#all interviews

Toby:

Not really; they were just focused on more. The marketing men just saw them as the easy route to take with their campaign. I reckon they must have thought, "How are we going to market this? Hey, look at her enormous oojahs! I have a cunning plan." Clever lads.

The Face:

Did your girlfriend mind you spending so much time with another woman?

Toby:

If you want a girlfriend, avoid working in computer games like the plague. If you work seven days a week, fifteen hours a day for almost two years, with barely enough time for a pint, you have no time whatsoever for relationships. Plus computer-games makers are regarded as being about as hip as abbattoir workers.

The Face:

What do you think of a 'real' Lara being used in promotion - will you be buying her single?

Toby:

I think it's really wierd when you've drawn a character and then you meet someone who's actually paid to dress up the same and pretend to be her. Very strange. As far as I'm aware the single is no longer going to happen. If it does, though, yes, I'll buy it. I like a laugh.

The Face:

Is Lara a feminist icon or a sexist fantasy?

Toby:

Neither and a bit of both. Lara was designed to be a tough, self-reliant, intelligent woman. She confounds all the sexist cliches apart from the fact that she's got an unbelievable figure. Strong, independent women are the perfect fantasy girls - the untouchable is always the most desirable.

The Face:

Would she work if she wasn't a posh bird?

Toby:

I can't somehow imagine her in a council house wearing whote stilettos and sporting a fake-blonde perm. She was made to be as quintessentially British as possible. It's generally held that unless you have an American hero you won't be able to sell a game in America. I though that by deliberately reversing as many rules as possible, ie female (but strong, not tarty), a British not American lead character, and American not British villains, we'd make something that was unusual and fresh.

The Face:

Which is more important: the character or the game?

Toby:

The game is always the most important thing: the way it plays, the interface, and the content. A good character is useful to bring the thing to life.

The Face:

Are you still in love with Lara or are you sick of the sight of her?

Toby:

Neither. It's good to see the character around still, quite satisfying in fact. I don't think it would be quite normal for you to love something you made up though, a bit too Bride of Frankenstein for my liking.

GameSpot UK:

So what's the plot this time?

Adrian Smith:

We've made the basis of the story a lot simpler this time around - the player is given a very clear objective from the outset. The plot will twist and turn as Lara progresses, but the ultimate goal always remains in sight.

Very basically, Lara inadvertently releases something rather nasty whilst breaking into an ancient tomb... and of course she's the only one who can put things right. The path of true adventure never runs smooth so Lara will have various tasks to complete before she's able to face a final confrontation.

The story is set entirely in Egypt. Last Revelation is not about covering vast distances - it's a very continuous experience where the storyline unfolds throughout via seamless cuts and FMVs. These may be triggered at any time during gameplay, rather than just between specific locations. As you can imagine, the scope for locations, architecture, atmosphere, puzzles, enemies etc. is tremendous!

GameSpot UK:

Will Lucozade be appearing in the new game?

Adrian Smith:

No - we'll be using the traditional medi-packs.

GameSpot UK:

For the PC are you using the Tomb Raider III engine or building a new one?

Adrian Smith:

For the first time we are producing a dedicated PC version which is not constrained by what can or can't be done on the PSX. In essence the whole of the game engine for Last Revelation is new. In terms of format, the two versions of the game are the same, but there will be elements on the PC version that will make use of the hardware specific features (bumpmapping, etc. ). There will also be subtle differences between the two versions, with the PC maybe having some new features that are not available on the PSX version.

GameSpot UK:

Do you fear a press backlash against the new game as quite a few journalists hated the last one?

Adrian Smith:

I can't say that we were ever aware that the game was actually hated! Despite any number of new features and improvements, the game is still, in essence, 'Tomb Raider' - an adventure game featuring Lara Croft. What we have done this time is completely readdress a number of key elements. This will immediately distinguish Last Revelation from its predecessors and bring fresh life to the title. The on-screen format is completely new - gone are the old inventory rings, loading screens etc.

It's always been our intention to make the fourth game as accessible to as many people (both old fans and new users) as possible. We've focused on simpler gameplay so the game will be easier than TR III in terms of direction and objectives. Players will know exactly what to do, and where they have to do it. The difficulty lies in solving the puzzles that will enable players to complete objectives - so it's very much like the original game in that respect. A very clear storyline and single location means that a lot less time is wasted covering vast distances. The philosophy behind Last Revelation is much more akin to the original title in terms of its puzzle mechanics, ancient locations and atmosphere.

