After first appearing in 1996 in Tomb Raider, Lara Croft became widely known as the chasm-clearing, dual-pistol-slinging, intelligent heroine of PS1 platformers. In search of artifacts buried deep within ancient Egyptian tombs, classic Lara's fame was a result of her gunning down dinosaurs and narrowly evading spiked traps with no sweat. If she wasn't doing those things, she would be flipping puzzle switches or excavating treasures from forgotten worlds.
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Classic Lara embodied all kinds of cool and became one of the best action-adventure video game characters ever. She opted for archaeology and adventure instead of the banal customs of upper-class British society. What made Lara so iconic, though, was her serious attitude and quick-witted comebacks.
10 "I'm Sorry. I Only Play For Sport."
In the opening scene of Tomb Raider, the 1996 retro game still well-loved by players, Jaqueline Natla, the game's villain, propositions Lara Croft. Natla wants Lara to recover the Scion, an ancient artifact in exchange for a monetary reward. Lara's response became an iconic TR line immediately.
Unfazed by the rewards or fame of her findings, Lara responds with "I only play for sport." Lara accepts to help Natla only because she is interested in the artifact's history. Her disposition to raid tombs and travel alone solely for fun made her instantly cool.
9 "Pardon Me, If That Was Just Your Way Of Trying The Doors For Me."
In Tomb Raider II, one of the most critically acclaimed Tomb Raider games to date, Lara is busy figuring out a door etched with a symbol. Out of nowhere, all guns ablaze, one of Marco Bartoli's tough guys fires full power weaponry at Lara before she skillfully evades his gunfire.
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Lara remains surprisingly cool, though. Her rather British response, "Pardon me, if that was just your way of trying the doors for me", is perpetually quoted by classic TR fans. This line imbued Lara with her distinctive wit and cool-girl temperament. Classic Lara Croft always kept her sense of sarcasm even during moments where she is almost being shot to her death…
8 "I Don't Count Poison Darts And Triggered Entombment Your Average Child's Tea Party."
In Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation, Lara's adventurer mentor, Werner Von Croy, gets in all kinds of trouble when he does not listen to young Lara. The roots of their feud began all the way back in Lara's teenage years after Von Croy decided to pull a lever that should not have been touched.
Lara wisely advises Von Croy about what the lever might do once pulled; "I don't count poison darts and triggered entombment your average child's tea party. I feel we should lend this some respect." Lara was always sharp enough to know better. Von Croy's "disrespect", however, leads him to get his leg trapped in the triggered trap that Lara warned him about…
7 "Anyway, Busy Girl. Got To Go."
Lara's altercations with Natla's mercenary Pierre made for comedic cutscenes in both Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider Chronicles. Lara frightens Pierre andhe ends up falling backward, dangling from the edge of a precipice. Almost on the brink of death, Pierre hangs on for his dear life.
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When Pierre reluctantly and sheepishly asks for a helping hand, Lara decides to leave him suspended on the ledge by his fingertips: "We had an agreement… Not to lay a finger on you, silly. Anyway, busy girl. Got to go." And, as aloof as ever, she walks away. A rather unfortunate situation for Pierre no doubt…
6 "I Make My Own Luck."
In TRIV, a young Lara discovers the iconic brown backpack that will accompany all of her travels. After prising it from the arm of a skeleton, she wears it for the first time before returning to Von Croy. Von Croy tells Lara that he hopes that the bag will bring her good luck.
Lara's reply "I make my own luck" saturated her character with a sense of assertiveness. It became one of her best-known lines from the Core Design TR series. At just seventeen, this Lara was already sure of herself and her pathway in life. As a result of her self-assurance, Lara became a widely respected female character within the video game sphere.
5 "Run As Fast As Your Little Legs Will Carry You."
Once again, Lara tries to warn others of flipping switches or pulling hazardous levers. Her intense knowledge of artifacts and their destructive nature does not compare with any other character's knowledge in the classic series, making her an awesome video game protagonist. In Chronicles, after Pierre decides to ignore Lara and flip the switch, he sets his partner, Larson, ablaze.
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After this moment, Lara tells Pierre "If I was you, I'd grab your Cro-Magnon cowboy over there and run as fast as your little legs will carry you. Au revoir, mon chèr." This line was humorous for the way Lara bluntly questions both of their intelligence – specifically Larson, who she actually refers to as an early modern human. Eek…
4 "Welcome Back To My Humble Abode."
The line that is like music to every classic Tomb Raider fan's ears cannot be easily forgotten. After Core Design beautifully redesigned Croft Manor in TRII, fans were excited to see the return of the wood-paneled, echoing mansion with all of its secret doors in TRIII. This version of Croft Manor is continually cited as the best one to date (and not just for being able to dual-pistol poor, annoying Winston down).
When the Croft Manor training level opens, Lara will say "Welcome back to my humble abode. Feel free to take a look around." This line is nostalgic and typically Lara with all of her upper-crust idiosyncracies. This would have been the first time players may have heard her voice since TRII and after "that grueling business last year" (Lara's reference to TRII), a pleasant roam around the manor does seems like a humble walk in the park…
3 "Happy Retirement!"
The bell tower scene in TRIII is memorable for one of many witty Lara lines in the classic series. A brainless hitman attempts to kill Lara because her death would make him so rich, that he would be able to retire early. Lara calmly responds that she is "flattered," but being Lara Croft, she escapes death with ease.
Knowing the hitman is moments away from his own death, Lara smoothly warns him of his approaching fate… "Then you might want to watch the bell… Happy retirement!" she says comically as the hitman is cascaded across London's rooftops and into the air by the giant bell.
2 "Gosh! That Was My Best Time Yet"
Despite the successful Tomb Raider reboots, players will always hold a place in their hearts for the nostalgic classic Lara voiceovers. When completing the assault course in TRIII Croft Manor training level, the player will know when they have beaten their last score after Lara lets them know.
Lara will declare in a surprised tone "Gosh! That was my best time yet!" each time the player's time score is beaten. This line takes players back to the 1990's blocky retro graphics again, where trying to beat an assault course time was much trickier than it looked — but still incredibly entertaining.
1 "Don't You Think You've Seen Enough?"
The ending to TRII cuts to Lara in the bathroom after swiftly gunning down intruders attempting to steal the Dagger of Xian from her mansion.
Before the credits roll, she fires her shotgun at the player, and asks them "Don't you think you've seen enough?" At this point, the player may be shouting "no!" back into thin air (because the only bad thing about TRII was that it finally had to come to an end).
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