a short analysis of rise of the tomb raider
Warning: Game contains intense violence, disturbing images, and very strong language throughout. Please use discretion when watching.
For these case studies, we will be looking at one specific game at a time (specifically its story), and hopefully I can guide you in how these games can actually deliver truth. Granted, they are by no means 100% true. I only wish to venerate games which tell a tale that borrows heavily from the Gospel, whether intentionally or unintentionally, in order to show you that there is more to video games than meets the eye.
Oh, and MAJOR SPOILERS for the entire game!
Games are meant to be played so if you want the full experience, I suggest you play it first before reading this!!!
For these case studies, we will be looking at one specific game at a time (specifically its story), and hopefully I can guide you in how these games can actually deliver truth. Granted, they are by no means 100% true. I only wish to venerate games which tell a tale that borrows heavily from the Gospel, whether intentionally or unintentionally, in order to show you that there is more to video games than meets the eye.
Oh, and MAJOR SPOILERS for the entire game!
Games are meant to be played so if you want the full experience, I suggest you play it first before reading this!!!
“’Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And has given authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment’” (John 5:25-29, ESV).
Didn't I tell you back in part 1 to buy the Season Pass?! Haha!
Welcome back! It has been one year since this blog started, and I'm amazed that it is still being looked at (no one has told me what they thought of it, so I have no idea if the consensus is good or bad). Whatever the case of how you found this blog, thank you so much for at least giving it a chance! That's all I ever asked for.
As a thank you, I wanted to add onto it in some fashion. This case study was actually planned for Tomb Raider's 20th anniversary last October when Rise of the Tomb Raider (often abbreviated as ROTTR) would be released on the PS4. But I scrapped it for two reasons: 1) my blog was just wrapping up and I had no place to put it and 2) I honestly had writer's block with the game. Nothing was meshing well and what I did write was not that good. I eventually decided to drop it entirely. It was only a few months ago when I decided to try to tackle it again. Besides, celebrating a 21st birthday is much more fun, right?
I guess you could say I am a recent convert to the Tomb Raider fan club. Whether you play games or not, I'm sure the name "Lara Croft" should at least sound familiar, given her place in pop culture, plus her foray into movies, which starred Angelina Jolie (and soon Alicia Vikander). I knew of Ms. Croft, but I never actually bothered with the "Indiana Jones of gaming" when I was younger.
Then in 2013, Crystal Dynamics released a grittier, darker, and more down-to-earth reboot of Tomb Raider. I decided to give this one a chance and I absolutely fell in love with it. The story, the characters, the gameplay, all of it! I loved it so much in fact that I went back and played a few of the old games in the Tomb Raider series (I want to play them all, but as of now, I've played Legends, Underworld, Guardian of the Light, and Temple of Osiris. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is next on my list).
As I am coming to find out, the Tomb Raider franchise has never been about the accurate portrayal of its history, its cultures, and its religions. Case in point: the very first Tomb Raider had Lara go to an ancient Greek temple and there is a room there called the "Neptune Room." Neptune is actually the Roman name of Poseidon, the Greek God, so if they wanted to be accurate, they would have to call it "Poseidon's Room." Though from what I heard, this is fixed in Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
Then in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider released on Xbox One and I played through it almost immediately. The trailers and promotional art hinted that the new game would seemingly dive into what looked like Church History. To someone like me, it sounded intriguing—even if they ended up butchering it—so I had to play it as soon as possible.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with it. The gameplay was even better than the first and Lara steals the show yet again. However, I had mixed feelings about the story, which was mostly entertaining (I'm easily entertained though), but it felt a little off somehow.
I'm not alone in thinking that, actually. Joseph Anderson, an up and coming Author and Video Game Analyst on YouTube (just search Joseph Anderson and you should find his stuff), ranked the parts of the game as such:
1) Visuals
2) Hidden Tomb Gameplay
3) Climbing and Set Pieces
4) Lara's Characterization
5) Exploration
6) Stealth Sections
7) Shooting
8) How Comfortable My Chair Was
9) Story
Don't get me wrong, I think Rhianna Pratchett, the lead writer for the 2013 reboot and its sequel, is a fantastic storyteller (and yes, she is in fact the daughter of Terry Pratchett, the famous author). Personally, I don't blame her for the story feeling a bit lackluster. In my opinion, video games always have had trouble telling stories when they give the player--the main character--autonomy within the world. It is a fine line balancing between fun gameplay and a story that is riveting enough yet doesn't bog down the player. No matter what credentials lay at the helm, stories in games can often feel like missed potential, such as ROTTR.
Another good example is the new Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, which was a muddled mess of a story. However, that game also had a prequel graphic novel released called Mirror's Edge: Exordium written by the exact same writer (Christofer Emgård) and that graphic novel was pretty good! Take away gameplay, and these writers know their stuff!
As far as Ms. Pratchett's use of Christianity, there was nothing in the game I haven't seen before: a crazy and misguided religious villain hunting down a "heretic" in the search for a divine object in order to create a world without sin and rule the world. Pretty standard stuff at first glance.
Despite knowing this series' track record of artistic license, I decided to take another look at the Christianity portrayed in the game. I began noticing that there is more to ROTTR than meets the eye, especially with its use of Christian themes and history. I'm not entirely sure if my analysis is just me interjecting my own experiences onto the story or if all this was intentional by Ms. Pratchett. Given her prowess and expertise, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I have found that the game, in my personal opinion, is quite respectful of Christianity and that even though the execution of the game's story is a bit flawed, the rhetoric behind the tale is quite clever and deserves recognition!
A Survivor is Born
And the best place to start such an analysis of Rise of the Tomb Raider is...not with Rise of the Tomb Raider! We need to briefly discuss ROTTR's predecessor, Tomb Raider (2013), because its ending flows beautifully into the sequel's beginning.
Welcome back! It has been one year since this blog started, and I'm amazed that it is still being looked at (no one has told me what they thought of it, so I have no idea if the consensus is good or bad). Whatever the case of how you found this blog, thank you so much for at least giving it a chance! That's all I ever asked for.
As a thank you, I wanted to add onto it in some fashion. This case study was actually planned for Tomb Raider's 20th anniversary last October when Rise of the Tomb Raider (often abbreviated as ROTTR) would be released on the PS4. But I scrapped it for two reasons: 1) my blog was just wrapping up and I had no place to put it and 2) I honestly had writer's block with the game. Nothing was meshing well and what I did write was not that good. I eventually decided to drop it entirely. It was only a few months ago when I decided to try to tackle it again. Besides, celebrating a 21st birthday is much more fun, right?
I guess you could say I am a recent convert to the Tomb Raider fan club. Whether you play games or not, I'm sure the name "Lara Croft" should at least sound familiar, given her place in pop culture, plus her foray into movies, which starred Angelina Jolie (and soon Alicia Vikander). I knew of Ms. Croft, but I never actually bothered with the "Indiana Jones of gaming" when I was younger.
Then in 2013, Crystal Dynamics released a grittier, darker, and more down-to-earth reboot of Tomb Raider. I decided to give this one a chance and I absolutely fell in love with it. The story, the characters, the gameplay, all of it! I loved it so much in fact that I went back and played a few of the old games in the Tomb Raider series (I want to play them all, but as of now, I've played Legends, Underworld, Guardian of the Light, and Temple of Osiris. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is next on my list).
