Heather Stevens, a level designer on the original Tomb Raider, has criticized how publisher Eidos marketed the early games, saying its campaigns placed too much emphasis on Lara Croft’s appearance and sexualized the character excessively.
In an interview with The Guardian, Stevens said Eidos recognized Lara’s potential and made her the focus of its promotion. She agreed with the decision to highlight the protagonist, but said some campaigns went too far with her clothing and poses.
Stevens described the approach as a lack of imagination, arguing that Eidos could have promoted Lara without relying so heavily on sexualized imagery.
Sources: Nintenderos.