In some ways Last Revelation is a prequel to the trilogy, but the technical advances will make it far more detailed and atmospheric. If you've never played a Tomb Raider game, this is the one that we'll be recommending!

GameSpot UK:

Do you think that Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation will be as big as Tomb Raider III?

Adrian Smith:

In terms of size, the locations are much tighter and feature many smaller rooms that enable the player to really focus on the task in hand. Since this is a single adventure, we can't count number of levels etc. but the actual size of the whole game is no shorter than players have experienced in the past. In terms of sales - we're obviously hoping that this will be the best-selling title and as stated earlier, it will be the most accessible TR title yet.

GameSpot UK:

Why not ditch the Tomb Raider label and call the games "The Adventures Of Lara Croft"?

Adrian Smith:

Tomb Raider III was subtitled 'Adventures of Lara Croft' due to the fact that the game comprised five separate adventures. We're now focusing on a single, continuous experience, so 'Adventures' isn't applicable in this instance. We try to give each game a title that denotes the flavour of the adventure e.g. Dagger of Xian, Last Revelation. But if we produce further Tomb Raider titles, who knows!

GameSpot UK:

Can you tell us about any of the new enemies that Lara will face?

Adrian Smith:

We're concentrating on highly-detailed enemies - there may be fewer of these but they will certainly be more purposeful than those seen in previous titles. Since we're dealing with Egypt, our artists and animators have really been able to let their imaginations go, so we've got mythological baddies as well as natives and generics. Due to the nature of the plot, you'll find a lot of rather strange things happening and don't be surprised if you find that you're pitting your skill against an adversary throughout the adventure.

GameSpot UK:

When can we expect to see Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and will there be a Tomb Raider V?

Adrian Smith:

November 1999 and well you know what they say... You just can't keep a good girl down...!

Rhona Mitra:

That was rubbish. My dad is a surgeon and he does do cosmetic surgery, but he doesn't perform breast operations. I don't think he was too bothered about it, though - apparently a load of people phoned up the hospital where he works, the next day asking for tits like Rhona Mitra.

FHM:

But you have had your breasts enlarged.

Rhona Mitra:

Yes, but my dad had nothing to do with it.

FHM:

Where does the name Mitra come from?

Rhona Mitra:

It's Indian - my dad is from Calcutta. But I'm also part Irish. It's a confusing heritage. I never know if want to be running across fields with no clothes on or sitting in the pub drinking Guinness.

FHM:

The Lara Croft single is called Getting Naked. When was the last time you were naked in a public place?

Rhona Mitra:

I don't think going starkers in a public place is especially commendable. You can go to Stringfellow's for that. Although they don't get it all off there, do they? The song is really about one night stands and a woman saying that she'll go so far but not the whole hog. Why does all frolicking have to end in penetration?

FHM:

Does Lara have sex, then?

Rhona Mitra:

I should bloody well hope so. I'm sure she wouldn't be the woman she is unless she did.

FHM:

You recorded half the album sailing down the Amazon in Dave Stewert's boat. If the boat had run aground, would you have been prepared to eat him in order to survive?

Rhona Mitra:

Hmm, he hasn't really got enough fat on him...

FHM:

That beard might have been a bit tough to chew as well. Maybe you could have stuck it on your face when you'd finished eating the rest of him.

Rhona Mitra:

I would have worn the beard proudly. It's a fine feature.

FHM:

You were expelled from two boarding schools. Naughty girl, were you?

Rhona Mitra:

No, I just had a problem with complying with the rules. I went to convent school and it was totally ridiculous. We weren't even allowed to go into town at the weekend. So we used to nick holy wine from the church and drink it in the potato patch at the back of the school. I remember one time me and a few girls ended up dancing in the garden at four in the morning, wearing nothing but wellington boots.

FHM:

Is that why they kicked you out?

Rhona Mitra:

No, that was for taking a sixth former's car and driving it down to the local boys' school. I was only about fourteen. I'd left stuffing under my bedsheets but one of my friends told on me and the headmistress tracked me down. They put me in this room with bars on the windows to punish me. I was stuck in there for a whole week with just a rosary for comfort, having my dinner brought in on trays. The only time I got out was to say confession to the school priest. After that, they booted me out. Then at the next school the other girls used to blame me whenever they got caught for something, so all the parents wrote in and said they didn't want me at the school. I crammed my exams in London and did fine.

