Fan duo covers theme from Tomb Raider II on keys

An erudite fan rendition of the "Main Theme" from Nathan McCree's Tomb Raider II (1997) was picked up by community manager Meagan Marie thismorning. What a team effort; the video's unlisted on YouTube and has remained a hidden treasure for over a year!

Cover courtesy of RayActiveMusic:

[As featured on the Official Tomb Raider Blog]

Rarity #4: Legend's title introduction sequence

Crystal Dynamics' revision of Core Design's renowned video game heroine, Lara Croft, was highly anticipated after her 3 year hiatus following The Angel of Darkness. Returning in 2006 for Tomb Raider: Legend, the product shipped with a Bond-esque introduction sequence to which the accompanying music has never been released without sound effects. Subsequently it remains a rarity, and while speculation exists, there is nothing to suggest it isn't work by the game's composer Troels B. Folmann:

A similar track that scores the "Unfortunate Mishaps" unlock-able video was also not actually used in-game. However, this piece features in the "Tokyo" suite on the Tomb Raider: Anniversary [Collector's Edition] soundtrack and shouldn't be considered a rarity.

"Lara's Theme": Old vs. new - A notational comparison between a classic tune and its corresponding reboot

What does it all mean?
Contrary to popular belief, the Tomb Raider reboot's new theme was not intentionally derived from Nathan McCree's 1996 motif for the original Tomb Raider, says Crystal Dynamics' Meagan Marie. The fresh piece is currently rumoured to be the work of BAFTA-winning Jason Graves.

McCree's theme for the character of Lara Croft is the earliest iteration of a melody which has seen consistent reciprocation in every major Tomb Raider media to date, including a variation by film composer Alan Silvestri in 2003. However, with the new direction of the franchise comes an entirely new accompaniment in music. The "reboot" is not only emphasising the reconstructed origins of Croft, but also laying out the foundations of a new melodious core.

In this article MoTR will take that affirmation a step further, via a musically notational analysis with assistance from community member tomekkobialka:

Tomb Raider (1996): "Lara's Theme" - G A F G (G Minor)

Tomb Raider (2013): "Turning Point" - D E A F E (D Minor)

If we are to transpose McCree's original motif to the same key as the new Tomb Raider theme, a closer inspection reveals the following similarities:

Tomb Raider (1996): "Lara's Theme" - D E C D (D Minor)

Tomb Raider (2013): "Turning Point" - D E A F E (D Minor)

• The first two notes of each motif share the same difference in pitch
• The first two notes of each motif share the same relative length and rhythmic position
• The last note of each motif share the same relative length and rhythmic position
• Each phrase could be considered to a have similar 'up then down' shape

Beyond this, however, the motifs are unrelated. It is important to understand that while these two pieces are similar, the same could be said about any two sequences of musical notes; one merely has to alter tonal difference and/or rhythm to superimpose each tune.

For those readers less inclined to musical theory, take the aforementioned alternative as the simplified answer:

"...the track isn’t directly inspired by or a revision of the original theme. Still, we’re happy that fans are walking away with with the consensus that it 'feels like Tomb Raider'..." - Marie