Lara Croft for CrusaDLC: The Worthy Candidate

I'm making this thread for the community to have a chance to get to know a certain character and the series that she represents. I hope this topic helps the voters get a better view of what this character means to the gaming industry and what she brings to the table for Crusade.

Lara Croft


Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the Tomb Raider series. She is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic English archaeologist-adventuress who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and ruins around the world. In-game, she is a athletic, archaeologist, book author, publisher, mercenary, master theif, and a big-game hunter. She gets stranded in the Hmalayas after a plane crash and tries to find a way to find her former life. She witnessed the disappearance of her parents and close friends during her adventures as well.

Lara Croft is the most successful female protagonist if video game history. She elevated and helped redefine genders in video games and brings the so called "Girl Power" to the female demographics. She is also the most successful female video game character outside of gaming as well.

She and the series broke Guiness World Record as the most recognized female video game character. She is also unducted in the Hall Of Game .

Lara Croft has been a successful video game character since 1996, which is 16 years in the video game industry. She is also labeled as a pop culture icon outside of gaming as well.

She is also THE Sex Symbol of video games. She has appeared in not just movie, but managizes, novels, comic books, action figures, animated series, AND EVEN HAD 3 OF HER OWN RIDES @ PARAMOUNTS AMUSEMENT PARK.

Tomb Raider has had 2 successful movies (and a potential 3rd one on the way). Lara Croft was played in the movie by one of the most biggest names is Hollywood, Angelina Jolie in both movies. The movies made over $800,000,000 worldwide, making it the highest grossing video game based movie of all time. It is also the largest opening movie headlined by a woman in general.

HER POTENTIAL PLAYSTYLE FOR CRUSADE
Her signature weapon are a pistol on each hand. Other weapons and items she has used in her games are other varieties of guns, flamethrowers, gernade launchers, spears, ropes, hunter knives, bombs, torches, relics & ancient artifacts to change her stats. With all these items & weapons, plus the athleticism, hunter skills, mercenary, theif, & survivial tatic skills, she will be a very interesting and unique character for Crusade.

The Tomb Raider series has appeared on the Every Playstation, Xbox, Dreamcast, Genesis, Gamecube, Wii, Nintendo handhelds, computers, & mobile phones. The series has had a total of 10 games all together, with each game appearing in multiple platforms. The series has sold over 35 million units worldwide.

In Conclusion
Lara Croft is clearly one of our biggest characters from a big series when you look at name value. She has tons of potential to offer as a playable character as well. So if your looking to vote for a character that is worthy of a spot on CrusaDLC and like what she can offer for Crusade, please vote for her.

Link to poll:
https://projectcrusade.forumotion.com/t357-the-official-crusadlc-poll-thread-1


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Lara Croft's Moveset

Jab 1
Daggar Of Xian (vertical slash) - she pulls out the Daggar Of Xian and does an upper/vertical slash while the daggar is being held in a back hand angle.

Jab 2
Daggar Of Xian (horizontal slash) - she follows up with a horizontal/left to right slash with the Daggar Of Xian while it remains held in a back hand angle.

Here Is The Daggar Of Xian
Description: The Dagger of Xian is a powerful artefact that will grant tremendous powers to those who stab themselves in the heart with it.Whoever does this is turned into a mighty dragon.


Jab 3
Knee Jab - she pulls her leg back a bit and launches it forward to jab the opponent with her knee.
Here is the video for Knee Jab. she will do this, but without the grappling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiQmBZvLXts


Forward Tilt
Middle Kick/Elbow Thrust - she does a waist-height martial arts kick that stuns the opponent. This attack is only done if you hit forward tilt once. If you hit it twice, she follows up with a leaning elbow thrust. The position of the elbow thrust is similar to Falcon's Side Smash, but is weaker and has no explosion.
Here is the video for Middle Kick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SDABvEVQKnM#t=21s
The Elbow Thrust is self-explanatory if your familair with Falcon's Side Smash

Up Tilt
Upper Spinning Roundhouse Kick - she short hops and does a spinning roundhouse kick above her. Has a 2-3 hit combo to it.
Here is a preview of video, but she will be kicking towards the sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=e4fwpm1G_fE#t=13s

