Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Patch Adds New Area: Sunken Chapel of Sobek Plus Community Challenges!

New content has just been added to the Overworld area in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. If you follow the path to the southeast of the central Shrine of Osiris, where there used to be a broken bridge overlooking a deep ravine, that bridge now connects to a new explorable area: the Sunken Chapel of Sobek.

The Steam version was slightly delayed, but this new area is now available for all players. It includes more red skulls and health/ammo powerups to collect. For those who purchase the Season Pass, the Sunken City will eventually allow access to new DLC tombs—the Tomb of Hoarfrost and Tomb of the Embalmer—when they are released. Dates for these have not yet been announced.

The new Community Challenge feature rewards players for working together. If you want to get your hands on special items like gold weapons, bonus bags of gems, and a few surprises, check out the Community section in the game's main menu. Each week a new challenge will be posted. This week's challenge, "Burn Baby Burn," requires that everyone work together to kill 5,000 exploding, flaming mummies using SMGs. This particular goal has already been met, so everyone can now go to the Community Chest in the Overworld to find those special weapons waiting. (This is the treasure chest at the edge of the shrine to Osiris, where DLC items appear. It's shown in the screenshot below.)

Note that community challenges are run separately on each platform. That is everyone gets the same weekly challenge, but Steam, PS4, and Xbox One players will work with other players on that same platform. Challenges will run from Sunday (12:01 AM PM PST) to Saturday (11:59 PM PST) each week. The reward will be available in the Community Chest as soon as it is unlocked, but will only remain for 24 hours (11:59 Sunday night) after the challenge closes.

Visit this thread on the Square Enix forums for a detailed list of Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris patches, including the Sunken City update, as well as various crucial bug fixes for all three systems. Check this thread for Community Challenges.

Square Enix Confirms Microsoft's Rise of the Tomb Raider Publishing Deal is Limited

Most of you probably saw yesterday's news that Rise of The Tomb Raider will be published by Microsoft when it comes out next year. Many gaming blogs, news sites, and gamers were speculating that this meant the end of any chance the game would come to PlayStation. Later in the day Crystal Dynamics told Game Informer, "Our partnership with Microsoft on Rise of the Tomb Raider does have a duration, but we aren't discussing those details at this time."

Then late last night Square Enix followed up with this comment: "Yes, Microsoft will be publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider on Xbox. Microsoft has always seen huge potential in Tomb Raider and they will get behind this game with more support across development, marketing and retail than ever before, which we believe will be a step in continuing to build the Tomb Raider franchise as one of the biggest in gaming."

It's still unclear what all of this doublespeak means—or when and which other platforms will get Rise once the Xbox exclusive is over. The waiting game continues....

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Gold Edition Unboxing with Meagan and Jenn

Crystal Dynamics Senior Community Manager Meagan Marie teams up with cosplayer extraordinaire Jenn Croft to show off Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Gold Edition. There's been a bit of confusion about all the different versions available in different regions, so Meagan covers the various offerings and price points for Europe and North American, as well as what's in the Gold Edition box. The game releases next Tuesday, December 9, for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

The video also shows off the current and upcoming LCTOO T-shirt designs. You've probably seen the "Protectors of Fate" shirt before, but a new long-sleeved tee featuring Lara's silhouette on a background of hieroglyphs and a hoodie with a golden cartouche, will be available in the Tomb Raider Store around the same time the game launches.

If you haven't already pre-ordered the game, you can get it, along with the Gold Edition swag, through the Square Enix Store, Amazon,or your local game shop.

Tomb Raider 2 Now Available on iOS

In a stealth move worthy of Lara Croft, the 1997 classic Tomb Raider 2 appeared today out of nowhere in the App Store. This updated version for iPhone and iPad is optimized for touchscreen play and includes revamped graphics, multiple language support, and 50+ unlockable achievements.

Of course, some things never change....

Thanks to Rivendell for this blast from the past.

I don't own any Apple devices, but friends have been posting rave reviews all day. With a price tag of only $1.99/£1.49 for the full game plus the Golden Mask expansion, I don't see how you could go wrong!