As I am coming to find out, the Tomb Raider franchise has never been about the accurate portrayal of its history, its cultures, and its religions. Case in point: the very first Tomb Raider had Lara go to an ancient Greek temple and there is a room there called the "Neptune Room." Neptune is actually the Roman name of Poseidon, the Greek God, so if they wanted to be accurate, they would have to call it "Poseidon's Room." Though from what I heard, this is fixed in Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
Then in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider released on Xbox One and I played through it almost immediately. The trailers and promotional art hinted that the new game would seemingly dive into what looked like Church History. To someone like me, it sounded intriguing—even if they ended up butchering it—so I had to play it as soon as possible.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with it. The gameplay was even better than the first and Lara steals the show yet again. However, I had mixed feelings about the story, which was mostly entertaining (I'm easily entertained though), but it felt a little off somehow.
I'm not alone in thinking that, actually. Joseph Anderson, an up and coming Author and Video Game Analyst on YouTube (just search Joseph Anderson and you should find his stuff), ranked the parts of the game as such:
1) Visuals
2) Hidden Tomb Gameplay
3) Climbing and Set Pieces
4) Lara's Characterization
5) Exploration
6) Stealth Sections
7) Shooting
8) How Comfortable My Chair Was
9) Story
Don't get me wrong, I think Rhianna Pratchett, the lead writer for the 2013 reboot and its sequel, is a fantastic storyteller (and yes, she is in fact the daughter of Terry Pratchett, the famous author). Personally, I don't blame her for the story feeling a bit lackluster. In my opinion, video games always have had trouble telling stories when they give the player--the main character--autonomy within the world. It is a fine line balancing between fun gameplay and a story that is riveting enough yet doesn't bog down the player. No matter what credentials lay at the helm, stories in games can often feel like missed potential, such as ROTTR.
Another good example is the new Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, which was a muddled mess of a story. However, that game also had a prequel graphic novel released called Mirror's Edge: Exordium written by the exact same writer (Christofer Emgård) and that graphic novel was pretty good! Take away gameplay, and these writers know their stuff!
As far as Ms. Pratchett's use of Christianity, there was nothing in the game I haven't seen before: a crazy and misguided religious villain hunting down a "heretic" in the search for a divine object in order to create a world without sin and rule the world. Pretty standard stuff at first glance.
Despite knowing this series' track record of artistic license, I decided to take another look at the Christianity portrayed in the game. I began noticing that there is more to ROTTR than meets the eye, especially with its use of Christian themes and history. I'm not entirely sure if my analysis is just me interjecting my own experiences onto the story or if all this was intentional by Ms. Pratchett. Given her prowess and expertise, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I have found that the game, in my personal opinion, is quite respectful of Christianity and that even though the execution of the game's story is a bit flawed, the rhetoric behind the tale is quite clever and deserves recognition!
A Survivor is Born
And the best place to start such an analysis of Rise of the Tomb Raider is...not with Rise of the Tomb Raider! We need to briefly discuss ROTTR's predecessor, Tomb Raider (2013), because its ending flows beautifully into the sequel's beginning.
The first game in this gritty reboot has Lara desperately struggling to survive. The promotional slogan for the game is even “A survivor is born.” Lara survives a harrowing gauntlet and lives to fight another day. But at the end, what do we see? We see a Lara with haunted eyes isolated from the other survivors. “I’m not going home,” she murmurs. She can’t return to who she was—not after everything she has been through.
Now its sequel, ROTTR, begins with Lara being stranded in Siberia all by her lonesome self. The cutscene above follows the bombastic beginning and shows us Lara’s apartment and her lifestyle. She is all alone, with tons of research on one wall (the rest of her apartment is dreary and almost decrepit). She is obsessed with finding the truth, but is also extremely paranoid and exhausted.
This unhealthy behavior is further accentuated by her almost killing Ana, her pseudo stepmom, before she even knows who is at the door and then precedes to—almost immediately—discuss everything she has been working on (Ana barely pries to get all the information she needs). On one hand, humanity frightens Lara; on the other, she is desperate for some human interaction (this dichotomy of simultaneously pushing and pulling others closer and farther away from her happens throughout the game and is often cited as an inconsistency. I used to agree, but now, I feel like it happens so much in the game that it is an intentional character trait that Lara has to find a way to fully trust again and forgive how humanity has scarred her).
Yes, a survivor was born…but is she really living?
For all intents and purposes, she is dead inside. That is why she is so adamant about reviving her father’s besmirched name and explain to the world that the supernatural exists. In other words, she is looking for a way forward, a truth to the world, and an abundant life (John 14:6-7, hence why Christianity is an interesting choice of a backdrop). And this search for an immortal Prophet in Syria is where she believes she will find answers about her past, present, and future.
This unhealthy behavior is further accentuated by her almost killing Ana, her pseudo stepmom, before she even knows who is at the door and then precedes to—almost immediately—discuss everything she has been working on (Ana barely pries to get all the information she needs). On one hand, humanity frightens Lara; on the other, she is desperate for some human interaction (this dichotomy of simultaneously pushing and pulling others closer and farther away from her happens throughout the game and is often cited as an inconsistency. I used to agree, but now, I feel like it happens so much in the game that it is an intentional character trait that Lara has to find a way to fully trust again and forgive how humanity has scarred her).
Yes, a survivor was born…but is she really living?
For all intents and purposes, she is dead inside. That is why she is so adamant about reviving her father’s besmirched name and explain to the world that the supernatural exists. In other words, she is looking for a way forward, a truth to the world, and an abundant life (John 14:6-7, hence why Christianity is an interesting choice of a backdrop). And this search for an immortal Prophet in Syria is where she believes she will find answers about her past, present, and future.
The Prophet
The Syria section is more of a tutorial and so gameplay is minimal and story is at the forefront. The main thing to point out is that the tomb is empty; there is no body (for a game rife with Christian imagery and rhetoric, this one is a little bit on the nose)!
And as a side note, I love how Lara herself then jumps into the empty coffin, which is fantastic irony that further proves my point that she is the “dead” one in need of resurrection.
Through the clues and art uncovered in Syria, we learn that the Prophet has many followers. More intriguing than that, this Prophet supposedly rose from the dead, which explains the empty tomb! However, this act caused a fanatical group called "Trinity" to hunt down this Prophet.
It is very easy for one to compare this to the story of Jesus. Heck, the game even does this in one of the scrolls that you can find, which calls this Prophet a "messianic figure." However, it is crucial that the Prophet not quite measure up to God/Jesus in any fashion, as we will see later on. For now, all you need to know is that Jesus is not the only one who rose from the dead in the Bible. There is another story in the Bible that mirrors the game's lore almost exactly: the story of Lazarus.
In the gospel of John, chapter 11, Jesus hears that his close friend Lazarus is deathly ill and decides to visit him. His disciples, meanwhile, are slightly reluctant since the chief priests wanted to kill Jesus and His followers. Nonetheless, they go and Lazarus passes away before they arrive. After Jesus mourns, he calls out to Lazarus to come out of the tomb, which he does.
Many hear about this and come to see for themselves—as do the leaders of the synagogue. In chapter 12, the text says, "When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus" (John 12:9-11, ESV).
Lazarus is raised from the dead, and so the religious elite seek to kill him while the commoners flock to his presence. Similarly, the Prophet is raised from the dead, and so powerful crusaders of old seek to kill him while commoners flock to his presence. It fits. The only difference is what raised the two men from the dead, which we will get into later.
