Just going to post things here since wentwood made a bunch of different TR adjacent threads…
I’m surprised to see Aspyr tackle Angel of Darkness. I recall that game being such a mess, it will be interesting to see why they can do (if any) to make the game more palatable. I think, more than anything, seeing Crystal Dynamics and the remnants of Eidos get this kind of positive attention gives me some measure of happiness. These western developers and IP languished under SquareEnix that I’m happy to see work being done to bring some of these iconic franchises back into the limelight.
Hopefully, the “Revival Trilogy” will be next on the docket (Legends, Anniversary, Underworld).
Also, since the anime premiered yesterday I figured I’d give some thoughts on it:
It was…fine, I guess. I don’t know if I’m missing something being an exceedingly casual fan of TR, but it was just…fine. It skewed a bit more supernatural than I expected, but and I definitely picked up on game throwbacks like the puzzles and some of the action sequences. Sadly, the worst part was Lara herself. I don’t know if it was the mediocre script or Atwell‘s delivery, but the character was flat, with dull, predictable, story arc. Even other characters, rightfully, call her out for being the center of attention! And is now a lesbian because, of course she is*.
The support cast ended up far more interesting than mopey emo Lara Croft. Richard Armitage is having a blast playing Devereaux, and there actually IS some fun pseudo history/myth elements. And some boss-fighty set pieces (including a throwback to the first game’s most famous one). There appears to be some fun mixing of elements from the entire franchise, but it all feels let down by a lackluster central protagonist.
And there’s sequel bait, because of course Netflix is leaving a hook for a sequel.
It’s not terrible, but it has a tendency to just kind of “be there”.
*Just to cover myself, I don’t have any issue with LGBT+ representation. HOWEVER, it feels like on many of these ”anime” or adult skewed action series, it feels increasingly like the major character is made LGBT+ for the sake of “checking off a box” than any practical reason to do so. Maybe I’m still colored by Croft’s status as a “gaming sex symbol” in the late 90s, but I’m not sure it was necessary to make this change. Her relationship with the character Sam is undefined enough I think you could make Sam a guy and not miss much (and again, the roll, as portrayed, feels androgynous enough they could have gone either way).
I never saw the first set physically. Don't know if that was just my bad luck or if that was a widespread thing.
Physical copies for Remastered don’t come out until next week. I noticed this with a bunch of “second tier” releases this past year or so: the game will hit digital first, then, maybe, eventually come out physical months later. Probably to spruce digital sales.
As is, the Marvel vs Capcom collection hit last September, but the physical version won’t be out until the end of November.