When Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness launched over two decades ago, it presented fans with something they'd never seen before: a hardened, emotionally complex Lara Croft and a brand new playable character named Kurtis Trent. Behind this bold narrative direction was Murti Schofield, who joined Core Design in 2000 as lead narrative designer with a vision to evolve Lara's character into uncharted territory.
Reinventing an Icon
Schofield approached his role with meticulous care, immersing himself in the previous games' lore to ensure he honored Lara's established character while pushing her in a new direction. "This wasn't to be a transgression, chucking out any of her admirable trademark qualities - more of a transformation into something darker, more noir, grittier than before," Schofield explains.
His starting point was a compelling question: what happened to Lara after being abandoned in the pyramids by her mentor Werner von Croy in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation? Schofield saw an opportunity to explore the psychological aftermath of this traumatic experience.
"Surely she would have been traumatised to some extent, however tough, remarkable and independent spirited," Schofield reasons. This trauma became the foundation for the new Lara – one less interested in tomb raiding and more focused on confronting her past and the man she believed had betrayed her.
Symbolic Transformation
The symbolism of Lara's iconic backpack played a significant role in signaling this character evolution. After Lara loses it in the streets of Paris following Werner's murder, it represents a clean break from her previous incarnation.
"To match the 'noir' feel I wanted to evoke, it was a no-brainer that she would dress differently, darker, more 'street' including the way she would express herself through her makeup and general manner," Schofield says. The result was what he describes as "a driven, highly motivated avenging angel with a mission – and in no mood for taking prisoners!"
Creating Kurtis Trent: A Hero's Genesis
Perhaps Schofield's most significant contribution to the franchise was creating Kurtis Trent, Tomb Raider's first secondary playable character. For Schofield, this rare creative opportunity allowed him to draw from a lifetime of admired fictional heroes.
"I could cherry pick traits from all of my favourite heroic characters, ones I have admired since I was a kid," he reveals. His inspirations ranged from literary figures like Alan Quartermain and Philip Marlowe to cinematic icons including James Dean, Steve McQueen, and inevitably, Indiana Jones.
Kurtis wasn't just a counterpart to Lara but a fully realized character with his own rich backstory. As the last member of the Secret Order of the Lux Veritatis, Kurtis possessed supernatural abilities that made him unique. These included telekinetically controlling his signature weapon, the Chirugai disc, generating psychic shields, and utilizing "Wolf Sense" inherited from his Navajo mother.
"I had the most incredible fun weaving together his back story and identifying how his unusual upbringing would form him into the Lone Blade Disc Slinger he was to become," Schofield shares with evident enthusiasm.
Restoration and Recognition
While players never got to fully experience Kurtis's supernatural abilities in the original game, the upcoming Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered will restore these features—something Schofield finds "fantastically exciting."
For Schofield, the highlight of the entire development process came during the voice recording sessions in London. Working with talented actors like Jonell Elliot (Lara), Eric Loren (Kurtis), and Joss Ackland, he witnessed his creation coming to life.
"Within the first hour I realised that the world I'd been carrying around in my head and the characters within it actually worked. They came alive and the world began to take solid form," he recounts. "There's nothing like that as vindication of all of one's efforts."
The Legacy Continues
Despite its troubled development and mixed reception at release, The Angel of Darkness has cultivated a dedicated following that appreciates its ambitious narrative and complex characterization. Schofield expresses heartfelt gratitude to fans who have valued the creative team's work over the years.
"I am unendingly grateful to them for their words of appreciation and enthusiasm," he says, concluding with a cheerful "Thank you... and HAPPY DAZE, forever!"
For those interested in exploring more of Murti Schofield's work, his official website murtischofield.com offers a comprehensive look at his creative portfolio.
TLDR;
Murti Schofield, narrative designer for Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, reveals how he transformed Lara Croft into a darker, more complex character and created Kurtis Trent from a blend of his favorite fictional heroes. With the upcoming Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered set to restore Kurtis's full range of supernatural abilities, Schofield reflects on the creative process behind the game and expresses gratitude to the dedicated fans who have appreciated the ambitious narrative over the last two decades.