat abilities have also been expanded. During the encounter, she can use her shotgun against a charging predator, with successful attacks triggering dramatic slow-motion sequences.
Flying Wild Hog’s experience developing action-focused games including Hard Reset and Shadow Warrior is particularly evident here. The result is a considerably more fluid system than the relatively static gunfights and awkward evasive movements of early Tomb Raider games.
Alix Wilton Regan Takes on Lara Croft Role
The remake will also expand the narrative, with additional story material and references aimed at long-standing fans.
Lara is portrayed by Alix Wilton Regan, whose previous credits include Dragon Age: Inquisition and Cyberpunk 2077.
“Hearing her voice in the game now, she is Lara Croft,” Tomaszewski said. “The sheer amount of character and depth she brought to Lara is unbelievable.”
Publisher Amazon is also involved with a forthcoming Tomb Raider television series produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and the developers have indicated that connections could emerge between the game and television projects.
Finding the Balance Between Old and New
Tomaszewski said working on Legacy of Atlantis had changed Flying Wild Hog’s approach to game development.
“I think this game changed our DNA as a studio,” he said. “In our previous games, like Shadow Warrior, every second was filled with nonstop action. Here we wanted to master pacing, and we learned a lot from Crystal Dynamics.”
The challenge will be determining whether all the new mechanics strengthen Lara Croft’s first adventure or dilute the simplicity that helped make the original so influential.
If Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis can combine its modern presentation and improved combat with the solitude, exploration and demanding puzzles of the 1996 classic, it could offer both returning British fans and newcomers a compelling reason to raid these ancient tombs once again.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for release in February.
Thomas Hardy is a contributor to OE Mag, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter to them. His work highlights relevant stories, emerging trends, and key issues, presenting them in a balanced, accessible, and reader-friendly way.