#Tomb Raider: The Lost Artifact

[thedestinysunknown]

Tomb Raider 3: The Lost Artifact Remastered - Shakespeare Cliff:

"Third level and I really like this one. This level has some interesting concepts and really cool areas to explore. Yes, it has a good amount of traps, so take your time."

PS: the gameplay used for this gifset is not mine. The original video belongs to the user: Steven3517, on Youtube.

[vampire-moon]

Sophia Leigh in Tomb Raider Remastered (2024)

[princepal7]

Reunion | Tomb Raider 3 Remastered: The Lost Artifact | Gameplay Walkthr...

[mewnekoice-mecha]

Tomb Raider Danny

Danny is a Tomb Raider, One of his Ancestors was a Croft. Danny as a halfa can find extremely rare/lost historical artifacts and records. He gains fame as an Unparalleled Archaeologist, with multiple donations and discoveries to his name.

Now Danny doesn’t go by Fenton oh no, he goes by Croft. And just happens to have a Cousin by the name of Laura. They find out about each other when at Convention for lost civilizations in Gotham, because why not.

They end up teaming up to find proof of a civilization that worships Bats, used to Live in what is now known as Gotham City.

Cue Shenanigans

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 134 (Still Dodging Danger in the Jungle)

Spencer Pancakes awoke to the furious buzzing of a swarm of killer bees inside their rental. With holes in the walls for windows in the sweltering jungle it wasn't surprising, but still unwelcome. Luckily, Spencer had a stick of guzmania pollenis to ward them off.

Heather slept heavily through the attack, still fatigued and woozy from the spider bite and subsequent antidote. But her body was healing, and though Spencer was wide awake thanks to the adrenaline rush of dodging bees, she let Heather sleep and moved to her workbench.

Spencer's dedication to preserving the treasures of Selvadorada had become a lifelong endeavour. She was well aware of the threat to ancient artifacts posed by local cartels who unofficially ran the territory, but she was smart about who she spoke to in the jungle, and always carried the proper permits for her digs.

She never felt more like herself than when her hands were callused, using her tools to shift the earth around priceless icons of a lost society. Spencer was determined not to let Omiscan culture be lost to famine, war, or the sands of time along with most of their structures.

Today's adventure involved exploring the Omiscan pyramid, looking for artifacts and attempting to disable modern traps set by tomb raiders desiring their own personal treasure vaults.

Heather and Spencer thought it fortuitous they'd decided to explore the underground temple complex today of all days, because when daylight broke through the jungle on their last morning of vacation, it was pouring rain outside.

Heather called Conrad to check in, and Spencer called her family, before the women packed their gear and headed into the jungle.

"He's worried about me after the spider bite, but I'll be fine as soon as the antidote runs through my system," said Heather, approaching a vine-covered gateway to the temple complex. She pulled out her machete and took a swing. "See? I'm alright. I'm sure the fatigue is down to jet lag, too."

But Spencer was distracted following her conversation with her family. "Apparently, Jett had a nightmare last night about Elsa Bjerg-Watson's death."

"Spence, I'm so sorry." Heather said. "I thought he was doing alright the morning after it happened."

"Everett's talking to him, and he set up an appointment with a counselor as soon as I'm back. I'm never excited to leave this place, but I'm glad we're going home tomorrow morning."

These adventurous moms were starting to miss their families, but they made the most of their last 24 hours in Selvadorada exploring the temple.

They set up excavation sites to dig through various mounds of dirt. They studied bowls, totems, and painted heads to disable traps and search for artifacts, travelling deeper underground while the rain poured heavily outside.

While the girls were exploring and digging, I got two separate notifications that 'Yoltic Xicoténcatl used a condom.' Clicked his face and flew to a woohoo bush at the temple complex. Twice! And I hung around like a creeper because I wanted to see who he was woohooing, and I think it glitched because they never came out.

I haven't played enough in Ciudad Enamorada, where Yoltic is from, but I'm familiar with him in @matchalovertrait's Alegria Legacy and I just wanted to know if he and Dani have been travelling in Selvadorada lately. 👀

After almost a full day underground, Heather and Spencer had lost sense of time and missed the sunset. But their digs were successful and they were both enjoying themselves. Heather felt better than she had in days, and before they finally realized how late it was, Spencer built a death totem with pieces of artifacts she found and put back together.

