9 Image Changes That Totally Killed Your Favourite Video Game Characters

5. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider 2013)

It's testament to the pure marketing power of boobs, that Lara's stupendous form gained so much traction across the late 90s. What was once birthed from a total accident went onto become one of gaming's biggest icons; the character of Lara as a badass, take-no-sh*t treasure hunter being just as associated with her pornstar figure.

Over time, we matured, the industry and medium of gaming overall realising that it probably wasn't a great look to continually target the 'horny teenager' demographic. Thus, the 'Raider went away for five years between 2008 and 2013 (save for the isometric puzzler, Guardian of Light), emerging completely different, with a completely altered tonality.

Gone was the twin pistol-toting "Let's get this done" attitude, gone were the oversized lady lumps, and in was a focus on framing Lara as a 'survivor' against overwhelming oppression, both from male figures and the environment itself. Sadly, new Lara received nowhere near the same reception, critically or culturally, as her first incarnation, despite the titles themselves often beating Uncharted at its own game.

Being we've had Bayonetta own her sexual appeal through self-awareness before backing it up with attitude and a formidable presence in combat, would a hyper-sexualised Lara work today, or could it only go down in flames?