Talk:Lara Croft (Survivor Timeline)/@comment-36066194-20190617234728/@comment-2038153-20190622002331

Agreed, it does bug me that all of Sam's wonderful character development is locked away in the comics but I think this is more of a problem with the management then the writers. From everything I've seen, like the deleted scene in Rise where Ana's betrayal of Lara comes much later with her apparently being a Very different character and the notable similarities between Sam and Nadia, and Pratchett apparently stating that the game we got in Rise was Very different from the game we got I think CD greatly changed Rise and Shadow to be more marketable safe.

Like I said, he biggest problem with Rise and Shadow is that they are just a retread of ASIB. Every major plot point from the first game is hit here and it's very telling that Pratchett left CD shortly after Rise and the next writer they got, while by no means lacking any talent of her own, was someone who was more willing to make the kind of game CD wanted. Safe and marketable.

I think the comics were being used as a sort of test run for a number of ideas which is something that just about every company does for every media from films to games. And the most notable elements of the comics were Lara's PTSD, Sam's character development and a more subtle and more cunning Trinity.

There's nothing in the comics that sets up the story of Rise as we know it and I think that originally Rise was going to be a more character driven story with a greater emphases on Lara and Sam's relationship. That Ana was going to be a wolf in sheep's clothing who Wasn't connected to Lara's father and that Jonah wasn't going to be in the game at all.

But that was changed and Rise and Shadow were made to be more safe with less memorable villains, Jonah as the companion because he was the safe choice and Sam parked so Lara wouldn't have anyone who was her equal in terms of character.

At the time of this writing I am currently working on my own Tomb Raider story and going to what I can to get it made. With greater emphases on character, new and improved gameplay, (most notable elements being a top notch A.I. system for Sam and the enemy A.I., Melee combat that Doesn't Suck, and the shooting mechanics). As mention here it will be about Lara and Sam repairing their relationship whilst going up against, a psychotic dictator, a powerful sorceress out for revenge against Lara with our heroes looking for the Kingdom of the Four Dragon Kings of Chinese Mythology.

But for all that grand scoop this is a small personal story that is more about Lara and Sam confronting their personal demons. The Sorceress is our for revenge against Lara because of someone Lara killed in the first game, both Lara and Sam comes face to face with the last remnant of Himiko's evil, (her most powerful servant as Himiko is well and truly gone by this point) along with both women trying to work out their issues with each other.

Switching series for a moment, in The Empire Strikes Back one of the reasons that is film is often consider the gold standard of how to do a sequel is that it kept things focused on the characters. Strip the film's space chases, ATAT battles and lightsaber fights and it's boils down to a man and a woman trying to admit their feelings for each other. A guy trying to pass his wizard test and a father trying to find and reconnect with his lost son.

That's why Rise and Shadow are so underwhelming and forgettable, as their just the first game with more impressive levels then story.