She was well on her way to becoming a bona fide Jungle Explorer. (Level 3 of 4.) She hadn't achieved her life's goal just yet, but she'd be back.

The beauty and mystery of the jungle would always hold a piece of Spencer's heart, but she and Heather were both ready to return to their families. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 2.1 Summary

Gen 1 Start | Gen 1 Summary

NOTE: If killer bees indoors at 3am is a new bug, I didn't even realize it because the windows don't have glass in their rental!

BONUS! Spencer returned home to rainy Henford to find Pawbin Hood, still dressed in the Sherwood Forest getup Heather bought him when she was 14 (she's about 34 now), outside her family home looking for treats. Pawbin Hood was alive when the game started and I'm wondering if putting him in the outfit really did make him immortal. 🤔

[moonglow-nightjar]

The Secrets of The Reach

"Bear in mind. Some places are better left untouched, and some secrets are better left alone. ...only fools do brazenly roam..."

The Reach once was just a small town around the edge of Cairnstone Rest, but it all changed when the ancient catacombs, ruins of a city lost deep beneath the earth were discovered underneath the town, immediately drawing the interest of various prospectors, archaeologists and tomb raiders into the area, fueling it with life, trade and new blood coming and going through, everyone hungry for the unclaimed riches and undiscovered secrets they could find in the ancient ruins.

Danifor is a member of an Archaeologist Guild within the Earth Flight's elite, organising and leading the expedition into the Reach. Despite his interest and the site's potential, he found trouble in trying to fund his expedition, the guild suspicious of the area and the rumours around it, forbidding the dungeon delving within the catacombs, with Danifor going rogue and having to turn to several interested Tempos merchant lords for funds, them interested in the possible artifacts he could uncover within the lost city.

Quill is a ghost hunter and an exorcist, drawn to the area by the suspicious reports he'd heard about the town: people disappearing, increased activity of restless spirits, and some denizens could swear they could hear whispers in the wind, like the earth and crystal itself is singing to them at night, resonating through the entirety of the expansive caverns. One thing he's grown to be convinced about: the town certainly seems to have an otherwordly presence to it, buried somewhere deep beneath the earth.

Lazarus isn't his real name. It was just the one the necromancer, Arcade, gave him upon his awakening. Ancient fossilized remains of a gaoler found within the digs, brought back to life by an ambitious mage, curious to see if he could resurrect such an ancient dragon while preserving its sentience, rather than just creating a mindless undead puppet. He partially succeeded, as Lazarus seems to have free will and some sentience, but lacks much of his memories and desires, choosing to stay with Arcade out of his own volition, seemingly thankful for his new chance for life. His memories and sense of self are vague, fractures of his past and what'd he'd seen, all he knows is that he might find the answers to his questions if they dig deeper and deeper.

Starfall is... Not quite a dragon. A fallen star that once struck the earth, now dormant beneath the ground for aeons, singing its endless song to the soil and rock in its slumber.

[marvelousmrm]

Captain America #268 (DeMatteis/Zeck, Apr 1982). Steve doesn’t like Raiders of the Lost Ark?! I get that plundering tombs to put artifacts in American museums is colonialist/capitalist bullshit, but Indy still fought Nazis! It’s your war, Steve! God, he is insufferable.

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Tomb Raider Colossal Collection Volume 1 by Dan Jurgens, Michael Turner, Adam Hughes, Francis Manapul, Marc Silvestri and more. Cover by Hughes. Out in June.

"When it comes to recovering priceless artifacts from lost civilizations and bygone eras, there is no one more capable than British archeologist and adventurer Lara Croft. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of history, years of experience, and dual pistols, Lara will go to the ends of the earth to preserve the world's most precious treasures from a shadowy organization intent on her destruction. Luckily Lara won't have to go it alone as she's joined by roguish playboy Chase Carver and her buttoned-up assistant Madeline Hovan! Join Lara and her friends as they face down unfathomable foes, betrayal, and ancient secrets! This colossal, hardcover volume collects #1-24 and #26-34 of the Top Cow Tomb Raider series from 1999 to 2003 and features stories from legendary creators Dan Jurgens, Adam Hughes, Michael Turner, Andy Park, Marc Silvestri, David Finch, and many more!"

