8 Gritty Reworks Of Video Game Characters That Fell Flat

The original Tomb Raider trilogy, including The Last Revelation, positioned Lara Croft as one of gaming's most celebrated heroines.

So, how do you replicate that awesome reception moving forward? Apparently, you reboot the character with an edgy, enigmatic demeanour, and place her into a grim world full of black magic and misery. If this sounds like it couldn't possibly work, you'd be correct. The Angel of Darkness was the first in a planned trilogy, but had to be scrapped because it ultimately turned out to be a complete disaster.

Lara herself, as described through the game's original announcement by Activision, was illustrated as a hunter with a new edge arising from her inner demons.

The apparent intention was to take Lara in a darker, harder, morally-ambiguous direction, foregoing any connection to her tomb-raiding days. Ms. Croft's newfound resourcefulness was supposed to transform her into a character that made her more complex, in terms of characteristics.

The macabre backdrop and story only added to this gritty reimagining of Lara Croft, who was now barely recognizable from her previous identity as an intelligent, strong-willed, and charismatic heroine.

Reception of the game, and of this new iteration of Lara, was evidence of The Angel of Darkness trying to go edgy, but falling far short of any intended mark.