Amanda Evert

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Amanda Evert was an old friend of Lara Croft, presumed dead after a tomb dig in Peru. During that dig, a guardian "Entity" killed the other members of their expedition, but Amanda and Lara survived. The Entity vanished, and Amanda picked up a glowing stone that was later revealed to be a control stone for the Entity. The tomb flooded after Lara and Amanda had a confrontation, and Lara was forced to leave Amanda when she was trapped by falling debris. In the present of Legend, Amanda has survived and become bitter about these events. She manipulates and uses American playboy James Rutland, ultimately betraying him, as they search for the Ghalali Key and fragments of Excalibur. She breaks into Lara's manor to steal the Ghalali Key, not a sword fragment. In Kazakhstan, she uses the control stone to control the Entity and attacks Lara with it. Her quest culminates in a race against Lara to claim the legendary sword.

In Their Own Story

Lara first learns Amanda is alive when James Rutland mentions her name during their confrontation in Bolivia. Later, in Peru, Lara finds proof of Amanda's survival while draining the flooded tomb. Amanda has been working with Rutland, searching for the Ghalali Key and sword fragments. She ransacks Lara's manor in England looking for a fragment. In Kazakhstan, Amanda confronts Lara directly, bitter about being abandoned in Peru. She uses the control stone to unleash the Entity on Lara, but Lara avoids it and retrieves the sword fragment as the facility disintegrates. Amanda's actions drive the global race for Excalibur's pieces.

Reader's Guide

Amanda Evert serves as the primary antagonist in Tomb Raider: Legend. She is an old friend of Lara's who was presumed dead after a catastrophic incident in Peru where a guardian Entity killed their expedition team. She survived and now seeks the mythical sword Excalibur, working with James Rutland. Her bitterness over being abandoned drives her conflict with Lara. Key moments include: being mentioned by Rutland in Bolivia, having her survival confirmed in Peru, ransacking Lara's home, unleashing the Entity in Kazakhstan, and racing Lara to the final pieces of Excalibur. She represents a personal betrayal that fuels the narrative.

Did You Know?

• Amanda Evert was presumed dead after a tomb dig in Peru where a guardian Entity killed the other members of the expedition, but she and Lara survived.
• She uses a glowing control stone to control the Entity and attacks Lara with it during the Kazakhstan level.
• Amanda breaks into Lara's manor house in England while searching for the Ghalali Key.
• She manipulates and uses American playboy James Rutland, ultimately betraying him, in the quest for Excalibur.
• Her bitterness stems from Lara being forced to abandon her during the flooding of the Peruvian tomb.

Franchise Rebirth and Development

Following the critical misstep of The Angel of Darkness, Eidos Interactive made a pivotal decision to transfer development duties from Core Design to American studio Crystal Dynamics in 2004. This shift aimed to completely revitalize the struggling franchise through a soft reboot that reimagined both the gameplay mechanics and the iconic protagonist herself. Toby Gard, Lara Croft's original creator, was brought back into the fold to ensure the new vision honored the character's roots while modernizing her appeal. The resulting title, Tomb Raider: Legend, served as the seventh main entry in the series, debuting in 2006 across a vast array of platforms ranging from home consoles and PC to handhelds like the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. This strategic overhaul successfully restored confidence in the brand, setting the stage for future entries like Anniversary and Underworld while re-establishing Lara Croft as a global gaming icon through polished design and renewed creative direction.

Narrative Conflict and Global Quest

The storyline centers on an intense race against time as Lara Croft pursues the mythical sword Excalibur across seven distinct global locations. Her primary antagonist is Amanda Evert, a former friend turned rival who seeks to claim the legendary artifact for herself. This dynamic drives the narrative forward through eight linear levels where players must navigate diverse environments while solving physics-based puzzles and engaging in combat. While the core story remains consistent across most versions, handheld adaptations on the DS and GBA adjusted gameplay mechanics to suit their specific hardware limitations without altering the central plot. The mobile version took a different approach entirely, adapting locations into on-rails command scenarios focused on platforming and combat. Ultimately, this conflict with Evert serves as the catalyst for Lara's journey, blending exploration with a personal vendetta that defines the game's emotional stakes.

Action Mechanics and Combat Systems

Gameplay emphasizes fluid acrobatics and dynamic movement, allowing players to control Lara through third-person perspectives filled with jumps, climbs, handstands, and rope swings. The combat system features an automatic lock-on mechanic where players can switch targets freely while utilizing environmental hazards to gain the upper hand. Lara wields infinite dual pistols as her primary weapon but can pick up secondary firearms like shotguns or assault rifles from defeated foes or stockpiles found throughout levels. Unique abilities include a grappling line for traversal and combat stuns, melee attacks, and grenade usage. A standout feature is the jump attack, which triggers slow-motion sequences during aerial maneuvers, granting players extra time to dispatch enemies mid-air. Additionally, the inclusion of Croft Manor offers a sandbox environment for tutorials and hidden collectibles, while specific levels introduce motorbike segments where Lara can shoot enemies one-handed while racing through obstacles.

Critical Reception and Lasting Legacy

Tomb Raider: Legend was widely acclaimed as a triumphant return to form, earning numerous awards and nominations that recognized its well-crafted design. The game sold over six million copies worldwide, effectively revitalizing the brand after previous struggles and proving the success of Crystal Dynamics' reboot strategy. While home console and PC versions received high praise for their content and level design, handheld ports on the GBA and DS garnered lower scores due to hardware constraints affecting gameplay fluidity. Despite these variations, the title's impact was profound, leading directly to two sequels within the same continuity: Anniversary in 2007 and Underworld in 2008. The PlayStation Portable version even introduced exclusive multiplayer modes via ad-hoc networking and unique Time Trials challenges. With over six million units sold, Legend not only secured Lara Croft's status as a gaming icon but also laid the foundation for the franchise's modern era.