Down Tilt
Low Kick - she crouches down and performs a very quick low kick.
Here is the video for the Low Kick. she will do everything demonstrated for the kick, except the funny flinching poses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZA9YRa3ojWw#t=51s


Dash Attack
Cartwheel/Handspring Backflips - while dashing, by pressing Dash Attack buttom, she will do a Cartwheel. It can be a 2-3 hit combo. If you hit the Dash Attack button again while still holding the forward button (before the Cartwheel animation finishes), she will follow up with a Handspring Backflip. You can repeat the backflip as much as you can. She will stop the backflip once you stop continuously pressing the buttons.
Here is a video of how Cartwheel/Handspring Backflip works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1u2Zy7X6gc


Neutral Air
Extended Forward Kick - she quickly extends one leg forward to attack. Think of Mario's Neutral Air attack. Only difference is that Lara Croft's kick is a bit more extended due to her length of her legs. Self-explanatory.

Forward Air
Side-Positioned Rapid Kicks - Think of Lui Kang's Bicycle Kick, but Lara does it with her body angled sideways.
Here is a example of the attack minus the angle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAdVZCgqe1E&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Back Air
Back Spinning Kick - similar to Chun-Li's Back Air. The only difference is that Lara spins and kicks twice.

Up Air
Backflip Kick - she performs a backflip with her legs extended diagonally. This gives her upper range and a quick attack to execute.
Here is a video to demonstrate the Backflip Kick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gMMZxfhhU-U#t=50s

Down Air
Diving Kick - This attack is simply the same move Shadow & ZSS have in Crusade as a Down Air.


Pummel
M26 Taser - while grabbing the opponent, Lara pulls out her K2 Impactor. This is basically her taser gun. She tases the opponent with the gun while still holding them. It stuns & shocks them.
This is what the M26 Taser looks like.


Forward Throw
Front Shove - while still gripped to the opponent, she will pull them towards her just to eventually shove them forward, which sends them flying diagonally in the air.

Up Throw
Military Press Throw - she picks up the opponent over her head with the opponent in a horizontal angle. She then throws them up to the sky.
Example of a Military Throw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5j_5kB-tAA

Down Throw
Judo Throw - she grips the opponent and throws them down for a Judo Throw
Here is a video of a Judo Throw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Y5980zKEGsY#t=80s

Back Throw
Monkey Flip - she grips the opponent, leans back, & launches them with a flip by using her legs.
Here is a video of the Monkey Flip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Gpykmt_n3Hc#t=2s


Forward Smash
Excalibur - She swings the the Excalibur in a backhand swing. The Excalibur also releases a green aura that can make contact and do damage if the Excalibur itself doesn't make contact.
This is what the Excalibur looks like

Here is a video of her using the Excalibur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rP0z0pv2eKU#t=65s

Up Smash
Sanglyph - She raises the Sanglyph in the air. From here, purple lightning appears in a circular position which ends with a burst of flames raining down. The explosion prior to rain is most knockback while the lightning stuns them prior to the explosion.
This is what the Sanglyph looks like
Description: The Sanglyph grants the bearer the power to manipulate energy into the form of purple beams or flames, with high velocity. It can also create energy barriers which allow no physical passage through them. Finally, the Sanglyph can make identical copies of the bearer and use them as weapons.
NOTE: This artifact can also make multiple copies of the person using it.


Down Smash
Split Leg Kick - she crouches down and performs a split leg kick on the ground.

Neutral Special
Dual Pistols - Dual Pistols - she rapidly shoots forward with both pistol. Pressing it will give out shots (one per gun). Holding it will have her rapidly shoot it. You can run forward, backwards, jump, double jump, shoot down, etc while rapidly shooting when holding B button. This will make her rapid shooter able to move around & jump while shooting.
Here is an image of the Dual Pistols


Side Special
Crossbow - Lara pulls out her Crossbow. Each arrow has different elements. Those elements being Normal Arrow, Poison Arrow, & Explosive Arrow. Each arrow appear at random. She can aim it at 3 different directions. Those directions being diagonally upward, forward, & diagonally downward.
Here is an image of the Crossbow


