A Tomb Raider Game With Sign Language?

Since it has been almost two years since the reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise became an official trilogy [40] [43], will Crystal Dynamics focus back on the older and more experienced Lara Croft who wore shorts and sunglasses for the next set of main games? It is interesting enough that both the classic archaeologist and the survivor have been featured as new fighters during an event in Brawlhalla this year [44]. More interestingly to some degree, how can another spin-off of the franchise increase its appeal for audiences in a new decade? Since spin-offs tend to take on a different perspective in an intellectual property, I was thinking there could be some exclusive aspects in a new Tomb Raider spin-off that are designed especially for players with hearing difficulties, quite like how I believe that there can be a port of Catherine for arcades with specific alternations someday [51] [52]. I know there are readable subtitles in many modern video games for those with hearing impairment to understand dialogue [31] [35] [36], but perhaps there can be something extra special to help further enhance the Tomb Raider franchise’s ambition when it comes to establishing a new spin-off and appealing to a more niche crowd.

Apart from being fascinated in Ms. Croft’s special guest appearance in Brawlhalla, I am also fond of a way of bringing a new kind of crowd to the Tomb Raider franchise in the 2020s. [44]

One thing to help a video game further appeal to gamers with hearing impairment besides subtitles is a character demonstrating sign language. I do not think Lara Croft, the beautiful and independent woman we loved since 1996 would really need to use sign language since she and everyone she has ever met can already hear clearly [12] [43]. Get your facts straight, Takanoto [39]. The need for sign language would apply to a completely new playable protagonist who is deaf. Perhaps the new protagonist can be a cousin of Lara so that her relevancy as a new tomb raider can be quite valid. Quite similar to how Uncharted: The Lost Legacy featured Chloe Frazer as a playable protagonist instead of Nathan Drake [45], a new archaeologist who is highly skilled in sign language can represent the Tomb Raider franchise in a brand new perspective as she breaks the fourth wall by accurately demonstrating simple greetings and phrases within the special language to those with hearing impairment. Perhaps the new explorer who is skilled in sign language should be a young woman to help the spin-off maintain its vibes of female empowerment, especially for the rest of this new decade.

A special thank you to my comrade Dylan, otherwise known as “SuperMiiPro” for this splendid concept art of an exclusive character for a spin-off of Tomb Raider who is skilled in sign language. [38]

I know what some of you might be thinking. Would the premise of a Tomb Raider game that features a new lady using sign language for deaf gamers technically plagiarize Moss, the action-adventure game for the PlayStation VR about a mouse who uses sign language [1] [18] [26] [33]? Well, one difference that can prevent that claim from being the case would be making a new tomb raider communicate with BSL (British Sign Language) since Quill, the adorable protagonist of Moss communicates with ASL (American Sign Language) [28] [29] [33]. Since Lara is British, it would make sense if a new tomb raider who is related to her is skilled in BSL instead of ASL. Additionally, BSL is different compared to ASL with different gestures for many words [11]. Unfortunately, the use of BSL might leave North American players with hearing difficulties feeling quite alienated as it is always likely that an ASL user cannot fully understand the use of BSL [6]. But ultimately, making a new protagonist use BSL can faintly increase the concept’s originality, yet keep its useful exclusive aspect that is similar to Quill’s ability in ASL in Moss. Furthermore, small readable subtitles should appear under every BSL demonstration for both British and North American players.

The adorable Quill from Moss demonstrating the word “name” in ASL. [18] [33]

The lovely Charlie Raine demonstrating the word “name” in BSL. [29]

What about the gameplay, the most important aspect of any video game? Well, the tasks for progressing further that require three-dimensional thinking can be present for the sake of challenge that requires logical thinking. When I was playing Tomb Raider Anniversary on my Nintendo Wii [5], I can see how some ways to progress further challenge a player’s sense of logic, which is one of the reasons why the first Tomb Raider game was acclaimed [41]. Since the first level of Rise of the Tomb Raider allowed new players to be given a hint by pressing the left joystick [37], a similar aura around what to interact with can be present in a spin-off for players with hearing impairment. As for the use of pistols, there could be flashing lights at the tips of them after the new protagonist receives some later in the game and is unable to hear the sound of gunshots. However, it would be best not to have flashes in the game to reduce the risk of players with photosensitive epilepsy suddenly having seizures [4] [13] [30]. The same genres of puzzle-platform and action-adventure should be present in a convincing spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise starring an exclusive new character [41].