[autolenaphilia]

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered starring Lara Croft is so good. This is how a video game remaster should be done. I’m very biased of course, as a fan of Tomb Raider and the classic Core Design games especially. But this very much is a remaster aimed at fans like me, you can tell. This remaster collection is what I’ve wanted for years at this point. The game has the overly helpful subtitle “Starring Lara Croft”, and I’m like damn right, this is a “return of the queen” moment for me, the return of classic Core Design Lara after over 20 years of neglect.

And I don’t even know how much sense this post will make to non-fans. I suppose everyone knows what a Tomb Raider is and who Lara Croft is, and the easiest way to explain is that this is a remastered edition of the first three games in the franchise, released annually from 1996 to 1998. It’s made by Aspyr, whose history with the franchise goes all the way back to making macintosh ports of these games back in the 90s.

And this truly is a complete collection of TR I-III, in that it doesn’t just include the base games, but the expansions each game received: Unfinished Business, The Golden Mask and The Lost Artifact. The first two were sold together with the original games as bonus levels for the Gold re-releases of the games, while the third got a separate release.The base games have been sold on GOG for many years (and also Steam, but the GOG versions run better), but the expansions have been abandonware for decades at this point. It was a pity, because the expansions were excellent and showed how cool expansions packs for games used to be (especially compared to the dlc of today) That these remasters finally allow them to shine once more is justification in itself.

Overall, this is a very “preservationist” remaster. You get modern graphics and modern controls, but these are just additions laid on top of the original games, which are mostly unchanged. In fact the original code and engine was actually used. And you can tell, because useful bugs for both casual players and speedrunners like the corner bug are actually preserved in the remaster, you can even get a steam achievement for using it. You can compare this to how Nightdive studios remasters old games, where their favored method is porting the game to their own Kex engine.

And for those who want to recreate the originals, it’s easy to do. The original tank controls is the default control scheme and you can toggle between modern and tank controls in the options menu. And you can at any time switch between new and original graphics literally with the press of a button. The majority of what I wrote about the original games way back in 2021 on this blog still apply (You can find my reviews for the original TR 1- 3, here, here and here).)

Yet as someone who has played the original games to completion so many times, I actually played all three games in the remaster with the modern graphics and the modern control scheme, and that’s because I preferred it that way. In fact I might find it hard to go back to the originals. I mostly toggled to the old graphics out of curiosity, to compare the textures.

The new graphics go for a cartoony non-realistic aesthetic which works really well and feels true to the original graphics, for even if they aimed for realism, the limitations of the time made them into 3d cartoons. And the graphics don’t try to go too HD and hide the inherent blocky squareness of the game world, which is such an important part of the look and feel of these games and the gameplay as well. The real point of the new graphics is to make the game look better on modern high-resolution monitors, in a way that feels true to the original games and it ably succeeds at that. And of course the new graphics are easily switched off if you don’t like them. But I did. The original graphics retain their charm, but they undeniably look very grainy and low-res at any modern display resolution, and the new graphics retain much of that charm due to their warm cartoonish style, while looking crisp.

I was skeptical about the other big addition, “modern controls.” It’s modeled off the control scheme in the 2006-08 LAU trilogy, and it’s, well, modern. Lara moves relative to the camera, moves instantly in the direction your input indicates, without left and right making her turn, etc.

I feared the modern controls because the classic controls were closely tied to the grid-based environment, and modern controls would loose that, ironically making the game harder. And my initial experiments with modern controls, trying to figure them out blindly, seemed to confirm that fear. Basic movies like the hop-back to set up a jump or safety drop off a ledge seemed absent. Yet that was only because I didn’t understand them. This was not entirely my fault, for the remasters don’t explain them at all, and that’s my main complaint with this remaster. Even the options menu to remap the controls is misleading, since it doesn’t clearly explain you have two action buttons now (in itself a sensible change). It simply calls one new button “secondary”, without explaining it’s “secondary action.”