Another reason Lazarus is a slightly better parallel than Jesus is because of the art shown in the game. Ancient Christian art is very interesting and rather unique, in my opinion (but hey, I'm biased). Granted, I'm no artist, nor am I a connoisseur, but old Christian art has an oxymoronic flavor to it. It looks simply ornate, meaning the design is rather simple, yet it has an ornate feel to it. Plebeian, yet Kingly.
The Syria section is more of a tutorial and so gameplay is minimal and story is at the forefront. The main thing to point out is that the tomb is empty; there is no body (for a game rife with Christian imagery and rhetoric, this one is a little bit on the nose)!
And as a side note, I love how Lara herself then jumps into the empty coffin, which is fantastic irony that further proves my point that she is the “dead” one in need of resurrection.
Through the clues and art uncovered in Syria, we learn that the Prophet has many followers. More intriguing than that, this Prophet supposedly rose from the dead, which explains the empty tomb! However, this act caused a fanatical group called "Trinity" to hunt down this Prophet.
It is very easy for one to compare this to the story of Jesus. Heck, the game even does this in one of the scrolls that you can find, which calls this Prophet a "messianic figure." However, it is crucial that the Prophet not quite measure up to God/Jesus in any fashion, as we will see later on. For now, all you need to know is that Jesus is not the only one who rose from the dead in the Bible. There is another story in the Bible that mirrors the game's lore almost exactly: the story of Lazarus.
In the gospel of John, chapter 11, Jesus hears that his close friend Lazarus is deathly ill and decides to visit him. His disciples, meanwhile, are slightly reluctant since the chief priests wanted to kill Jesus and His followers. Nonetheless, they go and Lazarus passes away before they arrive. After Jesus mourns, he calls out to Lazarus to come out of the tomb, which he does.
Many hear about this and come to see for themselves—as do the leaders of the synagogue. In chapter 12, the text says, "When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus" (John 12:9-11, ESV).
Lazarus is raised from the dead, and so the religious elite seek to kill him while the commoners flock to his presence. Similarly, the Prophet is raised from the dead, and so powerful crusaders of old seek to kill him while commoners flock to his presence. It fits. The only difference is what raised the two men from the dead, which we will get into later.
Another reason Lazarus is a slightly better parallel than Jesus is because of the art shown in the game. Ancient Christian art is very interesting and rather unique, in my opinion (but hey, I'm biased). Granted, I'm no artist, nor am I a connoisseur, but old Christian art has an oxymoronic flavor to it. It looks simply ornate, meaning the design is rather simple, yet it has an ornate feel to it. Plebeian, yet Kingly.
The game shows many murals and cave paintings of the Prophet with this exact style, as seen here. However, you will notice a yellow circle around the Prophet's head. This is a halo, which is often given to saints, or people who point to God and act like His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. However, with paintings that actually depict Christ, He has a very distinct halo, usually with a cross inside (see below).
Though never explicitly mentioned, the game exclusively shows the Prophet with a regular yellow halo, meaning his followers solely see him as a saint. He may be a "messianic figure," but he is not "The Messiah." He merely points the way to God; he does not measure up to God. Ergo why Lazarus is a better parallel here than Jesus.
The Knights Trinity
The last piece I want to discuss before we leave Syria is the enemies of the game: Trinity. These guys are a secret organization (mostly mercenaries now) that used to be crusaders who pull the strings from the shadows and bring about the future they want in society. They were the first to hunt the Prophet and have continued this quest up into the present day! Rather persistent, aren't they?
To be honest, I've always hated the name for these mercenaries. For those who don't know, the word "Trinity" was coined from Christianity around 200 C.E. by a theologian named Tertullian to try and explain the complicated substance of God (three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). And ever since, this doctrine of the "Trinity" is viewed as canon by the Church. To take such an integral theological word in Christianity and give it to the bad guys baffled me on my first playthrough. Maybe it is supposed to be ironic? Perhaps there are three main antagonists Lara needs to take down that run this secret organization? The latter might be possible; the game has two main villains with some audio logs hinting at a third one pulling the strings from the Vatican, but we never get anything definitive. I don't know...
Despite the questionable name, the best parallel to Trinity is the controversial "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon."
Or as they are more commonly known as, the Knights Templar.
Alright History Buffs, you will enjoy this! In 1129 C.E., the Catholic Church officially sanctioned the Knights Templar (mainly to protect pilgrims to Jerusalem) and the influence of the group exponentially soared. In about ten years, the Templars were exempt from taxes, answered only to the pope's authority, and had become remarkably wealthy by creating a system of banks--all of which is ironic given their original oath that swore them into a life of universal servitude, obedience, and poverty.
The Templars continued to thrive for years and years until the fall of Acre in 1291 C.E., their last refuge in the Holy Land. Animosity toward the Templars slowly rose to prominence, eventually causing a massive series of arrests in the early 1300's and the inevitable disbanding of the order by the Pope. What once was the pinnacle of imagery for a Holy Knight was now seen as an enemy of the Faith!
Rumors about the order spread like wildfire, and the secrets of the Templars quickly became that of legend. It certainly didn't help when a mysterious group in the 18th century called the "Freemasons" used many symbols and traditions started by the Templars and claimed to know secret knowledge passed down by the original order. Conspiracy theory became synonymous with anything related to the Templars.
If you look at the lore Ms. Pratchett created for Trinity, it goes hand-in-hand. It is a large order of crusaders who mysteriously disappear after the crusades, and then suddenly reappear when Lara is searching for a lost Prophet. The main difference being that while Templars originally protected pilgrims, Trinity attacks them (i.e. Lara) without remorse.
Tomb Raider (2013) even has a few hints that suggest Trinity knew of the power of Yamatai and kept it a secret (It's all a conspiracy, man!)
My own conspiracy theory is that Crystal Dynamics wanted to originally call them Templars, but ultimately decided against it, given that the Assassin's Creed games feature Templars so prominently. Therefore, they changed the name to something that sounded a little similar, but was distinct enough for legal reasons.
Anyway, enough rambling from me...for now... Let's continue the story!
Discover the Legend Within
The Knights Trinity
The last piece I want to discuss before we leave Syria is the enemies of the game: Trinity. These guys are a secret organization (mostly mercenaries now) that used to be crusaders who pull the strings from the shadows and bring about the future they want in society. They were the first to hunt the Prophet and have continued this quest up into the present day! Rather persistent, aren't they?
To be honest, I've always hated the name for these mercenaries. For those who don't know, the word "Trinity" was coined from Christianity around 200 C.E. by a theologian named Tertullian to try and explain the complicated substance of God (three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). And ever since, this doctrine of the "Trinity" is viewed as canon by the Church. To take such an integral theological word in Christianity and give it to the bad guys baffled me on my first playthrough. Maybe it is supposed to be ironic? Perhaps there are three main antagonists Lara needs to take down that run this secret organization? The latter might be possible; the game has two main villains with some audio logs hinting at a third one pulling the strings from the Vatican, but we never get anything definitive. I don't know...
Despite the questionable name, the best parallel to Trinity is the controversial "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon."
Or as they are more commonly known as, the Knights Templar.