If you've had a chance to try it, I'd love to hear what you think. Please post a comment below or tweet me @Stellalune.

UPDATE 12/6: According to Nash, who posted on my Facebook page, the PlayStation 1 PAL version cheat codes also work in the iOS version. Just sayin'.... ;)

Special thanks to Rivendell and José for these screenshots.

Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals Fan Reviews

Although I've managed to finish the new TR novel, Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals, I just can't seem to work up the enthusiasm to write a review. So I'm using the old blogger's cop-out of linking to other reviews that I agree with. My favorites so far come from Helen at Tangledwires and Noelle at Pfangirl: Through the Looking Glass.

Helen (a.k.a. @Lady_Scion) originally reviewed the book in a series of Tweets, which she has collected into a hilariously spot-on review on her blog, Tangledwires.

Noelle (@pfangirl) takes a more traditional journalistic route with her Ten Thousand Immortals review, but the upshot is the same. She notes that while the novel does include some snappy action scenes and dialogue, "There's a very good reason that people have sarcastically renamed the book Tomb Raider and the Ten Thousand Train Rides or Tomb Raider and the Ten Thousand Sips of Water." For an action-adventure, it's just plain boring. Check out her complete review, "Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals reviewed – from Reboot Lara to Robot Lara."

If you just can't leave well enough alone, I certainly wouldn't fault you. Like a good archaeologist, a good fan should investigate thoroughly and draw her own conclusions. You can find The Ten Thousand Immortals in local bookshops or online in paperback, Kindle, or iBooks format. If you've read it, I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below or Tweet me.

Order from Amazon US, Amazon UK,or iBooks.

New Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Dev Diary: Puzzles 101

It's official. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has gone gold. In game development parlance, this means the game is finished and the master copy has been sent off for duplication or, in the case of a digital title, prepared for release by Steam, Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation Store.

To celebrate—and help tide everyone over until December 9, when the game comes out—here's a new developers' diary focusing on the game's many puzzle elements. This video features lead level and puzzle designer Jeff Wajcs, who also worked on Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, showing off the action with executive producer Scot Amos.

Be warned, the video includes some minor spoilers. You'll see a few previously unrevealed areas and a new boss, as well as examples of some of the aforementioned puzzles. But surely this short video only scratches the surface of what we'll see in the actual game three weeks from now.

To follow along or translate into another language, download this PDF Here's a transcript of the dev diary video.

In case you missed it, you can watch the first developer diary, "Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris: Four-Player Co-Op Mayhem".

Follow this link for the updated Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris FAQ.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris FAQ

With all the hullabaloo around Extra Life these past several weeks, I've been neglecting my other blogging duties. I wish I had time for a more in-depth post, but in lieu of that, here is a collection of frequently asked questions and official responses from Crystal Dynamics about Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. A few of these questions have been recycled from previous Q&A's in order to keep all the info in one place. I will continue to update this post as details emerge.

Release date: December 9, 2014
ESRB/PEGI Rating: Teen/12+
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
Price: $20/€20 for regular edition, $35/€40 for Gold Edition

Q: Will the Gold Edition physical goods be available separately in Europe as they are in the North American Square Enix store?

A: We don't currently have any plans to do this. The Gold Edition in Europe will contain the physical elements as well as a disc for the game, either on PS4 or PC, and a code for the season pass.

Q: Will there be an official soundtrack release for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: No news as of this moment.

UPDATE 12/8/14: The Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris OST was released as a free download on Soundcloud.

Q: Will Temple of Osiris support mixed local/online coop so that 4 people play with two computers online with each other?

A: Yes, the game is drop-in, drop-out co-op, allowing you to play with two people on the couch, and two people online, or any mixture thereof!

Q: Will there be any type of CD version for LCTOO?

A: The Gold Edition in Europe for PC and PS4 will have a disk. In North America, the Gold Edition box contains all of the physical collectibles, and then digital download codes for the game and the season pass are provided separately.

Q: Does the game have some Easter eggs from past games?

