Larson Conway
Larson Conway is a recurring character in the Tomb Raider series. He features in the games Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider: Chronicles and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. He is portrayed somewhat different in each incarnation, yet what is most commonly accepted in each instalment is that Larson is a Texan henchman who is often hired by others, usually an antagonist. In 2007, when Tomb Raider: Anniversary was released, Crystal Dynamics portrays Larson much more differently, and he’s now displayed as a proficient American Mercenary with Seven Years Special Operations experience. He’s often seen working with Pierre Dupont, and has also worked for Jacqueline Natla, however, he has also worked alone.
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Biographies
Current Status Dead
Crystal Dynamics' Biography
Larson is a former United States Marine Lieutenant with seven years Special Ops experience. He was given a dishonourable discharge after a violent disagreement with his commanding officer - the nature of which was never made public.
Following his release from military prison, Larson put his military expertise to good use, forging an admirable reputation with private mercenary forces around the world.
Recently he has taken a contract with Natla Technologies and that has brought him face to face with an old adversary from his past, Lara Croft.
Core Design's Biography
Born: Little Rock, Arkansas USA 1967
Gun for hire.
While in the US Army, his direct approach and enthusiasm won him respect from his fellow soldiers. But due to low intelligence, was not considered as officer material.
Resenting this, he left to pursue a career as a gun for hire in Nicaragua, where he was once more working for the US Army, but this time in a less official role. It was whilst on this 'mission' that he met Pierre Dupont who was at the time engaged in an 'unofficial' dig himself.
Pierre feels that as mercenaries go, better the devil you know. He also appreciates that, with Larson not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, is unlikely to double cross him.
Continuity
After Tomb Raider: Chronicles was released, several continuity issues arised. It is, therefore, assumed that Lara suffered from some sort of selective amnesia.
Death
- Tomb Raider - Larson's Death: Gunshot, Egypt
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary - Larson's Death: Gunshot, Lost Island
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles - Larson's Death: Tossed by gargoyles
Larson's death takes place, in the first Tomb Raider, in Egypt, in the Sanctuary of the Scion, however in the reimagining (Tomb Raider: Anniversary) he was killed by Lara in Natla's mines so she could retrieve the Blue Fuse to continue. It is still - as of yet - unknown whether Larson died in Chronicles or not.
In the original Tomb Raider Plot, Lara Croft - after retrieving the first of three Scion Pieces - appears not to know Larson Conway at all. As the plot comes to a close, Larson is killed by Lara because he was guarding the third Scion piece. However, four years later when Chronicles was released, Larson appeared in the first section, Rome. This time round Lara did know him, but this time he was not killed by Lara. Therefore we can only assume that Lara first met Larson in Tomb Raider, and he survived the gunshot and lived until Tomb Raider Chronicles taken place. However, these are mere speculations and assumptions.
Appearances
Larson Conway appeares in three of 9 Games of the 1st and 2nd Continuities of Tomb Raider:
Tomb Raider
Larson, in this incarnation, is nothing more than a simple, and somewhat unintellegent henchman. He is hired by Natla before the game takes place. He and Lara meet up in Calcutta, in India, to deliver a message from Jacqueline Natla. Natla hires a reluctant Lara to retrieve - unbekownst to Lara - merely a piece of the Scion. Lara takes up the offer, and travels to Peru to begin her search. Larson is ordered to follow in her path - and retrieve the Scion piece from her when she has attained it. Natla believes the temptation for Lara to take the Scion piece for her own is too strong, and although Lara initially has no intentions of retaining the artefact, Larson on the order of Natla ambushed Lara once she has recovered it.
Larson attempts to dispose of Lara, but Lara disarms him and once Larson lets slip the true nature of the artefact, interrogates him on the whereabouts of the other two pieces and Natla's other henchmen, Pierre.
Lara gains the second piece of the Scion in Greece, and finally moves onto Egypt, the location of the last piece of the Scion. Lara then almost mortally wounds Larson in her fight for the last Scion peice, and Lara makes a quick escape but is then apprehended by the remainder of Natla's clique, and it is, presumed, that Larson dies. However, the only evidnence to support this is Natla's statement: "Left Larson sucking wind, have we?"
Tomb Raider: Chronicles
Here, Larson appears in the Rome levels, working with Pierre, to get the Philosopher's Stone, and at the same time, seal a deal with Lara Croft. Lara, of course, is interested in the stone as well. He is basically the same as in his Tomb Raider 1 incarnation. He was killed by some stone serpents outside of the temple that holds the Philosopher's Stone.