Alright History Buffs, you will enjoy this! In 1129 C.E., the Catholic Church officially sanctioned the Knights Templar (mainly to protect pilgrims to Jerusalem) and the influence of the group exponentially soared. In about ten years, the Templars were exempt from taxes, answered only to the pope's authority, and had become remarkably wealthy by creating a system of banks--all of which is ironic given their original oath that swore them into a life of universal servitude, obedience, and poverty.
The Templars continued to thrive for years and years until the fall of Acre in 1291 C.E., their last refuge in the Holy Land. Animosity toward the Templars slowly rose to prominence, eventually causing a massive series of arrests in the early 1300's and the inevitable disbanding of the order by the Pope. What once was the pinnacle of imagery for a Holy Knight was now seen as an enemy of the Faith!
Rumors about the order spread like wildfire, and the secrets of the Templars quickly became that of legend. It certainly didn't help when a mysterious group in the 18th century called the "Freemasons" used many symbols and traditions started by the Templars and claimed to know secret knowledge passed down by the original order. Conspiracy theory became synonymous with anything related to the Templars.
If you look at the lore Ms. Pratchett created for Trinity, it goes hand-in-hand. It is a large order of crusaders who mysteriously disappear after the crusades, and then suddenly reappear when Lara is searching for a lost Prophet. The main difference being that while Templars originally protected pilgrims, Trinity attacks them (i.e. Lara) without remorse.
Tomb Raider (2013) even has a few hints that suggest Trinity knew of the power of Yamatai and kept it a secret (It's all a conspiracy, man!)
My own conspiracy theory is that Crystal Dynamics wanted to originally call them Templars, but ultimately decided against it, given that the Assassin's Creed games feature Templars so prominently. Therefore, they changed the name to something that sounded a little similar, but was distinct enough for legal reasons.
Anyway, enough rambling from me...for now... Let's continue the story!
Discover the Legend Within
Lara arrives back at Croft Manor and reconnects with Jonah, one of the survivors from the first game. Do you feel a little déjà vu? You should, because this scene is very similar to what we saw earlier in Lara’s apartment: Lara alone in a shoddy building, obsessed with going to a faraway land when someone she knows comes in, and she simultaneously brings that person close and pulls them away (oh, and there’s even a near death experience).
What is interesting about Jonah is how… normal he is. He also went through hell, but he is at peace. In many ways, he is a good foil to Lara. He is also a good friend to Lara, because throughout the game, he is rather patient with her. The only time he really gets mad at her is right here when he calls out her lack of living.
The duo then head to Siberia to search for the Prophet and the long, lost city of Kitezh (which is a real legend, but spoilers abound there, so we have to save it for later). Unfortunately, they are separated by an avalanche. Lara then must overcome the elements before she can begin her quest. Although slightly similar in nature to its predecessor, the game makes it very clear that, this time, Lara cannot just survive but instead, she needs to “rise” above. That’s the main theme. This is most prevalent in the very first announcement trailer for the game.
What is interesting about Jonah is how… normal he is. He also went through hell, but he is at peace. In many ways, he is a good foil to Lara. He is also a good friend to Lara, because throughout the game, he is rather patient with her. The only time he really gets mad at her is right here when he calls out her lack of living.
The duo then head to Siberia to search for the Prophet and the long, lost city of Kitezh (which is a real legend, but spoilers abound there, so we have to save it for later). Unfortunately, they are separated by an avalanche. Lara then must overcome the elements before she can begin her quest. Although slightly similar in nature to its predecessor, the game makes it very clear that, this time, Lara cannot just survive but instead, she needs to “rise” above. That’s the main theme. This is most prevalent in the very first announcement trailer for the game.
This time, Lara needs to overcome pain, sorrow, loneliness, fear, shame, and even death. By doing so, she believes she can uncover the truth about immortality. Just like Lara says, “They risked death, and in doing so, live on forever…” Generally speaking, this can be seen as Godhood—to become more than a mere man (or woman, in this case)!
And how does our brave adventurer do on this quest to rise above her obstacles?
Well, she almost freezes to death, is almost mauled by a bear, and is captured by Trinity, so…
And how does our brave adventurer do on this quest to rise above her obstacles?
Well, she almost freezes to death, is almost mauled by a bear, and is captured by Trinity, so…
Lara has a startling revelation (though everyone I talked to saw it coming from a mile away) and meets a mysterious stranger next to her cell.
Ana turns out to be Konstantin’s sister and is very sick. They are looking for the Divine Source in order to cure her and create a world without sin. This Divine Source is the “artifact” Konstantin mentioned in Syria. Furthermore, it is safe to assume that this source is what caused the Prophet to return from the dead!
After plunging into the icy waters, Lara is saved by the other prisoner, whose name is Jacob, and taken somewhere safe to rest. It is here where Lara tells the whole truth about what is driving her to a relative stranger—something she didn’t do for Ana or Jonah, curiously enough.
After plunging into the icy waters, Lara is saved by the other prisoner, whose name is Jacob, and taken somewhere safe to rest. It is here where Lara tells the whole truth about what is driving her to a relative stranger—something she didn’t do for Ana or Jonah, curiously enough.
The Old Believers
This man named Jacob escapes with Lara and he leads them to a geothermal valley in the middle of the tundra, where a group called the “Remnant” live in isolation. This group is a band of “old believers” who are ancestors of the Prophet’s followers! Lara distinctly points out the Byzantium patterns and attire that they wear.
Let us put that in perspective. The Byzantine Empire was created when Rome was too large (and politically unstable) to have one central capital in Rome. Therefore, around 330 C.E., the emperor Constantine (not to be confused with our villain, here) split the empire into two and made another capital in Byzantium naming it Constantinople, alluding to the great Roman Emperor: himself (as vain as this is, I would still prefer this than what Roman Emperor Nero did to his capital)!
The Byzantine Empire eventually ended in the mid-15th century when the Ottoman Empire finally conquered it. However, before it fell, the Byzantine Empire endured about 200 years of constant attack from armies like the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, and even some Roman Catholic Crusaders in 1204 C.E., like the Templars—or more like Trinity, in this case!
We can go one step further where, in one of the optional tombs, Lara is awed by what she sees and gasps, “This predates Eastern Orthodoxy!” There are several ways to interpret this, but basically, Lara claims that what she sees is before “The Great Schism,” or the “East-West Schism.” This event occurred around 1054 C.E. when the differences between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodoxy seemed irreconcilable. Granted, these differences had been around centuries before, but it was around the time of the Crusades where this came to a head.
Given Lara’s observation, that puts the Prophet and his original band of followers roughly anywhere between 330 C.E. – 1054 C.E.! This Prophet has been protecting his people for a long time!
This group also has rhetorical ties to the very people who spawned the legend of Kitezh. You see, despite Kitezh’s claim to fame occurring around the 13th century, the earliest written documentation is actually dated in the late 18th century. A book entitled The Kitezh Chronicle was written by a group called the “Old Believers,” who are still around to this day.
I won’t get into a big theological discussion, but this sect is a branch of Russian Orthodoxy that resisted reforms that occurred in 1666 by Patriarch Nikon. This man set reforms in place to force Russian Orthodoxy to mimic more of Greek Orthodoxy. He did this, however, without consulting councils or other members of the church, instantly calling these reforms “necessary for salvation.”
The resistance was loud and forceful. One of the main group of protesters lived in the region where Kitezh lay, calling themselves the “Old Believers”, though—like Protestantism in the West—not all resistance leaders were able to agree, causing the formation of certain subsects. Almost 300 years later, the Russian Church finally validated the old rites as orthodoxy in honor of the Old Believers.