FHM:

You recently said that Lara represents the woman of the future. So what is the woman of the future going to be like?

Rhona Mitra:

She'll be more robust. In order to be strong in the mind, women are going to have to build up their bodies. Having a big arse will be alright, having a big pair of breasts will be alright, as long as they exercise as well.

FHM:

We had a discussion in the office about men of the future, and we reckon that evolution will make their heads and penises bigger.

Rhona Mitra:

Sounds good to me.

FHM:

Okay. Let's test your credentials for playing Lara Croft. To start with, when was the last time you raided a tomb?

Rhona Mitra:

Er, I haven't. I only raid my friends' wardrobes. And my dad's drinks cabinet when I was a kid.

FHM:

Would you take on a bear unarmed?

Rhona Mitra:

I'd probably try and cuddle and sweet-talk it. I've charmed men worse than bears.

FHM:

Can you handle yourself in a fight?

Rhona Mitra:

Absolutely. I had the whole Swiss army after me once. I was skiing with friends and we were getting hassled by some guys who wanted us to dance. They ended up calling us dykes and then turned nasty. I kicked one in the ribcage. It turned out that he was with a load of Swiss army guys and they chased us up the road. We ran faster than them, though.

FHM:

Some Tomb Raider websites feature a nude Lara Croft. Would you ever emulate them and do Playboy?

Rhona Mitra:

I'd never say never. But not right now. It's not even negotiable.

FHM:

What about the orgasmic noises Lara makes when she bumps into walls? Have you been perfecting those?

Rhona Mitra:

Oh yes, of course. Listen. [Makes weird orgasmic noise not unlike "Uuh!"]

FHM:

Lara spends most of her time in caves full of gun-wielding nutters. What's the most dangerous situation you've been in?

Rhona Mitra:

I got buried under sand in Tunisia. I've just shot a film there called A Kid In The Arabian Knights. We were supposed to be mocking up this sandstorm and I was buried right up past my head, but I couldn't breathe because the sand was so heavy. I had to breath through a bamboo straw for about twenty minutes. The crew were getting their cameras up and I was screaming "Hurry the fuck up, I'm dying under here."

FHM:

Did you used to play computer games when you were growing up? I remember getting hooked Jet Set Willy on the ZX Spectrum.

Rhona Mitra:

I had an Atari. I used to play that tennis game where you had two bats at either end of the screen and had to try and keep the ball in play.

FHM:

You mean Pong!

Rhona Mitra:

That's the one. But I used to do a lot of things to entertain myself. Do you remember those portable tape recorders that had flat speakers on the top? I used to put a piece of cellophane on top of the speaker and crumble biscuits on top of it. I'd then play Super Trooper by Abba at full volume and watch the crumbs jump up and down with the vibrations.

FHM:

Blimey. You were easily pleased.

Rhona Mitra:

That's not all. I loved pouring yoghurt all over my dog and watching him lick it off himself. And when my parents had dinner parties I'd chop up his dog food into chunks, put cocktail sticks in it and then walk around the living room in a sari asking if anyone wanted hors d'oeuvres.

FHM:

The guests must have loved you. Have you carried any bizarre habits or phobias into adulthood?

Rhona Mitra:

I can't sit still. That's why I'm very difficult in a relationship. Men get jealous of me travelling - they don't understand that just because I disappear on my own doesn't mean I'm going to shag someone else.

FHM:

Have you always been faithful?

Rhona Mitra:

Always. But I can appreciate why people wouldn't be. It's like ice-cream - you can really love vanilla, but you still want to try some other flavours just to make sure that you really do love vanilla best. I haven;t actually been out with that many men. I've been in two relationships which have taken up five years of my life. The second one of those recently ended and since then I've concentrated on my work.

FHM:

What kind of man do you go for?

Rhona Mitra:

I like healthy-looking guys with good, clean skin. And I like men who have brains but are still very childish. Immature guys.

FHM:

Are you actually any good at Tomb Raider?

Rhona Mitra:

Yeah. I finished it in about two weeks.

FHM:

I heard that Bruce Willis has bought the rights to the Tomb Raider movie and that Demi Moore is pencilled in to play Lara. Could you have her?

Rhona Mitra:

Oh yeah, of course.

FHM:

Be careful. After filming GI Jane, she's quite buff these days.