There is no PDF manual included with the games, which we really needed. This page on Aspyr’s official site kinda is the closest to it we get, but it should have been included when you buy the game on gog or steam. And some fans explain it better, like this steam guide. There are also videos that helped me get my head around the new control scheme.

But once you do figure them out, modern controls are actually good. They are very fluid, without being too imprecise. They still give the player the option to move carefully, holding walk still means you will not walk off a ledge, and you can actually still safety hang off a ledge (just hold secondary action and walk off the edge, and Lara will hang from it, Angel of Darkness style). All the moves from the original tank controls you need are there, just in a different form. Just faster and more fluid. It’s not surprise that glitchless speedruns of the remasters all tend to use modern controls (while glitched runs use tank controls because it enables them to do the established set-ups for glitches, which as mentioned have been left in).

Other than these major but optional improvements, the changes are minimal. It's stuff like icons appearing when you are close to interactable objects, and boss health bars.

I noticed some changes in Tomb Raider III in an effort to ease some of the frustration of that game. You do actually get your ammo and medpacks back after being captured in Nevada this time, fixing a long-standing problem that I explained in my original review. Also the tribesmen’s blowguns are no longer hitscan, but have visible and thus potentially dodge-able projectiles. Otherwise the game is as frustrating (and shockingly racist) as ever. I do love it despite its flaws.

The other major change is that Unfinished Business expansion levels are re-ordered, so now the two Atlantis levels comes before the Egypt section. This is actually following the intention of the original developers and the intended storyline of these levels, so it’s an act of restoration of developer’s intentions compared to the original release of the expansion, instead of Aspyr imposing its own vision. And the levels do make more sense this way, the Atlantis levels are obviously meant to a direct continuation of the ending of TR 1, starting Lara off on the same slide she ended TR 1 on.

This remaster overall is a faithful act of artistic restoration. It’s a love letter to these games, made by people who love them and don’t want them changed too much. It’s truly a remaster for the fans, by the fans. Quite literally, developers were recruited by Aspyr from the fan community. And as an established Tomb Raider fangirl, I was quite pleased with the remasters. I don’t know how good it will be at bringing in new fans, but I’m very happy with it. Go buy it now, so maybe we’ll at least get Tomb Raider IV-V Remastered.

[gaymer-hag-stan]

Happy 28th anniversary to Tomb Raider!

On the 25th of October, twenty eight years ago, the original Tomb Raider game was released and the world was introduced to the most successful woman to ever hit video games.

A British archaeologist and adventurer, Lara Croft became one of the most recognizable and influential characters in video game history. The original game was groundbreaking for its 3D graphics, which allowed players to explore vast, open environments, and for its mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat. Players guided Lara as she explored ancient tombs, solved environmental puzzles, and battled both wildlife and human enemies in search of lost artifacts. The original game’s success led to a series of sequels, each expanding on the formula with new locations, enemies, and mechanics, though they largely followed the same structure of action-adventure gameplay.

Between 1997 and 2003, the series saw regular releases, with Core Design developing five mainline games. Tomb Raider II took the series to more varied locations, like Venice and Tibet, introducing new mechanics like vehicles. Tomb Raider III brought an expanded move set for Lara and more non-linear level design, while Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation focused heavily on Egyptian mythology, with a more dramatic story where Lara was presumed dead at the end. Tomb Raider: Chronicles followed, acting as a collection of flashback stories told by Lara's friends, after her supposed death. However, by this time, the series was beginning to show signs of fatigue, with critics citing repetitive gameplay and a lack of innovation.

In 2003, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness was released as the sixth main entry and represented a major shift for the series. This game had a darker tone, with more complex storytelling, focusing on murder mystery and conspiracies involving ancient powers. It also introduced RPG-like elements, where players could upgrade Lara's abilities. Unfortunately, the game was plagued by development issues, rushed production, and clunky controls, leading to a poor reception from both critics and fans. This was a low point for the series, and Core Design was eventually removed from the franchise.

After the failure of The Angel of Darkness, development of the series was handed over to Crystal Dynamics, a different studio, which soft rebooted the series with Tomb Raider: Legend in 2006. This introduced a new perspective for Lara Croft and the series as a whole. The gameplay was more fluid, with modernized controls, better graphics, and a more cinematic approach to storytelling. Legend was well-received, breathing new life into the franchise. This success was followed by Tomb Raider: Anniversary in 2007, a remake of the original game, which reimagined the classic experience using modern technology and the gameplay mechanics introduced in Legend.