Normal Arrow - Can be used for trick shots. They are weak & have low velocity. Common to appear

Poison Arrow - When it hits an opponent, the arrow is stuck on them for a short amount of time causing repeated damage. Some-what commonly appears

Explosive Arrow - They are the strongest arrows in her possession. When they make contact, they explode with some good power. They are as strong as gernades. Rarely appears


Up Special
Spear Gun/Rope - she pulls out her Spear Gun. It can be aimed in 2 directions. It can be shot upward or forward. This is a teather recovery attack also. The spear itself has a rope tied to it's end. If the Spear makes contact to an opponent, Lara Croft can pull them up to her while she rushes forward towards them. Lara & the opponent meet halfway the distance the Spear had extended. This would be the perfect move to follow up with another attack. Think of Ristar's Side Special mechanic, but with the additional feature of doing the attack vertically as well.
Here is the image of the Spear Gun

Potential Gimmick To This Move!
If shot to a ceiling or any hard surface above her, Lara Croft can use the rope attached to the Spear as a swing. This can improve her recovery depending on location or used for escaping certain situations.


Down Special
Mjolnor Crusher - she pulls out the Mjolnor Crusher and slams it to the ground. This is a very strong attack. Lightning shoots out around Lara's surroundings which stuns the opponents if contact is made. Lighting only appears when it hits something solid. The real power potential is if the opponent is hit with the weapon itself. This attack can also be used as a meteor smash.
Here is the Hammer itself

Here is a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYY5LNGLHbc


HELP ME DECIDE


FINAL SMASH #1
Atlantean Scion - using her most notable artifact, Lara Croft raises the Scion up to the sky. A large pillar of flashes shoots down & impales the stage doing serious damage to anyone that touches it. An explosion follows up. Think of Lucario's Brawl FS.
Here is the Atlantean Scion



FINAL SMASH #2
Jeep - she hops on to a Jeep and drives it around all over the stage running over everything in sight. It can also mid-air jump.
Here is an advertised Jeep




Welp, thats it. If you like the moveset, please vote for her. If you got some better ideas or something that you feel doesn't fit, please give your thoughts on it.

Umm... let me see, um........ No.

Mrs. Master wrote:

Umm... let me see, um........ No.

Would you explain why you disagree?

Was never a fan of the Tomb Raider games. I found them to be clunky and boring. It's only out of personal taste, I know, but I can't see myself voting for a character I was never fond of in the first place.

P.S. Those movies were complete balls.

Well, I cant false you for disliking a series for personal taste and opinion. Understandable.

The comment of the movie being balls is opinion as well. lol. The movie grossed hundreds millions of dollars and a new one is possibly planned. How can a movie that successful be balls? its just a matter of opinion if you think about it

Did you enjoy the movies or games?

I've never played a Tomb Raider game. So i probably won't vote for her.

It might be worth noting that both tomb raider films recived poor reviews. (though I never saw them so i don't have an opinion on them.)

Doubt that the movies had poor reviews if its still making sequels and making money. On top of that, ofcourse its no Titanic or anything special like that, but its the highest grossing video game movie

SmashKing201 wrote:

Doubt that the movies had poor reviews if its still making sequels and making money. On top of that, ofcourse its no Titanic or anything special like that, but its the highest grossing video game movie

They're probably making more sequels because it made so much money.
Also the scores we're pretty low (19% for the original at rotten tomatos)
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lara_croft_tomb_raider/
But again i can't judge something i've never seen.

A movie can gross millions and be a bad film, just look at the Transformers series.

I played the original, Legend, and saw the two films. Lara is popular, but I struggle to see what she can bring to the table that is new to Smash, enough to make her a worthy addition to the game.

As for something completely new to Smash, that is not always an easy case with a roster of 80+ and since almost everything has been done. But, it doesn't mean that Lara has to play exactly like everyone else and can be tweaked up with creativity.

She has guns, which already takes care of giving her projectiles to work with. As well as bombs & gernade launchers

She can use a hunter knife for close combat. Same with the athletic punches & kicks.

She also has a speak and torch that can give her a certain amount of reach. A hope can also come in handy if used right.

She also is athletic which gives her some speed to move around as well as basic physical contact.

