The Game References You’ll Find in ‘Tomb Raider’

Drew Dietsch
Movies Games
Movies Games

WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Tomb Raider. Proceed with caution.

Tomb Raider is out in theaters and it’s a pretty good adaptation! (Read FANDOM’s review) When the first trailer was released, fans saw more than few comparisons to the 2013 game. Now that the movie is out, we can dig a little deeper into a few specific references, including one that hearkens back to Lara Croft‘s first video game incarnation.

The Endurance

In the 2013 game, the ship that takes Lara to the island where the story takes place is called the Endurance. There is a terrible storm which wrecks the Endurance and leaves Lara stranded on the island. The 2018 film pretty much recreates this entire sequence at the end of the first act.

Lara’s Pickaxe

tomb raider pickaxe lara croft
The iconic weapon from the 2013 reboot game becomes a key weapon in the 2018 film.

The 2013 reboot game was the biggest influence on the 2018 film. Not only was Lara’s visual design and story inspired by that game but also her various tools and weapons. One of these was a climbing pickaxe that became a handy item in the 2013 game. In the film, Lara uses it as both a means to escape a few perilous situations as well as a weapon against Mathias and his militarized goons.

The Bow & Arrow

What most fans remember from the 2013 game was the addition of a bow and arrow to Lara’s arsenal. This changed up the attack style from previous games by making stealth action a key factor. In the film, Lara obtains the bow and arrow from her father on the island where he disappeared. She then uses it as her main weapon when she infiltrates Mathias’s camp in order to liberate the slave workers Mathias is using to help him discover the tomb he’s looking for.

The River Scene

Possibly the most thrilling section of the 2013 game is a sequence where Lara is thrown into a raging river and has to survive numerous deadly obstacles before reaching a waterfall and figuring out a way to avoid plummeting to her death. This entire scenario was lifted almost wholesale for the 2018 film, including the part where Lara discovers a dilapidated plane at the edge of the waterfall and uses a parachute to get her to safety when she drops off the edge.

Mathias & Himiko

tomb raider walton goggins
Walton Goggins (right) as Mathias Vogel in 'Tomb Raider.'

The two main villains of the 2013 game were Queen Himiko and Father Mathias. In the game, Himiko was the ruler of the island and Mathias was the leader of a cult that worshiped her. Things are a little different in the 2018 movie. In the film, Himiko is a long-dead ancient figure who is entombed on the island. Mathias is an employee of Trinity, a mysterious corporation that seeks to control supernatural powers in order to dominate the world. Mathias is trying to discover Himiko’s tomb because it will allow him to leave the island and be reunited with his family.

Those Famous Guns

The one reference fans have been wondering about is whether or not Lara’s famous double pistols would be showing up in this new version. In the original game series, Lara’s weapons of choice were two pistols. Though the model of handgun has changed depending on the game, the 2001 and 2003 movies featured two Heckler & Koch USP Match pistols.

In the 2018 film, Lara goes to a pawn shop in order to obtain some money to charter a boat that will take her to the island where her father disappeared. At the end of the film, she returns to the pawn shop and ends up looking at their selection of guns. Naturally, she gravitates to a Heckler & Koch USP Match pistol. And in the last few seconds, she grabs another one and says, “I’ll take two.”

So, if we get a sequel, you can bet Lara will be packing twice the heat.

Drew Dietsch
Drew Dietsch has been professionally writing about entertainment for over a decade. His bylines include FANDOM - where he was a founding contributor and Entertainment Editor - Bloody Disgusting, SYFY WIRE, and more. He created and hosts GenreVision, a weekly film discussion show at genrevision.com.