I’m sure Tomb Raider fans are glad the game didn’t include the theological underpinnings surrounding the people of Kitezh. That being said, I think it is worth pointing out the creativity of Crystal Dynamics and Ms. Pratchett.
For Rise, Ms. Pratchett seemingly took the title “Old Believers” and literally made the caretakers of Kitezh “old believers.” Granted, there is a bit of irony being that the Remnant in the game comes from Greek Orthodoxy, which is what the actual “Old Believers” were fighting against, but we will let it slide.
Going back to the game, Lara helps the Remnant prepare for Trinity’s invasion. There is a large battle, but Lara helps the Old Believers fight off their attackers, though at a terrible cost. Jacob tells Lara that Trinity seems to be after the Atlas, an ancient map that will show the way into Kitezh, but Jacob fears more for the people guarding it than the actual object being guarded. Lara agrees to help—both to save people and to retrieve the Atlas for herself. Jacob does not particularly like this answer, but he reluctantly lets her go.
Konstantin’s Faith
Meanwhile, Ana and Konstantin learn of their failed attack and that Lara had a hand in it. This is how they react.
This man named Jacob escapes with Lara and he leads them to a geothermal valley in the middle of the tundra, where a group called the “Remnant” live in isolation. This group is a band of “old believers” who are ancestors of the Prophet’s followers! Lara distinctly points out the Byzantium patterns and attire that they wear.
Let us put that in perspective. The Byzantine Empire was created when Rome was too large (and politically unstable) to have one central capital in Rome. Therefore, around 330 C.E., the emperor Constantine (not to be confused with our villain, here) split the empire into two and made another capital in Byzantium naming it Constantinople, alluding to the great Roman Emperor: himself (as vain as this is, I would still prefer this than what Roman Emperor Nero did to his capital)!
The Byzantine Empire eventually ended in the mid-15th century when the Ottoman Empire finally conquered it. However, before it fell, the Byzantine Empire endured about 200 years of constant attack from armies like the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, and even some Roman Catholic Crusaders in 1204 C.E., like the Templars—or more like Trinity, in this case!
We can go one step further where, in one of the optional tombs, Lara is awed by what she sees and gasps, “This predates Eastern Orthodoxy!” There are several ways to interpret this, but basically, Lara claims that what she sees is before “The Great Schism,” or the “East-West Schism.” This event occurred around 1054 C.E. when the differences between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodoxy seemed irreconcilable. Granted, these differences had been around centuries before, but it was around the time of the Crusades where this came to a head.
Given Lara’s observation, that puts the Prophet and his original band of followers roughly anywhere between 330 C.E. – 1054 C.E.! This Prophet has been protecting his people for a long time!
This group also has rhetorical ties to the very people who spawned the legend of Kitezh. You see, despite Kitezh’s claim to fame occurring around the 13th century, the earliest written documentation is actually dated in the late 18th century. A book entitled The Kitezh Chronicle was written by a group called the “Old Believers,” who are still around to this day.
I won’t get into a big theological discussion, but this sect is a branch of Russian Orthodoxy that resisted reforms that occurred in 1666 by Patriarch Nikon. This man set reforms in place to force Russian Orthodoxy to mimic more of Greek Orthodoxy. He did this, however, without consulting councils or other members of the church, instantly calling these reforms “necessary for salvation.”
The resistance was loud and forceful. One of the main group of protesters lived in the region where Kitezh lay, calling themselves the “Old Believers”, though—like Protestantism in the West—not all resistance leaders were able to agree, causing the formation of certain subsects. Almost 300 years later, the Russian Church finally validated the old rites as orthodoxy in honor of the Old Believers.
I’m sure Tomb Raider fans are glad the game didn’t include the theological underpinnings surrounding the people of Kitezh. That being said, I think it is worth pointing out the creativity of Crystal Dynamics and Ms. Pratchett.
For Rise, Ms. Pratchett seemingly took the title “Old Believers” and literally made the caretakers of Kitezh “old believers.” Granted, there is a bit of irony being that the Remnant in the game comes from Greek Orthodoxy, which is what the actual “Old Believers” were fighting against, but we will let it slide.
Going back to the game, Lara helps the Remnant prepare for Trinity’s invasion. There is a large battle, but Lara helps the Old Believers fight off their attackers, though at a terrible cost. Jacob tells Lara that Trinity seems to be after the Atlas, an ancient map that will show the way into Kitezh, but Jacob fears more for the people guarding it than the actual object being guarded. Lara agrees to help—both to save people and to retrieve the Atlas for herself. Jacob does not particularly like this answer, but he reluctantly lets her go.
Konstantin’s Faith
Meanwhile, Ana and Konstantin learn of their failed attack and that Lara had a hand in it. This is how they react.
Okay…We HAVE to talk about this part, especially from a Christian perspective, because that is a very…interesting prayer by Konstantin. This is almost as ridiculous as that time in Spiderman 3, where Eddie Brock is praying in church and asks God to kill Peter Parker, and behold, the symbiote comes down and takes over his body, turning him into Venom, Spiderman’s archrival and nemesis!
This prayer actually says a ton about Konstantin and his faith. For one, it tells me that he doesn’t read his Bible, because if he did, he would see that Jesus specifically calls this behavior out in a parable.
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted’” (Luke 18:9-14, ESV).
This also shows us that even though Konstantin speaks of bringing in God’s Kingdom, what he really wants is control. Control to keep his sister from dying, from other opinions being shared, and to be the only person marked by God—or should I say, “blessed by the Father.”
What I mean by this is that Konstantin also resembles the biblical character of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Though they are not family in ROTTR, I did find it interesting that Konstantin wears a very similar garb to Jacob—albeit in all black—whenever he is not in combat attire. Anyway, in the book of Genesis, chapter 27, Jacob tricks his father, Isaac, into giving him the family birthright. Esau technically should have received his father’s blessing, so he begs his father for something—anything—to rectify the situation! Isaac relents and gives Esau more of a prophecy than a blessing, but it does not paint a pretty picture.
When Esau hears this, he is so livid that he wants to kill Jacob, but Jacob flees into the wilderness. Does this not sound like the backstory of ROTTR? Konstantin feels he deserves the Divine Source. He has the faith! He has the pierced hands! He has a noble cause to cure his sister and cure the world! But the blessing of the Divine Source went to Jacob (spoilers!), who fled into the wilderness of Siberia to escape death. And just like Esau, Konstantin even inherits a weaker blessing, imparted by his deceiving sister.
And speaking of his sister, this scene shows me is that he is still ultimately controlled by Ana. In one of the biggest plot holes this game has, Lara can discover an audio log of Ana (which you unfortunately cannot give to Konstantin as proof of her manipulation) reminiscing of the night she pretended to be a messenger of God, pierced her brother’s hands, and whispered in his ear that he was to do the work of God. How he confuses his sister for an angel or whatever is beside the point; his faith is not of God. Ana has used him since childhood to get what she wanted.
Even in this rickety church, the audience sees the careful manipulation done by Ana. Konstantin mentioned God’s Will and she sidesteps around it and stresses “time is running out.” And so when Konstantin finishes his prayer, what does he do? He focuses on the first thing that comes to his mind (i.e. blood). Why? Because he is on Ana’s timetable, not God’s.