A: We pay tribute to past games through costumes such as the Legend Lara pack. As for Easter Eggs, you'll have to wait and see.

Q: Who wrote the story of Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: The internal narrative team tackled the story of LCTOO, collaborating with key staff members at Crystal early on to narrow down the setting. They had a lot of fun digging deep into Egyptian mythology and determining the direction to take this adventure.

Q: Who designed the cover for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: Art Director Brenoch Adams took lead on both pieces, with assistance from our creative agency Volta.

Q: Who are the voice actors for the secondary characters? Anyone we'd know?

A: For the English version of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, we've welcomed back classic voice actress Keeley Hawes as Lara Croft. Additionally, Dorian Lockett voices Carter Bell, Rae Wright as Isis, Jack Tilden as Set/Horus, and our own Brenoch Adams stepped in as Osiris!

[You may remember Dorian as Alvin from The Walking Dead game! -Stella]

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris voice cast: Keeley Hawes as Lara Croft, Dorian Lockett as Carter Bell, Rae Wright as Isis, Jack Tilden as Set/Horus, and international man of mystery Brenoch Adams as Osiris.

Q: How many hours of playtime can we expect in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: The game length truly depends on your play style, but you can expect a playtime on par with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, with lots in the way of replayability thanks to the Overworld, asymmetric co-op, challenges, and DLC tombs.

Q: What does Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris add in terms of replayability?

A: There are lots of reasons to replay the game, be it completing challenges, playing through with a new set of friends, trying out the asymmetrical co-op, seeing how puzzles differ when playing solo, and so on. Also, competing with friends to secure the higher score. And, if you're a completionist, there are hundreds of items of various rarities to find, the more you play, the more the rarest items (rings, amulets, and weapons) will become available. There are achievements and trophies dedicated to you completing every challenge, which will keep you coming back for more.

Q: Will Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris be available on the Mac?

A: As of right now we're just focusing on the title for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Let us know if a Mac edition is something you'd be interested in!

Q: Does Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris get harder with each additional player?

A: Yes, combat and puzzles scale with each additional player, ensuring you're still challenged when tackling tombs with friends.

Q: Do I have to play Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris with four players?

A: No you don't have to play Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris with a set number of players. You can play with any combo of players, 1-4, online or offline. If playing alone, you'll default to Lara Croft, equipped with all the tools needed to tackle play solo. Add a second character, and they'll get a choice of Isis or Horus, adding an Egyptian God to the mix.

Q: Is there any platform-exclusive DLC for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: All DLC will be available across all platforms when it goes live online.

Q: Does the game use SteamWorks?

A: Yes, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris uses SteamWorks for achievements, Steam Cloud save games, multiplayer match making, as well as leaderboards.

Q: What languages will Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris be localized in?

A: Temple of Osiris will support subtitles in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese. Full voice over will be available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Japanese.

Q: Will the Temple of Osiris have a Platinum Trophy for PlayStation 4 players?

A: There isn't a Platinum Trophy on PS4 – the rewards are broken down into 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 8 Bronze Trophies.

Q: How many Gamerscore points can we unlock for Temple of Osiris on Xbox One?

A: 1000 Gamerscore will be available to unlock across 40 unique Achievements.

UPDATE 11/13/14 and 11/22/15: See here for the Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris achievement/trophy list.

Q: Does purchasing the Season Pass allow you to download all future DLC for free?

A: The Season Pass guarantees all announced year-one DLC. It does not include any unannounced DLC and/or pre-order incentives.

UPDATE 11/14/14: The first Four questions below were answered in an earlier Q&A but I forgot to include them in my original blog post.

Q: What's the function of the Overworld in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: The Overworld was influenced by our learnings from Guardian of Light. It's a central hub that allows you to easily replay any of the tombs to complete challenges, farm gems, or tackle an area with different friends. The Overworld also gives us a platform for expansion: more tombs will become available in the future as DLC.

Q: How does the weather system work in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: Changing weather will allow you to access areas of the Overworld that were previously blocked off, such as a flooded area icing over and creating a path. The weather system will also affect tombs, in that elemental enemies will spawn dependent on the current weather system. We'll chat more about this in the future.