Rhona Mitra:

So am I. And I'm younger than her. The idea of her playing Lara is sacrilege. She has to be a posh English girl with a stiff upper lip.

FHM:

Finally, elsewhere in this issue we discuss the phenomenon of lesbianism. Have you ever been tempted by the charms of another girl?

Rhona Mitra:

Any woman who says she hasn't isn't truly a woman. Even if you don't go as far as doing something physical, you should be able to appreciate the female form. Men are beautiful too, though.

Inside Track:

Tomb Raider is arguably the most best 3D game ever. Was it as difficult to develop as it looks?

Gavin:

Yeah, it was very difficult. We set out right from the start to do things that no-one else had attempted before. Tomb Raider is a 3rd person game set in a true 3D environment where the player is free to go anywhere, whereas most 3rd person games are basically 2D maps rather than full 3D. The biggest challenges were getting Lara to interact with such a complex environment (which led to the requirement of hundreds of animations) and coming up with a computer controlled camera that was smart enough to view Lara in any situation, both of which were caused by trying to do a 3rd person game rather than a 1st person perspective like Doom.

Inside Track:

There is a huge difference between non-3D and 3D accelerated versions. Did this difference surprise you?

Gavin:

Not at all. On the PC, over 80% of the processing time is spent drawing the polygons onto the screen. When you put in a 3D accelerator, the drawing is taken over by the graphics card, which can not only draw polygons much faster than a Pentium, but can do it while the processor is doing the stuff that accounts for the other 20%. This means that everything goes much, much quicker, as each frame takes much less time create.

Another advantage of many graphics cards is that they have better polygon drawing and effects (smoothing the pixels of the texture maps to avoid blockiness being the most obvious), which make the game look much better than the software only version.

Inside Track:

Looking back at Tomb Raider, was there any portion which you think could have been improved?

Gavin:

The 3D system on the PC was a little flaky (sometimes objects can be seen through walls/floors when they shouldn't be), so that needs sorting out for the sequel. Also, the camera system was never quite as good as I wanted - but a computer controlled camera is always going to be a bit dumb.

Inside Track:

Now that work for Tomb Raider 2 is on, what new features will there be in the sequel?

Gavin:

Well, we've all kinds of ideas, most of which I'm not going to tell you about! However, we are planning to use more dynamic lighting - things like flares and explosions that light up their surroundings. And there'll be more human bad guys to fight too.

Inside Track:

With most games nowadays having Multiplayer features, would having such a feature actually enhance a game like Tomb Raider?

Gavin:

A LOT of people want a multi-player feature, but I've yet to hear a good suggestion for how it would play. Fundamentally, Tomb Raider is a one player game and most of the enjoyment comes from exploring the maps and sorting out the puzzles - neither of which would really make sense in a multi-player game.

Inside Track:

Finally, when will we be able to play Tomb Raider 2?

Gavin:

Sometime late November '97.

Cal Jones:

How will the gameplay compare to previous games?

Adrian Smith:

The Irish levels, The Black Isle, played as the 16-year-old Lara, depend on the use of cunning and guile rather than weaponry to deal with their puzzles and traps. The German U-boat levels have an X-Files feel, filled with action, while the Rome levels comprise classic Tomb Raiding adventuring. Finally, the New York-style Tower Block features hi-tech systems that require stealth, strategy and continual guidance from your companion, ZIP.

Cal Jones:

Have you made any changes to Lara's appearance?

Adrian Smith:

No, not to the actual dimensions of the 3D model but we have given her two new outfits - a Matrix-style black leather catsuit with headset, and an arctic camouflage suit. The other outfits are Young Lara, plus the standard kit.

Cal Jones:

Is there going to be any sort of a tie-in to the Tomb Raider movie?

Adrian Smith:

No, Chronicles is an entirely separate entity to the movie. We are, however, hoping to include a feature whereby if the player collects certain numbers of secrets in the game they are treated to special areas on the disc that feature the trailer for the movie, maybe information on the cast and so forth. This is still to be confirmed but we're certainly hoping to include it.

Cal Jones:

What aspect of Tomb Raider Chronicles are you most proud of?

Adrian Smith:

Probably the fact that it consolidates the best bits of the whole series, while still including new features. In some ways, the fifth game has enabled us to put the Tomb Raider series to bed knowing that we have given it our absolute best. We're also very happy that we are finally able to give dedicated fans a present in the shape of the level editor.