The classic use of twin pistols can make a grand return in the spin-off. [41]

Alternatively or additionally, there can be some archery gameplay in the spin-off to add the archery vibe from the survivor timeline for the current crowd of tomb raiders. [40]

Of course, the new spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise for those with hearing difficulties ought to also appeal to the fellow tomb raiders who have no hearing difficulties at all. There can be some mysterious and mesmerising samples of music to suit the atmosphere of the tomb the new protagonist explores in [5] [42], along with appropriate foley sounds for every moment, such as gracefully running water for a waterfall somewhere in the land she voyages in [10]. And do not forget an English accent for her as she uses BSL, especially if she turns out to be related to Lara, who is our main lady [40]. Speaking of our main lady, there ought to be an introduction cutscene with fully voice acting featuring her before the gameplay with the new protagonist starts to let every tomb raider in the fandom know that the spin-off can be trusted [12]. If a future instalment of a popular franchise is meant to be a spin-off for meeting a certain criterion by providing accurately demonstrated BSL, it might as well keep in touch with what makes the main franchise appealing to its prime audience, including exceptional use of highly convincing diegetic and non-diegetic audio.

A run-of-the-mill setting of a tomb in Tomb Raider: Anniversary. [42]

Aside from the use of convincing audio, I think the spin-off ought to be set after the events of Shadow of the Tomb Raider and just before the Lara Croft who became a survivor becomes the classic Lara Croft in order to appeal to the classic tomb raiders and newer tomb raiders [43]. [40]

Now, which platform within today’s generation of gaming should a new spin-off of Tomb Raider for players with hearing impairment be available for? Publishing it for the Nintendo Switch might be an odd decision to some as plenty of Switch games are family-friendly [20] [22] [23] [24] [25] [32], even though Catherine: Full Body will be sinfully compatible with it this July [21]. Some may suggest the PlayStation 4, but again, the honour of using sign language to that system already belongs to Moss [1] [18] [26] [33]. Additionally, our fellow PlayStation players are waiting for the true outcome of the PlayStation 5, so I suppose it can be available of the PlayStation 5 a few months after its official release [27]. Alternatively, it can be available for the Xbox Series X several months after its first days of marketing to interest plenty of Xbox experts [53]. To those who strongly believe that PC will always be timeless, the spin-off of Tomb Raider for a certain kind of audience may alternatively be published for computers and laptops. Seeing the best choice for which platform to establish a new spin-off on and proceeding to publish it on there can further increase the chance of it being sold excellently and further increasing the franchise’s credibility.

Aside from a lot of family-friendly Nintendo Switch games, I understand that there are ones aimed at older audiences, such as Mortal Kombat 11 and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ [22] [23] [24]. Furthermore, a new Tomb Raider for the Switch could be something indeed. [19]

On second thought, could a Tomb Raider instalment for players with hearing difficulties be an honourable part of the Series X library for plenty of Xbox experts? [53]

In conclusion, I believe a new instalment of the Tomb Raider franchise designed for gamers with hearing difficulties can make them feel even more welcome to the gaming industry, quite similar to how I believe an LGBT-themed spin-off of Leisure Suit Larry can welcome homosexual, bisexual and pansexual players to a new gaming community [14] [15]. If a new Tomb Raider for players with hearing difficulties introduces a new deaf protagonist who is related to Lara Croft, it can bring out a new and refreshing perspective, quite like how a spin-off of Catherine could feature a certain temptress in the eyes of different men at another bar apart from Vincent Brooks at the Stray Sheep and how a spin-off of the Animal Crossing franchise or some new DLC for New Horizons could introduce an underwater village of meranimals for an animal crosser’s avatar to swim around in as a mermaid or a merboy [2] [3] [46] [47] [48]. I am not saying such suggestions will definitely come true since I have never been a writer for The Simpsons [8] [9], but I simply like to make my own theories of how franchises can increase their appeal in the future for fun in association with my passion for writing.

The way I described how a spin-off for players with hearing impairment reminded me of how I described what to expect in an anime based on the survivor timeline [49] [50]. I am okay with some of my dear readers disagreeing with my suggestions for future concepts because I definitely cannot predict the future [8] [9]. [40]

I know Larry Laffer is heterosexual and there were examples of homosexual stereotyping and such in the Leisure Suit Larry series that would be considered to be outdated today [14] [15] [16], but I am up for an LGBT-themed spin-off with far more up-to-date portrayals of LGBT people at some point after Wet Dreams Don’t Dry [7] [17]. I guess I ought to further explain soon. [34]

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