Q: Are challenge tombs back in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: Yes! They were a fan favorite from the last game. The fact that they aren't critical for story completion means we can have more fun with them.

Q: Will the cutscenes in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris be digital or drawn, such as in Guardian of Light?

A: Both. We'll use the comic-book styling to introduce you to the setting of Temple of Osiris, but also feature in-game cinematics to move the story along.

Q: Will Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris support Share Play on PlayStation 4?

A: The studio didn't intentionally prevent the use of the PlayStation 4 Share Play feature for Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and hope to have this resolved with Sony shortly. In regards to Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, we intend to utilize the Share Play functionality. We think it's a great feature, especially to give players a taste of four-player co-op. More information as soon as we have it.

Q: How many projects is Crystal Dynamics currently working?

A: We're currently wrapping up Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, set to launch on December 9. The other team is hard at work on Rise of the Tomb Raider, slated for Holiday 2015.

Q: Will there be DRM in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: The PC game is delivered via Steam, and requires you to be logged into your Steam account, but there is no other DRM beyond that.

Q: Will Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris support Steam offline mode?

A: It certainly will! You will be able to play the single-player game in offline mode just like most other Steam games. But you will obviously be missing out on all the multiplayer fun when doing so!

Q: In Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, as in Guardian of Light, will getting more gems unlock the extra outfits?

A: Grabbing extra gems pays off by allowing you to unlock treasure chests of increasing value after completing tombs. Each will be filled with random items appropriate to the amount of gems you've spent to open them. Inside will be an assortment of goodies including larger bags of gems, weapons, amulets, and rings. Outfits are reserved for pre-order incentives, DLC downloads, or community giveaways.

UPDATE 11/22/14:

Q: What size is the install for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris?

A: We suggest you have a minimum of 3GB free on consoles, and 4GB for PC.

More questions and answers will be added as they become available. For special Q&A sessions with the developers, visit the Official Forums.

·     ·     ·

See here for PC system requirements or compare your PC to the minimum and recommended specs for the game at Systemrequirementslab.com.

See here for Gold Edition and Pre-Order Bonuses.

For more info and screenshots, visit my main Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris page and the official site, LaraCroft.com.

Pre-Order on Amazon.comor Amazon UK.

Extra Life Wrap-Up and Raffle Winners

Thanks to the efforts of 22 team members and 130 generous donors, Team Tomb Raider Community raised $3,369 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals during the recent Extra Life charity marathon. We are grateful to our donors and to everyone who helped spread the word and cheer us on as we played.

So far, the entire Extra Life 2014 event has raised more than $5.6 million, a real testament to the power of gamers to do good!

If you missed the marathon and want to help, it's not too late to donate to Extra Life. Just click the thermometer banner below for details. We'll be accepting donations through the end of the year. Thank you!

We would also like to announce the winners of our Tomb Raider prize raffle. Individual winners have been notified by email. So if you're on the list, please check your mail and reply with your details so we can send your prizes. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks again to everyone who participated.

Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Donated by Crystal Dynamics. – Noelle A. (@pfangirl)

Tomb Raider Collector's Edition Survival Kit Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Josh B.

Tomb Raider Trilogy for PS3 Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Brandon Y.

Red Tomb Raider reboot T-shirt Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Katya V.

Tomb Raider: The Art of Survival book. Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Steve F. (@RidentFFXI)

Tomb Raider Limited Edition strategy guide. Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Matheus B.

Tomb Raider: The Beginning signed by Rhianna Pratchett. Donated by Crystal Dynamics. - Roland D. (@Roli29)

Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals novel. - Robert W. (@mrxenomorph123) and Nicole L.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Gold Edition swag (3 winners). - @Ecklypsis, Shrensh, and Adina J.

2 Classic Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game (5 winners) – zeme, Samantha G., @rardraider, @MAX-b_59, and LodairJunior.

Free game download from GOG.com (5 winners) Kara, Jerad Z., snissen, Faya, and Jo.