In 2008, Tomb Raider: Underworld was released as a direct sequel to Legend, continuing the story and building on the gameplay mechanics of its predecessors. This game featured more expansive environments, underwater exploration, and advanced platforming mechanics, while also concluding the trilogy that began with Legend. However, despite these improvements, the series was beginning to face stiff competition from other action-adventure games like Uncharted, and it became clear that Tomb Raider needed another significant overhaul to stay relevant.

This overhaul came in 2013, when Crystal Dynamics fully rebooted the franchise with Tomb Raider, a reimagining of Lara Croft’s origin story. The 2013 game was a gritty, survival-focused adventure that depicted a young, inexperienced Lara as she became the hardened explorer fans knew from the earlier games. The reboot was heavily inspired by modern action-adventure games, incorporating a more emotional and character-driven narrative, with Lara growing from a scared young woman into a resourceful survivor. The game featured more realistic graphics, fluid combat, and an open-world design that emphasized exploration and crafting. The reboot was a huge success, both commercially and critically, and is credited with revitalizing the series for a new generation.

Following the success of the 2013 reboot, Crystal Dynamics released Rise of the Tomb Raider in 2015. This game expanded on the survival mechanics, exploration, and storytelling of the reboot, placing more emphasis on open-world exploration and crafting. Lara’s character development was deepened, as she now had to confront the legacy of her father’s obsession with immortality and lost secrets. Rise of the Tomb Raider was also praised for its stunning environments, ranging from the frozen wilderness of Siberia to ancient ruins hidden deep in forests.

In 2018, Shadow of the Tomb Raider was released as the final entry in the rebooted trilogy, developed by Eidos Montreal. This game explored darker themes, as Lara grappled with the consequences of her actions and faced the moral ambiguities of her quest for ancient relics. Set primarily in Central and South America, the game’s environments were rich with detail, and the puzzles were more intricate than in previous entries. While Shadow of the Tomb Raider was generally well-received, some critics noted that it didn’t innovate as much as its predecessors, though it still provided a satisfying conclusion to Lara’s character arc.

Beyond the mainline games, the Tomb Raider series has expanded into other media, including two film adaptations starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, released in 2001 and 2003. These films helped solidify Lara’s status as a pop culture icon, though they were met with mixed critical reception. A more recent film adaptation, released in 2018 and starring Alicia Vikander, was based on the 2013 game and attempted to reboot the film series with a more grounded take on the character. There have also been comic book series, novels, and animated series that expand on Lara Croft’s adventures.

Throughout its long history, the Tomb Raider series has been known for its evolution in gameplay, its combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, and its focus on a strong, iconic female protagonist. The series has had its highs and lows, but it has remained a major force in the action-adventure genre, consistently influencing the direction of video games and maintaining a lasting legacy in popular culture.

With the Netflix series just out, the remasters of the last three CORE games on the horizon and the possibility of the LAU Trilogy following as well as a brand new game being currently in development, the future is looking bright for the series.

Over 100 million copies of the games have been sold worldwide.

[demifiendrsa]

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered - Announce Trailer

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG) on February 14, 2025 for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99.

Title logo

Key visual

Screenshots

About

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered will bring the “Darkness Trilogy” of beloved, globe-trotting Tomb Raider adventures, originally developed by Core Design, to modern platforms with a variety of improvements for players to relive or experience for the very first time.

Discover remastered visuals that bring new life to environments, characters, and artifacts, with the option to toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly! Choose between new modern controls inspired by later entries in the series for smoother movement and camera capability, or opt for the original tank-style controls. Photo Mode is also back with all poses from Tomb Raider I-II-III Remastered included, along with brand-new ones to commemorate the adventure! Players will also find quality-of-life updates like boss health bars, plus new trophies and achievements* nodding to iconic moments from the series.

