Who Has the Best Adventure Outfit: Indy, Lara Croft, or Nathan Drake?

[Robert Rath]

Who Has the Best Adventure Outfit: Indy, Lara Croft, or Nathan Drake?

As Critical Intel's Robert Rath hikes up to Machu Picchu, here's his thoughts on video game adventurers' gear. Who would actually survive out there? Find out.

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[Lieju]

You mention Lara's wealth as a positive, but she might go for style over practicality, and prefer designer clothes when she should pay mind to other things.

I mean, she was freezing in the new Tomb Raider, and wouldn't take a jacket from any of the people she killed, apparently just because she'd rather freeze to death than wear poor-people clothes, or risk an outfit that doesn't match.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

You mention Lara's wealth as a positive, but she might go for style over practicality, and prefer designer clothes when she should pay mind to other things.

I mean, she was freezing in the new Tomb Raider, and wouldn't take a jacket from any of the people she killed, apparently just because she'd rather freeze to death than wear poor-people clothes, or risk an outfit that doesn't match.

She certainly seems to be learning from her mistakes though. Rise Of shows us that she's gotten past her "spoiled rich girl" phase and looks to exploring as a legit lifestyle, with all of its pitfalls taken into account.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...so, instead of "outfit", it should be "outfits"? The key to winning is simply having lots to choose from so you can get the right one?

Though, that does make a certain sense.

 

[lacktheknack]

To be fair, though, later-installment Lara Croft DOES wear a sports bra.

Heck, I've been binge-playing Tomb Raider Anniversary, and one of her unlockable outfits is literally NOTHING but shorts and a sports bra.

...this doesn't actually help her case, does it? xD

 

[blackaesir]

I basically agree with this article. Its a good breakdown of who wears what vs. what would make sense. I agree that Lara, even in early games, is good about switching wardrobe when necessary. On the other hand, I still remember her grabbing a bomber jacket in Tomb Raider II when going into the Himalayas... but doing nothing to replace her shorts. I suppose we have to just assume all that running, jumping and Yeti shooting kept her warm enough to not be a double amputee at the end.

 

[Robert Rath]

Yep, that mountain pass on the Inca Trail is murder. It was shrouded in clouds and snow when it first came into view for me, adding a nice feel of impending doom.

 

[Something Amyss]

You mention Lara's wealth as a positive, but she might go for style over practicality, and prefer designer clothes when she should pay mind to other things.

I mean, she was freezing in the new Tomb Raider, and wouldn't take a jacket from any of the people she killed, apparently just because she'd rather freeze to death than wear poor-people clothes, or risk an outfit that doesn't match.

In fairness, Lara was far from experienced in the reboot. I imagine the sale of DLC outfits, as well as showing off her boobs played a part in it, too. Though I would expect more savvy even from an archaeology grad student, I do have to factor in that she's a budding archaeologist in a crew of lemmings, so maybe she just lives in an alternate universe where Darwin was wrong or something.

I mean, being cold really doesn't seem to be a problem through most of the game.

 

[infohippie]

I mean, being cold really doesn't seem to be a problem through most of the game.

It is at least mentioned early on in the reboot, as she is shivering trying to make a fire in the rain just after escaping that first cave. Once she has made one fire, though, that seems to keep her warm for the rest of the game, even in driving rain and high winds.

 

[Something Amyss]

It is at least mentioned early on in the reboot, as she is shivering trying to make a fire in the rain just after escaping that first cave. Once she has made one fire, though, that seems to keep her warm for the rest of the game, even in driving rain and high winds.

Like most things introduced early in the game, it's dropped later. That's why I said most of the game. It's fairly similar to Lara hunting to stay alive in that one scene, and then the game's like "we'll never speak of this again."

And yeah, I know that there is hunting in the game, but it looked specifically like they were introducing a survival element.

The cold, similarly, is brought up for a little bit and then pretty much nothing. I mean, she shivers or crosses her arms on occasion, but she apparently can endure 30 hours in the wind and rain as long as the story doesn't demand she do something.

 

[Kuredan]

I saw this gear comparison like that of a variety of tires.

Indy's going to be your all-weather radials: Fine in most situations but may have problems in the snow and rain
Drake's a...I don't know... spinning rims or any other flashy modification to the wheel: serves no practical purpose, performs horribly, but someone thought it looked cool
Lara's the very best tires money can by, a tires store really, with a waiting garage to install it for you; you'll have the tire you want in every situation, studded, racing, etc.


I still like Indy's aesthetic best. He worked with what he had and looked cool doing it.

 

[Dying_Jester]

One thing to keep in mind is that Indy is from a time before the others were even born.
If he was the most well rounded then, then it is safe to assume that he would be smartest in choosing his gear now.
Don't forget that in Raiders of the Lost Ark he had no problem putting on desert clothing(though ditched in the afternoon), and didn't bat an eye at stripping someone else for their gear(which someone pointed out Lara seemed to not want to do when in cold weather).

Regardless of the then/now argument, I still see Indy as being the smartest dressed.

 

[Kerethos]

This was a good breakdown of the outfits used by these three, I agree with it.

As for Lara's odd doings in the recent reboot, I simply assumed that since you still hunt[footnote]At least I murdered every living being I could on that island[/footnote] throughout the game Lara has a constant supply of pellet filled rat, crow, rabbit, crab, seagull, deer and boar meat. They just cut out the cooking, and she eats while you sit at a campfire or fast travel.

But why she would not take some dudes jacket, hat and possibly gloves - that I never quite understood. But given how other crew is dressed, it didn't strike me as a particularly cold place (aside from the snowy parts).

The cynic in me thinks that she never picked up some warmer clothes in order to make you want to buy her outfit DLC, out of pity.

 

[Callate]

If you're in danger of snagging your clothing on trap-triggers or giving enemies something to grab onto, tight clothing actually makes a lot of sense.

The braid, maybe not so much.