Lara Croft vs. Chloe Frazer: Who is the Ultimate Game-to-Cinema Leading Lady?
By Victoria Phillips Kennedy
So, I will start this article with a confession: I absolutely love video game film adaptations. Yes, they are corny, over the top, and never quite seem to land with movie critics, but so what! I think they are great. And as such a fan of video games and their film counterparts, I follow the news about upcoming releases, castings, set locations et cetera from any source that I can find.
Given what I have told you, and if you follow me on my social media platforms (@ladyV_writes – check it out!), you will know that two of my favourite franchises are Tomb Raider and Uncharted, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that a new Uncharted film and a sequel to 2018’s Tomb Rider will be coming to the big screen in the future.
Both of these franchises are known for their strong characters and for having a female protagonist or two to shine in starring roles. And while, yes, Uncharted is fronted by charming rogue Nathan Drake, there is no denying that Chloe Frazer can absolutely hold her own. Naughty Dog even created a whole game around her heritage, making her the lead in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a standalone game in which Nathan Drake only receives a passing mention and absolutely no screen time.
So, two great franchises, and two great heroines who are on their way from a gaming platform to the cinema. But who is the ultimate leading lady? Here are 5 ways that Lara Croft from Tomb Raider is the ultimate video game lead, and 5 ways that it is Uncharted’s Chloe Frazer.
Lara Croft:
Promotional image of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, courtesy of Core Designs
1. She is epochal.
Let’s be honest, if you ask someone to name a gaming heroine, they are going to say Lara Croft. Her hot pants and polygon figure have been featured in countless magazines, on posters lovingly taped to bedroom walls, and in sports drink adverts for over two decades. I even remember seeing a husband bring a cardboard cutout of her onto on an episode of a daytime talk show I watched growing up, calling Lara Croft the third person in his marriage.
Her fame spreads further than just gamers. Men, women, and children all over the world know who she is, even without picking up a controller to defeat dinosaurs and evil rulers of Atlantis. The image of Lara Croft and her duel pistols can be conjured up on the spot within the minds of every generation.
2. Her iconic weapons
Speaking of duel pistols, I come to my next point: her weapons. They are just as iconic as she is. Lara wields her pistols in a fashion that cannot be replicated. Pulling them out of her thigh holsters mid-backflip and offloading rounds into Egyptian deities (or endangered species — sorry Green Peace) is one of video gaming’s biggest highlights.
Even in 2013’s rebooted timeline, where bow-and-arrow attacks were favoured, Lara’s climactic showdown on Yamatai concludes with twin pistols filling our antagonist with lead. As soon as those guns come out, you know it is time for business.
3. She broke the mould.
Can you name one other lead that was undoubtedly female in video games pre-1990s? Go on… I will wait. Zelda? No, she was kidnapped. Peach? Again, kidnapped. Samus? Don’t lie, you thought it was a dude under that power suit.
Lara was the first woman to unapologetically lead a franchise on her own. She dropped the damsel in distress trope used by many, and instead forged her way confidently through any situation she found herself in. The fights she won weren’t won just because she was a woman. She won them because she was just as good if not better than any man. And not just in a rough and tumble kind of way either. After all, she is a member of the aristocracy, you know.
4. She is well-traveled.
In a single game of Tomb Raider you can traverse several exotic and far-flung locations. Peru, China, Mexico, the Norse Underworld, the list goes on (she must get some serious frequent flier rewards). In her archaeological quests she sees more diverse scenery than a series with Attenborough.
Lara does still manage to return home again to her manor (and awesome obstacle courses) throughout the series. I assume one must need to recharge one’s batteries and quell the jet lag before setting off on one’s next globetrotting adventure.
5. She has transitioned to the big screen not just once, but twice.
With two Oscar®-winning actresses taking Lara’s story from video game to blockbuster, you can’t deny that Lara has some serious clout with the stars. Although differing in tone, both Angelina Jolie’s and Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft adaptations lured in audiences all over the world to witness her next adventures.
Video game adaptations have always been risky territory in Hollywood. To achieve big-screen success with not just one but two reworkings, the source material is clearly something very special indeed.
Chloe Frazer:
Screenshot of Chloe Frazer in the Uncharted series, developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment
1. She has strong character development and personality.
Chloe has got to be one of the best-written characters in gaming history. She is flawed, she is funny, she is sassy, and she is more than a just little bit cocky. You cannot help but be endeared to her (even if you cannot be sure if you can fully trust her). From witty one-liners to scathing put-downs, she has it covered. Chloe is strong-willed, not one to just follow along with the crowd. If it does not suit her, she will pull out of a situation and walk away. Peer pressure is irrelevant to her.
Then there is the growth she shows throughout the series. Between Uncharted 2 and Lost Legacy, Chloe matures vastly. She starts as a callous “survivor,” and develops a softer side by the conclusion of the series. She willingly endangers herself to prevent the destruction of an Indian city, despite not receiving any financial gain or recognition for her endeavors.
2. She sweats, SHE bleeds, and her hair gets messy.
In Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Chloe embarks on a quest to find the Tusk of Ganesh in the Indian mountains. It is hot and it is muggy, and our girl feels it.
As the game progresses, she becomes more and more unkempt. Sweat stains her top, her hair clings to her neck, and she looks physically exhausted by the final showdown. Her wounds look raw, her eyes are bloodshot, and — sorry love — those clothes are for the bin. This is a much more reasonable representation of women in the real world. On behalf of all females who get hot and perspire, thank you Chloe Frazer for keeping it real.
3. She understands her heritage.
Chloe is of Australian and Indian descent. But this heritage runs deeper than her skin. Her knowledge of Hinduism and its gods is crucial to the story of Lost Legacy.
Chloe fully submerses herself in the history and cultural tales of the religion. These elements of the game add an extra layer of immersion for players, as they feel emotionally more connected to achieving the goal of finding the Tusk of Ganesh. (Also, learning about the history and battles through the medium of Chloe’s adventure is much preferable to a stuffy lecture hall and a wheezy professor’s drone).
4. She does not shy away from her femininity.
Chloe is an attractive lady, and she certainly uses this to her advantage. While being more than able to hold her own with the big boys, both physically and mentally, it does not stop her from still being womanly.
Chloe’s clothes accentuate her figure, and she will happily use her body to gain an advantage. In Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, both Nathan Drake and Harry Flynn are shown to be enamored with the dark-haired beauty. Something that she happily uses to meet her end game.
5. She has strong allies.
Speaking of Nathan Drake, Chloe has a formidable list of wingmen that she can call upon when needed. She embarks on all adventures with at least one other by her side. Chloe knows that she needs them as much as they need her.
With Nate and Elena in Among Thieves, Cutter and Sully in Drake’s Deception, and Nadine and Sam in Lost Legacy, Chloe is always backed up and supported. Not only offering up their physical prowess and mental cunning, these characters also supply humorous dialogue and entertaining banter. It gives some refreshing relief after the hordes of deaths racked up by our protagonist.
So, what can we surmise from this? To be honest, I have no conclusions when it comes to choosing a winner between them. Each is an awesome lead and I will always carry a torch for them both. What I will say though is this: the more strong female characters in games, the better.
Who runs the world? Girls!
Victoria Kennedy, photo courtesy of the author
About the Author:
Victoria is a freelance writer from the UK with a love for good games, bad films and buffet breakfasts. Affectionately known as Lady V, when she tells people she writes about gaming news, they assume she is talking about pheasants and shotguns. She is not. Victoria lives a life of beautiful chaos with her family, and she wouldn't have it any other way. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter via @LadyV_Writes
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