Included Game Titles

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) – Lara Croft uncovers the lost tomb of the Egyptian God Set, unwittingly unleashing him and fulfilling an ancient prophecy—one that plunges mankind into darkness. Pursued at every turn by her arch-rival, the unscrupulous archaeologist Werner Von Croy, Lara embarks on a journey of discovery across Egypt, where she must overcome the most ingenious puzzles and infernal traps ever devised while facing terrifying evil from beyond the grave.

Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) – Following the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is buried in an Egyptian tomb and presumed dead. At her memorial, those closest to her reminisce about secrets from her past. Travel back and experience Lara’s untold adventures, introducing new gameplay mechanics like stealth and tightrope balancing!

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness – Accused of murder, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run, uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving alchemical experiments and the search for ancient artifacts. It’s up to Lara to stop this unholy alliance from unleashing its incredible powers on the world.

Key Features

See the Classic and Remastered Visuals – Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.

Travel the Globe – Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more.

Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures – Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance.

[thedestinysunknown]

Tomb Raider 3: The Lost Artifact Remastered - Willard's Lair:

"Second level in this expansion, and this is one confusing level. There are moments that are quite awkward and I got lost at times. Either way, it's a decent level with some beautiful areas."

PS: the gameplay used for this gifset is not mine. The original video belongs to the user: Steven3517, on Youtube.

[vampire-moon]

Tomb Raider - Sophia Leigh

Only about 20 Polygon’s and still that bitch...

Created using Newprofilepic.com 

[tiramisuucakeee]

0. GENIE IN A BOTTLE

( genie in a bottle, jay )

long ago, in a realm shrouded by time, there existed a prince whose heart was filled with greed. this prince, known as arion, was the only son of a wealthy king and queen who lavished him with treasures beyond imagination.

among these treasures was a magnificent lamp, crafted from pure gold and encrusted with fine jewels, yet it lay neglected in a corner of his chamber.

one fateful day, as he carelessly feasted on a banquet fit for kings, a morsel of food slipped from his hand, landing on the ornate lamp. intrigued, arion reached to clean it, and as he rubbed the lamp, a great whirlwind of light erupted before him.

from within emerged a woman, a powerful genie, her presence radiating with both grace and authority.

defying all laws of nature and gods, she could grant any wish the owner of the lamp wanted, but only if the master could truly understand the meaning of desire.

at first, the prince, blinded by ambition, dismissed her warnings. with a flourish, he made his first wish. “i wish to command the strongest troops in all the lands!”

kingdoms trembled at the sight of his might. with the help of the genie, the prince owned more land that he could think of.

emboldened by his newfound power, arion crafted his second wish. “i wish to be the most handsome and desirable man in existence!” the transformation was miraculous, he became a vision of beauty, and soon a throng of enchanting women from every corner of the realm gathered at his castle, yearning for his affection, offering themselves to him.

but as the days turned to weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. the prince’s insatiable thirst for power grew. he coveted not just admiration but absolute dominion over all. ignoring the lessons of humility, he prepared to make his final wish. “i wish to have the power of a god!” he declared, his voice echoing with unbridled ambition.

but in his fervor, arion failed to grasp the enormity of what he sought. the moment his wish was uttered, the air crackled with energy, swirling around him like a tempest. the power surged into his fragile mortal form, an overwhelming force that no mere human could withstand. in a blinding flash of light, arion was consumed, his body shattering into countless stars that scattered across the night sky.

in the aftermath, y/n stood alone, the echo of his ambition fading into the cosmos. with a heavy heart, she returned to her realm inside the lamp, a silent guardian of the wishes granted and a keeper of the lessons learned.

the tale of prince arion and his genie became a legend whispered through the ages, a cautionary story of desire’s peril and the fragile nature of ambition.

and so, the stars twinkled with a haunting beauty, a reminder that even the mightiest of wishes can lead to one’s downfall, echoing through the hearts of those who dare to dream too boldly.

centuries later, in an oasis deep in a dessert, a man had skilledfully snuck in a temple, the long lost temple were inside laid the tomb of prince arion, searched by thousands of thieves and raiders.

he had finally found it, bypassing though the security and fool-traps, being surrounded in a room full of riches, precious stones, luxurious clothes and precious royal crowns.

he took out a scroll from his deep linen pants pocket, laying it down ontop of the stone tomb cover, and holding his torch near, black eyes skimming over the worn out drawing.

