Tomb Raider Chronicles - RICHARD MORTON ON CRAFTING TOMB RAIDER THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has published an interview with veteran game developer Richard Morton. With over 37 years in the industry and 29 titles to his name, Morton has played a crucial role in shaping the Tomb Raider series. From creating 2D sprites to designing immersive 3D environments, he contributed significantly to the franchise's classic era.

Morton's journey with Tomb Raider began in 1996, when he played a key role in level design and story discussions. His most notable contribution to Tomb Raider II was the Temple of Xian, a fan-favourite level, which he developed with technical assistance from Heather Stevens (formerly Gibson). He later took on various creative roles in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and Chronicles, helping to refine Lara Croft's story and gameplay.

As lead game designer for Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, Morton aimed to take the series in a darker, more mature direction. The transition to PlayStation 2 posed technical challenges, forcing the team to scale down their ambitious level designs due to hardware limitations. Despite introducing new mechanics such as stamina, dialogue choices, and hand-to-hand combat, the control system suffered from multiple iterations, resulting in a mixed player experience.

One of the most significant setbacks was the decision to cut content, including entire locations such as Germany and Cappadocia, which were meant for a sequel. This also affected Kurtis Trent, whose psychic abilities were designed and animated but never fully implemented, with only glimpses appearing in cutscenes.

Reflecting on his favourite levels, Morton highlighted the Temple of Xian (Tomb Raider II), Madubu Gorge (Tomb Raider III), and the Desert Railroad (The Last Revelation). For Angel of Darkness, he originally favoured a scrapped training level featuring Lara's mentor, Putai, who would have guided her through an early upgrade tutorial. Among the final levels, the Hall of Seasons stood out for its classic Tomb Raider-style puzzles and traps.

Despite The Angel of Darkness's troubled development, Morton remains proud of the innovations it introduced, some of which influenced later Tomb Raider games. His work continues to inspire fans, with one even crediting Madubu Gorge for sparking their career as a professional kayaker. With a rich history in game design, Morton's contributions to Tomb Raider remain a defining part of the franchise's evolution.

Hop on over to the official Tomb Raider blog to read the full interview with Richard Morton. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is scheduled for release on all major platforms on Friday.