There is also the use of relics and ancient artifacts she can either use as a weapon or to change stats, which we can probably create either something new or at least something that can make her stand out a bit more.

On top of that, a number of her occupations like archaeologist, mercenary, hunter, & theif can be blended to make her into a character that creates new tatics of how to play her.

She has a list of things to work with that can be put together to create something that stands out well.

Lara Croft may be recognizable, but let's be honest. It's only because she's a sex symbol. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't think every game and movie with her in it was absolutely terrible

Actually, thats only 1 perspective of her popularity. As a video game character, she pretty much sybolizes the so called "girl power" of gaming and brings that bada** chick vibe. The series also goes a bit in-depth of the character as she experience the loss of her friends and parent. As well as the struggle of regaining the life that she once lived while still exploring what the world has in store.

Doesn't change that her series is bad.

How can a series that has gained soo much inside and outside the gaming industry be bad? The series as a whole has sold 35 million units.

Sales and reviews are two very different things, with quality being far more important than the number of sales. If she wasn't a sex symbol the series would have died after the first two games

There are some parts I agree and disagree on respectfully with that statement. The difference with quantity and quality I agree on.

The part I disagree on is the series being dead after the first 2 games if she wasn't a sex symbol. That is pretty much a "what if" situation that we cant state as a fact, imo.

Let's all vote for wesker instead

Esper wrote:

Let's all vote for wesker instead

Wesker would be a good character. Im surprised he doesn't have as much support as he does

Overall, Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series has helped expand the industry outside of pop culture. She pretty much is a notable and worthy candidate.

Lara Croft has boobs. Nerdy teenage boys like boobs. Nerdy teenage boys play games. Nerdy teenage boys like games with boobs.

If that's not good enough reason to put Lara in Crusade, I don't know what is.

And no, seriously, I'm not even being satirical. Lara is a sex symbol, yes, but sex sells, and she's popular and recognised no matter which pair of reasons you put it down to. People don't care how good Tomb Raider was, or how realistic she is, or what her favourite Krispy Kreme is, she is the star of one of the most successful franchises in the world. Critics may criticise, but the fans who will actually be playing Crusade will be the same ones who flock to Tomb Raider. It's the case with any form of the entertainment industry. Katy Perry makes bat noises and puts it to a couple of chord progressions, but she's hot, and she's rich and successful. Kim Kardashian's one half idiot and other half money whore, but she's got the right bags in the right places, so she's drowning in cash. Zooey Deschanel isn't a great actress and many critics hate her manic pixie guts, but she's cute enough to dupe us out of our credit. Lara's the same; even if she's only got two good points and both of them are resting between her arms, it's the success that makes her a worthy candidate, not the reasons for her success.

Dry makes an excellent point.

Also, the video game industry benefited well from Lara Croft & Tomb Riader cause of the success it had in the non-gaming areas and lured in more audience to pay mind on whats going on inside the gaming industry.

Let's just mod Lara over Zero Suit Samus

But then that would just make Lara Croft an alternate for a character she has no relation to and outside her series

SmashKing201 wrote:

But then that would just make Lara Croft an alternate for a character she has no relation to and outside her series

Implying I was serious

I'm going to have to say no.

I'm not interested in Lara in the least bit.

What Dry and SK are failing to realize is that noone actually cares about that stuff anymore. Look at the sales of the games and films and you will notice a MASSIVE decline as the years go on. Gamers stopped caring about her boobs a long time ago. Why? Because we have a larger variety today of games and good gameplay is actually important now. Also because a feature like Lara's is present in many, many video games. Lara's time has passed, it passed years ago. Noone is "flocking" to the next tomb raider game, it's going to flop both in reviews AND sales just like they all have for several years now. The second movie made about half as much as the first movie did, and the games don't even meet THAT standard when comparing today's games to the first and second. Lara Croft won't help sell Crusade, the character can barely even sell her own series anymore. Proof?

Spoiler:

Caring about statistics a bit much, there. Lara Croft is a household name in gaming. She's famous and recognised. It's not like Falcon or Ness have starred in any great things recently. Same with Lara, I don't see any flaws she has that she doesn't share with at least another character confirmed for DLC.