“i can’t believe it…” he breathed out, the drawing matched the lamp before him perfectly. this small artifact held the promise of transforming his life, of elevating him beyond the identity of a mere thief scavenging for the unattainable. it could make him a king.

jay took the lamp in his hands once again. still struck by the legendary object, he stepped back, accidentally unlocking the last singular trap.

suddenly, the ancient temple began to tremble violently, debris raining down around him as the ancient structure started to collapse. panic surged through him as he realized he had only moments to escape the crumbling ruins, no chance to collect the new found treasures.

he glanced at the lamp, and shook his head, not wanting to waste a wish to get out of here, he would escape in his own way.

admist the chaos, jay’s eyes darted around the room, searching for a way out. his sharp gaze landed on a tattered carpet draped over a pile of treasures, thinking it would maybe uncover a wooden door on the floor.

desperate, he lunged for it, but found no door.

as he grasped it madly, the carpet shimmered beneath his hands, vibrant colors swirling to life. to his astonishment, it began to lift off the ground, hovering just above the stone floor.

“is this real?” he muttered, hardly daring to believe his luck.

with the temple shaking around him, jay jumped onto the carpet, gripping its sides tightly. “take me out of here!” he commanded, and to his shock, it surged forward, darting through the collapsing chamber and out into the open air.

as they soared into the sky, the temple crumbled into nothingness behind him, drowning in the sand, never to be seen again.

the night soon fell in the dessert lands, as jay camped inside a cold cave, his belongings scattered near the magic carpet, in the darkness of the stone.

he hissed as he burned himself, but finally lit up a fire, and leaned back, his back hitting the hard rock.

the scenes of the day played through his mind, as he observed the red carpet that seemed like any house object he had seen. making him wonder what other pieces of magic could have been hidden in the now destroyed temple.

as the fire crackled softly, he reached out for the lamp. with a firm grip, he held the lamp close, feeling the warmth of its metal against his palm.

his eyes absorbed every detail of the it. the surface was intricately engraved with swirling patterns, serpents, temples, and cryptic symbols, all hinting at ancient secrets and the long-forgotten masters who once wielded its power.

jay wondered how many people before him had found themselves in the exact same situation, longing for something that only magic would let come to life.

he began to trace circles along one side, his fingers gliding over the engravings, smoothing the dust that had settled over centuries. each stroke filled him with a feeling of curiosity.

the intoxicating thrill of the unknown pulsed through him, igniting a reckless urge to awaken the genie trapped. and so he did.

EXTRA:

masterlist.

next chapter.

all chapters.

[satoshi-mochida]

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC - Gematsu

Aspyr has announced Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG). It will launch on February 14, 2025 for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99.

Here is an overview of the collection, via Aspyr:

About

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered will bring the “Darkness Trilogy” of beloved, globe-trotting Tomb Raider adventures, originally developed by Core Design, to modern platforms with a variety of improvements for players to relive or experience for the very first time. Discover remastered visuals that bring new life to environments, characters, and artifacts, with the option to toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly! Choose between new modern controls inspired by later entries in the series for smoother movement and camera capability, or opt for the original tank-style controls. Photo Mode is also back with all poses from Tomb Raider I-II-III Remastered included, along with brand-new ones to commemorate the adventure! Players will also find quality-of-life updates like boss health bars, plus new trophies and achievements* nodding to iconic moments from the series.

Included Game Titles

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) – Lara Croft uncovers the lost tomb of the Egyptian God Set, unwittingly unleashing him and fulfilling an ancient prophecy—one that plunges mankind into darkness. Pursued at every turn by her arch-rival, the unscrupulous archaeologist Werner Von Croy, Lara embarks on a journey of discovery across Egypt, where she must overcome the most ingenious puzzles and infernal traps ever devised while facing terrifying evil from beyond the grave.

Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) – Following the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is buried in an Egyptian tomb and presumed dead. At her memorial, those closest to her reminisce about secrets from her past. Travel back and experience Lara’s untold adventures, introducing new gameplay mechanics like stealth and tightrope balancing!