Once again, Jesus—the Son of God—speaks of Konstantin when he says, “’Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”’” (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV).
Interlude
Moving on, Lara travels to where the Atlas is located and rescues the Remnant living there, further earning their trust. Lara pushes herself into an ancient structure that supposedly holds the Atlas. Strangely, she is not solely met by Trinity. She meets undead Byzantine knights hell-bent on protecting the Atlas and the Divine Source at all costs. Lara escapes with the Atlas and returns to Jacob.
Jonah reconvenes with Lara before the two of them—accompanied by Jacob—use the Atlas to pinpoint where they can find an entrance into Kitezh.
Suddenly, Trinity attacks, learns of the location of Kitezh and, essentially, mortally wounds Jonah.
This prayer actually says a ton about Konstantin and his faith. For one, it tells me that he doesn’t read his Bible, because if he did, he would see that Jesus specifically calls this behavior out in a parable.
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted’” (Luke 18:9-14, ESV).
This also shows us that even though Konstantin speaks of bringing in God’s Kingdom, what he really wants is control. Control to keep his sister from dying, from other opinions being shared, and to be the only person marked by God—or should I say, “blessed by the Father.”
What I mean by this is that Konstantin also resembles the biblical character of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Though they are not family in ROTTR, I did find it interesting that Konstantin wears a very similar garb to Jacob—albeit in all black—whenever he is not in combat attire. Anyway, in the book of Genesis, chapter 27, Jacob tricks his father, Isaac, into giving him the family birthright. Esau technically should have received his father’s blessing, so he begs his father for something—anything—to rectify the situation! Isaac relents and gives Esau more of a prophecy than a blessing, but it does not paint a pretty picture.
When Esau hears this, he is so livid that he wants to kill Jacob, but Jacob flees into the wilderness. Does this not sound like the backstory of ROTTR? Konstantin feels he deserves the Divine Source. He has the faith! He has the pierced hands! He has a noble cause to cure his sister and cure the world! But the blessing of the Divine Source went to Jacob (spoilers!), who fled into the wilderness of Siberia to escape death. And just like Esau, Konstantin even inherits a weaker blessing, imparted by his deceiving sister.
And speaking of his sister, this scene shows me is that he is still ultimately controlled by Ana. In one of the biggest plot holes this game has, Lara can discover an audio log of Ana (which you unfortunately cannot give to Konstantin as proof of her manipulation) reminiscing of the night she pretended to be a messenger of God, pierced her brother’s hands, and whispered in his ear that he was to do the work of God. How he confuses his sister for an angel or whatever is beside the point; his faith is not of God. Ana has used him since childhood to get what she wanted.
Even in this rickety church, the audience sees the careful manipulation done by Ana. Konstantin mentioned God’s Will and she sidesteps around it and stresses “time is running out.” And so when Konstantin finishes his prayer, what does he do? He focuses on the first thing that comes to his mind (i.e. blood). Why? Because he is on Ana’s timetable, not God’s.
Once again, Jesus—the Son of God—speaks of Konstantin when he says, “’Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”’” (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV).
Interlude
Moving on, Lara travels to where the Atlas is located and rescues the Remnant living there, further earning their trust. Lara pushes herself into an ancient structure that supposedly holds the Atlas. Strangely, she is not solely met by Trinity. She meets undead Byzantine knights hell-bent on protecting the Atlas and the Divine Source at all costs. Lara escapes with the Atlas and returns to Jacob.
Jonah reconvenes with Lara before the two of them—accompanied by Jacob—use the Atlas to pinpoint where they can find an entrance into Kitezh.
Suddenly, Trinity attacks, learns of the location of Kitezh and, essentially, mortally wounds Jonah.
Wrestling with God
I hope it was pretty obvious that Jacob was the Prophet. I mean, the guy did give orders to the Remnant and acted like a trusted leader throughout the game. I guess he tried to pull a Queen Amidala from “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” and pretend to be a nobody.
Even though he admits to being the Prophet this late in the game, it is fairly easy to deduce, given that hidden within the Geothermal Valley, you can find several of his journal entries talking about his past. The developers tiptoe around the word Prophet in all of these entries and instead say things like someone “in my position,” but it easily becomes clear that Jacob knows more than he lets on.
What is most interesting about Jacob is his namesake. In the Bible, Jacob is the son of Isaac. In fact, Isaac had twins: Esau and Jacob. Esau comes out of the womb first, but Jacob came out holding Esau’s heel (Genesis 25: 19-28). The name Jacob actually means “He takes by the heel,” or “He cheats.” And as he gets older, he lives up to his name by tricking several people in order to get what he wants.
His most heinous deception was to his own brother, as we previously discussed, which forced him to run and hide in the wilderness for safety.
Now there is one story about Jacob that defines him more than his scheming, and that is the time he wrestled with God! Jacob was to meet his brother in the morning. Even though years had passed, he did not know if Esau still wished him dead. That night, instead of getting a good night’s sleep, he wrestled with a mysterious man until dawn. Then [the man] said, “’Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ And he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ Then he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed’ (Genesis 32:26-28, ESV).
In ROTTR, Jacob wrestles with God—or rather, Godhood. He has lived centuries. He has seen his people through all walks of life. And as you uncover hidden secrets in some of the tombs, Lara realizes that he wasn’t always the benevolent leader we see him as. Jacob has often struggled to be what his followers want and need him to be.
But by the time of the game, Jacob is reluctant to do his part. For instance, many of his journal entries tell of a woman named Alya, who he falls in love with. He can’t be with her officially, “given his position,” but he so desperately wants to be—especially when she passes away. He is tired of wrestling with Godhood. In my opinion, the voice actor even sounds weary and tired throughout the whole game! Like we said earlier, he may have some parallels to Christ, but he ultimately cannot live up to divinity.
Not to mention that, in the Bible, Jacob has to say his name. In laymen’s terms, he has to come to terms with who he is. “I am a cheat! I am the one who grabs by the heel!” And God strips him of that name and says, “No more! You are no longer a cheat, but you will now be my chosen!” Then blesses him.
It is later in the game that Lara prods Jacob enough for him to reveal who he is. He is not a prophet, and the Divine Source is not divine. He has lied to his people. He has cheated them of the truth. This is who he thinks he is.
But Lara steps in and says, “That is not you…The man I’ve come to know would never harm his people.” No longer shall he be a cheat, but the leader he was called to be.
The Legend of Kitezh
Before we move on to what is essentially the final battle between Trinity, the Deathless Ones, and Lara, we can finally talk about what this game is based around: the overarching legend of Kitezh! Since this is a Tomb Raider game, there is obviously some kind of legend in the real world that they took inspiration from. In fact, what is interesting about Kitezh is that archaeologists actually found traces of a settlement in 2011 that suggests some type of city or village may have actually existed where Kitezh was supposedly built!
Kitezh is very similar to the legend of Atlantis: a whole city mysteriously sinks into a body of water lost for all time. However, there is a Christian spin on the tale, so it is worth discussing.
In a nutshell, Prince Georgy, the Grand Prince of Vladimir, first built Maly Kitezh, or Little Kitezh (which is technically still there today, but it is called Krasny Kholm). Prince Georgy eventually travelled to the banks of Lake Svetloyar and was inspired to make a circular city called Bolshoy Kitezh, or Big Kitezh (the game never says it, but ROTTR does show Kitezh as circular when Lara uses the Atlas, so good attention to detail, Crystal Dynamics). All of this took place around the 13th century; much of the Crusades and the events we discussed earlier occurred either slightly before or around the same time, so it fits the ROTTR timeline well.
