New face of Lara Croft revealed

After we reported that the latest addition to the Tomb Raider franchise, Tomb Raider: Legend, would be released in Europe on April 7th, Eidos has unveiled the new face of international action hero Lara Croft as an unknown 20 year old model from the picturesque area of Bethnal Green, London.

Karima Adebibe is set to race to superstardom after being selected from thousands of wannabe Lara Crofts in an international search to fill the shoes of Hollywood megababe Angelina Jolie.

The new Lara is a self confessed tomboy and a former Top Shop sales assistant and will start her training immediately. She'll be embarking on a gruelling training programme that includes skills like SAS survival, combat and a semi-automatic weapons training course in Eastern Europe, along with crash courses in archaeology, deportment, elocution and etiquette.

It's worth noting, however, that the voice of Lara in the game will be Hollywood actress Rachel Weiz.

Matt Gorman, Brand Controller for Tomb Raider said "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend sees Lara at the very height of her powers; this makes Karima the 7th and most important Lara Croft yet."

It's tipped as the blockbuster video game for 2006, but we can't help but feel that Eidos has put a lot of weight on the shoulders of Karima Adebibe. It just seems a bit strange for them to choose an unknown to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Angelina Jolie in what's said to be the most important Tomb Raider game yet.

More to the point, isn't it time for Eidos to stop trotting out girls to appeal to teenagers, and to concentrate on making the game as good as possible? Does the constant sex appeal Eidos tout for Lara make it more annoying for girls to play?


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