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness – Accused of murder, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run, uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving alchemical experiments and the search for ancient artifacts. It’s up to Lara to stop this unholy alliance from unleashing its incredible powers on the world.

Key Features

See the Classic and Remastered Visuals – Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.

Travel the Globe – Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more.

Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures – Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

[fereldanwench]

WIP Wednesday

I was tagged by @wanderingaldecaldo to share some stuff I'm working on so AU rambling it is!

(Also I just realized that I am once again so behind on keeping up with my mentions and asks. I need more hours in the day. 😭)

So as some of y'all know, I am a long-time Tomb Raider super fan, and facets of OG Lara Croft almost always influence my OCs because she is just goals. Valerie was no exception here--Her canon street style and effortlessly cool and tough yet elegant vibes were very much inspired by the one and only Lady Croft.

When I realized that across these three mods (one, two, three) I could make a Tomb Raider Underworld-inspired outfit for Valerie, that just became my sole reason for living for like six hours.

Initially, I wasn't planning on delving into a story or anything with the shots--I just wanted to play with some Tomb Raider-esque settings to get a little break from the high-tech/low-life urban setting to refresh the muse--But then I realized this could actually be the perfect setting to explore another idea I had been sitting on for a while.

I had wanted to play with a Yakuza!Goro AU for some time now (turning to a life of organized crime if Arasaka hadn't picked him up has always seemed like something that could have been in the realm of possibility based on the little bit he shares about his childhood), and Lara does get tangled up with some Yakuza shenanigans in some storylines so 💡💡💡 Treasure Hunter/Yakuza AU: I Only Play for Sport (based on Lara's iconic one-liner in the intro of the 1996 game) was officially born!

Work has been nuts the past few weeks, and I didn't really feel like trying to figure out how to mod tats on Goro myself, so I asked the wonderful @86maylin if she was up for a private commission. Luckily, she was. 🙏🙏🙏 (Thank you again, May!)

This has also been another journey into building with AMM--I have a few very specific scenes in mind, and I wanted them to be in totally original settings created specifically for this AU instead of defaulting to my usual locations (like Hanako's estate).

To kick that off, I decided I wanted to make a little living space for Goro. I got a lot of good practice building a stage, essentially, when I did the little villainess shoot a little while ago, so I felt pretty confident that I could put together something loosely inspired by the Tokyo penthouse Lara visits in Tomb Raider Legend.

That game is almost 20 years old now, though, so the assets there were obviously very limited, and I wanted to make something a little more complete and cozy for Goro's home base, as it were. I'm still not finished with it (maybe like 75% of the way there), but I'm pretty happy with the progress:

And another huge thank you to @bnbc and @arasakas-ronin for y'all's prop packs because they have done a lot to add some of that cool-artifact-treasure-hunting goodness to the scene. (I've used a lot but I think this toy set and this decor set were most prominently used.)

And as for the story itself?

Well, no one's here for the plot, right? 😅

I am slowly working on a couple of photostories inspired by some scenes in the Tomb Raider movies and games, and I have a general gist of the premise: Valerie is a wealthy heiress with a fondness for adventure and recovering lost artifacts with presumed supernatural abilities, and Goro is the right-hand man of a Yakuza boss who has a similar interest in such artifacts. They end up having their sights set on the same artifact (currently unknown to me, lmao, although I am very aware of the issues with the genre when it comes to, yanno, glorifying white Westerners stealing shit from other cultures so I want to be mindful that I don't fall into that same pitfall) and sexy rival treasure hunter shenanigans ensue.

So this is what I've been working on! It's a total pet project, I'm so excited about it, and I figured the time between now and Phantom Liberty coming out would be the best time to just go ham with photomode and mods and create a totally self-indulgent crossover that combines my great video game loves.

And one last thing before I shut up, because I wanna share how Tomb Raider has always been a part of Valerie's background: her surname, Powell, was inspired by Manfred Powell, the antagonist in the 2001 Tomb Raider movie. Bonus fact: I used the name "Nishimura" in this photo story, which is also the name of two characters in the Tomb Raider universe (Lara's friend Toru Nishimura in Legend and her girlfriend Sam Nishimura in the 2013 reboot.)

Okay, if you read all of this, you're now legally obligated to share something you've been working on, too. 💙