This city was to be devoted entirely to God, with tons of monasteries and churches. Legend states that Russia was so proud of this city that they kept it a secret. Some sources go one step further and claim you could only see the city if you were “pure of heart.”
It was not long after the city was built when the Mongols invaded Russia. Batu Kahn, the leader of the Mongolian army, learned of Kitezh and wished to raze it. Little Kitezh fell quickly, and the Mongols marched on Big Kitezh. When the army arrived, they were not met with defensive fortifications nor a defending army.
Supposedly, they were met with prayer!
The inhabitants kneeled around the city and prayed for deliverance. Before Batu Kahn could attack, the city began descending into the lake as geysers of water shot out from the soil! The Mongolians watched as the city disappeared forever—the last thing they see is a cross atop the highest monastery as it sinks into the lake.
Legend then states that the inhabitants did not drown in the lake, but continued to live. There are even a few claims of hearing hymns/bells and seeing lights under the water.
The video game flips this lore on its head by having Kitezh guarded by what it likes to call the Athanatoi, or “The Deathless Ones.” These undead soldiers were the original caretakers of Kitezh whom Jacob had shared the Divine Source with. He wanted all of them to live forever! But when the Mongols attacked, the defenders decided to sink the entire city since they knew they were invincible. When they did that, they had the Divine Source keep them alive, but it slowly made them go mad and lose their humanity.
The video game even gives ode to the music and singing, which was heard by the Prophet’s people when trying to find a new home. This part of the legend is mainly in the optional tomb entitled “Voice of God.”
Sadly, I wasn’t able to hear any bells or hymns when walking around Kitezh. Granted, a full-scale battle was going on between Trinity, the Athanatoi, and the Remnant (catapults and helicopters included), so it was difficult to listen to ambient sounds!
The Divine Source
Lara makes her way to the tallest cathedral to finally find the Divine Source. It is here when Konstantin and Ana await her.
I hope it was pretty obvious that Jacob was the Prophet. I mean, the guy did give orders to the Remnant and acted like a trusted leader throughout the game. I guess he tried to pull a Queen Amidala from “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” and pretend to be a nobody.
Even though he admits to being the Prophet this late in the game, it is fairly easy to deduce, given that hidden within the Geothermal Valley, you can find several of his journal entries talking about his past. The developers tiptoe around the word Prophet in all of these entries and instead say things like someone “in my position,” but it easily becomes clear that Jacob knows more than he lets on.
What is most interesting about Jacob is his namesake. In the Bible, Jacob is the son of Isaac. In fact, Isaac had twins: Esau and Jacob. Esau comes out of the womb first, but Jacob came out holding Esau’s heel (Genesis 25: 19-28). The name Jacob actually means “He takes by the heel,” or “He cheats.” And as he gets older, he lives up to his name by tricking several people in order to get what he wants.
His most heinous deception was to his own brother, as we previously discussed, which forced him to run and hide in the wilderness for safety.
Now there is one story about Jacob that defines him more than his scheming, and that is the time he wrestled with God! Jacob was to meet his brother in the morning. Even though years had passed, he did not know if Esau still wished him dead. That night, instead of getting a good night’s sleep, he wrestled with a mysterious man until dawn. Then [the man] said, “’Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ And he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ Then he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed’ (Genesis 32:26-28, ESV).
In ROTTR, Jacob wrestles with God—or rather, Godhood. He has lived centuries. He has seen his people through all walks of life. And as you uncover hidden secrets in some of the tombs, Lara realizes that he wasn’t always the benevolent leader we see him as. Jacob has often struggled to be what his followers want and need him to be.
But by the time of the game, Jacob is reluctant to do his part. For instance, many of his journal entries tell of a woman named Alya, who he falls in love with. He can’t be with her officially, “given his position,” but he so desperately wants to be—especially when she passes away. He is tired of wrestling with Godhood. In my opinion, the voice actor even sounds weary and tired throughout the whole game! Like we said earlier, he may have some parallels to Christ, but he ultimately cannot live up to divinity.
Not to mention that, in the Bible, Jacob has to say his name. In laymen’s terms, he has to come to terms with who he is. “I am a cheat! I am the one who grabs by the heel!” And God strips him of that name and says, “No more! You are no longer a cheat, but you will now be my chosen!” Then blesses him.
It is later in the game that Lara prods Jacob enough for him to reveal who he is. He is not a prophet, and the Divine Source is not divine. He has lied to his people. He has cheated them of the truth. This is who he thinks he is.
But Lara steps in and says, “That is not you…The man I’ve come to know would never harm his people.” No longer shall he be a cheat, but the leader he was called to be.
The Legend of Kitezh
Before we move on to what is essentially the final battle between Trinity, the Deathless Ones, and Lara, we can finally talk about what this game is based around: the overarching legend of Kitezh! Since this is a Tomb Raider game, there is obviously some kind of legend in the real world that they took inspiration from. In fact, what is interesting about Kitezh is that archaeologists actually found traces of a settlement in 2011 that suggests some type of city or village may have actually existed where Kitezh was supposedly built!
Kitezh is very similar to the legend of Atlantis: a whole city mysteriously sinks into a body of water lost for all time. However, there is a Christian spin on the tale, so it is worth discussing.
In a nutshell, Prince Georgy, the Grand Prince of Vladimir, first built Maly Kitezh, or Little Kitezh (which is technically still there today, but it is called Krasny Kholm). Prince Georgy eventually travelled to the banks of Lake Svetloyar and was inspired to make a circular city called Bolshoy Kitezh, or Big Kitezh (the game never says it, but ROTTR does show Kitezh as circular when Lara uses the Atlas, so good attention to detail, Crystal Dynamics). All of this took place around the 13th century; much of the Crusades and the events we discussed earlier occurred either slightly before or around the same time, so it fits the ROTTR timeline well.
This city was to be devoted entirely to God, with tons of monasteries and churches. Legend states that Russia was so proud of this city that they kept it a secret. Some sources go one step further and claim you could only see the city if you were “pure of heart.”
It was not long after the city was built when the Mongols invaded Russia. Batu Kahn, the leader of the Mongolian army, learned of Kitezh and wished to raze it. Little Kitezh fell quickly, and the Mongols marched on Big Kitezh. When the army arrived, they were not met with defensive fortifications nor a defending army.
Supposedly, they were met with prayer!
The inhabitants kneeled around the city and prayed for deliverance. Before Batu Kahn could attack, the city began descending into the lake as geysers of water shot out from the soil! The Mongolians watched as the city disappeared forever—the last thing they see is a cross atop the highest monastery as it sinks into the lake.
Legend then states that the inhabitants did not drown in the lake, but continued to live. There are even a few claims of hearing hymns/bells and seeing lights under the water.
The video game flips this lore on its head by having Kitezh guarded by what it likes to call the Athanatoi, or “The Deathless Ones.” These undead soldiers were the original caretakers of Kitezh whom Jacob had shared the Divine Source with. He wanted all of them to live forever! But when the Mongols attacked, the defenders decided to sink the entire city since they knew they were invincible. When they did that, they had the Divine Source keep them alive, but it slowly made them go mad and lose their humanity.