The team would also like to thank generous sponsors. The first seven prizes listed above were donated by Tomb Raider's developers, Crystal Dynamics. The game downloads were provided by GOG.com. We are grateful for their ongoing support.

Extra Life 2014 Charity Marathon and Prize Raffle

Hello friends and fellow raiders. This weekend, October 25-26, 2014, I will be participating in Extra Life, a 24-hour gaming marathon to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Please sponsor me!

I will be gaming for Boston Children's Hospital, which provides specialized care for children from across North America and more than 100 other countries. If you'd rather support a local hospital, I encourage you to check out this list of Team Tomb Raider Community members. There are 22 of us playing for 19 different hospitals.

Donating online is safe and easy. Just visit my Extra Life page to get started. If you'd like to donate offline with a check or money order made out to "Children's Miracle Network Hospitals," that's fine too. Contact me and we'll work out the details. Your contribution is tax deductible and ALL PROCEEDS go to help hospitalized kids.

In case you need a little incentive to help out, I will be hosting a Tomb Raider livestream and PRIZE RAFFLE throughout the marathon weekend. I hope you'll join me and the team. We'll be playing and chatting on Twitch.tv and Livestream.com. You can also follow me on Twitter for regular updates on the the games we're streaming, guest players, and our fundraising progress throughout the event. For a chance to win some awesome Tomb Raider swag, just click the banner below and fill out the entry form.

Questions? Contact me by email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Thank you for caring!

Video courtesy of Extra Life.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris PC System Requirements and More

As you all know, last week I met with our Community Manager, Meagan Marie, in New York and brought her a bunch of your questions about the upcoming games Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Since the Rise release is still quite a way off, those will have to wait, but she was able to consult the Temple of Osiris developers for details about that game. She also thanked everyone for their patience as she settles in at Crystal and gets back up to speed.

Several players asked: Will the Gold Edition physical goods be available separately in Europe as they are in the North American Square Enix store? (Apparently Xbox One players can't get the Gold Edition over there.)

We don't currently have any plans to do this. The Gold Edition in Europe will contain the physical elements as well as a disc for the game, either on PS4 or PC, and a code for the season pass.

(If you don't mind paying for overseas shipping, fans outside North America can order the Gold Edition Physical Goods from the North American Square Enix Store. Note that the product description says it includes the season pass. This is not correct. The physical goods package includes the Lara figurine, art book, and map. The game and season pass are available separately. –Stella)

Harry (from The Music of Tomb Raider fansite) asks: Will there be an official soundtrack release for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, as Al Wilmer teased.

No news as of this moment.

Filarwen asks: Will Temple of Osiris support mixed local/online coop so that 4 people play with two computers online with each other?

Yes, the game is drop-in, drop-out co-op, allowing you to play with two people on the couch, and two people online, or any mixture thereof.

And-Ray asks: Will there be any type of CD version for LCTOO?

The Gold Edition in Europe for PC and PS4 will have a disk. In North America, the Gold Edition box contains all of the physical collectibles, and then digital download codes for the game and the season pass are provided separately.

Maël asks: Does the game have some Easter eggs from past games?

We pay tribute to past games through costumes such as the Legend Lara pack. As for Easter eggs, you'll have to wait and see.

Several people asked about the PC system requirements. Meagan has promised to share them in her Friday fan-site update. In the mean time, Steam has posted the following list, which I will amend if necessary tomorrow.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris PC System Requirements

MINIMUM:
OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Processor: 2.0 GHz high end Dual Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6000 series or better / NVidia GeForce 500 series or better
DirectX: Version 11
Hard drive space: 4 GB

RECOMMENDED:
OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Processor: Quad core CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 or Intel Core i5-750
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD R7/ NVidia GTX 650
DirectX: Version 11
Hard drive space: 4 GB

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris screenshot - click to enlarge

Quick, Last-Minute Tomb Raider Halloween Costumes

Sara has been a cosplayer and webmaster for nearly 10 years. Visit her site for a full bio and photos.