Larson as he appears in Tomb Raider.
Larson as he appears in Chronicles.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Larson returns in Crystal Dynamic's remake of the original game, Tomb Raider: Anniversary. He has a more muscular body compared to the original and now wears a dark blue shirt in place of his previous red one and a belt with a buckle in the shape of the state Texas. He has a slightly different hairstyle and is more blonde. His choice of weapon is a Shotgun, with a holster strapped to his shoulders.
In the opening cutscene, when Lara is hired by Natla to find the Atlantean Scion, Lara acknowledges Larson by calling him by his first name, hinting that they have met before. They exchange a few light hearted sentences, before Larson introduces Lara to Natla via a small laptop or device with a web cam.
Upon their encounter in Peru after Lara finds the first piece of the Scion, Larson and Lara engage in a fight and he only resorts to trying to either knock Lara down, or simply stun her. He only attempts to use his firearm when Lara evades all his other attacks.
After Lara finds the last piece of the Scion in Egypt, Natla's group ambush Lara - once more. As she breaks free from their grasp, 'Kold' and 'The Kid' attempt to stab or shoot down Lara, whilst Larson only attempts to knock her down with his firearm, just like in Peru. When Lara escapes from Natla's thugs, Larson pushes 'The Kid' to the ground, who was preparing to shoot Lara. Larson takes aim at Lara with his shotgun and at the last second, he purposefully aimed to the right - slightly off target from Lara, and fired. Larson intended to save Lara from being killed by 'The Kid' and grins when the camera moves towards him.
Toby Gard comments in the commentary from Natla's Mines, defining Larson's character: "Larson is a very ambiguous guy, he's quite a nice guy, he's an enemy - but he helps Lara out on the sly, he obviously likes Lara. They have a little chemistry going, although obviously Lara has no interest really..."
In Natla's Mines, Larson reveals himself, blocking Lara from continuing any further: Larson has the blue fuse that Lara needs in order to continue. She warns Larson by saying: "Just hand it over, Larson. This has nothing to do with you." Larson immediately says to Lara: "Scion belongs to Natla. Face it! You have no business here." Lara then threatened him by saying: "I don't have time for this, get out of the way or you die...!" It was at this point where Lara is aiming her dual pistols at Larson.
Larson says: "Watch'ya gon' do, shoot me...?" However, he only says this when Lara is aiming to shoot at him. Larson promptly says: "C'mon Lara, I know how bad you want this, but... I can't let you pass." Larson acknowledges that Lara wants the Scion. Larson makes a confident mistake by saying: "We both know you ain't gonna kill me for it..."
However, Lara's obsession with the Scion pushes her to the limit, proving Larson's assumption wrong, as she fires at Larson, who quickly takes out his Shotgun from his holster in self defence. In between each of Lara's shots, he attempts to raise his own weapon to defend himself. If you miss a shot in the Interactive Cutscenes, Larson first says: "It didn't have to be this way..." If you miss the second shot Larson says: "What'a waste!" If you miss the third shot Larson will say "Damn..."
If the Interactive Cutscene is completed successfully, Lara will kill Larson. She's a little discomforted about it, but in the end she kills Kold and 'The Kid', too.
Characteristics
- Tomb Raider - Larson wears a Red Shirt, Blue Jeans and Brown Boots. He also wears a unbuttoned Brown Vest in the first cutscene. His weapon is a Handgun with a Lasersight attached.
- Chronicles - Larson appears in the same outfit as he wore in the first Tomb Raider, including the vest. His weapon is a Revolver. - Larson is portrayed as a lot more comical in his second Tomb Raider appearance.
- Anniversary - Larson wears a Dark-Navy-Blue Shirt, Grey Jeans, a Texan belt buckle, Brown Shoes and a Shotgun Holster on his shoulders. A very different outfit, appearance and personality than from the previous games. Larson does not use a Handgun or Revolver this time around, instead his choice of weapon is a Shotgun.
Larson's Shotgun holster.
Larson's Texan Belt Texture.
Larson has changed alot since his orignal appearances - In personality and in looks.
Trivia
- Larson is Texan.
- Larson is the very first human to appear in the Tomb Raider video games and the first human character to speak in Tomb Raider games.
- In Tomb Raider Anniversary the Cowboy character was merged with Larson.
- Larson was named Larson Conway during the release of Anniversary, before in his other appearences in Tomb Raider and Chronicles he was just known as Larson.
- Larson appears to have Blue/Grey colour eyes in Anniversary.
- Larson in Anniversary was voiced by David Wittenberg.