The video game even gives ode to the music and singing, which was heard by the Prophet’s people when trying to find a new home. This part of the legend is mainly in the optional tomb entitled “Voice of God.”
Sadly, I wasn’t able to hear any bells or hymns when walking around Kitezh. Granted, a full-scale battle was going on between Trinity, the Athanatoi, and the Remnant (catapults and helicopters included), so it was difficult to listen to ambient sounds!
The Divine Source
Lara makes her way to the tallest cathedral to finally find the Divine Source. It is here when Konstantin and Ana await her.
I would like to point out that you can spare Konstantin, which I personally think is the better option and fits more in line with how Lara reacts in the cutscene with Ana after this.
This ending sequence is another point of contention with story critics. They often say that Lara has a rather sudden change of heart here. All throughout the game, she pushes to keep the Divine Source for herself but now, she is willing to give it up? There is not much setup to this dynamic shift.
While I agree on some level that the game should have mentioned some things to set this up better, it still makes sense, in my opinion. Keep in mind that all of this is technically Lara’s fault: she led Trinity here, the Remnant lost a lot of people because of her, the Athanatoi were alerted to invaders because of her, and Jonah almost died because of her! Truth is, not much is separating her from Ana right now, who also has caused lots of pain in order to get to this point.
But it is in these final moments that Lara starts to understand. She can finally rise above the death aching inside of her.
How? By doing exactly what the Prophet, Jacob, said. To “not abandon [her] quest, but to alter its path.”
Lara is willing to give up everything she has sought after to follow the right path. Immortality may have spurred her expedition, but it certainly isn’t driving her now. Instead, Lara has found truth she can rest in.
And by resting in truth, Lara can rise above mere survival. She can live again! Ana even points this out by saying, “Easy for you to say! You’re not the one who is dying!”
“Death is a part of life,” Lara tries to explain. There cannot be one without the other. If Lara is to live—if the world is to live—then she must destroy the magical object in her hand. Ironically, she arguably has found the “real” Divine Source. At the climax, she has stopped her quest to save herself, and instead found the proper way forward, a truth to the world, and a life free from shame and guilt and death.
Death does not frighten Lara anymore. Even Jacob smiles and embraces it. The pain of it is gone. It has no power on our heroes.
“’Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, ESV)?
Also, it is incredible that after all the pain and manipulation Ana has caused throughout the years, Lara rises above and spares her stepmom while destroying the source of what drove her to do evil! If anything, Ana has done more harm to Lara than Konstantin did (which is why I think the best option is walking away from Konstantin, which further shows that she has risen above petty revenge and is able to forgive her enemies).
To put it another way, she ultimately melds justice and forgiveness for her father, for Ana, and for herself—a very divinely inspired balance that is very difficult to do. For in Christianity, God’s grace is only possible with Jesus bearing the burden of God’s wrath as punishment for the sin of mankind. Again, “Death is a part of life.” If we are to live and be with God (to rest in His Truth), then the Lamb of God needs to be slain as penance.
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Again, the story is far from perfect, and it does not completely encompass Christian ideology. Still, even on my first playthrough—before I saw any of this—something felt vaguely familiar about the tale. I am glad I decided to analyze it. Despite its faults, I have come to appreciate it more than I ever thought possible! Because what I eventually came to see, past all the magic and the history and the drama that is unfolding, is that the story ultimately mirrors a journey of faith.
Just like Lara, we pilgrims come to a realization that the supernatural (God) exists so a quest for the way, the truth, and the life begins. For many like myself, a curiosity about eternal life initially spurs us on, but eventually evolves into something much more. We’ll have to fight and struggle with opposition and lingering unanswered questions, often failing time and again. We may even need to alter the quest’s path, but not abandon it. Throughout the journey, we will meet other broken people and uncover horrible truths about the world and ourselves. Rising above these obstacles, like Lara, will force us to merge justice and grace for others (including enemies), for our families, and for ourselves.
It is an arduous adventure, but if what is said about Jesus is true, and if what Jesus himself says is true, then the quest to learn about this “Tomb Riser” is absolutely worth our time—and yours.
Because at the end of the journey…
“We become who we’re meant to be…”
While I agree on some level that the game should have mentioned some things to set this up better, it still makes sense, in my opinion. Keep in mind that all of this is technically Lara’s fault: she led Trinity here, the Remnant lost a lot of people because of her, the Athanatoi were alerted to invaders because of her, and Jonah almost died because of her! Truth is, not much is separating her from Ana right now, who also has caused lots of pain in order to get to this point.
But it is in these final moments that Lara starts to understand. She can finally rise above the death aching inside of her.
How? By doing exactly what the Prophet, Jacob, said. To “not abandon [her] quest, but to alter its path.”
Lara is willing to give up everything she has sought after to follow the right path. Immortality may have spurred her expedition, but it certainly isn’t driving her now. Instead, Lara has found truth she can rest in.
And by resting in truth, Lara can rise above mere survival. She can live again! Ana even points this out by saying, “Easy for you to say! You’re not the one who is dying!”
“Death is a part of life,” Lara tries to explain. There cannot be one without the other. If Lara is to live—if the world is to live—then she must destroy the magical object in her hand. Ironically, she arguably has found the “real” Divine Source. At the climax, she has stopped her quest to save herself, and instead found the proper way forward, a truth to the world, and a life free from shame and guilt and death.
Death does not frighten Lara anymore. Even Jacob smiles and embraces it. The pain of it is gone. It has no power on our heroes.
“’Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, ESV)?
Also, it is incredible that after all the pain and manipulation Ana has caused throughout the years, Lara rises above and spares her stepmom while destroying the source of what drove her to do evil! If anything, Ana has done more harm to Lara than Konstantin did (which is why I think the best option is walking away from Konstantin, which further shows that she has risen above petty revenge and is able to forgive her enemies).
To put it another way, she ultimately melds justice and forgiveness for her father, for Ana, and for herself—a very divinely inspired balance that is very difficult to do. For in Christianity, God’s grace is only possible with Jesus bearing the burden of God’s wrath as punishment for the sin of mankind. Again, “Death is a part of life.” If we are to live and be with God (to rest in His Truth), then the Lamb of God needs to be slain as penance.
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Again, the story is far from perfect, and it does not completely encompass Christian ideology. Still, even on my first playthrough—before I saw any of this—something felt vaguely familiar about the tale. I am glad I decided to analyze it. Despite its faults, I have come to appreciate it more than I ever thought possible! Because what I eventually came to see, past all the magic and the history and the drama that is unfolding, is that the story ultimately mirrors a journey of faith.
Just like Lara, we pilgrims come to a realization that the supernatural (God) exists so a quest for the way, the truth, and the life begins. For many like myself, a curiosity about eternal life initially spurs us on, but eventually evolves into something much more. We’ll have to fight and struggle with opposition and lingering unanswered questions, often failing time and again. We may even need to alter the quest’s path, but not abandon it. Throughout the journey, we will meet other broken people and uncover horrible truths about the world and ourselves. Rising above these obstacles, like Lara, will force us to merge justice and grace for others (including enemies), for our families, and for ourselves.
It is an arduous adventure, but if what is said about Jesus is true, and if what Jesus himself says is true, then the quest to learn about this “Tomb Riser” is absolutely worth our time—and yours.
Because at the end of the journey…
“We become who we’re meant to be…”