If you've put off your Lara Croft Halloween costume until now, don't worry; we've got you covered. Guest blogger Sara from laracroftcosplay.com presents six ideas to complete your costume in no time.

Halloween is about 3 weeks away and you can order all this from eBay, your favorite trusted online store, or your local clothes/sporting goods place. If you are buying online, make sure the delivery times are short before you commit.

From classic Lara to her latest incarnation, we have something for everybody, these are not meant to be exact replicas of Lara's outfits. As the title suggests, they are your last-minute DIY solutions.

Tomb Raider 1: Lara's Home Outfit

This is one of the easiest costumes to replicate in a pinch. All you need is a sports bra, sweat pants and two wrist sweat bands.

If you are at home, you won't need any shoes. If you are going out then you can add your sneakers to this look, put your hair in a bun and you'll be good to go!

ebay Search: Navy blue top, Sweat pants, Sweat bands

Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness Denim Outfit

Also an incredibly easy outfit to recreate, since everyone owns denim jeans and some kind of black top.

If you are buying a denim jacket, make sure that it's cropped. As for your shoes, you really can't go wrong here, just plain brown/black boots will work. Add a pair of sunglasses for the finishing touch. If you don't have one, try a friend or a family member.

ebay Search: Black Shirt, Denim Jacket

Tomb Raider Legend Tokyo Dress (Not Ripped)

This is a very classy look for maybe a club Halloween party. True, it does not look like a Lara outfit when seen by people who don't know her, but it's still an amazing outfit that is really easy and perfect for your last-minute rush. Add a pair of toy pistols and you'll be more easily recognized. I would buy the dress and shoes online. As for the accessories, I'd recommend you try to find black shoe laces to make the necklace and the bracelet out of.

The purse is not necessary but great to put your things in while out and about. You can always borrow it from a friend or family member if you don't already own one.

ebay Search: Black halter dress, Black purse, Black shoes, Guns

Tomb Raider Legend: Biker No Jacket

Biker Lara is sexy yet it's perfect for the brisk month of October. All you will need is a gray long sleeve V-neck, black faux leather leggings, your old pair of boots, a black backpack, and because you will probably not have any time to craft the holsters, you can carry your prop guns and just wear a belt over the shirt like Lara does.

ebay Search: Leggings, Shirt, Guns

Tomb Raider 2013: Clean Lara

Although this clean Lara costume seems simple, it might be a bit tricky to execute. Cargo pants are incredibly hard to find if you are on a tight budget. Since this is only for Halloween, you might want to just wear plain brown pants.

The tank tops and the boots are easy. Even if your boots are higher, you can pull your pants over them to hide the top portion. As for the necklace, if you don't have time to make one yourself, you can find various replicas of Lara's pendant on Etsy, including my own custom-made version. Or skip the pendant and just wear a shoelace or a piece of brown yarn around your neck.

ebay Search: White and dark tanks, Cargo pants, Boots

Tomb Raider 2013: Muddy/Bloody Lara *Early in the game*

Dirty/Bloody Lara is probably the best costume to keep in the spirit of Halloween. You can cosplay the version of Lara where she's just out of the caves (first few minutes of gameplay) so you don't have to have all the accessories.

If you are willing to cut up your clothes, rip up your blue tank top and cargo pants. Then add blood and brown acrylic paint to simulate dirt and mud (to the clothes). Put the same brown acrylic on gauze bandages and wrap them around your thigh and boots as pictured above.

Use brown eyeshadow all over your body to simulate dirt there too, and don't forget about your face and Lara's wound (the puncture wound under her rib).

Thank you so much for reading. I really hope this helps you out. Thank you, Stella, for having me guest blog again! Have a happy and safe Halloween!

If you need more detailed tutorials, or if you want help making a different Lara Croft outfit, visit Sara's site, laracroftcosplay.com. She has also contributed two other articles to this blog: Creating Your Own Classic Lara Croft Halloween Costume and Releasing Your Inner Lara: Tomb Raider Cosplay.

Garment pictures from eBay. Tomb Raider Pictures from Core Design and Crystal Dynamics.