Developer Core Design's last Tomb Raider title is turning 20 years old today! Can you believe it?
From Paris to Prague, Angel of Darkness took Lara deep into Europe's dark underworld to stop a centuries-old order from awakening an ancient race to rule over mankind. She meets countless friends and foes on her journey, including demon hunter Kurtis Trent, the series' first-ever co-protagonist. With a large cult following, the game features a thrilling storyline, captivating environments and atmosphere, a fantastic soundtrack, and perhaps the best and ultimate portrayal of our classic Lara Croft.
Did you play it? What did you think? Tell us in the comments! 💭
O último título de Tomb Raider da produtora Core Design celebra hoje 20 anos! Dá para acreditar?
De Paris a Praga, Angel of Darkness levou Lara Croft às profundezas do submundo obscuro da Europa para impedir que uma ordem centenária desperte uma antiga raça para reger sobre a humanidade. Ela encontra inúmeros amigos e adversários na sua jornada, incluindo o caçador de demónios Kurtis Trent, o primeiro co-protagonista da saga. Com uma enorme legião de fãs, o jogo apresenta uma narrativa emocionante, ambientes e atmosfera cativantes, uma fantástica banda sonora, e talvez a melhor e derradeira representação da nossa Lara clássica.
Jogaram esta aventura? O que acharam? Contem-nos tudo! 💭
Back in February 2021, Crystal Dynamics debuted a special project that aimed to reimagine the box art of the mainline entries in the series. Each one features a different artist and their unique take on the game they were assigned with and is set to be released throughout the anniversary celebration.
For Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003), after a few setbacks, the team finally unveiled this stunning gold leaf and oil painting designed by the incredibly talented Stephanie Rew, an award-winning artist specialised in figurative painting who had her work displayed in various exhibitions across the world.
Below you can find what the artist had to say on the making of this piece and download it in various sizes so you can customize all of your devices.
"When I was first approached to make this 25th anniversary artwork for Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness, I felt the work needed to have the look of an icon. This stage in Lara’s story is a darker one and I felt that the fallen angel motif fitted the design perfectly.
I began by engraving the game’s symbol into the gesso before adding raised texture to define the cogs and wheels. I then laid 24ct gold leaf on top of the pattern and polished the gold to reveal the design. I added more detail with a jewellers’ punch and dry brush to create illusion of movement. I then started painting the figure in oil.
The portrait of Lara was a challenge, as painting a fictional character is very different from painting a model. I wanted her to look like the original Lara, with the wide set eyes and angular face, so a lot of tweaking went on to find the balance between a traditional oil portrait and a digital one. I added the black wings last and used blackbird wings as reference. I wanted to create the feeling of flight so added some loose feathers. The final designs of the symbol are painted in 24ct shell gold. The pattern surrounds her and begins to consume the whole figure, signifying the fusion between the game and the hero.
I am honoured to create this work of art for Crystal Dynamics to celebrate 25 years of Tomb Raider, as I loved playing it when it first was released. She has come a long way since then."
The team has also released a neat fan kit with the artwork packed with wallpapers, social assets and even a printable file for those who wish to revamp their cases. If you do so, please share them with us on social media by tagging @thecrofttomb and @tombraider in your posts along with #TR25!
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» Previous Covers «
Tomb Raider by Brenoch Adams
Tomb Raider II by Babs Tarr
Tomb Raider III by Paul Kwon
Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation by Andy Park
Tomb Raider V: Chronicles by Megan Lara
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness by Stephanie Rew | Community: #1, #2, #3, #4
Tomb Raider: Legend by Nagu
Tomb Raider: Anniversary by Brenoch Adams
Tomb Raider: Underworld by Laura H. Rubin
Tomb Raider (2013) by Yoshitaka Amano
Rise of the Tomb Raider by (TBA)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider by Ross Draws
Explore the TR25 web portal where the Tomb Raider community team will be posting some fun articles and exciting announcements along the year. For all the news regarding the 25th anniversary of the franchise, be sure to visit our dedicated TombRaider25 tag.
Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run. In an attempt to clear her name, Lara has no choice but to confront the secret alliance whose destiny it is to take over the world.
