6. Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider series was a smash hit when it first arrived on our screens in 1996, both in terms of demonstrating the potential for a tight 3D platformer, and heralding the onset of the strong - if dimensionally exaggerated - female protagonist in video games. The first four games in the series were enjoyable in different ways, introducing various gimmicks and flourishes into play, but after Lara's apparent death at the end of the fourth game, her abrupt resurrection in Tomb Raider: Chronicles signalled what would be the beginning of the series' downfall. Three years later, 2003's The Angel of Darkness was released to significant fan outcry and critical backlash, with the rushed nature of its production becoming painfully apparent through the disgraceful number of glitches, a poor combat system, and frustrating camera. Though with the series being taken away from Core Design and given to Crystal Dynamics, it did regain its footing somewhat with sequels Legend, Anniversary and Underworld, it will be down to the next instalment - a 2013 reboot, simply titled Tomb Raider - as to whether Lara Croft still has a place in the video game world. Though footage - which appears to be heavily inspired by the Uncharted games - looks promising, we won't get too excited yet...