GAMING CO-EDITOR LOUISA SADLER
BY LOUISA SADLER
Women in Gaming
Inspired by International Women’s Day, I thought I would share some of my favourite female protagonists in gaming as a way of highlighting the strength women have and the progress that has been, and is being made, to achieve equality within the gaming industry. SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!
LARA CROFT One of my favourite female protagonists within gaming is definitely Lara Croft. One of my fist games growing up was Tomb Raider where I played as Lara as I discovered tombs, artifacts and explored places I didn’t even realise existed when I was younger. I never really played the original Tomb Raider games but watched my mum and uncle play them on the PS1, it wasn’t until the Legend Tomb Raider series was
released on PS2 that I really began my journey with Lara. What I particularly liked about this version of Lara was her strength and determination to discover what truly happened to her mother when she was nine years old. This version of Lara alongside her mother were the only survivors of the plane crash in the Himalayas but after discovering a portal within a temple, Lara lost her mother and had no idea what happened to her. When she is older, Lara sets off on a journey to discover the truth over her mother’s disappearance that leads her to myth of King Arthur’s Sword Excalibur and the myth of Avalon. I really admired the strength of Lara in this series of games and her determination to know what really happened all those years ago but also admired her sassiness and quick wit when interacting with friends, colleagues and even when interacting with her enemies.
17 • G A M I N G • S TUDENT LIFE
