{"id":852,"date":"2014-06-10T10:56:18","date_gmt":"2014-06-10T14:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/playing-at-leadership\/?p=852"},"modified":"2014-06-10T12:39:10","modified_gmt":"2014-06-10T16:39:10","slug":"rise-of-the-tomb-raider-follow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/playing-at-leadership\/2014\/06\/10\/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-follow-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Rise of the Tomb Raider Follow-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the last twenty-four hours or so (less, really), there have been a lot of interesting responses to Crystal Dynamics’ trailer for\u00a0Rise of the Tomb Raider<\/em>, some positive, some negative, some confused. Here’s something of a recap.<\/p>\n

IGN<\/em>‘s “live” response<\/a>, which was mostly positive, focuses on the idea that yes, Lara is human and that it’s a good thing that we’re acknowledging that what happened to her in\u00a0Tomb Raider<\/em> is not normal. Ashelia’s reaction at HellMode<\/em><\/a> is similar, suggesting that a quasi-realistic picture of PTSD makes Lara “video games’ first dynamic and realistic heroine” who actually feels emotions (although I would like to note that Lara has already felt emotions in\u00a0Tomb Raider,\u00a0<\/em>so they aren’t “new” to\u00a0Rise<\/em>). One DeviantART fan is also excited<\/a>, looking forward to what happens, as “SOON AS THE BLUE HOOD DROPPED MESS GETTIN REAL SON!!!!!” Whatever that means, although I think I can sympathize (maybe?).<\/p>\n

I’m not completely sure what to make of the tone in the Destructoid<\/em> recap of the trailer<\/a>, which is very short and possibly snarky, but also possibly just a factual recount made by an overworked journalist:<\/p>\n

Lara Croft had a rough time on her last archaeological expedition. It’s no wonder that she would suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or experience some other negative psychological effects. During Microsoft’s E3 press conference this morning, we see her in a session with a therapist who is working to help her through the tough time.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I read some snark there, but that might be me being jaded, and is unintended by the writer, who also remarks that “old habits die hard,\u00a0so she will still be performing death-defying jumps over enormous chasms soon enough.”<\/p>\n

I am even less sure what the escapist<\/em>‘s reaction<\/a> is supposed to mean. Here it is in its entirety: “Rise of the Tomb Raider<\/em>\u00a0trailer shows that Lara has a new hobby after the last game.”\u00a0Can one really consider therapy a “hobby”?<\/p>\n

Patricia Hernandez’s response at Kotaku<\/em><\/a> is similarly brief but less bizarre, and withholds taking a side in the “Rise of the Tomb Raider Trailer Debate,” simply remarking that the choice to show Lara in therapy is “Interesting!” I have the feeling that Hernandez is going to wait and see what happens with the game, which, really, is probably the best policy all around.<\/p>\n

But there are also those of us who are skeptical. Ishaan at Siliconera<\/em><\/a> says that Lara “looks rather disturbed,” and Rock, Paper, Shotgun’s<\/em> Adam Smith<\/a> suggests that the whole thing is ill-conceived, from title to trailer:<\/p>\n

The title really is Rise Of The Tomb Raider, which I suppose is better than Raid Of The Tomb Riser, or High Rise Raider, in which Croft and some other posh sorts wage violent class warfare in a south London estate. In the actual sequel, Lara has been left so emotionally damaged by her experiences on the gusty island of the first game that she has to wear a hoodie. And see a therapist who reminds me of a non-specific Fox News anchor.<\/p>\n

\u00a0That doesn’t strike me as a positive response, although Smith does say that he enjoyed the most recent game and will likely enjoy this one, as he expects that “this probably isn\u2019t a point and click adventure about rebuilding Lara\u2019s shattered mind. She\u2019s going to jog around exotic locations shooting arrows into peoples\u2019 brainstems.”<\/p>\n

Ultimately, although yesterday’s post<\/a> did come across as a bit negative, I’m more in line, I think, with Hernandez than any of these other responses in that I’m waiting to see where\u00a0Rise of the Tomb Raider\u00a0<\/em>ends up taking this therapy thread. I’d\u00a0like<\/strong> to see something along the lines of what Ashelia suggests, a game that doesn’t dismiss the impact of PTSD while also enabling Lara to be an active agent in her own recovery. But… I’m skeptical. I’m skeptical that the therapist isn’t going to end up being a villain or a dithering idiot, which doesn’t do much for the idea that Lara is actually seeing a legitimate therapist and acknowledging that PDST is not something that makes a person weak. I’m also skeptical that the emphasis on feelings and emotions isn’t going to become about the fact that Lara is female. As @applecidermage tweets,<\/p>\n

when is master chief going to therapy<\/p>\n

\u2014 \uff25\uff30\uff29\uff23 \uff33\uff29\uff24\uff25-\uff25\uff39\uff25 (@applecidermage) June 9, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n